Early on Sunday morning, March 28, 2021, Kenneth Rossberg of Crane, passed away at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise, Idaho at the age of 86.

“Kenny” was born March 9, 1935 in Tucson, Ariz. to John and Zelda Rossberg. The family moved often, and after living in San Diego, Calif.; Warrenton, and then Vanport, Ore., they moved to Burns in 1951. Kenny graduated from BHS in 1954.

After high school Kenny was accepted to Texas A&M University, but when his brother didn’t get in, they planned to go into the military together. An old football injury that left one leg shorter than the other made him ineligible to join the military. He then went to work as a timber feller, hauled Christmas trees to California, and worked at a metal shop in Burns. He later went into a partnership with his parents and started a well drilling and pump business and purchased a farm in Crane.

Kenny met the love of his life in 1959 and he and Beulah Smith were married on May 26, 1960. They expanded their family with a son, David in 1964 and a daughter Tammi in 1968. 

Kenny drilled over a thousand wells in and around Harney County and he was one of the first in the area to install wheel line irrigation systems.  

After several years partnering with his parents on the ranch, Kenny and Beulah bought 1,200 acres outside Crane and started farming dairy-quality alfalfa. They added a few hundred head of cows later and continued with the family farm until they sold in 1996. Kenny continued drilling wells into his 70’s until a severe injury forced him to retire for good.

Fishing was his passion, but he also enjoyed hunting, whittling, metal work, and going on drives to look  for wildlife. He traveled to Alaska, Yellowstone/The Grand Tetons, and Crater Lake in his later years and was looking forward to seeing the Redwoods.  

Kenny loved a good joke and spent many hours swapping stories, jokes and tall tales with friends and family. He also impressed them all with his cooking skills.  His venison chili, cornbread stuffing and backyard fish fry’s were legendary in his family. Most importantly Kenny was a strong and steady husband, father, grandfather, and uncle

Kenny is survived by his wife, Beulah Rossberg; daughter, Tammi Lockard (Alex); granddaughters, Angelia, Lilly, and Charity Rossberg; grandsons, Gavin and Colby Lockard; numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, John and Zelda Rossberg; his son, David Rossberg; and brother, Harold Rossberg, as well as many other loved ones.

He will be missed forever.

A memorial service will be held in his honor in May. Date is not yet set.