Kenneth Mitchell Jenkins

Kenneth Mitchell Jenkins was born in Steubenville, Ohio, on July 13, 1963, to Kenneth Wayne Jenkins and Elizabeth Blewitt Jenkins. He graduated from Manti High School in 1980, served an LDS mission to Anaheim, California, and attended Snow College, SUU, and the University of Utah, where he studied geography. His career included meaningful work at the Forest Service, Snow College, Western Governors University, and knifemaking. He also served in the Army National Guard.

If Mitch were writing his own obituary, the only thing he would want people to know is that he loved fiercely and well. He cared little for resumes and accolades; he cared much that he was an extraordinary husband, father, and grandfather. There is no better way to describe him.

Mitch married Melanie Larsen on April 30, 1988, in the Manti Temple, and spent the remainder of his life supporting and loving her. His eyes lit up every time she walked into a room. Together, they built a life of adventure, filled with travel, hiking, and exploration. They also shared a passion for parenting, learning, reading, teaching, and deep conversations.

Two of the happiest days of his life were the days his children were born. Meg and Seth were so fortunate to be raised by a man who considered fatherhood a true gift and his greatest calling. He devoted himself wholly to being their dad. Every single night of their childhood, he snuggled up in bed with them and read, told stories, and sang lullabies (or 80s songs). He coached them in every sport they wanted to play; he taught them grit, resilience, and devotion. He developed a genuine interest in absolutely everything they did, and he was so proud of the people they are. Because his childhood included many moves and more than 25 different schools, which was rough, and for a sensitive boy, deeply scarring, it is not surprising that he refused to move once his own children started school, wanting them to have the stability and sense of home and place he longed for.

The last 16 months brought Mitch particular joy in the form of two baby granddaughters. He was madly in love with these sweet babies, and never smiled more genuinely than when they snuggled in for a love, cuddled in his arms to read a book, giggled in response to his tickles, and uttered “hi bampa” in those sweet little voices.

Mitch was a man of many talents and interests, and he held space in his life for dissonance:

He loved all things outdoors: hunting, fishing, birds, trees, hiking, and he cared deeply about wilderness preservation. 

He was a gifted athlete and fierce competitor, excelling in baseball, basketball, tennis, and golf.

He was a fearless and self-trained handyman. He could and would fix anything—not always well.

He was a lover of learning. He was a lover of words. 

He wrote several personal essays and was working on his memoir.

He was an artist and a patron of the arts.

He was extremely smart yet exceedingly humble.

He was serious and wickedly funny.

He was exacting and demanding yet understanding and kind.

He was learned and learning, student and teacher. 

He knew most of the answers but was still asking questions.

He was a master of depth and a master of breadth.

He was confident and unpretentious and sometimes insecure.

He was vulnerable with a few and was guarded with many.

He was a man of faith and a man of questions.

Most importantly, he loved and he was loved. Deeply. He was a center in our world.

He is survived by his wife, Melanie; his kids, Meg and Blake Nielson, Seth and Jaida Jenkins; two granddaughters, Goldie Wilde and Navy June; sisters Ann (Evan) Whittaker and Lauren (Bruce) Miller; his brother and best friend, Matt (Mindee) Jenkins; and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents and his father-in-law, Robert Kent Larsen.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. in the Manti 8th Ward Chapel, 295 S Main. Viewings will be held at the church on Tuesday, March 3, from 6:00-7:00 p.m. and prior to service from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Interment will be in the Manti City Cemetery. Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti. Online guestbook and condolences at www.maglebymortuary.com