Kenneth "Ken” Hespe

Kenneth "Ken" Hespe, 94, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, formerly of Philip, South Dakota, died on Monday, April 17, 2023 in Oklahoma City.
Kenneth W. Hespe, known as Ken, Daddy, Papa, Brother, and Uncle Kenny by friends and family, was born July 11, 1928, in Philip, South Dakota to Bill and Beulah Hespe. He was the oldest of six children and worked hard on the family’s farm milking cows and performing many other chores. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on June 20, 1951, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He served for 1 year, 10 months, and 24 days and was honorably discharged to the Army Reserves on May 15, 1953. He returned home with many accomplishments and honors under his belt. In his 20s, he and his school friend left South Dakota to adventure around the country and to find work. They traveled from South Dakota to California, California to Florida, and Florida to Oklahoma working along the way.
He met Elsie Marie Nance in Oklahoma City and that’s where he began to lay down roots. They were united in marriage on January 18, 1958. Elsie had six children from a previous marriage and Ken adopted the two children still in the home, Ronnie and Joyce. Lee Harold, Juanita, Pete, and AD though out of the home, were loved like his own. Ken and Elsie went on to have three beautiful girls, Cindy, Bertha, and Helen. To care for his family and be close to them, Ken began work at Tinker Air Force Base in March of 1962 and retired on January 2, 1988. During his retirement, Ken worked as a mechanic at his house. Several people would say they couldn’t pay and he would say, “It’s okay, I’ll catch you next time.” Ken enjoyed spending time with his family. In 2005, Ken and his grandson Grant traveled to Rothay, Minnesota to bring back the 1929 Farmall Regular tractor that was purchased by Ken’s dad and used on the family farm from the 1940’s to the 1960’s. Restoration began on October 9, 2005, and was completed on March 7, 2006. Ken had so much fun restoring the tractor and showing it at tractor shows, he ended up buying every tractor in its class and restoring those. He had a great love for his Farmall Tractors, but not close to how much he loved his family. Ken spent the last years of his life enjoying Friday night dinners and game nights, telling stories to his grandchildren, hanging out with his daughters, and being loved on by his family.
Ken attended Sooner Road Church of Christ where he made very close friends and enjoyed going to service and then out to eat. Ken passed into the arms of Jesus on April 17, 2023. He is the cornerstone of our family, and we are forever changed, but he has given us a strong foundation of love and dedication to one another that will be forever held together by his legacy.
Visitation will be Thursday, April 20, 2023, 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the Bill Eisenhour NE Funeral Home, 8805 NE 23rd Street, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73141.
Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m., Friday, April 21, 2023, also at the Bill Eisenhour NE Funeral Home.
Interment will follow at the Arlington Memorial Gardens, 3400 N. Midwest Blvd., Midwest City, Oklahoma 73141.
Local arrangements are with Rush Funeral Home of Philip.

The Pioneer Review

221 E. Oak Street
Philip, SD 57567
Telephone: (605) 859-2516
E Mail: ads@pioneer-review.com

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