Van Dayton

Venoy “Van” Shosted Dayton, 87, passed away September 25, 2024, at home under the loving care of his wife, Rhonda Lee Dayton, and hospice due to Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

He was born August 8, 1937, to Don Carlos Dayton and Emma Lavon Shosted Dayton in Twin Groves, Idaho. As a boy, Van loved to ditch school and go fishing in his favorite spot. His teachers and principal would send his older brother Don C to go and find him. This meant he and Don would spend the rest of the day fishing. Van was hell on wheels as a young man. Very athletic and tough as nails never backing down from a good street boxing match. He was kind but had a fiery temper.

In 1960 he married Myrna Kay Hill. To this union, they had three children, Kim Venoy, Michael K, and Jana Lee. Van and Kaye divorced after nearly 31 years of marriage. This was a devastating time in Van’s life. He married again for a few short years, then divorced. He then met Rhonda Lee at a cafe in Mud Lake in 1998 and knew she was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. They married November 1, 1998. Together, they made their home in St. Anthony, Idaho, after purchasing his parents’ home on the St. Anthony golf course. Together, they loved spending time in Kilgore camping on Rhonda’s parents’ rangeland helping with their cattle. They enjoyed fishing, hunting, and riding their matching Honda four-wheelers.

Van was an amazing father and gave his time and love to his family generously. He showed his two stepchildren what a true father was supposed to look like: tough love when needed and kind tenderness as he and Rhonda finished raising Rhonda’s two children, Kelby and Sara. He loved them as his own and taught them to be strong and independent adults. They loved him as their “Dad.” Later in life Van discovered he had two additional daughters, Chris Vaughn and Liz Sedore, whom he warmly welcomed into his life with unconditional love.

Van spent his early years working as a service man for Van Gas Propane Company. He took a short leave and became the Bingham County shop mechanic. He returned to the L.P gas industry and finished his career as the Arco branch manager for Suburban Propane.

Van always loved cars, trucks, boats, and motorcycles — anything with an engine. There was nothing mechanical he couldn’t fix and get running. People always wondered how he worked as a mechanic with his giant hands. His thumb was about the size of a coke can!! He would many times enlist the help of his two sons, Kim and Mike, while teaching them to repair and maintain their own cars , trucks, and motorcycles. He shaped them into men. His daughter Jana was always his daddy’s little girl. He made sure she had a car to drive and treated her like his “Little Girl.” Our family was very very lucky to have him as our dad. He will be missed by the countless friends he made. Van was also a very accomplished musician and singer. He spent many years singing and playing at the 5 Mile Inn every Friday and Saturday night. He passed his love of music on to his son Mike and grandson Kade.

Van is survived by his loving wife, Rhonda; children, Kim Venoy (Juanita) of Blackfoot, Michael K (Tamara) of Idaho Falls, Jana Lee (Todd) Goodwin of Blackfoot, Chris Vaughn of Lawton OK, Liz Sedore of Olympia, Washington; stepchildren, Kelby Lee of Pocatello and Sara (Donavon) of Stafford, Virginia; 9 grandchildren, 6 step-grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; and siblings, Ramona Merchant, Everett (Shirline) Dayton, Shirleen (Steve) Knapp, Maureen (Gary) Jones, and Calvin (Lana) Dayton. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Larry and Don C, and sisters Donna LeCheminant and Cleo Rydalch.

The family will hold a visitation for family and friends at Bert Flamm Mortuary, Monday September 30, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and a graveside service Tuesday, October 1, at 1 p.m. at the Wilford Cemetery.