Kenneth J. Ross, age 74, of Huron, South Dakota passed away Friday, January 24, 2020, at his residence with his brother by his side.

Memorial service for Ken was held at 1:30 pm Saturday, February 1st at the Kuhler Funeral Home.

Ken was born February 2, 1945, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, to James and Francis (Leith) Ross. The family moved to Madison, Wisconsin, where his father completed his doctorate, before accepting a position at South Dakota State College in Brookings in the late 1940s.

Ken grew up in Sunnyview, just outside of Brookings, where his family made their home which included the family dog, a horse, geese, and a variety of other animals that Ken and his brother brought home. As a boy, Ken learned to hunt and fish and dreamed of going off to the bush country of Northern Canada to live off the land!

One of the benefits of his father's work was it afforded the family the opportunity to travel by ship to Sweden where they lived for a year. During their stay they visited many historical sites in Europe. Becoming citizens of the United States was another important event for Ken and his parents.

Ken attended school in Brookings and graduated from Brookings High School in 1963. He attended William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, before returning to South Dakota where he completed his education earning a bachelor's degree in English. Ken taught briefly before his illness prevented him from continuing.

Ken had been a resident of Huron for over 30 years. He resided at the Bradfield Leary Center until his deteriorating health led him to move to Country View Estates, where he was lovingly cared for.

Ken enjoyed classical music and poetry.  Some of his writings were published while he was in college.

Ken will be remembered as a kind and intelligent gentleman by those who cared for him. His family is very appreciative of the care he received in his final years from Ashley Kingdon-Reese and the staff at Independent Health Solutions and Trisha Parkhurst and the staff at County View Estates.

Ken was preceded in death by his mother in 1978, and his father in 1983.

Ken is survived by his brother, George (Coleen) Ross, Brookings, South Dakota; nieces, Laura Ross, Gretchen (Stephen) Koopmans, Watertown, South Dakota; nephew, James (Amy) Ross, Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and great nieces and nephew, Calvin and Elise Koopmans and Harper Ross.

Ken Ross Floral Arrangements