Obituary - Kenneth D. Rimmer

Kenneth D. Rimmer, 70, of Havre, passed away due to respiratory failure on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016, at Benefis Medical Center in Great Falls. A visitation will be held from 2 until 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 8, 2016, at Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan.  9, 2016, at First Lutheran Church with Pastor Tanner Howard officiating. Burial will follow in Highland Cemetery with military honors. His family has requested that memorial donations be made in Ken's name to the Gift of Life Housing, PO Box 7008, Great Falls, MT  59406, to Fisher House Foundation, PO Box 97229, Washington, DC  20777-7804, or to the charity of the donor's choice.

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements. Please visit Ken's online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for his family at http://www.hollandbonine.com.

Ken was born on Oct. 10, 1945, in Havre to Roy and Ruby (Adams) Rimmer. He was raised in Havre, graduating from Havre High School in 1964. He began attending Northern Montana College, working toward his five-year degree in architecture, but ran out of money. While he was working to save up and go back to school, Uncle Sam needed a few good men to take a "trial vacation" in Vietnam, so his plans changed.

After Vietnam, he obtained an Associate Degree in Architectural Drafting and a Bachelor's Degree in Education with his certification in vocational arts from Northern Montana College. He taught high school shop, and was the assistant wrestling coach in Box Elder for one year.

His drafting degree included residential, commercial, electrical, plumbing, landscaping and surveying, which he was able to use as an electrical communications engineer, then industrial trainer/safety coordinator and industrial maintenance electrician.  

In 1972, Ken married Diane Griswold, and they had a daughter. The couple later divorced. In 2007, he married Lana (Ebaugh) Semmens.

Ken enjoyed working with his hands, especially building and fixing things. He had his mind set on building a new house for Lana and himself and was currently working on the plans for that house.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Ruby Rimmer; his sister, Janet Bunton; and his brother, Harvey Joe Rimmer.

Ken is survived by his beloved wife, Lana Rimmer of Havre; his daughter, Stacey (Martin) Rimmer-Palma of Tucson, Arizona; his stepsons, Scot (Lorit) Semmens of Las Vegas, Nevada, and David (Cyndi) Forsyth currently posted in Germany; his five grandchildren, Elyana, Sophia, Damien, Shai and Rhett; his brother-in-law, Jon "Buck" Ebaugh; his three nieces, Teri, Bobbi and Kandi; his nephew, Kurt; and several great-nieces and nephews.