Kenneth Frederick Leslie

Kenneth Frederick Leslie passed away March 16, 2017, in St. George Utah. He was born January 27, 1946, in San Diego, California, the first child of Frederick Lewis and Karren Hannig Leslie. He was raised in El Cajon, California, moving to St. George to retire in 2007. He graduated from BYU with a dual degree in History and Political Science. He enlisted in the army during the years of the Vietnam Conflict serving as a staff sergeant. After trying several business ventures, he became an independent general contractor in San Diego, California. Ken is survived by: his mother, Karren Hannig Leslie; one sister, Debra Thomson (Terry) and two brothers, Chris (Marie) and Lance (Soya) Leslie. Ken never married but he was adored by his nieces and nephews: James, Preston, Jeff, Matt and Nate Thomson; Alanna, Brendan, Bonnie, and Suzie Leslie; Brianne, Hunter, Makenna, Trevin, Trey and Rylie Leslie and 13 great-nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by: his father, Frederick Leslie and a niece, Tessa Sophie Leslie Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 25, 2017, at 11 a.m. at the LDS Chapel on 1905 Rustic Drive, St. George, UT. A viewing will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. prior to services at the chapel. Ken will be interred in the Washington City Cemetery surrounded by immediate family and relatives after funeral services on Saturday, March 25. Kenneth Frederick Leslie, age 71, passed away March 16, 2017. He spent the last year in a valiant and courageous fight with leukemia. Ken was born January 27, 1946 in San Diego, California. He was the first child of Frederick Lewis and Karren Hannig Leslie. Ken grew up as a normal and active boy. He loved the outdoors and the lifestyle of Southern California. He was active in the Boy Scouts enjoying camping trips and scouting activities. His most memorable scout trip was hiking to the top of Mt. Whitney for his 50 mile hike with his Dad. He also built an orange crate canoe and floated 50 miles down the Colorado River with his troop and again, with his Dad. He loved his Dad and his Dad thought he was perfect. Ken attended Cuyamaca Elementary School, El Cajon Jr. High, El Cajon High School, but graduated from Granite Hills High School. When he entered Jr. High, he started playing the trumpet with the school band. This continued into high school. He was first chair in his trumpet section and he was able to march in the Rose Parade with his band. Upon graduation from high school, he attended Brigham Young University. He graduated with a dual major in History and Political Science. He applied to Law School and was accepted to the University of San Diego. He started Law School at the height of the Vietnam Conflict. When the government stopped giving draft exemptions for graduate programs and when he received a very low number in the draft lottery, he decided to enlist. After basic training, he was invited to attend NCO school where he graduated #1 in his class. He received orders to report to Fort Ord to ship out to Vietnam, but upon arriving at the Fort, found out his orders had been changed. He was sent to the DMZ on the North/South border of Korea. He spent 13 months in Korea as a staff sergeant. Upon returning from his military service, he decided not to continue in Law School. He returned to BYU to pursue a Master’s Degree and perhaps a teaching certificate. He was not enchanted with teaching and so left school to try other careers. He spent a year with a former roommate and friend working for the American Basketball Association and the American Hockey Association promoting season tickets to corporations around the United States. He later tried other business ventures, but found his love in General contracting and Plumbing. He became an independent contractor often working beside his father on various jobs. Ken never married. Upon the death of his father in 1990, he took over the role of caring for his mother, Karren. He was a devoted and loving son helping her with all of her needs. He remodeled her home in El Cajon, helped her sell it, help as she found a new home in St. George, Utah and took care of all the maintenance needs of that home until his death. He was every niece and nephew’s favorite Uncle. He had a deep booming voice and a winning smile that invited fun. He took all of his nieces and nephews to the San Diego Zoo, Disneyland and the beach at La Jolla Shores. His nephew’s looked to him for advice with all their repair needs for their homes and he, in turn, asked for their help on computer issues. When his sister, Debbie and her husband, Terry wanted to remodel a part of their home, he drafted over 100 different floor plans for their consideration. After helping them choose a plan, he came and helped them build it. He was always there to help when family needed it. Ken was an avid golfer and BYU fan. He also loved the Chargers as his favorite football team until they moved to Los Angeles. This move could have hastened his demise. He was devastated and disgusted when they move from San Diego. His brothers, brother-in-law and nephews loved to play golf with him. They had an on-going In-Law Invitational Golf Tournament that was held wherever they could get together. The trophy for the tournament was a bronzed statue of a golfer on his knees trying to blow the ball into the hole, an appropriate trophy for the usually outrageous game. Ken loved to travel. He accompanied his sister and her family with his Mother to Hawaii on a family trip. He loved history of any kind. The World War II monument in Pearl Harbor was especially interesting to him. As he hiked to the top of Diamond Head, he found himself reflecting on the bombing of Pearl Harbor and all the related historical facts that he knew. Another trip he loved was fishing in Alaska with his brother, Chris, his brother-in-law, Terry, and his two nephews, Preston and Jeff. It was a wilderness fishing trip where they flew into a lake on a float plane and spent a week rafting down Lake Creek, fishing as they went. The adventures with the fish, the rapids and the bear were always good memories for him. When his Mother wanted to do an LDS church history trip, Ken offered to drive her on what he thought would be a two week trip back east. That trip turned into a six week trip touring the United States and Canada as his Mom wanted to see Prince Edward Island. He drove almost the entire trip with only a two week break when his sister, Debbie, joined to help with some of the transportation. After such an enjoyable trip, Karren decided that she wanted to go to Banff and see the western part of Canada. Again, Ken drove his Mom and her friend, Joann Walters through Alberta and British Columbia. Driving down the coast of the western United States to San Diego, they continued back to St. George. Ken lived a life of service. Service to his family, service to friends and service to many of his parent’s friends. When anyone needed help, he was available to them. He will be missed by many because of his willingness to help those in need. Ken is survived by his mother, Karren Hannig Leslie, a sister, Debra (Terrell) Thomson, and two brothers, Chris (Marie) and Lance (Soya) Leslie. He has 14 nieces and nephews and 13 great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Frederick Lewis Leslie and an infant niece, Tessa Sophie Leslie. Ken will be interred in the Washington City Cemetery.

Kenneth Frederick Leslie

January 27, 1946 - March 16, 2017