Kenneth E. Welken was born on the Welken farm in Skandia Township June 1, 1920. He was the last baby to be delivered by his Grandmother Lisa Larsen. He was raised on this farm that his father bought from John D. Black and has childhood memories of a great deal of chores and walking four miles a day to school in all kinds of weather. Seeing and hearing packs of coyotes still lingers in his memory. The closeness of family life leave fond memories of Dad, Mother, older brother Lloyd and younger brothers Donald and Ralph. He graduated from College High and attended college at STC and NDAC and earned his private pilots license while attending NDAC. He is a veteran of World War II. He continued the farming operation after his parents retired from farming, living on what used to be the Elias Larsen (his Grandfather) farm in Green Township and also farmed the Welken farm in Skandia Township.
He married Vivian Sorensen on March 12, 1944. They made their home on the former Elias Larsen farm in Green Township and spent the first six of those years in the house that had the homestead portion (which was the kitchen) still in use. In 1951 the house was divided and moved to its new location and remodeled.
During the 30's Kenny worked in a grocery store part time, while attending high school, for 17 cents an hour. Vivian spent two to three hours and more mowing a yard and would earn 25 cents. We remember the dirt storms and how dark it would get during the day and the years of drought and the hard winters - and old enough to experience the hardship of the depression of the 30's.
Kenny operated a threshing rig for a number of years. Threshing time was fun but lots of hard work but with groups of people working together it didn't seem that hard. As each year went by it was more difficult to get help. The "magic" of threshing is missing today. In 1946 we got a Jeep with a bucker attached to sweep bundles to the machine which excluded the bundle haulers and needed only pitchers then. We got our first self-propelled combine in 1949 to replace the threshing rig.
During the years we spent on this farm all of our children were born. In the spring of 1955 we moved to the Welken farm in Skandia Township and have farmed there since. We are members of the Zion Lutheran Free Church of Green Township -Kenny being a lifetime member.
He is presently serving his 13th year as church secretary and treasurer. He served on the Green Consolidated School Board for 21 years. Our children all graduated from the grades there. He is also serving on the Barnes County Board of Special Education, Barnes County Board of Reorganization, Barnes County ASC Committee, and served on the Skandia Township Board.
Vivian is a graduate of Valley City High School and active in the Zion Ladies Aid - was Sunday School superintendent and taught Sunday School for several years. She is a member of the Green Homemakers Club and served as County president. She is also a member of the Winter Show Board - Women's Division and the Fine Arts Club. We are members of the 2nd Crossing Gallery.
We have three children - Marie, Ken Jr. and Julie. They all graduated from Valley City High School. They all attended Valley City State College and are all in the teaching profession. Marie and her husband Roger Nordstrom and two sons Jason and Eric reside in Jamestown, North Dakota. Kenneth Jr. and his wife the former Jan Gessner reside in Moorhead, Minnesota. Julie and her husband Richard Dunne reside in Valley City, North Dakota.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 262