Kenneth Merle Harstad
March 07, 1932 - September 24, 2017
Kenneth (Ken) Merle Harstad, 85, passed away on September 24, 2017, at the Lawton/Ft. Sill Veteran's Center. He was born on March 7, 1932 in Donnelly, Minnesota. He was born to George Edward (1900) and Alpha Marie (Olson-1902) Harstad. He was the middle child of ten children of who helped with the family farm. Kenneth attended a one-room school house and graduated in the eighth grade. He entered military service during the Korean War on August 27, 1952. He served as an honor guard and MP. While in the service, he was a boxer. He left military service on August 26, 1954.
After serving in the army, he worked at Sears Roebuck and Company installing TV antennas and then selling and fixing sewing machines. During this time, Kenneth began to begin his construction career on the side. This was his passion in life! He loved to draw out house plans and see his vision come to fruition. He also enjoyed telling jokes, stories, singing and dancing. He was also close to God.
Kenneth married Betty May (Ashby-first wife) Harstad. They have four children: Sherrie (Dennis) Krause, Kenneth Harstad Jr. (Shelly Johnson), Terry Harstad (Dorrie Schmieding), and Debra (Steve) McCollough. He and his second wife, Betty (Ski – second wife) Harstad raised six children: Jan (Danny) Walsh, Tony Ciskowski (Renee Elliott), Steve Ciskowski, Sharon (Ciskowski) Brasher, Cheryl Ciskowski, and John Mark Ciskowski (Kristy Esteland). Kenneth celebrated 18 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren with 2 on the way.
Kenneth is preceded in death by his two parents, George and Alpha; brother Clinton Harstad, sister Vivian (Harstad) Giese, brother Odell Harstad, ex-wife Betty (Ashby) Harstad, son Steve Ciskowski, daughter Cheryl Ciskowski and granddaughter Heather Harstad (Terry Harstad). Survivors include sister Georgia (Harstad) Smith, brother Donald Harstad, brother George Harstad Jr., brother Emmett Harstad, sister Leona (Harstad) Carlson, brother Eugene Harstad.
Graveside Service
Friday, September 29, 2017
2:00 PM
Fort Sill National Cemetery
Jake Dunn Road
Elgin, Oklahoma 73538
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