Kendall Howard Rockhill

On July 10th, 2024, just before it was time to head out and check on the farm, Kendall Howard Rockhill 86, of Kamas Utah passed away at his home. 

He was born Sept 15, 1938, in Heber City to Howard Taylor and Florence Blackley Rockhill. He grew up on the family farm with his mom and dad, a brother and 2 sisters. He graduated from South Summit High School where he played basketball and football. He married his high school sweetheart Joyce Casper, on November 8, 1957. 

He first went to work at Little Valley. He loved working there. He could tell you exactly how many people worked there, how many pieces of equipment and how much material they moved every day. He enjoyed working there so much, he said he would have worked there for free.

They had 4 sons and a daughter, eventually moving back to the family farm where he transitioned his dad’s chicken farm into first class dairy farm. He purchased cows from Pennsylvania to try to improve his genetics. He was always trying to make the most of what little he had. He was one of the first to get a computerized feeding system in place, started milking 3x a day and was always trying to keep up with current technology to improve his herd. He was a member of the farmers coop, water board, soil conservation board and dairy herd improvement association as well as a sales rep for ABS.

He bought a second farm in Stone Idaho to try to improve the feed quality of his cows to get more milk. During this time, he fulfilled a promise to his wife, and took his family to the temple to be sealed. He was active in the church serving as elders quorum president and a member of the bishopric. He managed all of this, both farms and he still found time to rodeo with his kids, and attended all of the football, basketball and wrestling matches and go hunting elk, and pheasants with his good pal Dakota. 

In 1980, Joyce was afflicted with early Alzheimer’s and ALS. He stood by her side for years while this disease slowly took her life. Somehow, he was there for her everyday until she passed away on March 4, 1988. Kendall struggled with a lot of choices in life after he lost Joyce. He later married Melanie Olsen, and with her 3 girls he was able to find peace and happiness again, building a beautiful home, on his favorite part of the farm by the creek. 

He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Joyce, his son Layne, and his sisters Carolyn and Linda. 

He is survived by his son Craig (Lori), Dirk (Tami), Stephanie (Montie Rawlings), and David (Angela). Melanie, and his step daughters Amanda, Missy and Megan. His brother Byron Rockhill (Joeanne), 31 grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren, and 1 great great grandchild.

A viewing will be held on Sunday, July 14, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3038 N State Rd 32, in Marion from 5 pm-8 pm. A viewing will also be held before the funeral on July 15, from 9am -10:45am, followed by the service at 11 am on Monday July 15, 2024. Interment will be at the Marion Cemetery. 

A special thanks to Tiff and Audre.