Kenneth Redka

Kenneth (Ken) Redka, 93, passed away peacefully Sunday, February 25, 2018 at Senior Suites in Hazen.

Services will be held on Saturday, March 17 at 10 AM CST at St. Matthew Lutheran Church with Pastor Kirk Peters officiating.  Burial with military honors will follow the service at Hazen Cemetery.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.

Ken was born at home on the family farm near Larson, ND on May 11, 1924 to Fred and Alma (Pasche) Redka.  He was baptized and confirmed at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Larson. He was raised on the family farm. Because times were lean, his parents could not afford to send him to high school.  In order for him to continue his education, they sent him to live with his half-brother Gordon and wife Sarah in Minneapolis for two years.  Ken completed his junior and senior years at Columbus High School and graduated in 1943.

In 1944, Ken joined the army and served for two years during WWII. He served overseas for 13 months with the harbor craft company in the European theater of operations during the Rhineland campaign. He operated many types of heavy equipment, hauling supplies and personnel to the docks and supervised the unloading and stowing of cargo on transport ships.  He was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant in June 1946.  He earned a victory medal, American European African Middle East Theater ribbon, W/1 Bronze battle star, two overseas service bars and a good conduct medal.

After the army, Ken began working at Truax Traer Kincaid Mine in Columbus. He married Ethel Roness on April 18, 1948 at St. Johns Lutheran Church.  They had three daughters Gayle, LouAnn and Mary.  The family lived in Columbus until 1967 and then moved to Hazen where Ken worked as a pit foreman at the Glenharold Mine of Consolidation Coal Co.  He retired in 1985.

Ethel was the love his life and after she developed Alzheimer’s, he cared for her at home until he was no longer able to on his own. He visited her in the nursing home almost every day for eight years.  Ethel wasn’t able to communicate, but in Ken’s heart he knew that she could feel his presence.  He would hold her hand and say the Lords Prayer each time he visited. He missed her dearly after she passed away in 2012.  They were married for almost 64 years. He was a man of strong faith and conviction.  He attended church regularly all his life and while in the army, carried a small Bible in his pocket. He was member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church.  Ken especially enjoyed his volunteer work with the St. Matthew Braille workers and Lutheran Braille ministries.  When asked about his faith by daughter Gayle, she quoted him saying, “Live your life with God in it. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and the rest will follow.”

Ken was an excellent cook and liked trying new recipes. He enjoyed planting a garden, growing fresh vegetables, grilling, playing pinochle, camping, fishing and listening to polka music. He had silly nicknames for his daughters and for each of his son-in-laws, and a few for the grandkids too. He loved airplanes!  He was able to take flying lessons under the GI bill and obtained a pilots license around 1955.  For a short time, he owned a J-3 Cub.  He kept his pilots license renewed and always wanted to buy a plane after retiring. He didn’t get that plane, but bought a motor home instead.  He and Ethel traveled here and there for a few years before buying a small cabin on Lake Sakakawea near Pick City.  Ken loved spending time at the cabin tinkering, mowing the lawn and fishing from the dock. But what he enjoyed the most was the quiet peacefulness at the lake. The kids and grandkids also loved spending time at the cabin.  Breezy Point Twill Do!

Ken is survived by his daughters, LouAnn (Glenn) Sandau, Hazen, ND, and Mary (Brant) Krause, East Wenatchee, WA; his grandchildren, Rebecca Affolter, Charles (Angie) Affolter, Shana (Kirk) Vollmuth, Nikki (Ryan) Wolf, Jace (Ellen) Krause, and Evan (Yuliya) Krause; his great-grandchildren, Steven, Sierra and Sawyer Froemke; Jonathan, Jaydn, Joshua and James Affolter; Brady and Zack Vollmuth; Hadyn, Reese and Burke Wolf; Leo and Greta Krause and Ellis Krause; sister-in-law Lois Jean Redka; brother-in-law, John Crowell; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents; daughter Gayle and son-in-law Earl Affolter; his wife Ethel; brothers, Donald, Marlow, and Arvin; sister, Donnalene Crowell; and half-brothers Gordon and Adolf Laiske.

The family would like to thank the staff at Senior Suites for the wonderful care they gave to Ken.  In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to Hazen Senior Suites.

Arrangements conducted by Barbot Funeral Home, Beulah and Hazen.

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