Kenneth Pankonin

Kenneth was born on the home place in Section 28 Germantown Township, Cottonwood County, Minnesota on October 6th, 1919. He was the son of the late Charles and Minnie (Schwanke) Pankonin. He was united in marriage to Betty Jane Kansanback on his birthdate October 6th, 1942 at the Red Rock Evangelical Church. The couple farmed in Germantown Township until 1972 and then moved to a home they built 1 mile south of Sanborn. The seven children born to this marriage are Laureen, Russell, Janice, Judith, Roxanne, Willard and Vincent. Kenneth accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior at an evangelical meeting when he was a teenager. The Pankonin family attended the Red Rock Church Evangelical Church. Kenneth took over the family farm when he married in 1942. In addition to farming he was a PAG seed corn dealer. Kenneth was an avid baseball player for many years in Springfield, Lamberton, Jeffers and surrounding area. In addition he was on a horseshoe league and sponsored the Pankonin Realty bowling team. For 14 years Kenneth faithfully served on the School Board for Sanborn Public School. In 1959, Kenneth acquired his real estate license and started working with Homer Steeg. In 1963 he started his own Pankonin Realty selling in Minnesota and South Dakota. Kenneth is known all over the state because of his real estate travels and ventures. Besides loving to play baseball, Kenneth enjoyed fishing and hunting, and raising cows calves. But most of all he enjoyed his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and visiting with friends. Kenneth had a gift of conversing with people - he was a stranger to no one. Kenneth was a Dad that enjoyed sharing time with his kids hunting and fishing and his children and grandchildren are continuing the tradition. He inspired 3 generations of baseball players and athletes in the family. Kenneth was instrumental in the comeback of the buffalo and many will remember seeing buffalo on the hillside at the farm along hwy 71 south of Sanborn. All 7 of Kenneth and Betty's children have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Kenneth's first love was Betty, his beloved wife of 61 years. Betty went on to heaven first on November 21, 2003. The Lord blessed their marriage with 4 daughters and 3 sons. Laureen Raymond (sons John and Billy) RiverFalls, Wis; Russell and Carol Pankonin (Jason, Dr Kyle, Sarah, Alex) of Sanborn, MN; Janice and Jack Dow, Seal Beach, CA; Judith and Mark Williams (Eric, Aron, Adam, Jonathan) of Brookings, OR; Roxanne and Miles Fisher (Elizabeth, Wesley, Andrew, Jesse) of Westminster, CA; Willard and Christi Pankonin (Carisa, Cade, Clinton, Crystal, Whitney, Spencer) of Lakeville, MN; Dr. Vincent and Bridgit Pankonin (Mandy, Katie, Mitchell, Ariel, Gabriel) of Perham, MN. Kenneth was preceded in death by his wife Betty, parents Charles and Minnie Pankonin, and sisters Evelyn DeFillips, Leona Weinman, and Nina Weinman. He is survived by his 7 children, 29 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren.