Derl R. Pratt

He was born December 19, 1940, in Preston, Idaho, the second child of Samuel Ray Pratt and Mabel Susanna Nelson. He had an older sister, LaRae, and a younger sister, Verlene. He also had three older half-sisters – Ruth, Maurine and Doris Pratt – and two half-brothers – Larry and Richard Pratt, who both died young.

The family moved from Preston to Pocatello in 1945, where Derl attended Emerson Elementary School and Irving Junior High School and graduated from Pocatello High School. He received an associate’s degree from Idaho State College (now Idaho State University) in Pocatello and also attended the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho, for one semester before serving a two-year mission in northern Mexico for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On his mission, he became fluent in the Spanish language and found occasions to use it for the remainder of his life.

Upon returning from his mission, Derl enrolled at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. It was there in a family home evening group that he met Brenda Smith. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on September 8, 1967.

Derl graduated from BYU in chemical engineering – receiving his bachelor’s degree in 1967 and his master’s degree in 1971.

In January of 1969, Derl, Brenda, and their baby daughter Kristie moved to Loveland, Colorado, where Derl began working for Hewlett-Packard Company as a chemical engineer, mainly in printed circuit manufacturing. He worked for HP and Agilent Technologies for 32 years.

Three more children were born into the family following the move to Loveland: Kellene (Kellie), Trevor, and Corey.

Derl enjoyed hunting and fishing and loved spending time with his children and grandchildren. He enjoyed all kinds of sports and especially enjoyed attending his children’s and grandchildren’s games and cheering them on. He was an avid BYU Cougars fan.

Derl also enjoyed music and attended many piano recitals, band concerts, and choir concerts to hear his children and grandchildren perform.

Derl loved his Savior, Jesus Christ, and served in many capacities in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – including as a teacher, Webelos leader, Scoutmaster, bishop, stake family history center director, and temple ordinance worker. He also enjoyed working with members in a Spanish group.

Derl is survived by his wife, Brenda; his children, Kristie Bale (Richard) of Loveland, Kellie Gibson (Mark) of Green River, Wyoming, Trevor Pratt (Camille) of Ammon, Idaho, and Corey Pratt (Katie) of Loveland; and thirteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Services will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1445 West 28th Street in Loveland. There will be a viewing from 11:30 – 12:30 at the church with a memorial service at 1:00 p.m. For those who are unable to attend, you can view the service via the following link: https://zoom.us/j/98716848533 He will be laid to rest at Resthaven Memory Gardens in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Memories of Derl and condolences to his family are welcome at resthavencolorado.com.