The Hartley Sentinel-The Everly/Royal News - Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties

A memorial service for Kenny L. Menke was held Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024, at Grace Fellowship Church in Hartley. Dr. Lynn Dau officiated.

Honorary pallbearers were Brad Harms, Kent Rusch, Mark Smith, Dave Steuck and Jeff Smith. Hartley Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements.

Kenny Lee Menke was born Oct. 9, 1958 in Hartley, the third of five children of Eldon E. and Merna R. (Dodge) Menke. He grew up on his parents’ farm northwest of Hartley, doing the usual things farm kids do and helping with the farm operation as he was able. He attended school in Hartley, graduating from Hartley High School with the Class of 1977. He began farming in the Hartley area and continued to do so for the rest of his life.

Kenny passed from this life on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, at the age of 65 years. He is now reunited with loved ones who have gone before: his parents, Eldon and Merna Menke; his grandparents, Edward and Ella Menke, and Everett and Averil Dodge; and one niece, Alexandria Schaben.

Keeping his memory close at heart are his siblings: Lori and her husband, Ken Smith, of Lake Park; Randy and his wife, Rhonda Menke, of Hartley; Steven Menke, of Lakewood, Colo.; and Julie and her husband, Jon Schaben, of Dunlap; 12 nieces and nephews; 17 great-nieces and nephews; other relatives and many good, coffee-drinking friends.

Memorials given in Kenny’s name may be directed to the Hartley Trails Project or the Hartley Daycare.