Craig Steven Valantine

SARATOGA SPRINGS, UTAH – Craig Steven Valantine, beloved husband, farter (err father), grandfather, brother, friend and jokester passed quietly in the early hours of May 3, 2024 at the age of 70 in his Saratoga Springs home after a battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Craig was born to “Ted” Vernon Edwin Valantine and Nola Steed Valantine on December 17, 1953, in sunny Los Angeles, CA. The second oldest of four siblings, he spent his formative years in southern California getting himself and his siblings into trouble, surfing, playing football and riding dirt bikes and motorcycles.

After graduating from Brigham Young University with a master’s in business accounting, he spent his career as a CPA and a defense contractor for government intelligence in Saudi Arabia in the 80s. Craig traveled the world and lived in Washington and California for several years before ending up in Utah.

He spent retirement driving a school bus for special needs school children, a job which he adored. He could be spotted riding around western Utah Valley with his long ZZ Top-style beard blowing in the wind as he zoomed by in a big yellow bus or on his motorcycle.

Craig had a sneeze that could rattle the windows with a perfectly formed “ACHOO!”, a belly laugh that shook the floorboards and a puckish streak that made him able to spin a yarn better than anyone. He was also a gentle giant, a soft-spoken force of love and comfort who was deeply introspective and always chose his words with precision and care. He often said that the best thing he ever did, that he was most proud of, was being a dad.

Craig was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served a mission in Sydney, Australia in the 70s. He spent many years as an emergency preparedness coordinator in his ward and loved researching all the best skills and goods to share, pushing through his introversion to serve his family, friends and community.

In addition, he loved video games, music, reading, writing, card and board games, cars and motorcycles, British television, guns, home improvement and even the dogs he said he didn’t want. He was a jack of all trades and a master of many with an impeccable work ethic. His legacy of service, compassion, patience, authenticity, perseverance and unconditional love will not be forgotten.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 20 years, Mary Louise Whitney Valantine as well as his children, Brett (Charlotte) Valantine, Carrisa (Ryan) Valantine, Gabriel (Ashley) Hetherington and Sophie Will, his siblings, Mark (Gayle) Valantine, and Alice (Mark) Beckstrom, plus 10 grandchildren who knew him affectionately as gramps, grand-dude or simply grandpa. He is preceded in death by his son, Brandon Valantine, his sister, Valery Valantine and his parents.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to his funerary fund on PayPal at @CraigVFuneral.

A celebration of life service will be held at Salt Lake City Cemetery on Saturday, May 11 at 12:30 p.m. near 11th Avenue and 350 East, (approximate coordinates are 40.778365, -111.853926,) as we bury his urn. A luncheon will be held at the church building at 587 S Saratoga Rd in Saratoga Springs at 3 p.m. Please RSVP to Mary at mvalslp@gmail.com.

Online condolences and Live Stream Link at rasmussenmortuary.com