Sovereign “Sov” Valentine, 56

Sovereign “Sov” Valentine, 56, of Plains, Montana, passed away at home on July 16, 2025, from cancer. 

Sov was a passionate healer, personal trainer, author, aspiring pilot and loyal friend. Known for his fierce independence, Sov always found the courage to stand up for others and what he believed in. He was a person others could rely on in times of crisis, but most of all, he just loved to have fun.
Born in Cottage Lake, Washington, Sov was raised in Duvall and graduated from Tolt High School in 1987. His journey then took him to Vashon Island, where he met his future wife, Jessica (Kneeshaw), whom he married in 2006. The couple then moved to Seattle, Billings, and Maui before they found their home in Plains in 2015. 

Sov loved the outdoors — fishing, prospecting, sport shooting and wheeling Toyota 4x4s. He was also a treasure-hunter at heart and enjoyed scouring garage sales and auctions. He would be thrilled any time he found something to add to his prized vintage Coleman lantern collection, or the right piece of exercise equipment to upgrade his fitness studio. He loved animals, starting out working as a veterinary tech as a young man, and rescuing and helping countless animals along the way.

Above all, Sov's passion was health and wellness, and he devoted his life to helping others transform their health. This led him to a career as a personal trainer, nutrition coach, author, massage therapist, hypnotherapist, and more. Here, Sov was a relentlessly positive and encouraging force, and always generous with his time, energy, and knowledge.

In 2020, Sov received the extraordinary gift of a kidney transplant from Krista Standeford, a gift for which we are forever grateful. Inspired by this experience, he went on to encourage and support many others through the transplant process.
Sov is survived by his wife, Jessica; sisters, Mona Smith (Bart) and Thelma Pfaff (Fritz); brother-in-law, Wally (husband of his late sister Jennette); and nieces and nephews Kevin, Dawn, Ericka, Dakota, and Sage. He was preceded in death by his parents, Marvin Rodvold and Gail Herman; brother, Gale; sister, Jennette Isom; and nephew, Ian.
In honor of Sov’s life and in gratitude for the gift of organ donation, memorial donations may be made to the American Kidney Fund (kidneyfund.org).
 

A celebration of Sov’s life will be held Sept. 13 in Plains. Further details to follow.