Kenneth Krossen, 64, died Monday, October 18, 2004 at First Care Medical Services, Fosston, MN.

Funeral service will be 11:00 AM, Friday, October 22, 2004 at Johnson Funeral Service, Oklee, MN, with Reverend Bob Paulson officiating. Burial will be at Valle Cemetery.

Visitation will be one hour prior to services at Johnson Funeral Service on Friday.

Kenneth Orval Krossen was born May 1, 1940, in Fosston, MN, to parents Thorval and Evelyn (Tharaldson) Krossen. He was baptized and confirmed in the Christian Faith at Valle Lutheran Church, Trail, MN. Ken began his education in the Oklee School system, but in the early fifties, also attended schools in Hibbing and Chisholm, MN before returning to Oklee. However he did not finish high school, opting instead to work for farmers in the area including his uncles.

In 1960, he entered the U.S. Air Force and was later medically discharged. After this, he continued to work locally for farmers and construction companies, then spent some time working on a ranch in Montana for a couple of years before returning to Minnesota.

His hobbies included hunting, fishing and trapping. He loved the old fashioned country music of Hank Williams, Roy Acuff, Hank Snow and Kitty Wells. Ken had long term battle with alcoholism and in his thirtys and fortys, he worked hard to escape its pull on him. One night in February 1985, while attending a half way house in Duluth, he was struck by a car. He had broken his thigh bone and was unconscious for four days, when he finally came to, we spoke to him by phone. It was the last time we spoke to him. On September 5, 1985, Ken fell to the sidewalk in Duluth after he suffered a seizure and cardiac arrest at the same time. As a result, Ken was found to be brain dead. He was transferred to Greensview Nursing Home in Bagley for a year, then to First Care Nursing Home in Fosston, until his death on October 18.

Survived by daughter, Suzan Tommero, Buhl, MN; grandchild, Brandi; brother, Howard and wife, Sharon, Aitkin, MN; cousins, Sheryl and husband, Clyde Berg, Clearbrook, MN and Jennifer Eggen and family, Las Vegas, NV; nephew, Mark Krossen and wife, Karen and sons, Ryan and Cody Krossen, LaPorte, MN.

Preceded in death by grandparents, Tharaldson and Krossen; mother Evelyn in 1977, father, Thorval in 1980, stepmother, Inga in 2004, brother Richard in 1967, uncles, Omund, Andrew and Ole Krossen, Thomas Hofstad, Ed Lanki, George Bestland and P.B. Christy Christensen; aunts Bertha Krossen Bestland, Anne Krossen Christensen, Signe Krossen Hofstad and Opal Lanki aand aunts in Florida and California.

The past nineteen years Ken spent in a coma, unable to communicate or acknowledge anyones presence or convey feelings to anyone. He became ill on October 18 and passed away later that evening from several complications due to his long term condition.

Our family is deeply thankful for kind visits and cards sent to him while at First Care and our thanks to the many who prayed for Ken daily. We are deeply indebted to them. The Krossen family will be eternally grateful to all who befriended him