KENNETH B. SHAVER

Kenneth B. “Boone” Shaver, of Devils Lake passed away on his 94th birthday, Tuesday, June 18, 2013 at Altru Hospital, Grand Forks, ND with loving family members at his side. Funeral Services for Kenneth will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Monday, June 24, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. with Pastor Terry Pflugrad officiating. Visitation will be held on Monday at the funeral home beginning at 11:00 a.m. until time of service. Burial and Military Honors will be held at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, ND on Tuesday, June 25, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. All are welcome to attend. Serving as Honorary Bearers for Kenneth will be all of his precious grandchildren. Music will be provided by Mr. and Mrs. Pflugrad and Sharon Shaver. Kenneth Bernal, son of Charles and Sophie (Sabbe) Shaver was born on June 18, 1919 in Benson County, Esmond, ND. His mother died when he was five years old and he was blessed to have a step mother, Clara to help raise him and his siblings. Kenneth was reared and educated in the Esmond area, attending country schools. As a young man he began farming and ranching on a farm near Grahams Island. He also worked with the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) building roads in King’s Canyon, California and Yosemite National Park and many other jobs. Kenneth answered the call to serve his country during World War II and the Korean War while serving with the North Dakota National Guard. He was a proud member of the United States Army, 164th Infantry and assignments included duty in the Philippines, Guadalcanal during World War II. His last call to service in Korea was an act of compassion. He went in the place of another man who had a wife and children and he felt it was his duty to go and allow this man to raise his family. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Master Sergeant. He received several commendations and medals including Bronze Star Medal, 3 Bronze Stars and 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Sharpshooter Badge with Rifle Bar, Presidential Unit Medal, American Defense Service and Campaign Medals, World War II Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge and Philippine Liberation Medal. Kenneth was united in marriage to M. June Petersen in 1945. They eventually moved back to Devils Lake and Kenneth began working as an apprentice plumber at Klemetsrud Plumbing and Heating. He and Neil were fellow soldiers and this is where Kenneth began his career as a Union Pipefitter. This job would take the family many different places throughout the years. He worked on several North Dakota missile sites, beet plants in Grand Forks and Wahpeton, the iron range in Virginia to name a few. When he retired the “first time” in the mid 1980’s he had been working on the Coal Gasification Plant in the Beulah area. But he felt he was too young to retire completely so he went to work in the maintenance department at Trek Bicycle Factory in Waterloo, Wisconsin, retiring at the age of 81. Kenneth had many life experiences. Some he shared with family and friends which always made for very interesting conversations. He talked of using dynamite to fish in the Philippines, his many years of wilderness camping on the Boundary Waters in Minnesota well into his 80’s. He loved the outdoors and the beauty of nature. He decided he was never too old to learn something new and began hobbies in oil and acrylic painting, photography and leather work after he was 60 years old. He was an avid reader, especially books of the Western variety. He especially enjoyed lunch with his coffee buddies daily. To his family and many friends he was truly a loyal, dependable, strong willed man. A man of great wisdom and compassion; a man who cared for his family more than anything in the world, caring for his ailing wife for many years. He was proud of each of his children and grandchildren and considered himself a very gifted man to have such good friends and neighbors. Kenneth was a life member of the NRA and also the American Legion of Minnewaukan. He is survived by his children, Kenneth “Bernie” (Sharon) Shaver of Deerfield, WI, J.C. “Tyke” (Judy) Shaver of Holland, MI, Maren Jean Dowty of Starkweather, ND, Bruce E. (Kim) Shaver of East Bethel, MN and Calvin “Cal” D. (Carrie) Shaver of Watford City, ND; ten grandchildren and eight great grandchildren, Cassie Shaver and children, Olivia and Nadia; Laura (Nacho) Robles and daughter, Emilia, Mark Shaver; Tonya (Val) Shaver and son, Ryan, Keith Dowty and son, Sebastian; Jeremy (David Claypool) Shaver; Travis (Shea) Shaver and children, Madison, Luke and Molly; Duane Score, Codi (Dean) Fandrich, Dakota Shaver and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; step mother, Clara Vennes Shaver; wife, June in December 28, 1999; grandson, Daniel; brothers, Glenn, Gordon “Bud” and Wendell Shaver; sisters, Millie Thibedeau and a sister in infancy and twin infant half siblings, Charles and Carol.