Parents: Isaiah Martin Fisher and Susan Elizabeth Byington

Spouse: Ila Barbara Anderson

Children: Richard, Dennis, Steven, Lynda

Life Sketch of Kenneth J Fisher read at his funeral by Jennifer Fisher and Cami Oswald Miller 2 of his granddaughters
Grandpa was born March 5, 1914 at his Grandparent Fisher's home in Annis, Idaho. His family was living on Pine Creek Bench at the time, near Swan Valley.
Grandpa was the eleventh of twelve children born to Isaiah Martin Fisher and Susan Elizabeth Byington Fisher. Six of the children grew to adulthood. They were Lewis Alvero, who is deceased, Ila Barker, Vernal, Utah, Leslie, (John) deceased, Arba Kelley, deceased, and Avis Linville, of Elgin, Oregon. Grandpa was the youngest.
Grandpa attended school in Pine Creek Bench, Victor and Ririe, Idaho. Winters on Pine Creek Bench were hard with snow above the fences and frequent blizzards.
Uncle Dennis says Grandpa always told stories of how "I had to walk six miles to school." Being the somewhat doubting type, Uncle Dennis went up to Pine Creek Bench and drove the road from where the house had been, to the school. It proved to be 7 1/2 miles by road. Grandpa had cut across making it awful close to 6 miles.
During the less snowy times the kids would ride a horse to school and when the snow was deep they would sometimes ski. There were times that a neighbor would even hook up a sleigh and the girls would ride. The boys were usually too macho to do that.
At the age of 17 Grandpa served in the Army and was based in Hawaii for two years. He was paid $19.85 a month and out of that he had to buy his own dress uniform. Much to Grandma's disappointment, he never had a desire to return to Hawaii for a vacation.
After getting out of the Army, the depression had begun and he felt lucky to get work on a road construction crew working in Yellowstone Park and on the Teton Pass road. He made $2.00 an hour plus room and board or I should say tent and board.
In August 1941, grandpa met Grandma through friends. A week later he asked her out for a first date to the show. She wrote a note to her dad asking for permission to date this "gentleman". All of her dad's friends had a good laugh at her reference to Grandpa as a gentleman. They knew him better than she did.
On January 30, 1942, they were married in Soda Springs, Idaho. Grandpa told mom this last December that it was the luckiest day of his life. He said grandma was such a beautiful girl and he couldn't quite understand why she would ever choose him.
Two months later, on March 22, 1942, Grandpa was drafted back into the Army and served in World War II. He served as a tank operator in the 1st Armoured Division in North Africa and later at Ansio Beach, Italy. He sustained burns on his legs in Anzio and was hospitalized in Naples, Italy. In August 1945, he was brought home and in September 1945 he was discharged from the service in Walla Wall, Washington.
He came home not only to his beautiful bride but also to a son Richard who was now two years old. He took his family and moved to Vancouver, Washington, working in the ship yards for a short time. Deciding to take advantage of his V.A. Education Benefits he moved to Pocatello to attend an electrical tradeschool. At this time one more baby joined the family. A rolly-polly son named Dennis.
Grandpa then moved back to Idaho Falls and went to work for H&L Electric as an electrical apprentice. He eventually got his electrical license while working there. In 1948 a son, Steven joined the family and in 1950 a hoped for daughter, Lynda.
During his electrical career he worked not only for H&L Electric but also for Hahn Electric working on projects such as the Palisades Damn, wiring in the central control system and jobs at the A.E.C.. My dad said that as kids, the project they were most proud of were the lights he put on the ferris wheel at Tauphus Park. Grandpa was a proud member of the IBEW Union and was always ready to argue the advantages of unionization.
In 1965 Grandpa started his own electrical business, Fisher Electric. He operated it for seven years, during which time he not only gave professional and honest service but also introduced his three sons and a son-in-law to the profession. So far, he has three grandsons who have also followed in his footsteps.
In 1953 Grandpa started building his own home, next to his parents house in Rigby, Idaho. He spent whatever time he could working on it. Grandpa always included his family in this project, setting an example for them with his hard work. His mother once told him that the floors would never creek because there were so many nails in it. At ages 4 and 6 that was your moms (Lynda) and my dads (Steve) specialty. Pounding nails into the floor. In 1955, after many evenings and week-ends being spent on building, they moved into their new home where Grandma still lives and still reaps the benefits of Grandpas labor.
At family gatherings there are always stories told about hunting and fishing trips, boating experiences and family vacations with grandpa. When Grandpa got involved with something he always went all out. Apparently he taught this trait to his children. Uncle Richard tells of his first hunting trip with Grandpa at the age of twelve. After being instructed on how to be accurate in his aim, he, Richard and a few friends came across a herd of deer. Putting to use his training, Richard proceeds to shoot four deer. Enough for himself and everyone else there. If Grandpa hadn't grabbed the gun from him he might have supplied the town of Rigby with deer meat. All his children grew up with a love of the out-of-doors. There were trips taken to the World's Fair in Seattle along with numerous camping and boating trips. When Grandpa started bowling he not only joined leagues but spent lots of extra time bowling with his friend and cousin Bert Byington. a 200 game was nothing to them.
After the kids were grown and gone and Grandpa retired, he and Grandma started spending their winters in Arizonia. Grandpa enjoyed it so much that each year he would leave earlier and earlier, much to Grandmas frustration. She always missed spending Thanksgiving and Christmas with the family.
Part of his attraction for Yuma, Arizona were the friends that he had made there. These people filled a special place in his heart and he was slways referring to them as 'those wonderful people.'
Grandpa enjoyed the activities offered in Arizona, the swimming, biking and going to the swap meets. He especially enjoyed the warm sunshine. Grandpa also enjoyed traveling and he and Grandma had enjoyed trips to Alaska, Canada, to the East Coast and numerous other places. It was really hard for him this last year as his health began to fail and he became limited in his activities.
As these changes have occurred the family has been very thankful for the support of their friends and family and members of the church. Their support has been greatly appreciated and during these times not only did Grandpa feel the love of those close to him but he also realized the importance of these people in his life.
There can never be a replacement for the place Grandpa fills in our hearts. he has greatly enriched our lives and our memories of him will continue to do so.