Kenneth Blaine Anderson

Kenneth Blaine Anderson returned home from his earthly journey November 20, 2023 in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho, due to incidents of old age.

Kenneth was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho, April 16, 1939, to Justin Charles Anderson and Alice Mae McIntyre Anderson. He had four older brothers, Dwain, Delmar, Vaughn, Justin Jean and one younger sister, Gloria. From his father Kenneth learned the values of hard work and honesty.  From his mother he learned kindness and gentleness.  All his young life Kenneth worked alongside his father and brothers planting and harvesting crops, moving pipes, herding sheep and raising cattle first in the Ammon area, then Lost River, and lastly west of Shelley. At a very young age Kenneth spent his summers in the mountains living at sheep camp watching over and caring for sheep.  Hard work was a way of life.

After graduating from Shelley High School in 1957, Kenneth attended Ricks College (BYUI). He received a mission call to Germany where he served for 2 ½ years. He was serving at a historical time when the Berlin Wall was built by the communist forces of East Germany, separating Berlin from the rest of Germany. There he learned the value of freedom and love for America. Kenneth had a lifelong love for Germany and the German people. He spoke fluent German all his life and enjoyed countless hours listening to German music and watching videos of Germany. He returned there several times with his wife and children and delighted in sharing the sites, people and culture he loved. He felt a special peace and calm there.  After returning from his mission, Kenneth joined the Idaho National Guard completing his basic training in Fort Ord, California. He continued to serve in the Guard until 1969.

While attending BYU Kenneth began dating Sheryl Jensen also a student at BYU.  He proposed to her at the BYU Homecoming dance and they married January 28, 1966 in the Idaho Falls Temple. For the first eleven years of their marriage they made their home in Shelley near Kenneth’s parents. During those busy happy years Kenneth helped his father farm, he and Sheryl both continued college graduating with their degrees, and welcomed five children (Kareen, Kathryn, Brett, Kara and Susan) into their family. They purchased the farm from Kenneth’s father and adjoining land west of Shelley and also acquired 360 acres of new farmland in Hamer by homesteading, clearing the sagebrush to prepare the land for crops. Sheryl taught elementary school in Shelley and Kenneth taught social studies and German for two years for the West Jefferson District in Terreton. He decided that teaching was not what he wanted to do and chose to be a full-time farmer and cattleman. 

In 1977 Kenneth surprised his family with the idea that he wanted to move to southern Missouri to ranch and raise cattle.  They sold all their land and home in Shelley and moved to make his dream come true. The ‘Missouri years’ were full of many adventures. Among the happy years were the birth of two more children, Chad and Sheri, meeting many new and lifelong friends and making lifelong memories. Music was an important part of the family. Each child learned to play several instruments and performed playing violins, cello, guitars and even clogging. The music legacy still lives on today with many of the grandchildren. Sadly, Kenneth and Sheryl divorced but still maintain a deep respect and friendship.

Later Kenneth married D’Anne Roberts .  They lived in Colorado Springs until Kenneth left to live with his two oldest daughters, Kareen in Las Vegas and Kathryn in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Kenneth was a hard worker. He enjoyed telling jokes, funny pranks, and playing games. He loved anything to do with Germany and shared that love with his family. He is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and has a strong testimony of Jesus Christ. He is now in a place where love and joy abide and where he can have a much needed and well-deserved rest. Dear Dad: “Ruhe in Frieden, bis wir uns wiedersehen.” (Rest in peace until we meet again.)

Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents Justin and Alice Anderson, his brothers Dwain Anderson, Delmar and Myrna Anderson, Vaughn Anderson, and Justin Jean Anderson.

He is survived by his children: Kareen (Kevin) Spencer, Las Vegas, Nevada; Kathryn (Dirk) Baird, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; Brett (Nicole) Anderson, Rogers, Arkansas; Kara Anderson, Post Falls, Idaho; Susan Anderson, Idaho Falls, Idaho; Chad (Michael) Anderson, Salt Lake City, Utah, Sheri Tetrault, Chicopee, Massachusetts. Other surviving family members: Sisters-in-law Lottie (Dwain) Anderson, Las Vegas, Nevada; Doris (Justin Jean) Anderson, Mendon, Utah, and  sister and brother-in-law Gloria and Larry Haws, Sandy, Utah.  Grandchildren: Ryan, Jeremy, Anthony Spencer; Bryant (Lynette) Baird, Janelle (Darin) Call, Alec (Emma) Baird, Dallin Baird, Tyler Baird, Caden Baird; Braydon, Kendra, Stevie Anderson; James Miller, Justin (Stephanie) Miller, Aisha Seamons, Branson Seamons, Brielle Jaggi; Jaxon and Asher Anderson; ten great-grandchildren with three more on the way.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, November 25, 2023 at Nalder Funeral Home, 110 W Oak Street in Shelley. The family will receive friends Saturday from 1:00 P.M. till 1:45 P.M. at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Ammon Cemetery with Military Rites.

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