Kenneth K. Koppen

Kenneth K. Koppen, 75 of Devils Lake ND passed away on Friday, November 5, 2021 at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks ND. 

Kenneth Karl Koppen, was born on September 4, 1946 in Valley City ND, the son of Lloyd and Erma (Gesellchen) Koppen.  He attended St. John’s Academy in Jamestown, graduating with the class of 1964.  He enjoyed success on the high school golf team, which led to future employment at several different golf courses.

Ken began employment with Groves-Kelco, Inc. as a salesman and settled in Grafton ND where he met the love of his life, Donna (McDermaid) Kilmer who was working at Wally’s.  Wally’s was one of Ken’s sales stops in Grafton.  It was certainly a marriage of true love when you look back on the circumstances; there was a considerable age difference and Donna was the mother of 6 children who immediately became family to Ken. 

In January of 1974, Ken was transferred to Devils Lake which led to his employment with Red Owl as the manager until the store closed in 1986.  Ken then began working at the Town and Country Club in Devils Lake and the Carrington Country Club as a Greenskeeper and General Manager. They eventually returned to Devils Lake and called it home through the remaining years.  Donna passed away February 25, 2004. Retirement wasn’t for Ken, so he worked at Central Middle School as a custodian until 2014.

Of course golf was a life-long passion for Ken and in later years he enjoyed playing cards at the VFW with friends. 

Ken’s loving family include his children Michele (Ronald) Russell, Newnan, GA, Mike (Judy) Kilmer, Grafton ND, Melody Kittleson also of Grafton, Mary Jo (Mark) Dimmler, Crary ND, Melinda (Mike) Tessman, Baxter Springs, KS, Mark Kilmer, New Egypt, NJ, Kim (Aaron) Wheeler, Devils Lake; 15 grandchildren; 38 great grandchildren; sister Karen (Joe) Walker, Fargo ND; nephew Jasen (Amanda) Walker, Fargo, niece Kayla Walker, Hebron ND; brother-in-law Dwayne (Dorothy) McDermaid, Streeter IL and many dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Donna, granddaughter Stacie Rickert, grandson Ryan Eback, great grandson Zachary Helmoski. 

Visitation for Ken will be held on Thursday, November 11, 2021 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake.  The funeral Mass will be on Friday, November 12, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church with the Very Reverend C.F. Wilhelm celebrating the Mass.  Burial will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery.