Kenny S Thungc

Kenny S. Thungc was born in the Bouh Yangh Village of Luang Namtha, Laos to Fou Seng Tong Saetern and Lai Fey Saechao. He immigrated to the U.S. on March 11, 1980 and settled in Sacramento, CA. He is survived by his wife, 2 children, 5 stepchildren, 10 grandchildren, 6 siblings, stepmom Fam Fiey Saechao, and a countless number of family and friends.

Kenny spent most of his life in Sacramento, CA before relocating to Portland, OR in 2007. Kenny was a devoted father to his two children, Christopher Thon Thin Thungc and Alexis May Thin Thungc, who he shared with his former wife Seng Kouay Saepharn. He was a loving husband and stepfather to his current wife, Koy Choy Saepharn and her five children; Kaochoy Saepharn, Mayluang Tracey Saechao, Nailuang Jim Saechao, Kaeluang Lisa Forman, and Sanluang Andrew Saechao.

Kenny was a man who wore many hats. A husband, a father, a friend, a brother and a colleague. He was a traditional Mien man with the greatest respect for his culture. Being educated in the western culture, he also served as a liaison between the Mien and the outer community. An active member of the Iu-Mien Community, he devoted much of his life in service of his people. Kenny was the youngest and the only person among the U.S. Iu Mien to be democratically elected by the entire U.S. Iu Mien community to the presidency of Iu Mien American National Coalition, Inc (IMANC). He served as IMANC President from 1996-2000. During his term, he focused on educating the younger generation and uniting the Iu-Mien people as a whole in an effort to preserve the Iu-Mien culture.

In 2006, he was unanimously appointed by the Board of Directors of IMANC to be the chairman of the U.S. Iu Mien 30th Anniversary Celebration. A historical event, which took place on July 07, 2007 and attended by many Iu Mien leaders, professors, and other officials from the People's Republic of China, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, France, and Canada.

Aside from his community service work, he worked as a Freelance Interpreter for a majority of his life. Being fluent in Thai, Lao and Mien, he was able to serve a large portion of the Southeast Asian community and often acted as an advisor and consultant. Outside of Kenny’s professional life, you can find him enjoying some of his favorite pastimes, which included fishing, hunting, ocean diving, cooking, and traveling.