Kenneth Elden Priest

Kenneth Elden Priest, 98, of Sioux City passed away Friday, Feb. 7, 2014, at a Sioux City nursing home. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel, with the Rev. Allan Wicks of First Lutheran Church officiating. Burial will be in the Oakland, Neb., Cemetery. Visitation will be 10 a.m. until service time Wednesday at the funeral home. Kenneth was born Aug. 8, 1915, in Martinsburg, Neb., the son of Leonard William and Florence Amanda (Berens) Priest. Kenneth attended grade school and high school in Waterbury, Neb., and Holly Springs, Iowa. He married Vernelle Alpha Victoria Carlson on March 10, 1940 in Oakland, Neb. They were married for 68 years before she passed away on Aug. 19, 2008. Kenneth served in the U.S. Marine Corps in the infantry and as an MP during World War II from April 9, 1945, until his honorable discharge on Aug. 21, 1946, at the rank of private 1st class. Kenneth was a resident of Oakland, Neb., until 1953, when he moved to Sioux City. Kenneth was a hired farmhand and did mechanical work on vehicles and farm equipment from 1954 until 1960. He was later employed at Condon Motors for 16 1/2 years until his retirement in 1980. He was a member of First Lutheran Church in South Sioux City. Mr. Priest is survived by his cousins and one nephew. He was preceded in death by his spouse, Vernelle A. Priest; and his parents, Leonard and Florence Priest. Memorials in Kenneth's name may be directed to First Lutheran Church, South Sioux City.