Obituary of Kenneth Kristian Andersen

It is with heavy hearts that Joie, Lori, and Kelly announce the passing of our very sweet and caring father, Kenneth Kristian Andersen. Sadness comes with knowing we will miss dad very much, but a relief knowing he is now where he has wanted to be…with mom.

 

Dad’s life began on June 16, 1932 in his parents family home on a quarter of land 3 1/2 miles east of Lac Vert, SW16-41-17-W2 as is written on his birth certificate, as his place of birth. Dad was the second child of 5 born to Oluf Peter and Ida Marie Andersen. First came Bev, then dad, Vi, Dolly (Eleanor), and lastly Bruce. All 5 of the siblings were born at home with the help of a mid-wife, Mrs. Railton, who still has family in the Melfort area. The Andersen family then moved 1 mile east, to the present day Harvey and Marilyn Jackson farm. From there, Dad started his education at the nearby Service school, with Mrs. Barb Hardy as his teacher. Dad attended school there up until the end of Grade 7. In 1946 the Andersen family made a move once more to the family farm located 3 miles east of Pleasantdale. Here, dad worked with his dad on the family farm, and continued his education from Grades 8-12 in Daleville school and graduated in 1950. Dad left the family farm shortly after he graduated, and went to find work in Regina, with his close friend Jack McCoshen. Dad started work with Regina Motor Products as a parts delivery person. In 1954 dad came back to Pleasantdale and got a job with SaskPower working on a maintenance crew throughout northeast Saskatchewan. In late fall of 1956, dad and a few of his friends were cruising the streets of Melfort in dad’s new ’56 Chevy Bel Air, when they spotted a carload of girls and pulled them over. A conversation started and a special young lady, named Marylyn Cooke, caught the eye of our dad, and this is when their story together began.

 

In the early months of 1957, dad was working with SaskPower in Fort Qu’Appelle, and the two lovebirds had a long distance love affair, as mom was working with SaskTel as a switchboard operator. This love affair led to their wedding day on August 17, 1957, in the United church at Codette, Sask. Mom and dad spent their honeymoon in a small travel trailer beside the lake at Fort Qu’Appelle. Later that year mom and dad moved to Watson and this is where their first child, Joie, was born on September 22, 1958. Shortly thereafter, the small family of 3 moved back to the family farm at Pleasantdale. In 1959, Dad left SaskPower and started farming with his brother Bruce and their father Oluf. On September 30, 1960, another girl was born, Lori. In 1961, dad, Bruce and their father purchased the Chevrolet/Versatile dealership in Naicam from Frank and Earl Ponath; it then became named Andersen Motors. In 1963, dad’s sister Beverly and husband Arliss Glencross, moved to Naicam from Calgary. Arliss worked in the garage during the winter months and helped on the farm from spring seeding to the end of harvest. This farming operation needed a name, so KBA Ranch was formed, which stood for Ken, Bruce, and Arliss. Skip ahead a few years, and last but not least, Kelly was born on February 25, 1965. Their family was now complete.

 

Farming was a passion for dad, and he took great pride in his work. There was no GPS guidance in those days, but dad’s rows with the John Deere seed drill were so straight, you could shoot a bullet down the row and never hit a leaf on either side. Dad worked hard, day in and day out, his whole life. Whether it was seeding the crop on an open tractor, spraying weeds on the same tractor, or stooking grain into the thrashing machine as a boy. As tired as he was, dad never complained a day in his life, and it was this way right up to his passing. Dad always put his family first, he was the provider, and he made sure his children always got what we needed, but most of all his never-ending love for his family.

 

 

 

 

We all have so many memories with mom and dad. Joie’s fondest memories were the trips out to the Okanagan for summer holidays. We always went as soon as school was done for the year, right after dad was finished spraying the spring’s crop for weeds. We had a half ton truck with a cap over the box. Dad cut out a piece of plywood and fit it sideways in the box, threw a mattress on it, and 3 happy kids rode to B.C. with our Coleman tent trailer in tow. We stayed at Wood’s Lake where we picked cherries and swam in the lake. This is where we always had our first feed of corn on the cob, which was grown right beside the campground.

 

Lori remembers how dad was the most kind and gentle man that she has ever known. He was a hard working farmer and she thought he was indestructible. She was dad’s sidekick and “hired man”, feeding the cows and pigs, and cleaning the pig barn before school in the mornings. She often wondered why she didn’t have any boyfriends, but now when she smells any pig barn, she knows why. This was good with dad though, because he didn’t want to lose his “Ding” to boys, too early. Lori loved growing up on the farm and working side by side with dad. It was a very difficult decision for dad to move off the farm, but it had to be made. Dad made many friends while in Caskey Place, but when he moved into Nirvana, the care aids and nurses took such good care of dad, it was like home for him. He was a bit of a flirt and made all the care aids think they were his number one. We respected dad’s decision to refuse treatment when he knew there was no hope as to the outcome. We will miss him dearly and we all know he is now with mom, where he’s always wanted to be.

 

I have many fond memories with dad. From fishing trips in summer and winter, working side by side cutting and splitting wood for our home’s furnace, to being partners in harvest time as grain truck drivers. Most of all though, I often looked to dad for advice or his opinion. I particularly remember a chilly morning in January of 1991, we were sitting at the kitchen table eating breakfast, dad looked over to me and said, “Well, don’t you think it’s maybe time you proposed to Andrea?”. So that morning dad and I drove to Tisdale, I picked out an engagement ring, and that afternoon, I took the best advice my dad ever gave me. (Andrea still admits that if it wasn’t for dad, we’d still be dating!). Dad taught me the important things in life: like opening a door for a lady and to let her walk in front; work a hard days work and to take pride in that work. He taught me that a handshake was not only a greeting, it also means respect, honor, and trust.

 

Dad was pre-deceased by his loving wife of 63 years, Marylyn, his parents, Ida and Oluf Andersen, sisters Beverly (Arliss) Glencross, and Dolly (Orest) Lisitza, and son-in-law Donnie Rumberger. He leaves behind his 3 children, Joie (Jerome) Hagel, Lori (Tim) Marchuk, and Kelly (Andrea) Andersen. His 6 grandchildren, Jaime (Darren) Trautman, Jenna (Nate) Chalaturnyk, Stephen and Kris Marchuk, Kyle and Ryan Andersen, and 4 great-grandchildren, Braelyn and Caiden Trautman, Ivy and Nora Chalaturnyk, his sister Vi (Don) Shields, brother Bruce (Lila) Andersen, and brother-in-law Bill (Dorothy) Cooke, along with many nieces and nephews. Dad also leaves four very important people that will remember him always, Dena Clouthier and Joel Hoffman, Justin Hoffman, and Colan Schryvers. Thanks guys for making dad feel like one of the gang.

 

A Private Family Service will be held at a later date.  Memorial contributions in memory of Ken may be directed to Nirvanna Assisted Living Residents Council and / or Pleasantdale Cemetery Fund.

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