Phillip Kent Durst

Kent was doing quite well and then up and died April 14, 2025 – due to complications from his heart medicine.

He was born in Pocatello, Idaho on June 17, 1944, to Samuel Phillip Durst and DeLeas Virginia Kuttler Durst.

In 1967 he married Karen Marie Transtrum in the Idaho Falls Temple and as time went on, they were blessed with six children.

He graduated from Pocatello High in 1962. From 1963 to 1965 he served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Andes Mission. After attending ISU for three years, he served in the US Navy. This was during the Vietnam War. He worked as a Hull Repair Technician (fixing broken things) and was discharged as a Petty Officer 2nd Class. Returning to ISU he received a BA in Education in 1975. Kent taught and was an elementary principal until retiring in 2007. It was a very enjoyable and rewarding career and he promoted many activities to encourage the students to read. In 2009 he and Karen moved to Idaho Falls.

For many years, he was a volunteer EMT/Fireman with the Rigby QRU and Jefferson Central Fire District. He was involved in the Boy Scouts of America for many years and received the Silver Beaver Award. The one Karen affectionately called the “Busy Beaver Award.”

After retiring he went to work at Idaho Mountain Trading, one of his favorite stores, and at times owed more than he earned when pay day came around. Year around camping, hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing, especially with his family, were some of his favorite activities. He also enjoyed woodworking, photography, motorcycling, reading, telling stories, as well as fishing and hunting.

Taking care of the yard and flower bed was a challenge for him even though he didn’t mind it. He often said if it grew, he could manage to kill it. Over the years he had the opportunity to serve in a variety of callings in the church and after retiring served with Karen in the Raleigh North Carolina Mission and the Little Rock Arkansas Mission.

Visiting and playing with their grandchildren was always a highlight for him. He is survived by his wife Karen, children, Tisa (Matthew) Kaufmann, of Reseda, California; Scott (Bridget) Durst of Aurora, Oregon; Karl (Missy) Durst of St. George, Utah; Brian (Lyndsey) Durst of St. George, Utah; Sara (Ben) Nelson of Shelley, Idaho; Elizabeth (Chet) Bruderer of Pocatello, Idaho; 21 grandchildren, 1 great granddaughter, 2 brothers, and his friends. He was preceded in death by a daughter-in-law, Mindi Gylling Durst.

Life treated him well; he enjoyed his time on earth and was richly blessed.

There will be an open house at the Carriage Gate Ward Chapel (5255 South 5th West, Idaho Falls, ID) on Friday, April 18, 2025 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm.