Kenneth "Ken" Porter

Ken Porter, 89, passed away peacefully at his home on January 2, 2020. Visitation is from 6:00 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. on January 6 at Christ the King Catholic Church in Mandan, and a vigil will follow from 7:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on January 7 at 11:00 A.M. at Christ the King; Monsignor Chad Gion will preside with concelebrants Monsignor James Shea, Father Nick Schneider, Father Josh Waltz, Father Dan Griffith, and Father Fred Harvey. Burial will follow at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery.  

Kenneth Charles Porter was born on June 8, 1930, in Menoken, North Dakota to Samuel and Victoria (Klein) Porter. After losing both of his parents before his fifth birthday, Ken spent most of his childhood being raised by Johanna Schmidt, his aunt. As a teenager, Ken lived with his godmother, Katherine Klein, before graduating from Mandan High School in 1949. In 1951, Ken entered the United States Army and served his country during the Korean War—a war that claimed the life of his brother, Raymond. On June 4, 1955, one year after meeting on a blind date, Ken married Patricia Undem; this was the beginning of a long and loving marriage that brought seven children, twenty-one grandchildren, and twelve great-grandchildren (with two more on the way in 2020). Ken worked for two years at Vantine’s Paint and Glass in Mandan before spending 37 years working for Northwest Airlines at the Bismarck Municipal Airport. After retiring in 1992, Ken began dedicating more time to woodworking and craftsmanship. He turned his garage into his workshop, and he loved making furniture and helping his children with home projects. After becoming a grandfather in 1979, Ken was a constant presence in his grandchildren’s lives; he never missed a chance to attend their games, concerts, plays, and graduation ceremonies. Ken loved sports, and he was an ardent supporter of Duke Blue Devil basketball and New York Yankee baseball. One of Ken’s favorite summer events was an annual family reunion at Target Field to watch the Yankees play the Twins. He lived a life grounded in faith, and his kindness, compassion, wit, generosity, and gentle demeanor inspired everyone who knew him.  

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Patricia; his children—Terry (Terri), Fargo; Tom (Jenifer), Bismarck; Tim (Mary), Bismarck; Todd (Shirley), Mandan; Tracy (Jane), Mandan; Trish (Chris Jette), Farmington, MN; Trudi, Bloomington, IL; and Cy (Cari) Timmons, Bismarck; his twenty-one grandchildren—Casey (Travis Schmidt), TeriAnn (Andy Benson), Samantha, Hannah (Ryan Occeña), Joel (Megan), Sarah (Sam Breen), Benjamin, Isaiah, Katie (Justin Kringstad), Christine (Jeremy Walth), Kelly (Jon Streckert), Jordan, Matthew, Jacey (Jacob Wanner), Erik, Alison, Lauren, Tyler, Nathan, Alanah, and Dante; his twelve great-grandchildren—Ryder, Noah, Penelope, Veronica, Merryn, Corbella, Maddie, Ella, Vivian, Bennett, Emerson, and Delia, his nephews and nieces, and the many people who came into his home and remained in his heart, including Shar Arvig, Scott Harr, Cal Kopp, Dave Barton, Kevin Olson, Timothy Mullner, and Jim Neubauer.  

Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel and Victoria; his siblings, Robert Mills, Elmer Mills, Elsie Zimmerman, Raymond Porter, and Sam Porter; his special aunts, Katherine Klein  and Johanna Schmidt, and her children Clara Schmidt, Robert Schmidt, Ed Schmidt, and Ruth Krebsbach; and his great-grandchild, RJ Occeña.  

In place of flowers, memorials can be made to the University of Mary—Kenneth and Patricia Porter Music Scholarship or the charity of your choice.