KENTON ‘KEN’ K. HUNTER

Nov. 9, 1933–March 4, 2025

Celebrating the life of Kenton “Ken” K. Hunter.

Funeral and burial services will be held at Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, South Dakota, on March 27, at 1:30 p.m. for Ken Hunter of Gillette, Wyoming.

Ken peacefully passed away of natural causes at Crook County Medical Services District in Sundance, Wyoming, onMarch 4, 2025.

Ken was born in Stuart, Nebraska, on Nov. 9, 1933, to Frank “Lee” and Tressa (Townsend) Hunter. It was in the spring of 1934 that the family would relocate to Osage, Wyoming, and Ken would spend the remainder of his childhood. Ken completed grade school in Osage and graduated from Upton High School in 1951. While in school, Ken enjoyed participating in long-distance running and was proud that he had placed fifth overall in the state.

In 1953, he proudly joined the U.S. Army and served during the Korean conflict. Ken was stationed in Ulm, Germany, where he served as the dispatch clerk. He was honorably discharged in 1955.

Ken met the love of his life, Lois Fillinger, at a Harlem Globetrotter’s game in Newcastle, Wyoming. The two were married on June 11, 1955, and through the beginning of their marriage they traveled for work and spent time in Long Beach, California, Kimball, Nebraska, Ft. Morgan, Colorado, and Newcastle.

In 1967, the couple made their home in Gillette, where they raised their two sons, Doug and Dale. During these years Ken enjoyed racing Volkswagens, hunting and fishing expeditions with his family and friends, and playing pool.

Ken worked from 1955 to 1976 for Halliburton as their chief dispatcher, and then for Thunder Basin Coal Company in the millwright plant until his retirement in 1994. At that time, he pursued his hobby of wood-working and spent a lot of time in his wood shop building gun cases for his family and friends, signs for Remax, decks, and doing other miscellaneous projects. He was very proud of the many decks he built around northeast Wyoming.

Ken is survived by his daughters-in-law, Sheila Hunter (Doug), and Ronda Hunter (Dale); three granddaughters, Tonya (Bryan) Gay, Makayla (Derek) Cooper, and Kelsey (Adam) Kinney, great-grandchildren, Kaydence, Lainey, Hayley, Hunter, Daxton, and Tyce, brothers-in-law, Don Gregory, and Donald (Sandy) Fillinger; as well as nieces and nephews, and longtime companion and very special friend, Dee Taylor.

Ken is preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Lois; his sons, Doug and Dale; his parents, one sister, two brothers, and his sister-in-law.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be sent to Hunting with Heroes Wyoming to benefit disabled veterans with unique hunting, fishing and other outdoor experiences. Donations can be mailed to: Hunting with Heroes Wyoming, P.O. Box 51736, Casper, WY 82605.

Condolences may be sent to the family in care of Meridian Mortuary, 111 S. Railway Ave., Newcastle, WY, 82701 or expressions of sympathy may also be made online at meridianmortuary.com.