Kenneth George Secrist was born on December 12, 1933 in Missoula, Montana to his mother, Otellia (Tillie) Fredaborg (Nelson) Secrist and his father, Earl George Secrist. Kenneth (Kenny) was raised in Milltown, Montana with his older sister Myla where he attended Bonner Elementary School and graduated from Missoula County High School on May 27, 1952. Kenny participated in football and basketball where he recounted scoring 50 points in one of his prep games. He loved the outdoors and spent many hours trout fishing the local rivers and streams. After graduating from High School, he enlisted in the United States Airforce on June 24, 1952 and was promptly assigned to the Headquarters of the 30th Air Division (Defense) of the Willow Run Air Force Station located in Belleville, Michigan and thereafter was trained as a Ground Radio Operator at the Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi. On December 31, 1952 he obtained leave to return to Missoula, Montana to marry his high school sweetheart, Caryl Lavern Gibbs at the home of Caryl’s parents, Thomas Gibbs and Evelyn Gibbs and their long and happy marriage of sixty (60) years began which produced three children, Cameron Secrist (Prescott Valley, AZ), Cordell Secrist (Overgaard, AZ) and Chelane Alexander (Prescott, AZ). Four grandchildren, Erica Crane (Indian Hills, CO), Ryan Secrist (Littleton, CO), Bryce Hoover (Prescott, AZ) and Cayla Cahill, (Fort Lauderdale, Fl.) Three Great-Grandchildren, Taylor E. Crane, Dylan R. Crane and Abigail Cahill.
After being Honorably Discharged from the U.S.A.F. on March 28, 1956, Kenny began his distinguished career with the United States Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration as an Air Traffic Specialist, Air Traffic Manager and FAA Facility Chief of multiple International Airports serviced by FAA offices. The various locations consisted of Salt Lake City, Utah, Los Angeles, California, Tucson, Arizona, Las Vegas, Nevada and Phoenix, Arizona. At one time at the age of 34 , Kenny was the youngest FAA Facility Chief in the United States. His career was marked with multiple achievement awards and special recognitions from his peers in Washington DC. Kenny retired at the young age of 52 to devote well deserved time with his faithful partner in marriage Caryl, where they were blessed with 25 years of retirement that encompassed world travel, extensive motor-home touring, endless golfing, and a significant cattle-alfalfa endeavor in Yellow Jacket, Colorado where Ken and Caryl raised registered limousine cattle and produced alfalfa hay. Ken and Caryl had a joyous full life that concluded in Mesa Arizona where they had many good friends. Caryl passed away on August 30, 2012. Thereafter Kenny was blessed with a second marriage on August 16, 2013 to Vivian Eleanor Collette of Grafton, North Dakota and Mesa, AZ. Vivian had lost her husband, Merlyn Collette about the same time as Ken had lost Caryl. They had all been the best of friends for over 30 years. It was a blessing that they were able to marry and share an additional eight years together living in North Dakota during the summer and Mesa, AZ. in the winter until Vivian’s passing on June 1, 2020.
Kenny had many friends and a family who loved him dearly and it was a comfort to Kenny’s children to be at their father’s bedside when he passed from this life to an eternal life with his beloved Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Kenny will be laid to rest in Mesa, Arizona at the Mountain View Cemetery next to his beloved wife and faithful partner Caryl as Vivian was laid to rest next to her beloved husband, and life partner, Merlyn Collette in Grafton, North Dakota.
May their souls all rest in eternal peace with their heavenly Father Jesus Christ and may their memory live on in their grateful children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren until we are all reunited again in spirit with our beloved creator. Amen.
We enjoyed your father’s company over a glass of wine. RIP Ken.