Kenneth Irwin Slater

Kenneth Irwin Slater

Kenneth Irwin Slater, age 94 of Mankato, died Monday, December 28, 2015 at Laurels Peak.

Funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 2, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at Northview-North Mankato Mortuary. Visitation held from 9:30-11:00 a.m. on Saturday at Northview. A committal service will take place at a later date. Memorials may be directed to Mayo Clinic Health Systems Hospice or The Salvation Army.

Kenneth was born on August 20, 1921 in Freeborn County, Minnesota to George W. Slater and Carrie Slater. He attended Albert Lea Public Schools where he participated in football and wrestling.

In 1940, he enlisted in the Navy where he served in World War II and the Korean Conflict. On returning, he worked as a tool maker at Queen Stove in Albert Lea, Minnesota.

In 1947, he married Lilah Peterson at First Lutheran Church.  While in Albert Lea, he was a member of the Albert Lea VFW and American Legion. He also served on the church council.

In 1953 he and his family moved to Mankato, Minnesota where he took a position with Denison-Johnson as Production Manager. He remained in this position until 1983 when he retired.

While in Mankato he was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Mankato Curling Club, Nine County Safety Council, Mankato Kiwanis, VFW, and American Legion.

In 1988 he and his wife Lilah moved to Bella Vista, Arkansas where they lived until 2013 when they returned to Mankato to be closer to family.  

He is survived by his wife, Lilah; two daughters, Patricia Olson of Rochester, MN and Carol (Larry) Boyum of Mankato, MN; two grandchildren, Andy (Julie) Boyum, Farmington, MN and Jennie (Joe) Howard, Milwaukee, WI; two great-grandchildren, Charlie and Mason Boyum Farmington, MN, sister-in-law, Polly of Mequon, WI; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Harold of Oklahoma City, OK and Clayton of Mequon, WI; his sisters, Helen Peterson of St. Louis Park, MN and Mary Newman of St. Louis Park, MN; two foster sisters, Susie Hanson and Edith Thorson; his son-in-law, Owen Olson and sister-in-law, Ida Mae Slater.