GREAT FALLS TRIBUNE Monday, March 22, 2005

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Kenneth Clay Kegel

TURNER - Kenneth Clay Kegel, a life-long resident of the Turner farming community, died of lung cancer Sunday at his home in Blaine County.

His funeral is 11 a.m. Wednesday at American Lutheran Church in Turner, with burial in Wing Cemetery. Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook is handling arrangements.

Ken is survived by his wife, Clarice; two sons, Dan of Turner and Kerry (Susy) of Ontario, Ore.; one daughter Nancy Jones Schafer (former first lady of North Dakota) and her husband, Ed of Fargo, N.D.; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Ken was born Oct. 10, 1921, at home on the family farm at Little Jewel, Mont., to Charles Fredrick and Anna (Houska) Kegel. He was the seventh of 10 children, and lived almost his entire life less than a half-mile from his birthplace on the Kegel family homestead. Ken farmed the land there for over 50 years.

After attending the rural school at Little Jewel for seven years, he transferred to the Turner Public School and graduated with the high school class of 1939. Two years later, he was called to take his physical exam for induction into the U.S. military services. Being classified 4-F and informed that no future exams would be scheduled, he continued to help his father with the farm work.

In 1940, he attended a course in radio and writing communications in Spokane. In 1941 and 1942, he was enrolled at Northern Montana College and while there, he met Clarice Habedank. They were married in the Malta Lutheran Church on Aug. 6, 1944. During the winters of 1944 and 1945, he worked as a fireman for the Great Northern Railroad out of Whitefish and Havre.

He rented his father's farm in 1946, and a few years later, a purchase agreement was made. Since then, many acres were added to the initial holdings.

Interested in County development, he was active in the Montana Seed Show and worked with the Extension Services and State Forestry Nursery. There are more than 30 varieties of trees and shrubs growing on the Kegel farmstead.

Ken was a member of the Blaine County Development program and the Montana Stockgrowers Association. He ran unsuccessfully as a Republican candidate for the state Legislature in 1963 and 1965. Later Ken was contacted by Judge Elwell to accept an appointment to fill a vacancy on the Blaine County Commission, which he declined. He wrote and supplied articles for the Blaine County History Book.

His interest in our nation's youth resulted in his appointment as a trustee for Yellowstone Boys' Ranch and as a group advisor for 32 Montana 4Hers on a trip to Washington, D.C. As a 4-H leader, he served as County President, District President, and as a member of the State Board. He organized an exchange of 4-H'ers from New York to visit Blaine County, and the next year, Blaine County members visited the New York clubs.

Ken's family served as hosts for exchange students from Australia and Colombia. Five high school boys from Wisconsin took turns and spent three summers working on the Kegel farm.

In later years, he enjoyed making and repairing furniture in his woodshop. That interest led Ken on an unending quest to collect and restore antiques-most of them coming from the farm junkyard. "I have so many projects going, I hope there will be time to finish them all", he would often say. Ken also collected stamps and coins and created stained glass items.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Anna Kegel; three brothers, Arthur, Fred and Charles; two sisters, Marjorie Knapton and Alice Tollefson; and one grandson, Scott Leo.

Those wishing to make lasting gifts in Ken's memory are asked to remember the American Lutheran Church in Turner and Bear Paw Hospice, 30 West 13th St., Havre, MT 59501

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HAVRE DAILY NEWS Monday, March 22, 2005

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KEN KEGEL

TURNER - Kenneth Clay Kegel, a life-long resident of the Turner farming community, died Sunday, March 20, 2005, of lung cancer at his home in Blaine County.

A funeral service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday in the American Lutheran Church in Turner with the Rev. Scott Hedegaard officiating. Burial will be at the Wing Cemetery immediately following the service.

Ken was born Oct. 10, 1921, at home on the family farm at Little Jewel to Charles Fredrick and Anna (Houska) Kegel. He lived almost his entire life less than a half-mile from his birthplace on the Kegel family homestead. Ken farmed the land there for more than 50 years.

After attending the rural school at Little Jewel for seven years, he transferred to the Turner Public School and graduated with the high school class of 1939.

Two years later, Ken was called to take his physical exam for induction into the U.S. military services. Being classified 4-F and informed that no future exams would be scheduled, he continued to help his father with the farm work.

In 1940, he attended a course in radio and writing communications in Spokane, Wash. In 1941 and 1942, he was enrolled at Northern Montana College, and while there he met Clarice Habedank. They were married in the Malta Lutheran Church on Aug. 6, 1944. During the winters of 1944 and 1945 he worked as a fireman for the Great Northern Railroad out of Whitefish and Havre.

He rented his father's farm in 1946 and a few years later a purchase agreement was made. Since then, many acres were added to the initial holdings.

Interested in county development, he was active in the Montana Seed Show and worked with the Extension Service and state forestry nursery. There are more than 30 varieties of trees and shrubs growing on the Kegel farmstead.

