Kenneth Ling

Kenneth Alto Ling, age 91, passed away at the Kansas Heart Hospital in Wichita. Kenny was born Aug. 29, 1926, southwest of Iola to Alto Amos Ling and Retha Butterfield Ling. He grew up on a farm north of Piqua, and attended Star School, a one-room country school. Kenny graduated from the Neosho Falls High School in 1944. After graduation he started his occupation as a farmer.

On June 1, 1950, Kenny and Retabess Northway were married in LaHarpe. In 1958 they became parents of 9-year-old twin boys, Jerry Wayne and Larry Dale.

The headquarters for his farming and livestock operation was south of Iola. He and Retabess, his wife of 68 years, lived in the same home there for over 55 years.

Kenny served his community on the boards of the Piqua Farmers Cooperative, Allen County Extension Council, Rural Water Board Number 7, and the Iola Rural Fire Board District.

Kenny was a real outdoorsman. Over the years he enjoyed hunting, trapping, fishing, boating, and water skiing. He was a lifelong fan of KU Jayhawk basketball and the Kansas City Chiefs. He also enjoyed traveling. Kenny and Retabess were fortunate to travel to 23 countries and most of the 50 states and to take two cruises.

For over 17 years after his retirement from farming he and his wife spent the winters in a campground at Rockport, Texas. While there Kenny enjoyed fishing almost every day in Aransas Bay.

Kenny’s green thumb was well known by family, neighbors and friends. He was an excellent farmer, gardener, and made his homestead one admired by many. His manicured yard was always filled with beautiful flowers,

Kenny was the Allen County Champion in the National Sorghum Yield Contest in 1962 and was the recipient of the Allen County Soil Conservation Award in 1980.

Kenny was skilled at carpentry, refinishing old furniture, building doll houses for his granddaughters and young friends. The huge kitchen table he built at his wife’s request was always the center of conversation when visitors saw it for the first time.

His relatives, friends and neighbors knew Kenny as a man of integrity, honesty and always helpful to anyone in need.

Kenny loved his wife and family and enjoyed spending time with them. In his later years he looked forward to visits from his grandchildren and their families and the annual family reunion at his home.

Kenny is survived by his wife; sister, Wanda Ling Waugh and husband, Truman (Bud); daughter-in-law, Dorothy Arlene Ling; grandchildren and their families, Marryha Ling Foster and husband, retired Colonel Kirk Foster, and their son, Dralen; Shane Ling and wife, Libby, and their son, Gannon, and their daughter, Annika; Eric Ling; Aaron Ling and wife, Kirsten, and their daughters, Alissa, Kayla, Sarah and Bella, and their son, Tyler; Jeremy Ling and wife, Sarah, and their daughters, Kailey and Chloe, and their sons, Riley, Colby, and Kaison; Floriann Ling, and her daughters, Skylar and Julian; Kenneth Ling and wife, Marie, their sons, Brecken, Braiden and Bryer; Jason Hodge and wife, Elizabeth, and their daughter, Trinity; Pebbles Hodge Gauer and husband, Dan; sister-in-law, Patsy Krokstrom; his favorite niece, Erin Faust; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends; and his two black cats, Sunny and Stormy.

Kenny was preceded in death by his parents; and twin sons, Jerry Wayne Ling and Larry Dale Ling.

A visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m., Friday in The Venue at Feuerborn Family Funeral Service, Iola. A funeral service honoring Kenny’s life will be at 10 a.m., Saturday at Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel, Iola. Burial will follow in Highland Cemetery, Iola.

Memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association or to St Jude’s Children’s Hospital, and may be left at Feuerborn Family Funeral Service, Iola.

Condolences may be left for the family at www.feuerbornfuneral.com.