Kenneth V. Meyer, 90, of Colton, died July 5, 2017, at Regency Assisted Living in Pullman, WA. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 11, 2017 at 10:30 am at St. Gall Catholic Church in Colton, WA. Vault interment will follow at St. Gall Catholic Cemetery. The family will hold a celebration of life gathering at the Colton Booster Club following the graveside service.
Kenneth was born August 25, 1926 in Colton, to Vincent and Helen Haupt Meyer, the oldest of their nine children. He went to St. Gall Catholic School and Colton Public School graduating in 1943. Ken married Maxine Keeney Meyer in Pullman on July 17, 1948. Ken helped build his and Maxine's home and farm buildings and they moved into the new home in February, 1949.
Ken farmed for a living for over 60 years while raising his five sons: Don, Bob, Mike, Kevin and Scott. He was very active in the community, he was a member of: St. Gall Catholic Church, Colton Knights of Columbus, Colton Grange, and Colton Wildcat Boosters.
Ken loved the farm, the soil he tilled and the livestock he raised. He was supervisor of the Palouse Conservation District for over 20 years. Also, Ken was one of the first farmers in the area to use uphill plowing for soil conservation. He enjoyed delivering trees to area farmers with the help of his son Don.
In 1970 he wrote and published the History of Schools in District 306 in early Whitman County that was published by the Whitman County Historical Society's Bunchgrass Historian.
Ken joined Maxine in watching their son's baseball and football games and in their later years enjoyed attending their grandchildren's activities and events. He always took time for a family vacation every summer even though he was busy on the farm. For most of his life, Ken had an acre garden and raised chickens to sell eggs. He enjoyed giving away fruit, vegetables and eggs to friends and family.
Ken was a friendly, kind man who always seemed happy. He was hard of hearing for much of his life, and those close to him learned the best ways to communicate with him.
Ken was a proud and loving grandpa. He attended many of his grandchildren's activities. He will be remembered for singing along to the player piano on Christmas Eve, wearing multiple jackets to the field in the heat of summer, and always having room for dessert. Ken spent time with his grandchildren on the family farm, driving grain trucks, spraying weeds, and teaching them the valuable lesson of hard work.
July 3, 2016 was the Meyer Reunion for the descendants of Florent and Christine Meyer. There are approximately 650 living descendants and 350 were in attendance at the Red Barn Farm in Colton, which was the homestead of his grandparents, Florent and Christine Meyer. Ken was the oldest living grandchild at age 89, a month shy of his 90th birthday. This was a very special event for Ken and it was the last time many of his cousins had the opportunity to meet him and chat about the good old days, catch up on their families and what they have done in their lives.
He is survived by his sons, Don (Joanne) of Moscow, Bob (Nancy) of Moses Lake, Mike (Judy) of New York, Kevin (Terrie) of Moscow, and Scott (Pamela) of Genesee; 11 grandchildren, and 26 great-grandchildren; and siblings: Beverly Meyer Burger of Spokane, Dan (Ilse) of San Diego, Neil (Marge) of Oceano, CA, Gail Meyer Dasovich of Spokane, Joan Meyer Emerson (Dick) of Pullman, Lynn Meyer Rogers (Orville) of Sedro Woolley, WA, and Dave (Bonnie) of Kirkland, WA. Ken was preceded in death by his wife Maxine, his parents, and his brother Donald.
Kimball Funeral Home of Pullman has been entrusted with arrangements. Memorial donations are suggested to the St. Gall Education Foundation, Colton, WA 99113, or the Colton Wildcat Boosters, PO Box 130, Colton, WA 99113.