Kenneth Dean Neuberger

Kenneth Dean Neuberger, 66, of Hazen, ND, went home October 24, 2021 at Sanford Hospital in Fargo, surrounded by the love of his family. A remembrance of life service will be at 10:00 AM CDT on Saturday, October 30, 2021 at Salem United Methodist Church with Pastor Kaye Asche officiating. Burial will follow at Hazen City Cemetery.

            Kenny was born December 7, 1954 in Bismarck to Edwin and Edna (Sailer) Neuberger. He was the youngest of three on the family farm. He would be a farm boy at heart his whole life. Ken was educated at Hazen Public School where he was active in FFA and played football his senior year. After graduation, he went to the Hobart School of Welding in Troy, Ohio, where he found a lifelong love of metal work. He worked with the Plumbers and Pipe Fitters Union 795 for 10 years and helped build most of the area power plants. In 1984 he was hired by Dakota Gasification Company, working in various areas of the plant for 30 years. In retirement, he turned his skill at welding into an art, making beautiful, strong metalworks. He was endlessly fascinated with metal.

            On September 2, 1977, Kenny married his sweetheart, Dorothy Ann Oster, at Peace Lutheran Church in Hazen. They shared 44 years of love together. Out of that love came two beautiful daughters, Trisha and Deann, his girls. He was so excited to have a granddaughter. “I understand girls.” He loved to play with Lily and they worked together on many projects, especially polishing pretty rocks. He was her buddy, teacher, co-conspirator, and protector. Lily knew “Grandpa’s got my back.” Kenny loved to teach his girls about and how to fix things. He loved being asked for help even more. He was proud to be Mr. Fixit. He continued to “adopt” daughters and grandkids throughout his lifetime because of his genuine loving nature, playfulness, and special smile.

            Kenny worked with many people in his life and had so many friends that he was close to. They were his work family, working in places where you need to watch out for and depend on each other. They were a true band of brothers and sisters. Kenny could always be counted on for help and advice, and if there was a rare thing he did not know, Mr. Fixit would find out. Every project had to be completed to “elephant proof” standards. Ken had an innate sense of curiosity and wonder. He liked new gadgets and was truly tickled to learn something new or figure something out.

            The favorite time in his life was being together, for any reason or no reason at all. Just having a meal and hanging out was an immense joy. Getting phone calls in his retirement was a great source of amusement, “you never know what adventure you’ll end up on.”

            Kenny loved his life and his Lord. His faith showed in his pure kindness and generous heart. He cared for others and took care of the church building. “Do onto others as you would do onto me” was what he said and truly demonstrated in his life. Kenny had a life lived well, touching the lives of so many.

            Kenny is deeply missed by his loving wife and partner in everything, Dorothy; his beloved daughter and son, Trisha and Michael Beckman; precious granddaughter, Lily Beckman; mother-in-law Helen Oster; brothers and sisters; Bobby Neuberger, Doris and Marvin Usselmann, Jeff and Cathy Rustad, Steve and April Oster, and Bernie Chitwood; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

            He was welcomed home by his beloved daughter, Deann Neuberger; his parents Edwin and Edna Neuberger; father-in-law, Lawrence Oster; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

            Arrangements are conducted by Barbot Funeral Home, Beulah and Hazen.