Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND001 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 272023
Title: Kenneth D. Sample
Date: 1/22/1937-12/4/2025
Creator:
Inscription/Marks: 1/22/1937
Summary: Kenneth Dale Sample, of Casa Grande, AZ, formerly of Dickinson, ND, passed away on December 4, 2025, at the age of 88. A celebration of life was held January 22, 2026, at Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson. Kenny was the third child of Peryl Coleman Sample and Merrill Sample. He was born in Big Springs, NE, and attended grade school and high school there, proudly graduating with the Class of 1954. Following high school, Kenny worked throughout Utah, California, Colorado, and Wyoming before returning to Kimball. He later worked in oil fields while attending HSJC part time and owned and operated gas stations and a cattle trucking company. After moving back to Chappell, he operated a business for a time before returning to the oil industry in North Dakota. Kenny was first married to Mary Louise Russell in Kimball, and to this union three sons were born: Gerald "Scott," Kenneth "Todd," and John "Jeff." He later married Shirley Larson, gaining two stepchildren, Lance and DeeAnn. Kenny loved golfing and was an avid football fan. He spent 34 years working in Dickinson with BJ Hughes and Weatherford, finishing his career with Wyoming Casing. He was known across the Williston Basin as "the classiest dressed salesman" in the oil field. Kenny retired at the age of 75 from Wyoming Casing and settled in Casa Grande, AZ, with his wife Shirley, with whom he lovingly shared 26 years. Over the years, Kenny enjoyed many trips to Spearfish and Sturgis, often traveling in his Thunderbird or Corvette. He served proudly in many organizations including CVFD president, Chappell Jaycees president, BPOE, Dickinson API, North Dakota Petroleum Council, and United Way Director. In 2013, he received the Outstanding Service Award from the North Dakota Petroleum Council for his dedicated years in the oil industry. He was also a lifetime member of the Casa Grande Elks Lodge No. 1957 and held an honorary membership of 65 years. Kenny's work ethic started young delivering the North Platte newspaper, stocking shelves at the Co-Op store, and working farm labor through high school. He spent three years in both football and basketball. He is survived by his wife, Shirley Sample; his sons, Scott (Debbie) Sample, Todd (Pauline) Sample, and Jeff (Becki) Sample; and his stepchildren, Lance (Angie) Larson; and DeeAnn (Cally) Marsh, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Kenny was preceded in death by his parents, Merrill and Perly Sample; his sister, Vivian Drohburger; and his brothers, Gerald and Larry Sample.
Red ID: FND_I_79519 Image ID: 547828 Image Notes: FND001 272023

Collection: FND001 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Date: -

Summary: The North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program is sponsored by the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association. The life stories of deceased North Dakotans are featured in an archvied collection. Current partners in the project are Eastgate Funeral & Cremation Services, Bismarck Evans Funeral Homes, Carrington and New Rockford Everson-Coughlin Funeral Home, Williston Fulkerson Funeral Home, Tioga Fulkerson Funeral Home, Watford City Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home, Williston Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck Springan Stevenson Funeral Home, Stanley Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson These funeral homes provide recent obituaries to the Foundation, where staff and volunteers format, edit and archive each memorial. The memorials are posted, and copies are sent to the family for their input and approval. The listing currently features more than 13,000 memorials, and is constantly updated as new memorials and histories are received.

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