Kenneth Eugene Mellberg

Ken was born to Lenart and Merle Mellberg in Plymouth Idaho. He attended schools in Nebraska and Colorado, graduating from Haxtun Union School in 1954. After graduating from high school, Ken attended Northeastern Junior College until he joined the United States Navy as a Naval Aviation Cadet on April 11, 1957. He was 20 years old and had never flown before. Dad said, “If I had not qualified for and then joined the Naval Program, I would have never met Betty. God works in mysterious ways.” Ken and Betty’s first encounter was at the camera shop where Betty was employed. Later that summer they connected at the local drive-in where the cadets hung out. Betty asked Ken to attend church and the rest was history. Ken married the love of his life, Betty Raye Murray, on October 11, 1958. The couple lived in and traveled the United States during the 20 years Ken served in the Navy.

During this time, Ken and Betty had five children. While in the Navy, the family lived in many places including Virginia, Rhode Island, California, Florida, Illinois, and Louisiana. After Ken’s retirement from the Navy, he and Betty moved to Colorado where he was employed with Ma Bell/US West as a Systems Analyst. He later retired at the age of 60 and turned his focus to Mellberg and Associates and Lasting Impressions, Betty’s educational business. During the fifteen years that followed, Ken and Betty continued to grow her business, traveling to conventions and sales meetings throughout the country. Cooking and wine collecting also became his passion. He and Betty would scour through the hundreds of cookbooks and recipes on the web searching for their favorite recipes. Ken would eventually collect over 3,000 bottles of wine with a focus on Pinot Noir.

Ken dedicated his entire life and time to the most important people in his life, his family. Throughout his life Ken could be seen coaching his sons’ football and baseball teams. Ken referred to himself as a humble & frugal person but he had the most giving heart. He put his family and extended family before himself, always there to help in any way he could. He spent the last 15 years of his life taking care of his wife, Betty, who was battling Dermatomyositis and Alzheimer’s. He wouldn’t have had it any other way. Their love for each other was one of a kind and a blessing to us all.

Vacationing with family brought so much enjoyment to Ken. He and Betty went to Branson MO multiple times to hear many of their favorite singers and songwriters. Mickey Gilley was one of his favorites. Ken and Betty spent most winters in Arizona, enjoying each other’s company and entertaining family and friends. He and Betty spent time in Hawaii as well as yearly vacations to the Broadmoor with his youngest daughter. He said the only state he had never been to was South Dakota and that he wanted to see Mt. Rushmore. We know he must have been amazed to see it as he soared to heaven.

Ken is preceded in death by his wife, Betty, son Eric Lee, parents Lenart and Merle Mellberg, sisters, Janice Roberts, Shirley Baxendale and Jacqueline Chandler. Ken is survived by his sons Kenneth E Mellberg, II and his wife Laurie of Golden; Neil Mellberg and his wife Laura of Goodyear, AZ; Daughters Leigh-Anne Kent and her husband William of Golden CO; Rene Chavez and her husband Lawrence of Arvada CO; Grandchildren Jennifer, Lindsey, Melissa, Megan, Jeff, Savannah, Makayla, Brooklynn, Hailey, Sarah, Taylor, Grant, Madison, and Reagan; Great Grandchildren Izabella, Ella, Hayden, Sloane, and Olivia.

Services will be held at Fort Logan Cemetery on March 22, 2024, at 2:00pm. A celebration of life will follow at the home of Ken and Betty. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the National Alzheimer’s Association. The family wishes to thank Abode Hospice for all of their love and support.