Kenneth J. Kirkey, 87, a long-time resident of Washburn, died August 3, 2014 at St. Alexius Medical Center in Bismarck.

A memorial service will be held 2:00 P.M. Thursday, August 7th at Goetz Funeral Home in Washburn. A time of fellowship will follow at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center. Inurnment will be held at a later date in Rosehill Cemetery of rural Wilton, ND.

Kenny was born August 14, 1926 in Painted Woods Township, rural Burleigh County, the son of Walter and Clara (Moline) Kirkey. He was raised on the family farm and educated in Painted Woods and Wilton schools. After moving to Washburn in 1957, Kenny worked for Farmer's Union Oil Co. until his full time retirement in 1999.
Throughout his life Kenny enjoyed the outdoors and was an avid hunter. He also enjoyed buying, selling, trading and fixing firearms. He was a regular at gun shows and auction sales around North Dakota. He loved to go prospecting with his metal detector and showing off his findings. Later in life, he spent many years doing yard work for the elderly residents of Washburn. He was a regular at the Lewis & Clark Senior Center in Washburn where he loved to socialize and play pool. In 2010, Kenny moved to Bismarck where he enjoyed the companionship of the residents of Touchmark on West Century and Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center.

Kenneth is survived by his nephew, Kevin (Kathy) Kirkey, Bismarck, his niece Darla (Scott) Roth, Lincoln, along with many other nieces and nephews and their families.

Kenny was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Walter Kirkey and Oscar Peterson, and his sisters Edith Prather and Hazel Peterson.

Memorials are preferred to the Lewis & Clark Senior Center of Washburn.