Kenneth Hast, a Son of Norway, was born on June 8, 1925, in Los Angeles, California. His father and mother had both come to America from Norway to work for a few years in California, both planned to return to Norway. His father Johannes (Joe) Hast was employed as an engineer in Los Angeles while his mother Annie Christensen had come as a nanny in San Francisco to the Wannamaker family. They had met on the ship to America, however, neither were coming as immigrants, rather they were both accepting short-term employment positions in California to experience life in America. After meeting on the trip from Norway to New York City, they began writing to each other while living in different parts of California. Annie made the decision to return to Norway, but before returning, she agreed to come down from San Francisco to Los Angeles and visit Joe Hast prior to her departure. She never left Los Angeles, she married Joe. They were a bit of a miss matched couple, with Annie being about five foot tall and Joe being well over six feet, but it was to be a perfect union. Joe enjoyed living in California and became involved in speed boat racing and race cars. He loved building engines and racing.
Kenneth would be the first of three children over a period of 12 years, he would have two younger sisters Ann Margaret and Joan. Annie and Joe would visit Norway often, but never moved back as planned. Joe became an American citizen in the 1940’s but Annie remained a Norwegian citizen until becoming a naturalized citizen in the 1960’s. Kenneth was born an American citizen, but in technically, did not qualify since neither of his parents were considered permanent residents and were foreign citizens living and working in the United States. Therefore, Kenneth was a Norwegian citizen at birth.
The Hast family would move from California, but rather than to Norway it would be to Texas. The depression hit California extremely hard, and Joe was offered a job in Texas, so the Hast family moved to Dallas, Texas, to a neighborhood adjacent to Love Field Airport.
Annie wanted the children to learn English and tried to teach them as early as possible, however Kenneth’s first grade teacher made a deal with Annie, the teacher would teach him English and Annie would teach him Norwegian. Annie also wanted her children to excel in music. Kenneth played the piano and violin. As a senior in high school, he would become the first violinist of the Texas State Orchestra. Kenneth attended Obadiah Knight Elementary School and graduated from North Dallas High School in May of 1942. Kenneth also played sports including football and was considered tall at the time at about five foot ten inches.
Kenneth served in the US Navy, having joined in May of 1942 he served on the USS President Hayes, a newly commissioned Jackson Class Attack Transport build in 1940-41. On the evening of August 7th, 1942, the USS Hayes under fire, delivered Marines to Guadalcanal. For the next 2 months, they continued to bring replacement Marines and critical supplies. Kenneth was one of those who transported those Marines to Guadalcanal piloting under constant fire, his Higgins Boat. Kenneth and his shipmates witnessed the explosion of the ammunition ship USS Mt. Hood. Kenneth was chosen to lead a rescue party to search for survivors. The Hayes received seven Battle Stars for combat and on June 30, 1943, the crew of the Hayes was credited with shooting down 7 Japanese fighter planes. Kenneth was extremely proud of his service in the Navy. He received three Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medals with 3 Stars, and the Philippine Liberation Campaign Ribbons with 2 Stars. Kenneth achieved the rank of Chief Petty Officer at the age of twenty-one. He finished his career transporting US troops to Japan.
Kenneth was discharged from the Navy on February 22, 1946, and returning home to Dallas, Texas, in time to see his father receive the United States Defense Department’s Medal of Honor for his service during World War II.
On August 23, 1946, Kenneth married the love of his life Helen Marie Anderson, whom he had met on a blind date. Helen The daughter of Alfred and Olive Anderson graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School at 16 years old and worked as a secretary in downtown Dallas and was a member of an Ice Skating Show at the Adolphus Hotel. Kenneth and Helen became members of the Dallas Figure Skating Club where Helen would continue to skate in Ice Shows. They were both excellent skiers and in over thirty years, made many trips to Sun Valley, Idaho, and Vail and Breckenridge, Colorado.
Kenneth and Helen moved to Oak Cliff where they would spend the next forty years raising three sons Wayne, Jimmy, and Jerry and being involved in the community. Kenneth had three years of college through the Navy and would complete his degree over the next few years. He would eventually teach industrial arts to adults with the Dallas School District. Within a few years, he would be recruited to head the training program for Temco Aircraft, later named Ling, Temco, Vaught Aviation. Here, he would eventually be in-charge of building jet planes and rockets. At Temco, Kenneth and a specially chosen group of five men assembled an experimental fighter jet by hand. Later, he returned to the Dallas Independent School District to head their adult programs at Skyline High School.
Kenneth was an Eagle Scout and having had three sons became Scout Master of Troop 504 at Oak Cliff Lutheran Church, a church that he and Helen had helped establish as charter members. His sons would also become Eagle Scouts, as did many other scouts under his direction.
Kenneth retired from the Dallas School District at age 62 and made the decision not to complete his doctorial dissertation, even though his first draft had been accepted. Kenneth and Helen would move to Bella Vista, Arkansas where they would live on Lake Ann for the next decade. Later, they would move back to Texas to their lake house on Lake Tawakoni. Kenneth and Helen loved traveling and spent retirement years visiting many foreign countries including Mexico, Canada, Great Britain, France, Italy and of course Norway (to visit family).
Kenneth was preceded in death by his father and his mother, his devoted wife Helen Hast, brothers-in-laws Stan Carlson and Jack Lindblom, many uncles and cousins, and a host of life long-friends. He was more than ready to join them in Heaven with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
He leaves behind a wife Doris Hast, three sons, Wayne and his wife Shirley, Jimmy, and Jerry and his wife Cheryl, sisters Ann Lindblom and Joan Carlson, many nephews and two of his and Helen’s lifelong friends Audrey Tweed and un-official daughter Karen Luschar, also two grandchildren Rachelle Hast, and Gregory Hast.
A special thank you to the Christian Care Community in Mesquite, Texas and Christine Hansen and Stephanie Paul for all that you do for so many in your care.
In Lieu of Flowers, donations can be made to DFW Honor Flight.
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