Kenneth J. Newman

Kenneth John Newman, 93, passed away on January 18, 2018. He was born in Centralia, Kansas on October 10, 1924, to Oscar and Nora Newman. A year after high school graduation he bypassed his agricultural deferment, opting to volunteer for military service in WW II. He served in the Navy as a motor machinist on an LST in the South Pacific. Later, he was sent to Officers Training School at the University of Idaho where he fell in love with Bonnie, the Queen of the Navy ball, to whom he was married for 71 years.

Ken graduated with a B.S. degree in business administration and later graduated from the Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington. He retired from First Security Bank after 34 years of employment. His banking career began in Mountain Home, and he later opened a new branch in Burley, moving to Twin Falls in 1967, taking the position of vice president and Twin Falls area manager.

Ken was very active in community affairs, serving as a leader of numerous committees and organizations, including as president of the Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce and Lion’s Club, commander of the American Legion, treasurer of School District 193 (ten years) and secretary of the Mountain Home Volunteer Fire Department (twelve years).

He served as president of the Cocopah (Arizona) Men’s Golf Club. He was an avid golfer into his late 80s. He enjoyed writing poetry, notes, and letters of encouragement and congratulations to family, friends, and people whose service he noticed and admired (including waitresses for whom he was known to sometimes leave complimentary notes on napkins).

Kenneth is survived by his wife, Bonnie; son, Kenneth Richard Newman (Jean) of Twin Falls; daughters, Kathryn Jasperson (Kent) of North Salt Lake, Utah; and Gail McCabe (Keith) of Peoria, Illinois; seven grandchildren, fourteen great grandchildren, and six great-great grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held Tuesday, January 23, 2018, at 11:00 A.M., at White Mortuary “Chapel by the Park,” 136 4th Ave. E., Twin Falls. A viewing will take place prior to services from 9:30 A.M. to 10:45 A.M.

Condolences may be left at www.whitemortuary.com.