Kenneth L. Kramer

87, Minot, ND, joined the

love of his life on Tues-

day, August 6, 2019, in

his home with family at

his side.

Kenneth Lawrence Kra-

mer was born November

16, 1931, the son of Otto

T. and Della I. (Dyer) Kra-

mer, in Fessenden, ND,

where he was raised and

educated. While in high

school, he participated in

baseball, basketball, and

football. As a young adult,

he worked in construction

and as a horse jockey in

North Dakota and Cana-

da.

Kenneth enlisted in the

United States Army on

September 22, 1949. He

proudly served his coun-

try with the 11th Airborne

Division and made more

than 30 jumps. While

serving in Europe, he

played baseball for his

division. This made him

available for special honor

guard duties in England,

as well as an extra in a

WWII based movie, in

which they landed on a

beach to reenact the

D-Day landings. He also

served with the 10th

Mountain Division in

Washington and fought

numerous western forest

fires. He was honorably

discharged January 10,

1953. You would be

hard-pressed to find

another man more proud

to be an American. While

living in their home, he

proudly displayed the

American flag every sin-

gle day.

In April of 1953, he

started his career with

Westlie Motor Company

in Minot. Shortly after, he

noticed a beautiful lady

getting off the bus near

Central Avenue, who

would soon be his wife.

Kenneth married Maxine

Fern Kelly on June 27,

1955, at Little Flower

Catholic Church in Minot.

They made their home in

Minot, where they raised

their four children. Ken-

neth retired from Westlie

Crossroads Truck Center

in June of 1997. They

were proud to live in the

same home for 55 years.

Because of the help of

their wonderful neigh-

bors, Kevin and Brooke

Melby, Ken and Maxine

were able to reside in

their home much longer

than their physical capa-

bilities would allow. Ken-

ny didn’t allow many to

help him, but Kevin was

the exception. Our family

will always be grateful for

the outpouring of care,

generosity, and friendship

that the Melbys gave to

them throughout the

years. Kenny and Maxine

lost their home in the

flood of 2011. Their final

move was to The Welling-

ton, an assisted living fa-

cility, here in Minot,

where they received in-

credible care. Maxine

passed away on March 29,

2018.

He enjoyed playing soft-

ball in the KX League,

and was an avid out-

doorsman who enjoyed

hunting. While their chil-

dren were still living at

home, some of their

family’s most memorable

times were spent camping

together, especially times

spent at Benedict Sport-

man’s Club.

Throughout the years,

Kenny and Maxine spent

countless weekends at

“The Ranch” in rural Den-

bigh, where their

daughter Marianne and

her family lived. It was

where many family gath-

erings took place, and one

of his favorite places to

be.

For more than 20 years,

Kenny and Maxine could

be found enjoying break-

fast out with family and

friends on Saturday morn-

ings. Often times, they

had quite a large crowd.

He was a member of

Our Lady of Grace Cathol-

ic Church, the Moose

Lodge, the Minot Ameri-

can Legion, which were

all in Minot, as well as the

Benedict Sportsman’s

Club.

Anyone who knew Ken-

neth knew one thing set

him apart from anyone

else – his toothpick. His

grandchildren and great-

grandchildren do not

know a time when he

didn’t have one in his

mouth, or tucked behind

his ear while he ate.

When it came to giving

anyone a kiss, he simply

pulled it into his mouth,

and popped it back out

afterwards. It was a skill

he perfected!

Kenneth didn’t leave

home much towards the

end. But, he did recently

venture out to watch his

grandsons, Daniel and

Joey, work cattle. Once an

active participant, he

proudly watched from the

sidelines. He enjoyed it

nonetheless. He was in

his element!

His loving family

includes: children, Kathy

Smith of Minot, Marianne

(Harry) Nelson of Towner,

ND, Michael Kramer of

Forest Lake, MN, and Pa-

trick Kramer of Warner

Robins, GA; grandchil-

dren, Erin (Jonathan)

Dodd, Megan Smith,

Daniel (Laura) Nelson,

Joseph (Jessica) Nelson,

Logan Kramer, Kaleigh

Kramer, and Caley Nel-

son; great-grandchildren,

Avery, Addyson, and

Leah Dodd, Shawn,

James, Russel, and Lane

Nelson, Joleen Gonzalez,

and Jazzlynn Luna;

brother-in-law, Vernon

Kelly, and numerous

nieces, nephews, and

cousins.

Kenneth was preceded

in death by his parents,

Otto and Della; wife of 62

years, Maxine; grand-

daughter, Rebecca Smith;

brother, Robert “Durland”

Kramer; sisters, Elizabeth

“Betty” Glaser and Shirley

Iverson.

Memorials are pre-

ferred to Trinity Hospice

of Minot or the Our Lady

of Grace Church Food

Pantry in Minot.

Mass of Christian

Burial: Friday, August

16, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. at

Our Lady of Grace

Catholic Church, Minot.

Interment: Rosehill

Memorial Park, Minot,

ND.

Visitation: Thursday

from 5 to 7 p.m. at

Thompson-Larson Fun-

eral Home, Minot.

Vigil Prayer Service:

Thursday at 7 p.m. at

Thompson-Larson Fun-

eral Home, Minot.

Those wishing to sign

the online register and

share memories may ac-

cess the online obituaries

section at (www.

thompsonlarson.com).