Funeral service for Kenneth D. Ricklefs of Spencer will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, at Faith Lutheran Church in Spencer. The Rev. Ben Unseth will officiate.
Interment will be in Silver Lake Cemetery, Ayrshire. The Martin-Mattice Funeral Home in Emmetsburg is in charge of arrangements.
Visitation is Thursday from 10 to 11 a.m. at Faith Lutheran Church.
Kenneth Duane Ricklefs was born Sept. 16, 1931 to Henry and Ellen (Olson) Ricklefs in Ayrshire. His childhood years were spent in Ayrshire where he attended school and graduated in 1949. He was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Ayrshire. After graduation he enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving from 1951 to 1954.
Kenneth met Elizabeth (Betty) Heiken while in the service and they were married Nov. 30, 1955. Three daughters were born of this union, Dianne, Janna and Linda.
Kenneth and Betty farmed south of Ayrshire until their retirement in 1993. After retiring they spent winters in Texas for 16 years. Kenneth and Betty moved to Spencer in 2003.
Kenneth enjoyed camping, wood working and was a HAM radio operator with call letters of WA0FLN. Kenneth enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren. He was honored to participate in the Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight to Washington D.C.
Kenneth passed away on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 at St. Luke Lutheran Home in Spencer, at the age of 90. He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Ellen Ricklefs; an infant brother Martin; his sister Eileen Arndt and her husband Lester; his father-in-law and mother-in-law Delbert and Quma Heiken; brother-in-law Marvin Heiken; and his son-in-law James Reis.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 66 years, Betty; and his three daughters Dianne (Randy) Hough from Emmetsburg; Janna Reis, from Spencer; Linda (Mark) Bredehoeft from Willmar, MN.
Kenneth had six grandchildren: Emily (Steve) Volkert, David (Kelli) Bredehoeft, Brian Reis, Brad (Jenny) Reis, Joshua (Jan Fahlmann Andersen) Bredehoeft and Danielle Bredehoeft. Kenneth had six great grandchildren: Eleri Bredehoeft, Tenley and Tate Bredehoeft, Jalyn and Brandt Reis, Kassandra Fahlmann and many friends and family.
Condolences can be left at
www.martinmattice
funeralhome.com