Ken was a member of the Blaine County Development program and the Montana Stockgrowers Association. He ran unsuccessfully as a Republican candidate for the state Legislature in 1963 and 1965. Later, Ken was contacted by state District Court Judge Elwell to accept an appointment to fill a vacancy on the Blaine County Commission, which he declined. He wrote and supplied articles for the Blaine County History Book.

His interest in our nation's youth resulted in his appointment as a trustee for Yellowstone Boys' Ranch, and as a group adviser for 32 Montana 4H'ers on a trip to Washington, D.C.

As a 4-H leader, Ken served as county president, district president, and as a member of the state board. He organized an exchange of 4-H'ers from New York to visit Blaine County, and the next year, Blaine County members visited the New York clubs.

Ken's family served as hosts for exchange students from Australia and Columbia. Five high school boys from Wisconsin took turns and spent three summers working on the Kegel farm.

In later years, he enjoyed making and repairing furniture in his woodshop. That interest led Ken on an unending quest to collect and restore antiques, most of them coming from the farm junkyard. Ken also collected stamps and coins and created stained glass items.

Survivors include his wife, Clarice; sons, Dan of Turner and Kerry (Susy) of Ontario, Ore.; daughter, Nancy Jones (Ed) Schafer (former first lady of North Dakota); five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Anna Kegel; brothers, Arthur, Fred and Charles; sisters, Marjorie Knapton and Alice Tollefson; and one grandson, Scott Leo.

Memorials may be made to the American Lutheran Church, Turner, MT, and Bear Paw Hospice, 30 W. 13th St., Havre, MT 59501.

Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook is handling arrangements.

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THE BLAINE CO. JOURNAL NEWS-OPINION Wednesday, March 23, 2005

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Kenneth C. "Ken" Kegel

Kenneth C. "Ken" Kegel, 83, a life-long resident of the Turner farming community, died of lung cancer at his home on Sunday, March 20, 2005. Funeral service is scheduled for 11:00 am. on Wednesday, March 23rd (today), in the American Lutheran Church in Turner. with Pastor Scott Hedegaard officiating. Burial will take place in the Wing Cemetery immediately following the service. Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook is handling the arrangements.

Ken was born on October 10, 1921 in the family home at Little Jewel, MT to Charles Fredrick and Anna (Houska) Kegel. He was the seventh of ten children and lived most of his life less than a hall-mile from his birthplace 00 the Kegel family homestead. He farmed the land there for over 50 years.

After attending the Little Jewel country school for seven years, Ken transferred to the Turner Public School. He graduated with I he 'Vu rner Iii gh School ('lass of 1939.

Two years later he was called to take his physical exam br induction into the 11.5. Military Seivice. Being classified 4-F and in formed that no hit ore exams would he scheduled, he continued to help his father with the farm work.

In 1940 Ken attended a iii rse in radio and writ i mig communications in Spokane. In 1(141 and 1942 lie was enrolled at Northern Montana CoIlege in Havre, and it was there that he met Clarice Habedank. They were married in the Malta Lutheran Church on August 6. 1944. During the winters of 1944 and 1945 Ken worked as a fireman out of Whitefish and Havre for the Great Northen Railroad.

In 1946 he rented his father's farm and a few years later a purchase agreement was made. Since then many acres have been added to the initial holdings.

Interested in County development, Ken was active in the Montana Seed Show and worked with the Extension Services and the State Extension Nursery. There are more than 30 varieties of trees and shrubs growing on the Kegel farmstead.

Ken was a member of the Blaine County Development Program and the Montana Stockgrowers Association. He ran successfully as a Republican candidate for the State Legislature in 1963 and 1965. Later he was contacted by Judge Elwell to accept an appointment to fill a vacancy on the Blain County Commission, which he declined. He wrote and supplied articles for the Blain County History Book.

His interest in our nation's youth resulted in his appointment as a trustee for the Yellowstone Boys' Ranch, and he also was a group advisor for 32 Montana 4-H'ers on a trip to Washington, DC. As a 4-H leader, Ken served as County President, District President and as a member of the State Board. He organized an exchange of 4-H'ers from New York to visit Blame County, and the next year Blaine County members visited New York clubs.

Ken's family served as hosts for Foreign Exchange students from Australia and Columbia. Five high school boys from Wisconsin took turns and spent three summers working on the Kegel farm.

In later years Ken enjoyed making and repairing furniture in his woodshop. That interest led him on an unending quest to collect and restore antiques-most of them coming from the farm junkyard. "I have so many projects going, I hope there will be time to finish them all," he would often say. He also collected stamps and coins, and he created stained glass items.

Ken is survived by his wife Clarice of Turner; two sons, Dan of Turner and Kerry (Susy) of Ontario, OR; one daughter, Nancy Jones Schafer (former first lady of North Dakota) and her husband Ed; seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Arthur, Fred and Charles; two sisters, Marjorie Knapton and Alice Tollefson; and one grandson, Scott Leo.

Those wishing to make lasting gifts in Ken's memory are asked to remember the American Lutheran Church in Turner and the Bear Paw Hospice 30 West 13th St., Havre. MT 59501).

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