Kenneth Morris Lien, 92, of Vancouver, WA, went to be with his Lord and Savior on February 21, 2018.
Ken was born on August 7, 1925 in Janesville, MN, to Mabel and Selmer Lien. He was raised in Milnor, ND, where he helped on the farm and in his uncle’s restaurant. After graduating from Milnor High School in 1943 he moved to Portland, OR. Shortly thereafter he joined the Marine Corp. and trained for landing operations to secure Guam from the Japanese. He honorably served his country during World War II and upon discharge in 1946 he returned to Portland.
He graduated in 1950 from the University of Portland with honors in Business Administration. While at the University of Portland he played football and basketball for the Pilots. One of his many jobs while attending college was working at the US Postal Service, where he developed his love for stamp collecting.
Ken met Irma Fritz during these years and they married April 3,1948 at Peace Lutheran Church in Portland, OR. Ken and Irma welcomed four daughters and enjoyed busy years with his family.
Ken started with Benjamin Franklin Savings and Loan in 1955, and 33 years later retired as a Senior Vice President. Ken’s work ethic was one of his most notable qualities. As part of his bank training he spent two summers at the University of Indiana Graduate School of Business. He was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran church. Ken was on of the Board of Directors for Concordia University, Concordia Foundation, Lutheran Church Extension Fund, NW District of the Lutheran Church, NW Health Foundation, Good Shepherd/Bethseda Lutheran Home, the YMCA, Dwyer Hospital, Providence Hospital, Lutheran Homes and Hospital, PACC Health Insurance, Hollywood Boosters, Hollywood Lions, and President of Portland Chapter 37 of the American Savings & Loan Institute. In 1980, he was instrumental in starting the Concordia College Foundation and because of his dedication and much involvement with Concordia in 2000, he received an honorary doctorate degree in Law.
Ken and Irma loved to travel and took many trips around the United States and abroad with their friends. He especially enjoyed time with family, taking road trips and spending time on the Oregon Coast. In his later retirement years he enjoyed Sudoku and jigsaw puzzles.
Ken is survived by his wife, Irma, and his daughters Joy (Jim), Marsha (Tom), Sharon (Myron), and Karen (Bob); and his grandchildren; Matthew, Joshua, Vanessa, Noah, Kelley, Nathaniel, Michelle, Lori, Philip, Mark, Amy and Kaitlyn, and eleven great grandchildren and his step-brothers Richard Lien (Deb) and Brad Lien (Terri),
Memorial donations in Ken’s memory can be made to:
Concordia University,Portland: www.cu-portland.edu, Timber Bay www.timberbay.org, Bethlehem Lutheran Church:www.blcfamily.org
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