Deaun Christensen Connaughton

Deaun Christensen Connaughton, 78, passed away peacefully in her sleep on May 26, 2025, in Boise, Idaho.

Deaun was born on July 26, 1946, in Price, Utah, and spent most of her childhood in Monticello, Utah where she lived with her parents, Neal Christensen and Hazel Adair, and her brother, William (Bill). In 1957, the family moved to La Sal, UT, where they lived in two small camp trailers parked side by side in the San Juan County Road department yard. They did not have an indoor toilet; her parents slept in one trailer and Deaun and Bill slept in the other. In 1959, the family moved back to Monticello when Neal fell ill and later passed when Deaun was just 13. Deaun’s childhood was marked by resilience and a deep connection to her family and the rugged beauty of southeastern Utah.

Deaun graduated from Monticello High School in 1964. A beautiful and talented young woman, she loved to sing and was crowned Miss San Juan County before going on to compete in the Miss Utah Pageant.

Deaun pursued cosmetology in Salt Lake City, where she met Ken Connaughton, a soldier from New York/New Jersey stationed at Camp Douglas. They later married. After Ken’s discharge from the Army, they moved to Orange County, California, where he attended graduate school at UC Irvine and where their first son, Michael, was born.

In 1970, the family returned to Salt Lake City, where they would live for more than three decades. There, Deaun gave birth to their daughter Andrea, who sadly passed away shortly after birth. Two years later, they welcomed another son, Duston. Deaun also lovingly embraced Ken’s children from a previous marriage, Michele and Owen.

Deaun’s greatest joy was her children and grandchildren, and she loved them fiercely. A close second were her beloved dogs, she adored all animals, but puppies held a special place in her heart.

Over the years, Deaun worked as an office manager for several doctors in both Salt Lake City and Denison, Texas. Her colleagues and patients alike appreciated her warmth, kindness, and strong work ethic.

Deaun lived life with a sense of adventure and a bold spirit. She once played in the “Bosom Bowl” charity football game, making the game-ending tackle. She was also a skilled hunter, often outsmarting and outshooting the men in the family on annual deer hunts. Her love of cooking became a treasured family tradition, and she passed down that passion to her children.

She had an adventurous streak, once even traveling to Africa on a spontaneous trip with a woman she had just met. And whether it was an unplanned road trip or a quiet drive through the mountains, Deaun found peace and joy in nature, especially in the Blue Mountains east of Monticello, where she loved to spot wildflowers and count deer, especially in the springtime.

Deaun was preceded in death by her daughter Andrea, her husband Ken, and her son Owen. She is survived by her brother William (Shirley) Christensen; her daughter Michele Coffey; her sons Michael and Duston (Jessica) Connaughton; her grandchildren Christina, Nick, Lauren, Daniel, Madeline, Sophia, Grace, Emery, and Ella; and her great-grandchildren Averie, Austin, Michael Owen, Emma, and Roman.

Deaun was deeply loved and will be profoundly missed. Her strength, humor, and boundless love for her family will remain an enduring legacy.

Celebrations of Life TBD