Ken Kern, known by many as “Skipper,” age 85, passed away peacefully while in the care of hospice on Friday, March 27, 2026 at Bethel Lutheran Home in Madison, SD.
Memorial mass will be at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, April 1st at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church with Father Anthony Urban as the Celebrant. Visitation will be 4-6 PM on Tuesday at Rustand-Weiland Funeral Chapel with a prayer service at 6 PM and a Rosary led after. Visitation will continue on Wednesday from 9:30-10:15 AM followed by procession to the church for mass. Inurnment will be in St. Thomas Cemetery following mass with military honors provided by Madison VFW and Madison American Legion. The memorial mass will be livestreamed on Rustand-Weiland Funeral Chapel Facebook page.
Kenneth Norbert Kern was born on December 11, 1940 in St. Leo, MN (Yellow Medicine County) to Arnold and Anna (Reith) Kern. As a teenager, he entered the United States Army, and after serving his first enlistment, he later decided to serve his country again by re-enlisting in the Army for a second enlistment.
On December 30, 1961, Ken married Margaret Ann (Hesse) Kern. They resided near Maple Lake, MN where they purchased a hobby farm. Ken was a skilled heavy equipment operator specializing in underground utilities and for twenty years, and while farming, he worked full time as a Foreman for Lametti & Sons Construction in Hugo, MN. In 1971, Ken and Marge sold their hobby farm and purchased a larger farm near Watkins, MN.
Ken and Marge, with the help of their children, operated the farm through 1986 until Ken decided to go back to what he does best and returned to Lametti & Sons Construction where he stepped right back in as Foreman and moved to Monticello, MN. Once the children were grown, Ken would work the winter months in Phoenix, AZ for another large underground utility contractor until which time, in 1994, he and Marge moved to Phoenix, AZ permanently.
When he retired, Ken would come to North Dakota during the summer months and help BEK Construction which, ironically, does underground utilities and is owned by his sons. The apple does not fall far from the tree!
Over the years Ken’s health had deteriorated to the point that he and Marge, in 2024, moved to Madison, SD to have better health care.
Ken always had a knack for technology even with a limited education, it seemed to come easy for him. He always had the latest in cell phones, satellite dishes and studies the markets as well as anyone.
One thing for sure, Ken would never walk away from a card game. He also had a love for casinos and you could always find him at one nearby. Many would describe Ken as a reserved and soft-spoken man but it was clear that he did have a mean streak in him especially during card games with his “sons” and if the casino wasn’t good to him!
His presence, wit and seat at the card table will be missed by all as he now takes his seat at the poker table in the big casino in the sky. Rumor has it that if you step outside late at night, look up in the sky and listen carefully, you will hear “Skipper” expressing his opinion with the dealer.
Ken is survived by his wife Margaret; seven children: Daniel (Charli), Brian, Timothy (JoAnn), Dean (Stephanie), Wayne, Lonnie and Nicole (Tyler) Ray; twenty one grandchildren: Sabastian, Gabriel, Marinda, Kennedy, Mackenzie, Kamari, Kollins, Kenya, Samantha, Megan, Elizabeth, Kaden, Braden, Ashden, Isaac, Grace, Devin, Eleena, Bryant, Courtney and Isabella; three great-grandchildren: Lawrence, Lillian and Baker; brother: Richard Kern and sister: Shirley (Darrell) Nemeth.
He was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers: James, Gerold, Alvin, Thomas, David and daughter-in-law: Leslie Kern.
