NEGenWeb Project
Boone County, Nebraska
Kenneth Marion Stevens
Submitted by
Randy R. Stevens
Kenneth Marion Stevens was born November 12, 1909 at St. Edward Nebraska, the son of Arthur Ludwig Stevens and Atalee (Hazlitt) Stevens, and died on February 8, 1994 of an heart attack at his home in St. Edward. He was 84.
Kenneth attended elementary school through the first semester of the third grade at St. Edward Public School. Kenneth's father, Arthur Stevens who was a mail carrier out of St. Edward, left that job and bought an interest in a garage in Walthill, Nebraska.
Kenneth then moved with the rest of his family to Walthill where he attended school until the seventh grade when his family moved to Rosalie, Nebraska next.
After his junior year his folks moved to Bancroft, Nebraska. This created a problem because Rosalie wanted him to finish his last year in their school. Because of athletic reasons Bancroft appealed to the Nebraska Athletics Association. A trial was held and the result was that Kenneth became a member of the Gustin family and attended Rosalie High School.
He graduated from Rosalie High School in 1928 and furthered his education by attending Norfolk Junior College for one year and played under his old high school coach, Hap Nellis. Kenneth was active in Football, Track, and baseball during both High School and College.
During the 1933 World's Fair in Chicago, Kenneth and his younger brother Forrest, traveled by train to Chicago to attend the World's Fair. Several artifacts and letters attest to their visit to the World's Fair.
On December 21, 1935, he was united in marriage to Ida Clarisa Cruise at the Methodist Church in Grand Island, Nebraska. Ida Clarisa Cruise was the daughter of Guy and Edith (Condreay) Cruise. Two children were born to this unit: Marvin Lee born July 10, 1937 and Janice (Mrs. Ronald Eckland) born March 15, 1941.
The couple lived and farmed south of St. Edward in the Skeedee community until they moved to town in 1969 (the Kay and Nellie Griffith place). Kenneth raised Pure Breed Black Angus Cattle, chickens, and Hogs. When Kenneth and Clarisa first started farming in the Skeedee Farm, Kenneth showed the farm to his new bride when the farm place had been vacate for a number of years. At the time, there were cattle standing the then kitchen and living room. Needless to say, that Clarisa was not impressed. Kenneth over time improved the farm place to include adding a new livestock barn, a machine shed, and tractor barn.
Kenneth worked for the Nance County ASCS for 36 years and served as the chairman for the last 20 years. He was also a member of the Boone and Nance County Historical Society, Fullerton and Genoa PTA's, the Odd Fellows Lodge, the St. Edward and Fullerton Chamber of Commerce, and the United Methodist-Presbyterian Church in St. Edward where he served as the secretary of the church board.
He also served as the 4-H leader for many years, co-chairman of the civil defense in Nance County, president of the Nance County fair board for five years, treasurer of school district number 47, past chairman of Nance County school reorganization board, secretary/treasurer of the St. Edward Farmer's Union CO-OP Association, and president for two years of the St. Edward Booster Club. Along with being active in many community affairs, he was also listed in Who's Who in Nebraska.
Kenneth had always been interested and active in sports and Clarisa's hobbies are sewing, knitting, and crocheting.
Kenneth and Clarisa bought a home in St. Edward in 1968 and moved into St. Edward where they made their home. Kenneth M. Stevens is buried in the St. Edward Evergreen Cemetery.