His funeral will be celebrated Tuesday, July 21, 2009, at 1 p.m. at the Everson Memorial chapel. The Rev. Sandra Anderson is officiating and interment follows at Hillside Memory Gardens.
Sidney was born on March 5, 1933, at the Good Samaritan Hospital, Williston to James Joseph and Lillian Violet (Woodhams) Kennedy. He was raised and educated in Williston.
He was employed at the Great Northern Railroad previous to being inducted into the United States Army. After entering the service, he was assigned to the 10th Mountain Division, 8th Recon Company (the Soldiers of the Summit) in Lead, Colo., where he was a trainer in the Rocky Mountains and based in Ft. Carson, Colo. He received a National Defense service medal and was honorably discharged from military service.
Sidney was united in marriage to Sheila Anderson of Williston. To this union two children were born, David Todd Kennedy (born on Sidney’s birthday) and a beautiful daughter, Tonya Sue Kennedy. They lived in Williston, where Sid was employed at Reep Motors, the Westland Refinery and later with Gaffaney’s of Williston, where he was a service technician.
He loved spending time with his family. During the summer, he liked to fish and camp with his family at the lake, and in the fall take his son hunting and teach him about the outdoors.
His hobbies were collecting coins and buying proof sets for his kids every year when possible.
In the 1980’s, he moved to Aurora, Colo., to be closer to his son. While in Colorado, he enjoyed doing maintenance work at the apartment complex.
During the week he would work hard and on the weekends he would take his son sightseeing and on trips to the Rocky Mountains.
When his son was working, he would go to Central City and Black Hawk, Colo., and do a little one-arm bandit gambling on the slot machines, and would be very happy whether he lost a little money or won some.
Later when his daughter moved to Colorado Springs, he would spend time with her and his grandchildren (Stone Everett, Jade Kennedy and Conner Lee).
He was so very proud of his daughter when she named her daughter Jade Kennedy, that he would go out of his way to let everyone know. He went to great lengths to make sure his children and grandchildren were happy because he was so proud of them and they all meant the world to him.
When he retired in 1995, he moved back to Williston to help care for his mother, Lily, and started work for the city of Williston part time in the summer. In 2004, he decided to fully retire and start enjoying life a little more.
When his son moved back to Williston and bought a house, Sid made him till up a garden space so he could have his garden and enjoy fresh tomatoes. One time he went and planted an apple tree so he could surprise his son before he got home from work.
He met Gladys Pfeifle and spent quality time with her and her family until her passing in 2007.
He would spend time relaxing over at his son’s house in the back yard while watering “Sid’s” garden and “Sid’s” apple tree. He liked spending time with his cocker spaniel, Ginger, and later with his son’s vizsla dog, Sheba.
During the week he would meet his niece, Debbie Hayden, and have lunch with her at least once a week. When not at home, he would go to the American Legion and meet Eric Rognlien and later the 11 a.m. pull tab crew at the Moose. When he met new people he would introduce himself as “Sid the Kid” Kennedy.
Sid was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Lily, and his brother, Thomas (Bucky) Kennedy.
He is survived by his son, David Todd Kennedy, Williston and daughter, Tonya Sue Kennedy McClelland and her children, Stone Everett Sorenson and Jade Kennedy Sorenson and Connor Lee McClelland of Oklahoma City, Okla.; his brother, James and Charlotte Kennedy, Yuma Ariz.; nephew, Mike and Cherie and Kacie Kennedy, Anchorage, Alaska, Russ and Debbie Hayden, Alexander, Fred and Pam Schneider, Bismarck and Teresa Kennedy and Wayne Tkach, Williston and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
Friends and family may visit www.eversonfh.com to share thoughts and remembrances of Sidney.
Friends may also call at the Everson Funeral Home Monday from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. and Tuesday from 9 a.m. until the time of service.
The Everson Funeral Home, Williston is caring for the family.
Comments
Kris McPherson wrote on Jul 21, 2009 3:08 PM: