Ken Hudson

Ken Hudson, 87, of Creston died Monday, Jan. 8, 2018, at Greater Regional Hospice Home in Creston.

Celebration of life memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, at Powers Funeral Home, junction of highways 34 and 25, in Creston. Pastor Tony Thurston, Pastor Jim Morris and Pastor Mary O’Riley will officiate. Burial will be at a later date in St. Lawrence Odd Fellows Cemetery in St. Lawrence, South Dakota. Flag presentation will be provided by Theodore J. Martens VFW Post No. 1797 of Creston. Open visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home in Creston with the family receiving friends from 5 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the hospice home, Southern Prairie YMCA, Creston Area Food Pantry, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and Gibson Memorial Library, all of Creston. Online condolences may be left at www.powersfh.com.

Kentner Clark Hudson, son of Ella Sophia (Engelcke) and Clifford C. Hudson, was born May 9, 1930, in rural Miller, South Dakota, in Hand County. Ken graduated from St. Lawrence High School in 1948. After graduating, Ken served his country as part of the United States Air Force from 1949 until 1953, serving in Guam. In 1953, Ken began to work for Langan Paper Company until 1972, when it became Leslie Paper Company and purchased by International Paper in 1993, remaining in Des Moines. He lived in Osceola from 1966-1976, moving to Creston in 1976. Ken was a salesman for southwest Iowa area until his retirement in 1995.

Ken was a member of the Creston City Council for three terms, as well as a member of the Creston YMCA board for four years and a member of the Creston School Board for three terms as well. Ken was a member of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Creston, Eagles Lodge No. 1398, Elks Lodge No. 605, a 50-year member of the Crest City Lodge No. 522 and the American Legion, as well as a member of the Za Ga Zig Shriners. He also was a Creston Balloon Days sponsor for many years.

Ken volunteered with Greater Regional Medical Center, Food Pantry and Meals on Wheels, Balloon Days and the Creston School District. Ken was a philanthropist to many known and unknown individuals and organizations. He had a great love of education, all sports, hunting, fishing, golf and travel. Ken was awarded the Creston Citizen of the Year award, Creston High School Hall of Fame inductee, honorary member of Creston FFA, honorary member of National Honor Society, honorary member of the Iowa High School Athletic Association and served on the GRMC Auxiliary.

Ken is survived by longtime companion Martha Musmaker of Creston; a daughter, Nanci (husband Rafael) Quintana of Grand Junction, Colorado; a son, Ron “Bo” (wife Amy) Larrington of Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri; three sisters, Marilyn (husband Keith) Hultquist of Muscatine, twin sisters, Marlys Jensen of Ruthven and Mardell Kempe of LeRoy, Minnesota; three grandchildren, Paul (wife Brandi) Southern of Montrose, Colorado, Beth (husband Tyler) Boydstun of Grand Junction, Colorado, and Morgan Larrington of Bloomfield; great-grandchildren, Logan and Emily Boydstun; Bruce Musmaker family and several nieces and nephews.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents; his brother David Hudson; brothers-in-law, Ben Kempe and Ron Jensen; and half-brothers, George Bouman and Delton Hudson.