Kenneth Hardesty

** TO VIEW VIDEO TRIBUTE, CLICK WEBLINK ABOVE (Computers Only) ** Kenneth Hardesty, age 72 of Sundance WY, died Wednesday January 21, 2015 at Mt. Pleasant Texas. Visitation will be held 5 to 7 pm Wednesday January 28th, 2015 at Leverington Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche. Funeral services will be held 10:30 am Thursday January 29th, 2015 at the Christian Life Center in Belle Fourche. Interment will take place at Black Hills National Cemetery, with full military honors by the Belle Fourche Veterans Honor Guard. Kenneth Wayne Hardesty was born April 13, 1942 in Deadwood SD. He was the son of Maynard and Alice (Cridland) Hardesty. Ken grew up in the Camp Crook area and graduated from the Belle Fourche High School. In 1959 he was united in marriage to Walterlee Stumpf. To this union was born 5 children: Jodi, Michael, Brad, Scott, and Arron. They later divorced. During the Vietnam War, Ken was drafted into the U.S. Army where he served for two years. Later, after the war, Ken volunteered for the service once again and for more than 20 years, Ken devoted his life to his country, retiring in 1987. In 1988 he began working for the U.S. Navy as a civilian contractor. His work as a Logistics Manager caused him to travel the world. It also put him in charge of the first Patriot Missile that was deployed in Germany. In 1998 he was united in marriage to Diana Spencer and for the past several years they have lived in Sundance Wyoming. Ken will be remembered for the love he had for his country. He had a very strong faith, and he carried a gift of having unconditional love for people. He was a proud member of the NRA and he was very connected with his fellow Vietnam War Veterans, attending reunions frequently. He loved hunting as well. Ken had a great love for his children. He cherished them very much. He loved his wife Diana as well, and he will be greatly missed. Kenneth is survived by his wife Diana of Sundance; sons, Scott of Spearfish, Michael of Portland OR, Brad of Dallas TX, Arron of El Paso TX; daughter, Jodi of Boston MA; several grandchildren and great grandchildren; step-son, Richard Welsh of Denver DO; sisters, Debbie (Bud) Harris of Belle Fourche, Kelli Hardesty of Spearfish, Judy (Rick) Brengle of Aladdin WY, Helen (Dan) Benson of Glenwood Springs CO, Mary Alice (Greg) Stewart of San Pedro CA, Barbara (Clint) Robertson of Tishimingo OK, Susan Wright of Montana; and his special aunt and cousin, Mary Brewer and Tom Brewer, both of Ekalaka MT. He was preceded in death by his parents. Date of Birth April 13, 1942 – Deadwood, South Dakota   Date of Death January 21, 2015 – Mount Pleasant, Texas   Funeral Service 10:30 a.m. – Thursday – January 29th, 2015 Christian Life Center Belle Fourche, SD   Officiants Pastor Paul Howard – Pastor Milton Douglas   Special Music “Amazing Grace” – Lexi Larson “Go Rest High on that Mountain”, “Whispering Pines”, “Happy Trails” Judy Howard, Pianist   Casketbearers Kyle Graslie                                      Dane Noyce Kalemb Gross                                  Darin Noyce Doug Harris                                  Walker Noyce                 Interment Black Hills National Cemetery Sturgis, South Dakota Military Rites by Belle Fourche Veterans Honor Guard