Kenneth J. Haraldsen

Kenneth Julius Haraldsen, the son of Norwegian immigrants, died on April 21, 2017 in Centennial, CO. He was born on December 4, 1922 in a sod house near Buffalo, SD to Knut Haraldsen and Jennie Alette Olstad Amundsen Haraldsen. Ken was the middle of nine children. Ken graduated from Harding County High School in Buffalo, SD in 1941.

In November 1942, Ken enlisted in the Army Air Corp. He served with the 8th Army Air Corp in England until being transferred to the 106th Infantry to fight in the Battle of the Bulge at the Battle of the Ardennes Forrest in Belgium. He was also a warden for a German POW camp on the Rhine River in Germany. After the war, Ken joined the Air Force Reserves, retiring after 42 years in the service. He married Opal Gertrude Warner on February 24, 1946 in Buffalo, SD and had four daughters.

Ken studied at the Central Bible Institute in Springfield, MO, obtaining two bachelor degrees in the Bible and Theology in 1954 through the G.I. Bill. He worked for the U.S. Post Office for 27 years, was a Reserve Police Officer and a Chaplain in the Civil Air Patrol. Ken enjoyed writing Cowboy Poetry and playing the harmonica. He served as the Sunday School Superintendent at Amazing Grace Church, was a member of the Englewood Lions Club, American Legion 8th Air Force Association, Police Volunteers and the Election Commission with the City of Englewood, CO. In 2007 he received the 9 Who Care Award from 9News. In 2013 Ken was the Grand Marshall of the Sheridan Parade. Ken and Opal have resided in Englewood since 1955.

Ken was preceded in death by his wife, Opal, who passed in 2011. Survivors include his children, Elva R. Sitler of Englewood, CO, Joy M. Schoor of garden City, KS, Marlita S. Haraldsen of Englewood, CO and Nancy G . Wentz of Denver, CO; 6 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren; one brother, Erling Haraldsen of Salem, OR; three sisters, Ruth Bachman of Cavaliar, ND, Sophie Loftsgard of Hoople, ND and Alice Schaler of Tualatin, OR and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 am, Thursday, April 27, 2017 at Amazing Grace Church, 3325 S Federal, Englewood, CO. Visitation will be held from 6:00-8:00 pm, Wednesday, April 26 at Olinger Chapel Hill Mortuary, 6601 S Colorado Blvd, Centennial, CO. Burial will be held at 2:15 pm on Thursday in Fort Logan National Cemetery.