12 June 1944 – 14 December 2021
On Tuesday, December 14th, 2021, the Deming family lost their patriarch in the blink of an eye. Kenneth “Ken” Vernon Deming became ill and collapsed at the Battle Mountain Clinic while being treated.
He was with his son, David, and left this world surrounded by family.
Ken was born in Ontario, Oregon on June 12th, 1944 to Richard and Sarah Elizabeth Deming.
At the time, his father worked for the Army Corps of Engineers.
This greatly influenced his interest in building models, especially dioramas and model trains.
He imparted his skills and talents in building models to his youngest son, David, who continues to build using the same age-old and proven skills learned from his dad.
He was drafted into the Army in 1966, where he went on to serve in West Germany with the 3rd Infantry Division as a mortar man.
His interest in the military, especially World War II history, shaped the upbringing of both of his sons.
He saw his oldest son, Daniel, enlist in the Army, where he currently serves in the 82nd Airborne Division as a Battalion Command Sergeant Major.
Ken moved to Battle Mountain shortly after marrying his bride of 53 years in 1968.
Ken and Susan settled on 10 acres in the east part of town, where they raised their two boys, Daniel and David.
He worked for his father-in-law for many years, drilling and laying the ground for many of the mines in the area. He eventually changed jobs to Lander County Road and Bridge, where he retired from five years ago.
During this 50-year stretch, he was determined to make his small piece of desert green, and he grew a mini forest of trees and patch of grass.
Family members will be scattering Ken’s ashes on Mount Lewis in a private ceremony this summer.
He often visited Lewis Canyon for both work and leisure, and arranged his new home to frame Mount Lewis with the main window in the living room. Arrangements for the service and celebration of life will be made to coincide with the scattering of ashes.
Ken is survived by his wife, Susan Deming and his two sons with their families; Daniel Deming, married to Elizabeth Deming and their daughters, Savanna and Maddison Deming; David Deming, married to Jennifer Deming and their daughters, Jonica, Zoei, and Aspen Deming.
