Kenneth Michael Vetter

Kenneth Michael Vetter, 62 of Wilton died, July 19, 2008 in Medcenter One Hospital after a short but courageous battle with cancer.

Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 24th at Church of Corpus Christi (1919 N. 2nd Street), Bismarck, with Rev. Chris Kadrmas, officiating. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Wilton.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 P.M. on Wednesday, July 23rd at the Bismarck Funeral Home with a Vigil and Rosary Service at 7 P.M. Visitation will continue Thursday from one hour prior to the service at the church.

Kenneth Michael Vetter was born in Emmons County, Linton, ND on Feb. 1, 1946 to Philip and Anne (Aberle) Vetter. Kenneth attended and graduated from St. Anthony’s Parochial School in Linton. After graduation, he started working for Farmers Union Oil Co. of Linton in July 1964.

On New Year’s Eve, 1964, Ken met Diane Engelhardt. They were married Oct. 23, 1965 at St. Philip’s Neri Catholic Church in Napoleon. After their marriage, they lived in Linton. In 1965, Ken joined the North Dakota National Guard. He was disappointed when after only six months of service; he was issued a medical discharge.

Ken was active in the Linton KC’s, Linton JC’s, Tuesday Night Bowling League, and Horseshoe Throwing League. He also taught Junior High CCD. In 1972 Ken was awarded “The Employee of the Year” award by the Linton JC’S.

In Nov. 1974, Ken became manager of Cenex in Gladstone, ND and while in Gladstone, Ken was active in the Gladstone KC’s, Dickinson Bowling League, Gladstone Athletic Association, Gladstone Fire Department and Gladstone City Council. In Dec. 1979, Ken became manager of Cenex in Wilton. In Wilton, he has been active in Wilton Lions Club, Sacred Heart Church Council, Wilton Ambulance, and Wilton Economic Development Council.

In 1994, Ken was instrumental in moving the Wilton Cenex Station from down town Wilton to the Southwest side of Wilton beside Highway 83. This was his pride and joy. In 1989, he was on the original board of directors when the Farmers Union Distribution Co-operative was formed. Ken loved to be outdoors and spent many hours working on the trees and lawn in his yard. He enjoyed driving through the countryside looking at the crops. His greatest joy and past time was spending time with his grandchildren and assisting his children in their projects. When someone needed to borrow something from Ken or needed him to do an odd chore for them, “No” was never an option. Ken was always willing to help. Ken was a “people” person. He loved to talk and be around people. There weren’t many places Ken went where someone didn’t know him. He was a Member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wilton.

He is survived by his wife Diane, of Wilton, his children, daughter Denice and her fiancée Mark Maslowski, of Mandan, son Kinley and his special friend Julie Johnson, of Mandan, Kinley’s children, Kinley II, and Sydney Jo, of Mandan, Mercedes, of Rapid City, SD, daughter Susan (Steve) Schlosser and their son, Colton, of Bismarck, son Kenny II, (Michelle) of West Fargo, his mother, Ann Vetter, of Strasburg, sisters, Viola (Eugene) Gefroh, of Hague, Judy (Wesley) Loebs, of Bismarck, Marlene (Dwight) Perkins, of Dilworth, MN, his brothers Larry, of Lincoln and Philip, of Linton, his brothers-in-law, Clinton (Ruth) Engelhardt, of Huntley, MT, John (Sharon), Steve, Jerry (Mary) and Kenny (Brenda) Engelhardt, all of Napoleon, Larry (Maria) Engelhardt, of Dundee, MI, Michael Engelhardt, of Taylor, MI, Keith Engelhardt, of Las Vegas, NV, two, sisters-in-law, Jane Vetter, Bismarck, Karen Lang, Napoleon; one aunt and uncle, Joe and Rose Aberle, Linton; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Ken was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Mike and Johanna Vetter; his maternal grandparents, August and Katie Aberle; his father, Philip; his brother, Ralph; his father and mother-in-law, Mike and Mary Engelhardt; brother-in-law, Wayne Lang.

Ken’s family would like to give a very special thank you for all the wonderful, loving care Ken received while at Medcenter One and to Dr. Reynolds.

May God bless and keep you safe. Rest in Peace, Ken. We love you and we will miss you so much. You were truly our rock in our lives.