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Kevin "Ken" Connaughton, whose career spanned news, politics and transportation, has died at 70.

"Our life together was full of adventure," said his wife, Deaun Connaughton, on Sunday.

As a newsman, Ken Connaughton covered some of Utah's most high-profile stories, including violent polygamist Ervil LeBaron, forger and murderer Mark Hofmann and serial killer Ted Bundy.

He spent some three decades in the news business, including stints at United Press International and KTVX Channel 4 news, where he rose to executive producer.

In 1995, Connaughton became spokesman for then-Mayor Deedee Corradini, where he dealt with politics and brushes with 2002 Winter Olympics bribe scandals.

Connaughton left Salt Lake City to work for a TV station in Texas, then took a job with Houston Metro in 2003.

He returned to Utah a few years later to become chief spokesman for the Utah Department of Transportation, tackling the smoldering controversy over Legacy Highway.

"He loved to ski and we thought this was a great place to raise our kids, so it became home," said Deaun Connaughton.

A native of New York and New Jersey, Ken Connaughton first came to Utah after he was drafted and stationed at Dugway Proving Ground.

He met Deaun Connaughton here; they were married for 45 years. They raised four children together.

"It was just give and take, and we certainly had our fair share of struggles," she said. "We loved each other very much."

Ken Connaughton dictated his own obituary to her shortly before he died on April 18, succumbing to cancer that started in his lungs.

"My one complaint would be that life has not gone long enough," he wrote, "but my wife and children have taken care of that eventuality by providing me with a raft of grandchildren who will carry on into future generations."

No funeral services are scheduled. Online condolences can be left at jenkins-soffe.com.