Obituary of Kenneth Lisle

Kenneth “Kenny” Lisle, age 92, of Fruitland, passed away peacefully at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Ontario, Oregon surrounded by family on Tuesday, September 19, 2023. 

Kenny was born February 5, 1931 in Ekalaka, Montana to Charles and Julia Lisle.  He was the 5^th of 9 children.  When Ken was four, the family lost their farm in Montana due to drought and the depression and moved from Montana to California with the kids, their infamous dog Shep, and a cook stove in the back of an old truck.  After a year doing farm work in California, the family moved back to Idaho. Ken attended grade school in Middleton and Caldwell. He recalled not having electricity until he was in the 6^th grade. In high school, Ken played football and had many stories of mischief at school. He graduated from Parma High School in 1949.  He attended high school reunions throughout his life, enjoying connecting with old friends.

After high school, Ken worked for Amalgamated Sugar Company in Nyssa and then joined the United States Air Force. He attended Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, graduating from Air and Engine Mechanics School. On leave from the Air Force and just prior to deploying to Okinawa, Japan by ship, Ken married Norma Stohler on December 28, 1952.  Norma worked at the telephone company. They saved all his Air Force paychecks which enabled them to buy their first house and 26 acres in Fruitland when he completed his service. He later bought neighboring farms in Fruitland to expand his farming operation where he lived for 67 years. Ken was a farmer at heart and was always happy on his John Deere tractor.

Kenny joined Albertsons in 1956 as a clerk and was promoted to Produce Manager after six months. He worked for Albertsons for 36 years. He was always so pleased when Joe Albertson came to the store and would seek him out to chat. He worked six days a week at Albertsons, while at the same time farming almost 200 acres. Ken and his family raised corn, wheat, hay and cattle.  He actively farmed until he was 86 years old. Ken possessed a strong work ethic and a great ability to problem solve. Sometimes the solutions weren’t pretty, but they worked.  He liked going to auctions and had a pretty good eye for a deal.  Ken loved living in Fruitland and loved Idaho.

Ken and Norma had one daughter, Lori.  She farmed with her dad while growing up.  Ken was very proud of his family and highly entertained by his grandkids and great grandkids.  Ken loved his brothers and sisters and they were a tight knit family his entire life.  He deeply loved his entire family.

Ken and Norma occasionally traveled. They took a cruise to 5 Caribbean islands with Lori and an Alaskan cruise with the Lisle family. They traveled out-of-state to visit Lori, the grandkids, and great grandkids.

Ken is survived by his loving wife of 70 years, Norma Lisle; his daughter Lori Ann (Phil) Varlas of Franklin, Tennessee; Grandsons Steven (Fiorella) Varlas of Walnut Creek, California; Ryan (Darra) Varlas of Madison, Alabama; great-grandsons Aiden, Andrew, and Tyler and great-granddaughter, Sofia. He is also survived by his brothers, Clayton and Carl, and sister, Yvonne. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Emmett and Dale, and his sisters LaVerne, Zoe, and Betty.

A service for family and friends will be held on Saturday, September 30 at 1:30pm at The Johanek Center (adjacent to Corpus Christi Catholic Church) in Fruitland, Idaho. Interment will follow at the Park View Cemetery, New Plymouth, Idaho. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.shafferjensen.com.