Ranchers spend their entire lives searching for a place where the grass is stirrup deep, the water is cool and clear, the cows are happy and fat, and the winters are easy.  On October 13, 2017,  69 year old Kenneth Albert Livedalen was reunited with the love of his life and finally found his rancher’s paradise.

On December 28, 1947, Ken was born to Albert and Dorothy (Solie) Livedalen.  He and his 3 siblings were raised on the Livedalen ranch north of Towner.  After graduating from Towner High School, Ken completed the ND State School of Science (now NDSCS) Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning program before serving in the US Army as a Specialist.  While home on leave, he married his forever love, Bonnie Fecho, at Willow Creek Lutheran Church near Willow City on December 26, 1970.  He then served in Vietnam, returning home on November 21, 1971 to reside with Bonnie and her parents before soon finding a home in Towner where Ken settled in to work at P & H Motors. 

Shortly after the birth of their first child, the family moved to the Livedalen Ranch in the sandhills north of Towner, where they raised their three children.  In the late 70’s, Ken left P & H Motors to pursue his ranching dream full time on the family ranch north of Towner.  After the heartbreak of selling his cow herd in 2011 due to flooded hay land, he continued to stay involved in the ranching business part time.  Though it’s not a get-rich kind of career, ranching truly made him happy and he took great pride in caring for his family’s land and beef cattle herd.

Ken relished visiting with family and friends and would always jump in with a helping hand when he saw a need.  He loved telling us “I’ll decide” when any decision was required; and encouraging us to “Git’r done” when there were things that needed doing.  He truly enjoyed his annual fishing trips to Canada with his good friends, and even earned a Manitoba Master Angler certificate by catching a 38 inch Lake Trout in Kississing Lake.  One of his favorite parts of these trips was sharing the stories with his family when he returned home each year. 

Since the fall of 2014 when Bonnie was diagnosed with recurrent Ovarian cancer, he has been faithfully glued to her side.  Together, they weathered the storm until Bonnie passed away July 10, 2017, leaving him heartbroken and lonely, despite the best efforts of family and friends.  He was a lifetime member of the North Dakota Firemen’s Association, a member of Zion Lutheran Church, and a former McHenry County Commissioner.

Ken was predeceased by his parents and wife, Bonnie.  Though we know he’s dancing with Bonnie again, he leaves a hole in the hearts of his daughters Brenda (Kevin) Heilman of Rugby and Kelly (Phil) Livedalen of Towner; son Shane (Rhonda) Livedalen of Rugby; brother, Roger (Linda) Livedalen of Towner; sisters Myrtice Bailey of Towner and Gloria (Gerald) Kurtyka of Rugby; his 11 grandchildren:  Kaycee (Derek), Allison, Peyton, Cade, Nathan, Kyra, Mikaylee, Maci, Royanne, Clare, and Kreagan; numerous nieces and nephews; and many, many caring friends and family.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, October 20^th at Zion Lutheran Church in Towner with burial in the Union Cemetery, Towner.  Pastor Linda Wimmer and Wally Fretland, officiating.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday with a prayer service and sharing of memories beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church in Towner.