Bruce Denney Blanchard

Bruce Denney Blanchard, 78, passed through the veil unexpectedly on May 29, 2025. Bruce was born in Pocatello, Idaho, on October 28, 1946, to Merlin Wheeler and Julia Denney Blanchard.

He was raised in Robin, Idaho, on the family farm where he made lasting memories. He graduated as the class valedictorian from Marsh Valley High School in 1964.

After serving in the Argentina North Mission from 1967 to 1969, he returned to BYU. There he met Kristie Smith, who said she wasn’t going to marry him.

He married Kristie Smith on October 16, 1970, in the Salt Lake Temple.

In 1972, he graduated from BYU with a degree in finance and took a full-time job for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, working in the finance department. When Intermountain Healthcare was created, he was asked to join them and spent the next 35 years of his career there. He retired as the Chief Investment Officer in 2005.

Early on they lived in Salt Lake, where their two oldest sons were born. They later moved to West Valley City. They loved living there, and added one more son and three more daughters to their family.

In 1986 they moved to Sandy and they have resided there for the last 39 years. He was heavily involved in the Sandy City community and made many new friends. They are the parents of six children and 23 grandchildren.

He was an active and devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He loved family history, compiled several books with stories of his ancestors for his children (and anyone else who wanted them). He spent a lot of time in the temple working on all the family history names he found. He loved his Savior.

He loved his wife, his children, and his grandchildren.

Bruce is preceded in death by his parents, Merlin and Julia Blanchard; daughter-in-law Marianne Blanchard; and grandson Matthew Blanchard.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Kristie; their six children, Travis (Wendy), Brad (Marianne – deceased) (Jill), Brittany Egbert, Bryant (Rachel), Erica Blue (Ryan), Amelia; 23 grandchildren; and brother Gary (Sandy); along with a large extended family.

A viewing will be held Sunday, June 8, from 6:00-8:00 pm at the Alta View Stake Center (1850 East 8600 South, Sandy, Utah). Funeral services will be held Monday, June 9, at noon with a viewing prior from 10:00-11:30 am at the same location. Interment to follow the services at Memorial Mountain View Cemetery.

To view the services remotely, please visit https://zoom.us/j/93692604014