Kenneth Syverson
Kenneth Sidney 'Kenny' Syverson, 80, of rural Culbertson, formerly of Epping and Williston, N.D., died Thursday, May 13, 2021, at the Roosevelt Medical Center in Culbertson.
He was born in Williston, N.D., Oct. 22, 1940, to Thor and Karin (Johnson) Syverson. He grew up in the Williston area and attended school in Epping, N.D. He worked for Borsheim Crane Service.
He married Patricia Carns and they had four children together, Pamela, Kevin, Kent and Kyle. Daughter Debra was born to Kenny and RaeEtta Olson.
He married Ann Louise Martell Dec. 22, 1978. She brought two daughters to this marriage, Rhonda and Julie. She was Kenny’s right hand through the years. They worked side-by-side on many jobs over the years. They made their home in Apache Junction, Ariz., in the late 1980s and returned to live in rural Culbertson until he entered Roosevelt Memorial Nursing Home in January 2019. Ann visited him as often as she could until the COVID restrictions were in place, it made visiting harder and their time together became shorter. Eventually, they were able to visit through the “plastic curtain” and he asked every time what that plastic was doing there and why she had to wear a mask. With his sarcasm and wit, there was always undoubtedly an inappropriate word or two said after these conversations.
He loved working with his hands and did many jobs in western North Dakota and northeast Montana. He was known for his stubbornness, sense of humor and work ethic, which he passed on to his children. He collected “treasures” from job sites and brought them home to Ann. One in particular was a small pine tree that a lady wanted dug out of her yard. He brought it home and planted it. He named it Elsie and, today, it stands over 50 feet tall and sticks out like a sore thumb on the homestead he and Ann had lived at together for 28 years. That tree is as stubborn as he was.
He enjoyed fishing, George Jones and never turned down anything sweet. He will be remembered for his joking manner. He was a great cook and loved cats and dogs.
He is survived by his wife, Ann Syverson; step-daughters, Rhonda Erickson and Julie Trudell; children, Kevin Syverson, Kent Syverson, Kyle Syverson and Debra Breivik of Williston, N.D.; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; sister, Dianne Earhart; and brothers, Derald Syverson and Dale Syverson.
He was preceded in death by daughter, Pamela Syverson; brothers, baby Duane, Duane Syverson, Gary Syverson, Gayle Syverson and Jimmy Syverson; and sisters, JoAnne Stevens and Kathleen Ritter.
His funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. (Central), Thursday, May 20, at the Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Chapel in Williston, N.D. Rev. Gretchen Wagner will officiate. Cremation will follow the service. Friends were able to visit at the Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home on Wednesday, May 17, from 1 until 5 p.m. and on Thursday from 9 a.m. until service time.
