Kenneth Joseph Endresen

KENNETH J. ENDRESEN August 6, 1925 ~ September 12, 2011 "He left us with a lifetime of loving memories. He will be missed but never forgotten. " Kenneth passed away peacefully at his home in Ridgefield, WA on Sept. 12th surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Kindred, ND and moved with his parents to Salem, OR where he graduated from North Salem High School in 1942. Kenneth and his family moved to Portland, OR after his graduation and it was there that he would meet his future wife Phyllis Woolsey and marry her in February 1943. During the early years of their marriage Kenneth worked in the steel and shipyards in Portland, OR before eventually learning the trade of meat cutting. He worked for a variety of different retail markets until he opened his own market in Beaverton, OR in 1963 and named it Palace Meats. Over time he grew his business to become a regional distributor of meat and food supplies to a multitude of different hotels, restaurants and institutions. Kenneth retired from the meat business in 1992 and moved with his wife to Ridgefield, WA. His retirement years were spent doing the things he loved, being with family, salmon fishing, crabbing, working in his gardens and volunteering with the Salvation Army. Kenneth was a lifelong Lutheran and an active member of Family of Christ Lutheran Church in Vancouver, WA. Kenneth is survived by his wife of 68 years, Phyllis; and their children, Marilyn Bearham, Gary Endresen, Gayle Karn, Michael Endresen; and eleven grandchildren; and thirteen great-grandchildren. Kenneth will forever be remembered for his thoughtfulness, generosity and his humble compassionate care for others. His was a life lived as an example to others and even in death showed us how to die with dignity. A memorial service will be held at Family of Christ Lutheran Church, 3500 N.W. 129th, Vancouver, WA at 2:00 p.m. on Oct. 1st, 2011.