Kenneth C. Nelson

Ken was born May 31, 1931 in LaCygne, Kansas. He was the second child of Sterling Creston and Mabel Nelson. The couple had six children, giving Kenny two brothers and three sisters. His father worked as a farmer and well driller and the family lived on many small farms in Eastern Kansas and Western Missouri, spending one year in Oregon.

Rural life meant that children went to work on the farm at an early age. There was little money available in depression era Kansas, so if you wanted something, you made it, and if something broke, you fixed it. Kenny developed mechanical skills and a capacity for hard work at an early age. These would serve him and his family well in later life. Despite a farm accident that amputated most of three fingers on his dominant hand, Kenny became quite adept at all tasks involving use of his hands.

Kenny also took his schooling seriously. He was a good student, graduating from Drexel High School in Drexel, Missouri in 1949, a substantial accomplishment for that era and locale. After graduation, he took a road trip to the West Coast in an old Chevy with a high school friend. The 18 year old boys had little money and Kenny’s emerging skills as a mechanic became critical as they nursed the failing car along. When they ran completely out of money in Oregon, a farmer gave them work in exchange for some good meals and just enough gas money to get back home. Following his experience on his graduation trip, Ken became a resolute Ford man, referring to GMCs as a “general mess of crap.”

Ken married LaVerne Smith, a girl from his hometown, in 1952. The marriage produced four children, three boys and a girl. They settled down in Selah in 1955.

When Ken first arrived in the Yakima Valley in the 50s, he did farm work. His mechanical and driving skills got him a job as a truck driver and mechanic for Record Hauling. He later worked for Chef Reddy Foods in Yakima, maintaining food processing lines. Subsequently, he worked for the Big Y (later Snokist) where he learned refrigeration engineering, which would be his occupation for the rest of his working career. In 1970 he began working for Quality Storage in Moxee, where he helped design and then run a large controlled atmosphere apple storage facility. His final working years saw him managing CA facilities for Matson Fruit and Zirkle Fruit in Selah.

Ken employed his mechanical skills at home as well. His abilities were broad-ranging. He could wire or plumb a house, install a sprinkler system, was a good carpenter, a passable welder and an accomplished mechanic. He built teeter-totters and swing sets for his young children, then go-carts and mini bikes when they got older. He restored and modified an old golf cart and built a go-cart for his grandchildren to ride. He even joined one son in a bike building experiment. And if something broke, be it a refrigerator or a car, he was the go to guy in his extended family to get it fixed.

Ken was blessed with two loving families having met Shirley Slick of Selah in 1978. After a six year courtship they were married on June 22, 1984 in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Ken embraced Shirley’s two daughters and son, and they lovingly embraced him as their own. The couple built a new home in Selah where they have lived the past 27 years.

Ken liked country music and was a good swing dancer who enjoyed giving not only his wife, but his daughters, daughters-in-law, and granddaughter a go round on the dance floor. He enjoyed a cold beer, but his drink of choice was a “Tall Mac Seven.”

Ken and Shirley’s blended family of seven children produced 14 grandchildren, currently ranging in age from 27 years to one year. They also have two great grandchildren. Ken had inherited his father’s love of small children, and the large family was nothing short of a blessing to him.

After retirement Ken and Shirley took many extended car trips throughout the United States. They always maintained a large garden at their home in Selah with produce to share with everyone. After he built a very large garage he began occupying his time restoring a 1919 Ford Model T, which he proudly drove through the Selah Community Days Parade escorting his then eight year old granddaughter and taking 1st place in that division. Later he restored a 1935 Ford Coupe. In keeping with his resolution to Ford, Ken also drove a Ford pickup and had a Ford tractor.

Ken loved his grandchildren and spent hours playing with them, telling stories, attending their various school sporting events, playing checkers and cards, getting his invisible “bee” out of his pocket or just “goofing” off. When they were older he loved going on drives with them.

Years of hard work gave Kenny many orthopedic issues in his last years, keeping him mostly house bound and unable to “get out there and get something done.” Though frustrated by his health, he always maintained a positive attitude and outlook. At times he would express a readiness to be with his brothers. His grieving family finds solace in knowing they are together now.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents, an older brother Dale (Jeannie) of LaCygne, Kansas, and younger brother Don (Joy) of Pomeroy, WA. He is survived by his wife Shirley of the family home in Selah; his sisters Loretta Reynolds (Kenny) and Marilyn Morgan, both of LaCygne, and Betty McDonald (Chuck) of Louisburg, Kansas; his four children, Rod Nelson (Lani-Kai) of Yakima, Val Nelson (Maddy) of Seattle, Renee Goodman (Larry) of Yakima, and Greg Nelson (Elizabeth) also of Yakima; his step-children, Pam Adler (Ron) of Yakima, Cindy Johnson (Rick) of Brownstown, and Monte Slick (Cheryl) of Yakima. Also surviving him are his 14 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family.

The family wishes to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Gabriel Lascar, the staff at Memorial Hospital, and Total Care for their care and support.

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday March 16, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. at Keith & Keith Terrace Heights Chapel. A reception will follow at the Burning Tree Club House. Visit www.keithandkeith.com for service details and location, and to share a memory of Ken.