In Memory

Kenneth Romans - Class Of 1951

Kenneth Romans passed away peacefully on April 4, 2015, in Ontario, Ore., making this Easter a very special one for our family. Funeral services will be at 1l a.m. Friday, April 10, at the Vale LDS church.  Viewing will be in the Relief Society Room prior to services starting at 9:30 a.m.

Ken was born in Erick, Okla., on Dec. 27, 1932. He was the only child of Grady and Martha Romans. When he was 6 years old, his parents moved out to the Willowcreek area north of Vale after the Dust Bowl.  They cleared sagebrush off the land so they could farm it and milked a few cows, as many did in those days.

Ken went to grade school in Willowcreek and graduated from Vale High School in 1951. After a short stint at Oregon State College, Ken retuned home and married Renae Lee in 1953. During their first few years of marriage, Ken pursued his passion for baseball. He played on a semiprofessional team that toured through the Boise Valley for four years.

Life after baseball brought changes to the Romans' operation. In 1958, milk cows were left behind to begin running beef cows commercially. A ranch was purchased in Westfall, Ore., that allowed Ken, along with his wife and parents, to expand their operation to 400 mother cows. All the feed necessary to fatten their calves was grown in Willowcreek, and the cows spent all summer running on grass in Westfall.

Ken was awarded Vale's "Outstanding Young Farmer" award in 1964. In 1965, their operation expanded again with growth in their feedlot. Their facilities, which Ken attempted to always keep at full capacity, were expanded with the capability of feeding 3,000 head.

With added room for feedlot calves, the need for more farm ground followed. Ken grcw and purchased feed for the feedlot up and down the valley, creating great friendships and relationships with all those he met and did business with. Kenneth was always known as a progressive farmer. He adapted to changing times and changing technologies . 

Ín 1992, health concerns forced him to retire from farming and ranching. This retirement opened the door for him to pursue golf, fishing and to continue his involvement with the community. One of Ken's precious  memories was of when he was elected to the Grand Marshal of the Vale 4th of July Rodeo in 2011.  Kenneth was always immersed in his calling of helping his fellow man.  His life was dedicated to serving others.

If he was not serving his family, he was busy on the Soil Conservation Service Board, a member of the Rural Fire Department Board, President of the Willowcreek PTA (twice),  Willowcreek Farm Bureau chairman, as a Malheur County Farm Bureau officer, a voting delegate to the Oregon Farm Bureau, on the Vale FFA Advisory Board, on the Vale High School Budget Board, on the Malheur County Budget Board, a 4-H leader and as a volunteer with the Malheur County Fair.

Ken also served in many capacities in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served as bishop, couuselor to the bishop, as president of the Elders Quorum and in countless other ways that allowed him to share his willingness to help others.

Ken is leaving behind his loving wife, Renae; his children and grandchildren, Brenda (Mark) Hartley of Nyssa, Ore., Chad and Erin Hartley, Michael and Sheila Hartley, Rock and Julie Hartley, Barry and Tara Hartley, Katie and Brett Johnson, Bill (Cindy) Romans of Westfall, Kurt and Rachel Romans, Marti and Jeff Bair, Kelli and Dan Ruf, Jeffand Julie Romans, Traci and Elliott Huntsman, Nancy (Ed) Anthony of Vale, Casey Anthony, Cody Anthony and Cirbi (Jace) Morrison, Karen (Mark) Larsen of American Fork, Utah, Stacie (Jonathan) Rupp, Heather (Ryan) Marchbanks, Heidi Larson, Lars Larson, Greg (Sheryl) Romans of Vale, Tanner Rornans, Trevor Romans, Brock McCourt, Ashton Kincade, 43 great-grandchildren with four sweet spirits arriving this summer,

Ken was, preceded in death by his parents, Grady and Martha Romans; great-grandchildren Jenna Lynn Hartley, Hallie Anne Romans and Lola Jean Johnson.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Vale Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, PO Box 274, Vale, OR 97918.

Condolences may be made to the family at www.lienkaemper-thomason.com

Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery with a community dinner then provided at Willowcreek Elementary