Kenneth Meeker

Kenneth Lloyd Meeker was born to Virgil and Martha (Pederson) Meeker on December 21, 1946 in Pipestone, Minnesota, where he was raised and received his education. Following his graduation from Pipestone High School in 1965, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps where he served in Vietnam as an Aviation Radio Repairman, Sergeant E-5, being Honorably Discharged in 1969. Following his military service, he attended and graduated from Jackson Area Vo-Tech, obtaining a diploma in Autobody. On June 23, 1972 he was united in marriage to Teresa Eagen in Pipestone, Minnesota. Following a Honeymoon trip to Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, they resided in Ihlen, Minnesota for a few weeks. He and Teresa then moved to Newcastle, Wyoming for almost a year, where he worked as an Autobody Repairman. He then found employment in Livingston, Montana with the Olson Motor Company in 1973, working as their Autobody Repairman. While there, he also served with the Livingston Volunteer Fire Department. In 1975, he obtained a job as an Autobody Repairman in Mammoth with the USDI, in Yellowstone National Park. When work was slow, he volunteered to work in the maintenance shop as a Heavy and Light Duty Mechanic. Later, a position was created for him which permanently combined the two positions. Then, following a reorganization and reassignment in the Park, he obtained a position in the Radio Shop at Mammoth as a Radio Technician. In 1982, he acquired a job with the USDA NRCS (formerly SCS) Snow Surveys as their electronics technician, maintaining, installing and repairing their remote SNOTEL data sites in Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota, retiring in 2004. He served a number of years with the Gallatin Gateway Volunteer Fire Department. He was a jack of all trades, including being a proficient welder/fabricator. Kenneth was an avid outdoor enthusiast, hunting, flyfishing, hiking and horseback riding. He was a multi-talented hobbyist, home-brewing his own beer to the point of malting the barley himself, fly tying, reloading his own ammunition, leather work, knife making, and others too numerous to mention. He was a fan of bluegrass and old-time fiddle music. Ken was recently diagnosed with a very rare and aggressive cancer. He passed away Tuesday morning, May 17, 2011, at home following an emergency stay at Bozeman Deaconess Hospital. He was 64 years old. He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Teresa Meeker of Gallatin Gateway, MT; daughters, Tara (Terry) Nunberg of Livingston, MT and Kimberly (Jayson) Spratling of Belgrade, MT; three grandsons, Avery Nunberg, Roan Spratling, and Ryder Spratling; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Steffen Meeker, sister Joyce Olivier, infant brother, David Meeker, and infant twin grandsons Rance and Riley Spratling. Visitation will be held from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday, May 20, 2011 at Dahl Funeral Chapel. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, May 21, 2011 at Salesville Cemetery off Zachariah Lane in Gallatin Gateway.