Kenneth Clemens

Kenneth Clemens

July 08, 1939 - June 26, 2025

Obituary

Kenneth Michael Clemens, age 85, was born July 8, 1939, in Courtenay, ND. He passed away peacefully at Eventide Nursing Home, Jamestown, on Thursday, June 26, 2025.

Kenneth graduated from Courtenay High School in 1957. After graduation, he enlisted in the US Navy and was an airplane hydraulics mechanic. He was discharged from the Navy in 1960. He met and married Darlene Ehman, from Herdsville, ND, in 1961, in Harvey, ND. They had one child, Velvet. They divorced in 1964. Shortly after his discharge from the Navy, he was in a severe auto accident that kept him hospitalized off and on for 2 years resulting in several surgeries to repair extensive damage to his leg.

In 1961, he entered Town and Country Beauty College graduating in 1963 but was unable to find employment because he was a man. So, he decided to go back to school in 1967 at NDSCS in Wahpeton, ND, graduating with his Associate of Arts degree in electronics 1969.

After graduating, he started working with the Great Northern Railroad (later Burlington Northern Railroad) on the rail detector cars. He worked there for 26 years. He loved working for the railroad, because he got to see the most beautiful country at 5 miles per hour, the same tracks that all other trains went through at night.

He met Eileen Kapp in 1969, and they were married on December 28, 1971, in Jamestown. In his spare time, he enjoyed fishing, hunting, and spending time with his family.

Kenneth is survived by his wife Eileen, his daughters Velvet Fall, Twyla (Katy) Clemens, and Cassandra Jackson; grandchildren Alyssa (Bret), Kenneth, Everett, Christina, Edward, Kayla, and six great-grandchildren, sister-in-law, Jeannie Clemens (Mora, MN) and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Margaret and Henry Clemens, siblings, Margaret, Carolyn, Leo, Dorothy, Bernard, Ray, and Robert, and his infant son, Everett Kenneth.

VISITATION-Tuesday, July 1, 2025, 10-11 AM, Haut Funeral Home, 1101 5th Ave. NE, Jamestown.

SERVICES- Tuesday, July 1, 2025, 11 AM, Haut Funeral Home, 1101 5th Ave. NE, Jamestown, with lunch to follow.

SCATTERING OF CREMAINS-A private family scattering will occur at a later date.

The funeral service is available here- https://hautfuneralhome.livecontrol.tv/28dcf78c

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Kenneth
MG
Melvin and Vicki Geist
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So sorry for your loss. Our prayers and thoughts are with you.
CK
Carmen Kapp
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He was one of my favorite Uncles. Used to love spending summers at his farm as a kid. Will miss him much
SB
Steven and Denise Brown
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Spent many special weeks with him and Eileen and friends at the Lake ❤️❤️❤️❤️ I love and miss him!!💔
SK
Shirly Krapp
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I will always remember when Kenny taught me to play cribbage while he was at Eventide. And having the patience when I couldn't remember how to score. Will miss this time. He also loved to play Pinnochle with his niece Dorothy and husband Steve. They spent many hours entertaining him.
KH
Kim Clemens and Karen Hansen
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Kim Clemens and Karen Hansen purchased Eco-Friendly Memorial Trees for Kenneth Clemens
MP
Mary Paulson
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So many memories…. ice skating on the pond at the farm, tubing at Spirit lake, playing pinochle, cooking and eating fresh walleye, random pearls of wisdom, visiting us in Florida, your reaction to Sister Mary’s wanting to go tubing (in her 80s), time around the table chatting and drinking coffee… In an email, you described the snowfall you were watching. It was so vivid and poetic.

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