Kenneth Kilness

KENNETH FREEMAN KILNESS

Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00pm, Friday, January 12, 2007, at Immanuel Lutheran Church for Lt. Col. Kenneth Freeman Kilness USAF Ret. of Roswell, who passed away Sunday, January 7, 2007. Pastor Daniel Praeuner will conduct the funeral services, and interment will follow the church service at South Park Cemetery.

Ken was born July 4, 1916, in Marcus, South Dakota, to Philip Gelmar Kilness and Josephine Cornelia Hegge. Both parents preceded Ken in death, as did a son, Kenneth Lynn Kilness of Sierra Vista, Arizona, in 1993; two brothers, Milton Kilness of Monterrey, California, and Justin Kilness of Powell, Wyoming; and one sister, Phyllis Waterland of Marcus, South Dakota. Ken married Maxine E. Ledford in 1945 at the base chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada, and she survives him at Villa Del Rey, 2801 N. Kentucky.

Ken is also survived by two sisters: Helen Kilness of Big Bear Lake, California, and Bethyl Maddox of Heber Springs, Arkansas; one brother-in-law, H. B. Maddox; one brother, Harold Kilness of Howe, South Dakota, one sister-in-law Gwen Kilness; two daughters: Linda Kay Hansen of Albuquerque and Beverly Jean Scaling of Las Cruces; two sons-in-law, James Hansen and Robert Scaling; one daughter-in-law, Cherryl Kilness of Roswell; nine grandchildren: Kenneth Lon Kilness, Holly Kilness, Heather Kilness, Lori Hendrex, Karen Johnson, James Hansen, Jordan Scaling, Allison Scaling, and Brennen Scaling; five great-grandchildren: MacKenzie Hendrex, Allie Hendrex, Kenneth Matthew Kilness, Brittany Logan, and Austin Kilness; and one great-great-grandchild: Zaedyn Logan.

Ken retired from the Air Force in 1968 after a distinguished 28-year career in the Strategic Air Command SAC as a navigator, flying B-29s, B-36s, and B-52s with the 17th bomb group. He flew 67 bombing missions in such places as Africa, Sardinia, Guam, and Okinawa. Ken served as the Chief Intelligence Officer at Walker Air Force Base, Roswell, and among the many honors he received were the distinguished Croix de Guerre medal, awarded to those in
iduals who distinguish themselves by acts of heroism involving combat with enemy forces, and the Air Medal with 18 clusters.

Ken attended Black Hills College in Sturgis, South Dakota, and ENMU-Portales, receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in education. He taught public school before and after his military career and served as the Chaves County Tax Appraiser for 13 years. Ken was active in Kiwanis for 30 years, where he served as president for two terms and was named Kiwanian of the Year. He was also a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church for 56 years and served as president of the congregation several times.
PPall bearers will be Kenneth Lon Kilness, James Hansen, Kenneth Matthew Kilness, John Hendrex, Ed Osborne, Hugh Taylor, Steve Pack, and Gene Peterson. Honorary pall bearers are Warren Keiss, Pete Kunkel, Henry Garrett, and Morgan Nelson. The family wishes to thank Villa Del Rey, Mission Arch st1:Pla

Visitation

LaGrone Funeral Chapel
900 South Main
Roswell, NM  88203
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
8:00 A.M. TO 7:00 P.M.

Service

FUNERAL

IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH
1405 N. SYCAMORE
ROSWELL, NM  88201
Friday, January 12, 2007
2:00 p.m.

Cemetery

South Park Cemetery
3101 S. Main
Roswell, NM  88203