Kenneth S. Yantes

Kenneth S. Yantes, 76 of Devils Lake formerly of Brocket ND passed away on Wednesday, September 2, 2020 at Eventide Heartland Care, Devils Lake with loving family at his side.  

Gathering of friends and family at the Gilbertson Funeral Home on Friday, September 18, 2020 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. with burial to follow in the Devils Lake Cemetery.  Please keep your health and safety and that of others in mind when attending services.   The family appreciates your many acts of kindness and prayerful support in this very difficult time. God bless you.  

Kenneth Samuel Yantes, 76 of Devils Lake formerly of Starkweather, Cooperstown, and Brocket ND passed away Wednesday Sept 2, 2020 at Eventide Heartland Care Center.

Ken was born May 21, 1944 to Sam and Ethel (Meyer) Yantes. He grew up and attended school in the community of Bisbee, although he did spend part of his Senior year attending Langdon High School when his parents bought the Case Implement there.  Ken did return to Bisbee to graduate and to take care of his grandparents. 

Ken married the love of his life, Darleen Church on Sept 19 1964.  While living in Langdon ND he worked at the Yantes Case Implement, and then moved to Devils Lake and worked at Mikkelson Case Implement.

In 1968, “Kenny and Doll” made their home on the Mikkelson farm west of Garske, where they would spend the next 30+ years of his life farming the land and raising their 2 daughters Jill and Denise.  He was active with the Trinity Bergan Lutheran Church, the Starkweather Rural Fire Department, the Ramsey County Farm Bureau, was a Township Officer, and tirelessly supported his daughters in numerous Starkweather School functions.

In 1999, they moved to Cooperstown, and then moved to Brocket in 2004. Ken worked passionately with the North Dakota Township Officers Association. He enjoyed decades of lobbying at the legislature while they wintered in Bismarck during the legislative sessions with his wife by his side. He always had the wellbeing of the State of ND, agriculture, and the farmers close to his heart and mind.

After Darleen’s passing after a long courageous battle with cancer in 2013, Ken did move to Devils Lake to be closer to his daughters.

Ken is survived by his 6 younger siblings: Dean (Bonnie) Yantes, Jane Yantes Botz (Brad), Jean Yantes Sedo (Phil), Lloyd (Deb) Yantes, Faye Yantes, and Virginia Yantes and the many nieces and nephews that were bestowed to our family.

Ken is survived by his daughter Jill and her children: Amanda (Kyle) Haugland, Michael (Shayna) Haugland, Michelle (Trent) Haugland, Roxy Nass Cichos (Tate), and Riley Nass and the 11 great grandchildren he cherished. Also, Randy and Calvin Nass, grandsons that are blessed additions to our family through marriage.

Ken is also survived by his daughter Denise Yantes Gratten and her children “Little Kenny”, Tommy Gene, Alesha and Lovelei. Also Makayla and Zander Gratten, blessed additions to the family through marriage.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Sam and Ethel Yantes, his beloved wife Darleen Church Yantes and honorary family member, Dean Hovern.