Kenneth Clyde Ness, 93, of Mitchell, died Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017, at Avera Brady Health in Mitchell.
Funeral services were 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 29, at the Bittner Funeral Chapel. Burial was in Serviceman’s Memorial Cemetery in Mitchell with military honors. Visitation was Tuesday, Nov. 28, at the Bittner Funeral Chapel.
Kenneth “Kenny” Clyde Ness was born March 26, 1924, in Miner County, near Fulton, to John Edward and Vollie (Betchel) Ness. He attended grade school at Glee Lake School and graduated from Plano High School in 1942. After graduating, he served one term in the South Dakota House of Representatives as a Messenger. He enlisted in the Navy in 1942, and he took training as an Aviation Ordnanceman and Aerial Gunner’s Schooling. He was sent to Ford Island, Hawaii, Carrier Aircraft Service Unit No. 1, where he spent 18 months readying the fighter planes for carrier duty. He was discharged in February 1946.
On Dec. 1, 1946, Kenneth married Berthetta Fillmore of Mitchell. They lived on the same farm south of Artesian for 54 years. In March of 2000, they moved to Mitchell, where he kept active by helping his son, Mark, on the farm and also worked part-time at Mitchell Livestock.
He was a member of Mitchell Wesleyan Church, a 71-year member of the American Legion, served on the school and township boards in Ravenna Township, and for many years, was a member of the Artesian Saddle Club.
Kenneth is survived by his wife, Bert; four children: Bonnie (Dan) Kruse, of Nampa, Idaho, John Ness of Allegan, Mich., Mark (Donna) Ness of Artesian, and Paula (Doug) Northrup of Letcher; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; one sister, Evelyn Thomsen of Mitchell; and a brother, Maynard (Shirley) Ness of Mitchell.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Elmon (Irene) Ness; sister, Millie (Norman) Holmes; brother-in-law, Melvin Thomsen; infant sister, Grace; daughter-in-law, Kathy Steffek; and a grandson, Kent Kruse.