Deni Luelle Staheli

Deni Luelle Staheli obitJuly 5, 1939 — June 4, 2016

Deni Luelle Staheli, devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away at her home in Dammeron Valley, Utah, on June 4. She was born on July 5, 1939, in Juneau, Alaska, to Robert Dean Rossiter and Virginia Ann Bardi.

Deni was raised by her grandmother, Luelle Betts, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her grandmother rescued her from an orphanage as a baby and devoted her life to her care. Her grandmother’s service and compassion played a significant role in Deni’s life, and she followed her example by a life of service and love to so many.

Deni graduated high school in 1957. She married Paul Eugene Kuhn in August 1957. Together they had eight children. Deni considered the raising of her family to be her greatest accomplishment and joy.

In April 1992, she married Dr. Clark John Staheli. Side by side, they served patients in St. George and surrounding communities for 40 years. Deni was passionate about being a nurse and serving others.

She was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving in many capacities. She had a deep love for music and displayed this love by serving as an organist and pianist for 65 years. Deni and Clark also served an LDS Medical Mission for 2 ½ years.

Deni was skilled, intelligent and hard working. She was an avid reader and loved to learn new things; whatever she learned, she mastered.

Later in her life, Deni had many physical challenges. She had an aneurysm and three strokes. She worked tirelessly to re-learn to walk, talk, write, play the piano and sing. She never gave up. Even after her aneurysm and stroke, in 1993 she set her mind to run the St. George Marathon and successfully completed it.

She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother and will be remembered for her kindness and selfless service.  She will be dearly missed and will be forever in our hearts.

Deni is survived by her husband, Clark Staheli; her children: Peri (Cresent) Hardy, Kerwin (Lily) Kuhn, Karolyn (Brad) Vowles, Darl (Heidi) Kuhn, Arvin (Michelle) Kuhn, Rex Kuhn, Lance Kuhn and Kristi (Lance) Jackson; 19 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her grandmother, Luelle Betts; her father, Robert Dean Rossiter; and her mother, Virginia Ann Bardi.

Funeral Services

  • Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 9, at 11 a.m. at the Diamond Valley Stake Center, 1784 W. Diamond Valley Drive, St. George, Utah.
  • Visitations will be Wednesday evening from 6-8 p.m. at Metcalf Mortuary, 288 W. St. George Blvd., and Thursday, prior to services from 9-10:30 a.m. at the Stake Center.
  • Interment will be in the Veyo City Cemetery.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Metcalf Mortuary, 435-673-4221.

For condolences, full obituary and funeral listings, please visit Metcalf Mortuary online.  

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Doctor’s Volunteer Clinic, 1036 E. Riverside Drive, St. George, Utah, 84790, (435) 656-0022.

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