Kenneth Leroy Day

Kenneth Leroy Day, longtime Durango resident, passed away in his home on January 6, 2023.  He was 93 yrs. Old.
Kenneth was born on June 16th, 1929 in Pretty Prairie , Kansas . He was the 2nd son of Frank and Hattie Day. His older brother was Gene Day.
He graduated high school in Hutchinson, Kansas in 1948, and joined the United States Army in 1950, at the beginning of the Korean War. In 1951 he had risen to the rank of Sergeant and was assigned to Headquarters Co. of the 196th Regimental Combat Team of the activated South Dakota national guard unit, which shipped out to Ft. Richardson, Anchorage, in the then U.S. territory of Alaska. His duty assignment was that of a light aviation mechanic, maintaining the Army's helicopter and fixed wing detachment.
He returned to Hutchinson Kansas after his honorable discharge in 1953.
 Ken married and his daughter Sherri was born in 1954. His first marriage was brief and ended in divorce.  In 1956 he met and married Betty L. Diggs.  Betty had 3 children by a previous marriage, and in 1958 and 1960 Ken and Betty had 2 more children, Brandon and Gail.  Ken and Betty were married for 49 years, with Betty passing in Sept. of 2005.
Ken retired from a career in truck driving in 1989, He and Betty moved from Longmont, CO to reside in Durango. He worked part time for Kroeger's Hardware in his retirement years, and left the work force for good in 2005 when Betty passed away.
He loved living in Colorado, he enjoyed fishing, and had a passion for western movies and country music.
He frequently visited The Bar -D Chuckwagon outside Durango and became friends with Cy Scarborough.
Ken is survived by his children, many grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.
His legacy lives on in his family and the many lives he touched over his 93 years.
 He is loved and missed by us all.
A memorial service and internment of his ashes will be held at Greenmount Cemetery in cooperation with Hood Mortuary in Durango  on April 29th, 2023 at 2pm. Military honors will be present. A family gathering for a celebration of Ken's life will follow the service at his son's home.