Kenneth W. “Stelz” Stelzmiller, 86 , formerly of Williston, ND, more recently of Culbertson, MT, passed away peacefully at the Roosevelt Medical Center in Culbertson on Thursday, March 16, 2017. Kenneth William Stelzmiller was born June 26, 1930 on the family farm in Mannhaven ND, the son of George and Martha (Ellwein) Stelzmiller. He was the oldest of four children. He was raised on a farm near Pick City, ND and attended country school before attending and graduating from Hazen High School in 1949.
Ken attended Dickinson State College and played football for one year before entering the US Navy in January 1951. He served at the Navel Receiving Station in New Orleans from 1951-1952. In 1952 he transferred to the Brooklyn Naval Receiving Station and served on the USS Bennington for two years. After being honorably discharged he continued his education at the University of North Dakota where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. In later years he furthered his education with graduate studies.
Ken’s first teaching and coaching position was in Leeds ND. He was there for eight years before moving to Williston, ND in 1967 where he taught for 25 years before retiring in 1992.
Ken was united in marriage to Barbara Andrews on August 11, 1968. He recently entered the Roosevelt Medical Center in Culbertson, where he enjoyed the wonderful care he received.
Ken was a member of First Lutheran Church and the Williston Moose Lodge # 239. He was also a member of the Elite Fitness Center, where he did more socializing then working out.
In retirement and when able, Stelz loved to read, play golf, watch his son and grandsons activities and generally gave everyone a bad time in his own unique way; especially at several coffee groups he attended.
He is survived by wife Barbara; son Keith; grandchildren: Drew Baldry, Katelyn (Neuville) Odenheimer and Mackenzie Montague; sister Marion (Robert) Spears; brother George (Marti); half sister Nikki (Norlyn) Schulz; “special brother” Ivan Ellwein along with several cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father George; mother Martha Fiergola, brother-in-Law Robert Spears, daughter-in-law Shannon Montague; and many aunts and uncles.

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