Kenneth A. Armstrong

Kenneth A. Armstrong, age 101, of Storm Lake, Iowa, died Thursday, June 23, 2022 at Methodist Manor Retirement Community in Storm Lake. Funeral services will take place Friday, July 1, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at the Lakeside Presbyterian Church in Storm Lake, Iowa. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the CHURCH. Burial will be in the Storm Lake Cemetery. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of arrangements. Ken was born on a farm near Albert City, Iowa on December 29, 1920 to Andrew Berg and Louise Kaufman Berg. At the age of 18 months, upon his mother’s death, he went to live with his aunt and uncle, Astrid (Berg) and William Armstrong on their farm near Lake Park, Iowa. Ken attended school through eighth grade in a one room schoolhouse, where he remained a lifelong friend with his schoolteacher, Ina Hansen. He graduated from Excelsior High School and came to Storm Lake in 1938 to attend Buena Vista College. Ken had $50 in his pocket and a $150 scholarship from the Knights of Templar, to whom he was forever grateful. Ken remembered walking across the campus of Buena Vista College the day that Pearl Harbor was attacked. He knew then that he would enter the service, which he did after completing his bachelor’s degree in 1942. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Signal Corp. and was stationed in Monterey, California while serving his country for four years. Ken was honorably discharged in 1946. While in the Army, Ken was pushed into going on a blind date by an Army buddy. On April 29, 1944 in Sacramento, California, Ken married that date, Betty Black, from St. Charles, Iowa. After the war, Ken remembered how much he liked Storm Lake so he and Betty returned there to settle down and raise a family. Susan was born in 1950 and Debra was born in 1953. He entered the real estate and insurance business where he found his true calling. He commented later in life that he loved getting up every morning to his job and never regretted a day’s work. Ken worked in partnership with Stan Haahr at BV Abstract and Mortgage Co for over 30 years. They bought, sold, and built many homes. With Stan, they opened two large new subdivisions in Storm Lake. Ken was also a certified FHA and Veterans Administration appraiser in a five-county area. Ken was a member of Lakeside Presbyterian church for over 70 years, serving as deacon and trustee, and also served on the Board of the Prospect Hill Presbytery for many years. He was a member of Storm Lake Hy-Noon Kiwanis for 56 years (priding himself on his “perfect” attendance). He served on the Board of Directors of First Federal Savings and Loan (later MetaBank) for over 33 years. In 1957, Ken, along with a few other old car enthusiasts formed the SERPACI Car Club. Ken was the last surviving charter member of the club. He spent many hours as a young man rebuilding antique and collectible cars, participating in area parades, car shows and attending swap meets. He owned over 82 cars. Other hobbies included traveling with his family, collecting old pocket watches and rebuilding antique tube radios. Ken was an avid fisherman since childhood and loved nothing better than catching a fresh walleye out of the lake and eating it that night for supper. Ken truly loved Storm Lake and was very grateful to be able to stay in his home until his recent illness. Survivors who will miss him greatly include daughters: Susan (Craig) Mesenbrink; Debra (Brent) Hendriks; grandchildren: Nicholas (Jaime) Mesenbrink; Joshua (Jamie) Hendriks; Tawny (Cory) Roeder; great-grandchildren: Oliver Mesenbrink; Finn Mesenbrink; Hudson Roeder; Haddie Roeder; Isabel Hendriks; nieces, one nephew, and several cousins. Preceding him in death was the love of his life for 73 years, his wife, Betty; his parents; and his sister, Violet “Vicki” Madsen.

Kenneth A. Armstrong

December 29, 1920 - June 23, 2022