1953
William
2011
William Kennedy
March 4, 1953 — December 7, 2011
The funeral for William LeRoy "Bill" Kennedy will be held on Monday, December 12, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at the Starbuck Community Center at Starbuck, with Reverend Becky Worner officiating. Visitation will be on Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Starbuck Funeral Home. Burial will be at the East Zion Lutheran Cemetery, near Starbuck.
William LeRoy "Bill" Kennedy, son of LeRoy W. and Byrdella J. (Banister) Kennedy was born on March 4, 1953 in Morris, Minnesota. He spent his early childhood growing up on a farm just outside of Danvers MN, where he attended grade school. When Bill was in the 4th grade, his family moved to the family farm in Langhei Township, south of Starbuck, MN. Bill graduated from Starbuck High School in 1971. After high school Bill attended Alexandria Technical College in Alexandria, MN, and graduated in 1973 with a degree in carpentry. He began his own carpentry business and worked in the Starbuck area for several years. Bill was united in marriage to Marlene Braaten on August 2, 1975 at East Zion Lutheran Church near Starbuck. The couple continued to live in the Starbuck area, while Bill worked as a mechanic for John Deere in Benson and Morris. Bill and Marlene began farming south of Starbuck in 1983, and purchased Marlene's family homestead in 1988. Bill continued to farm until the fall of 2011. Bill's dream was that his son would one day take over the family farm. In the fall of 2010, Bill's dream came true when his son, Derek, joined the farming operation.
Bill was a member of the Pope County corn and soybean growers. He also served on the board at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. Bill was a man of strong faith and a faithful Christian servant. He loved God and was a strong spiritual leader in both his community and in his home. Bill was a member at East Zion Lutheran Church, and was a founding member of Shalom Community Lutheran Church. Over the years, he had served as a Sunday school teacher, church youth advisor, and has served on the church council.
Bill loved the outdoors. His love was farming but also enjoyed hunting and fishing in his spare time. Bill also loved to travel. The highlight of his year was taking long road trips with family and friends, traveling the back roads, and exploring God's magnificent creation. Family trips were not only a highlight for Bill, but also a priority. He always made sure that he had time for his family and friends, and if he didn't, he would find time. In the words of Bill, "There are three things in life that matter. God, Family, and Friends, the rest of it is just life."
After a 3 ½ year battle with cancer, Bill went home to be with his heavenly father on Wednesday, December 7, 2011 surrounded by his family, at his home near Starbuck. He was 58 years old.
He is survived by his wife, Marlene, Starbuck; one daughter, Kayla (Mike) Bowers, Glenwood; one son, Derek Kennedy, Starbuck; his father, LeRoy (Carol) Kennedy, Glenwood; one brother, Bob (Val) Kennedy, Bremerton, OR; and one sister, Jane Kennedy, Portland, OR. Bill was preceded in death by his mother, Byrdella Kennedy, and fathers-in-law, Franklin Braaten and Maynard Dahlseng.
Pallbearers for the funeral will be Eric Danielson, Gary Koos, David Pederson, Rick Pederseon, Rick Hauer, Mark Banister, Mark Hansen, Ried Richards and Ryan Kennedy.
Starbuck Funeral Home in Starbuck is in charge of the funeral arrangements.
William LeRoy "Bill" Kennedy, son of LeRoy W. and Byrdella J. (Banister) Kennedy was born on March 4, 1953 in Morris, Minnesota. He spent his early childhood growing up on a farm just outside of Danvers MN, where he attended grade school. When Bill was in the 4th grade, his family moved to the family farm in Langhei Township, south of Starbuck, MN. Bill graduated from Starbuck High School in 1971. After high school Bill attended Alexandria Technical College in Alexandria, MN, and graduated in 1973 with a degree in carpentry. He began his own carpentry business and worked in the Starbuck area for several years. Bill was united in marriage to Marlene Braaten on August 2, 1975 at East Zion Lutheran Church near Starbuck. The couple continued to live in the Starbuck area, while Bill worked as a mechanic for John Deere in Benson and Morris. Bill and Marlene began farming south of Starbuck in 1983, and purchased Marlene's family homestead in 1988. Bill continued to farm until the fall of 2011. Bill's dream was that his son would one day take over the family farm. In the fall of 2010, Bill's dream came true when his son, Derek, joined the farming operation.
Bill was a member of the Pope County corn and soybean growers. He also served on the board at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. Bill was a man of strong faith and a faithful Christian servant. He loved God and was a strong spiritual leader in both his community and in his home. Bill was a member at East Zion Lutheran Church, and was a founding member of Shalom Community Lutheran Church. Over the years, he had served as a Sunday school teacher, church youth advisor, and has served on the church council.
Bill loved the outdoors. His love was farming but also enjoyed hunting and fishing in his spare time. Bill also loved to travel. The highlight of his year was taking long road trips with family and friends, traveling the back roads, and exploring God's magnificent creation. Family trips were not only a highlight for Bill, but also a priority. He always made sure that he had time for his family and friends, and if he didn't, he would find time. In the words of Bill, "There are three things in life that matter. God, Family, and Friends, the rest of it is just life."
After a 3 ½ year battle with cancer, Bill went home to be with his heavenly father on Wednesday, December 7, 2011 surrounded by his family, at his home near Starbuck. He was 58 years old.
He is survived by his wife, Marlene, Starbuck; one daughter, Kayla (Mike) Bowers, Glenwood; one son, Derek Kennedy, Starbuck; his father, LeRoy (Carol) Kennedy, Glenwood; one brother, Bob (Val) Kennedy, Bremerton, OR; and one sister, Jane Kennedy, Portland, OR. Bill was preceded in death by his mother, Byrdella Kennedy, and fathers-in-law, Franklin Braaten and Maynard Dahlseng.
Pallbearers for the funeral will be Eric Danielson, Gary Koos, David Pederson, Rick Pederseon, Rick Hauer, Mark Banister, Mark Hansen, Ried Richards and Ryan Kennedy.
Starbuck Funeral Home in Starbuck is in charge of the funeral arrangements.
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