Kenneth Monilaws

Kenneth LeRoy Monilaws was born on the farm one mile north of Absaraka on February 19, 1932, to Robert E. Monilaws and Florence (Hagemeister) Monilaws. He died peacefully on Sunday May 4, 2025, surrounded by family. He was 93.

   He grew up on the farm and spent the first eight years of his formal education at the school in Absaraka. He attended high school and graduated from Wheatland.

   Kenneth entered Jamestown College in the fall of 1950 and graduated in June of 1954. Toward the end of his senior year, he was offered a job in Fullerton, ND teaching grades 7 & 8. Kenneth spent three years in Fullerton until he was drafted into the Army. He was a field radio operator and upon completion of training was offered a job teaching English to Puerto Rican trainees who were inducted into the U.S. Army. He spent a year and a half teaching in Puerto Rico. Upon returning home he was offered a job in Robinson, ND. He spent four years teaching junior high before setting off on a new adventure. In 1963 he left for Inverness, MT where he taught for 17 years and was Teacher of the Year in 1977. He also completed work on a Master of Science Degree and graduated from NDSU in May of 1965. In 1980 Inverness consolidated with Joplin, a school four miles to the west. Kenneth became principal of the elementary school and taught sixth grade. He worked in this job for nine years before retiring in 1989. Kenneth also spent time in the summer working for a farmer and continued working on the farm after retiring from teaching.

   Kenneth eventually returned to Absaraka and his family to enjoy the later years of his life. He enjoyed working around the farm, trapping gophers, running a chainsaw, auctions, puzzles and keeping all the family and community history documented. He was a quiet and humble man who liked to stay out of the spotlight, but he had a stubborn streak and could hold his own in any debate. Although he never married or had a family of his own, he was very much a part of his extended family. He rarely missed an event and truly was another father/grandfather to many of his nieces and nephews and his great nieces and nephews. He was loved deeply and will be sorely missed.

   Kenneth is survived by his siblings: Keith (Sharon) Monilaws, Absaraka; Arlo (Donna) Monilaws, Bradenton FL; and Mary Fornes, Fargo, along with many nieces and nephews.

   He was preceded in death by his parents: his brother and sister-in-law Robert (Catherine) Monilaws, his brother-in-law John Fornes, niece Raquel (Monilaws) Roth and infant niece Sarah Monilaws.

The family would like memorials directed to the Absaraka Parks (11 Community Street, Absaraka, ND 58002) or to the Joplin Memorial Park (Joplin Memorial Park Board, Box 34, Joplin, MT 59531), who had decided to build a new children’s play structure in memory of Kenneth

Visitation: Friday, May 16, 2025 from 12:00 PM until 1:00 PM at West Funeral Home, Casselton, ND.

Memorial Service: Friday, May 16, 2025 at 1:00 PM at West Funeral Home, Casselton, ND.

Military Rites:  Friday, May 16, 2025 following the service at the funeral home.

Burial:  Private family burial will be held at a later date at Wheatland Cemetery.

West Funeral Home & Life Tribute Center

westfuneralhome.com

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