Memorial services for Kenneth Baesler, age 70, of Chehalis, WA formerly of New Leipzig, ND will be at 10:30 a.m. MT on Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at the Trinity Lutheran Church north of New Leipzig, ND. Pastor John Amundson will officiate with inurnment in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery. Full military honors will be afforded by the Baesler-Achtenberg American Legion Post #211 of New Leipzig.


The life of a man cannot be 'summed up' in a mere paragraph or two. We can start with the day of his birth and end with the day of passing, but that doesn't really tell you about the mark he left on this world. That is where we come in...'We' are his family, friends, neighbors, and people who were touched by the spirit of the man known as Kenneth William Baesler Sr.


He was born on June 25, 1939 to William and Elsie Baesler in a small farm house a few miles from New Leipzig, ND. He grew up on the family farm with his two brothers, Gordon and Dennis, and attended grade school in the 'one room school-house' a couple miles away. As a student at New Leipzig High School, he was active in many sports, lettering in football, basketball and track, concurrently playing the tube in the marching band. He took great pride in the fact that he was a member of, and confirmed at the Evangelical Lutheran Trinity Church.


A passion for airplanes, Ken was drawn to the United States Air Force. In 1957, he began boot-camp in Biloxi, MS and soon after, began training to become an Air Borne Radar Operator. While stationed in California, he became a member of the KC-121 Flight Crew, flying many missions along the Pacific Coastline.


1958 brought about a major change, when Ken asked his Commanding Officer for permission to marry his high-school sweetheart, Marjorie Ann Hintz. The response from his CO: "I hope that getting married will settle you down!"


Married June 28, 1959, Ken and Marjorie began their long and happy life together as apartment managers at a small complex in Sacramento, CA.


After his Honorable Discharge in 1961, Ken answered another call to his passion and began working in Renton, WA at the Boeing Plant as an 'In Tank Pressure Mechanic' and later became a '1st Line Manager.' It was in this capacity that he excelled at solving problems and motivating his crew to meet customer expectation and production schedule, thus resulting in an award declaring him 'Supervisor of the Month.'


Airplanes were not his only interest. The love and family drove Ken to depths of pride and emotion known to all around him. Sons, Jeffrey Duane and Kenneth William Jr., were his best friends and the center of his world. He was active in little league, camping, fishing and ushering the boys into adulthood.


35 years of hard work paid off and in 1998, Ken retired. The love of Small Town USA beckoned once more. Ken and Marjorie settled down in Chehalis, WA and found joy, happiness and peace in the everyday life of chasing grandkids, traveling, gardening, driving his John Deer Tractor and share his wonderful and amazing insights, stories and adventures to anyone who would listen. In addition to retirement activities, Ken was passionate about preserving North Dakota State History and a moment of pride enveloped when, in the summer of 2009; his childhood church was appointed a historical landmark.


On October 25, 2009, Ken's spirit went to be with Jesus. His final bodily resting place will be in his birth town, New Leipzig, ND.


Kenneth William Baesler Sr.'s legacy, love and life run deep and he will be missed by all that he left behind. Be at ease in knowing that he is with many that have gone before him. He always felt it important that the people he touched know that he loved them and that they were always in his thoughts and prayers.


Rest peacefully loving husband, father, grandfather and friend.


Kenneth was grateful for having shared his life with his wife, Marjorie A. Baesler; two sons and daughters-in-law, Jeffrey D. and Denise D. Baesler, and Kenneth W. Jr. and Christa L. Baesler; four grandchildren, Hailey M., Curtis S., Kelsey T. and Kyla C. Baesler; and numerous friends.


Gone before Kenneth were his parents, William and Elsie Baesler; one daughter, Tammie Baesler; and two brothers, Dennis and Gordon Baesler.