Sept. 28, 1919 - Sept. 7, 2008

Kenneth William Rickel, 88, of New Rockford, N.D., and Albany, died Sunday at Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd in New Rockford.

Kenneth was born in the family home in Tower City, N.D., to Killien William and Bertha (Hoffmeyer) Rickel. He married Pearl H. Steinke on April 20, 1941, in Brainerd, Minn.

During World War II, he worked in the shipyards while living in Vanport near Portland.

He later moved back to North Dakota where he farmed a half section of land near Tower City. In 1953, he moved to Gardenia, Calif., and in 1958, he owned and operated a filbert farm in Scio. He worked 28 years for the Wilco farm co-op as a shop foreman.

Kenneth and Pearl were very diligent about stocking shelves and packing items for the Fish Food Pantry, sometimes at very early morning hours so that the pantry was ready for the day's needy people. After he retired in 1987, he moved to Albany until his death. He loved life, and was always the optimist among us. Pearl Rickel died on July 24, 2001.

On June 27, 2004, Kenneth was united in marriage to Eileen Bush in New Rockford, N.D. They spent winters in Oregon and summers in New Rockford.

Kenneth is survived by his wife, Eileen; son Kerry and wife Brenda of Scio; daughter Robin and husband John Katzenstein of Albany; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; two stepsons, Daniel and wife Leona Bush of Minot, N.D., and Mike and wife Ruth Bush of New Rockford; four stepdaughters, Sharon and husband Jim Thomson of Rapid City, S.D., Donna and husband Paul Wilson of Rochester, Minn., Teresa and husband Eugene Weigel of Fargo, N.D., and Paula and husband Gary Jensen of Grand Forks, N.D.; 13 stepgrandchildren; many stepgreat-grandchildren; sisters Lucille Rich of Albany, Luella Gunkel of Fargo, N.D., and Mildred Mark of St. George, Utah; and brother Alan Rickel of Chicago.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Karen Kay Kramer, and three siblings.

A graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Willamette Memorial Park.

Contributions can be made to Defenders of Wildlife to save the wolves, sent in care of Fisher Funeral Home, 306 Washington St. S.W., Albany, OR 97321 (www.fisherfuneralhome.com).