Velton Kenneth Haskins

Velton Kenneth Haskins moved onto blue skies and green pastures the evening of September 12, 2021 at Sky Lakes Medical Center.

Kenneth Haskins was born January 17, 1948 to Velton "Lee" Haskins and Donna Faye Ainsworth Haskins. He joined older sister, Carol Lee, and two years later, became big brother to Nancy.

Kenneth attended school in Merrill and graduated from Merrill High School in 1966.

May 21, 1967, he married the love of his life, Vicki Hedingtion. A few short weeks later he left for Navy boot camp. His 4 year Navy career took him and Vicki from the west coast to the east coast and back again. October 7, 1970, they welcomed a tiny baby girl, Vanessa Renee, and nine days later he shipped out to start a United States Navy Tour in Vietnam.

Upon his return back to the Klamath Basin, he went to work for Harry Orem and he and Vicki welcomed two more "V"'s to the family, Valerie Kaye in May of 1974 and Veronica Lee in December of 1976. Kenneth worked for the Orem Ranch for the next 25 years, enjoying the changing of the seasons: planting, watering, harvesting and last but not least, calving season. During his time on the ranch he took pride in his job, treating the crops, equipment and livestock as though they were his own.

A career change in 1995, took him to a Shed Foreman position at L & M Produce. Kenneth finished out his working years at Klamath Irrigation District, retiring in 2014.

In April of 1993, their first of six grandchildren was welcomed into the world. In June of 2016 their first great grandchild was born. Kenneth enjoyed every moment to the fullest with his family.

Hobbies over the years included: raising a few sheep, growing a few spuds, hunting a few chukar, team roping a few steers, landing a few steelhead salmon, bagging a few bucks, attending as many of his children and grandchildren's sporting events as possible, and camping as often as his flood irrigation schedule would allow.

He leaves behind his wife of 54 years, daughter Vanessa Thompson and son-in-law Brodie Bettandorff, daughter Valerie Haskins and youngest daughter and son-in-law Veronica and Jason Haller. Grandchildren: Baylee Weaver (Nick), Nicholas Thompson (Abbi), Macee Mantanona (Ernan), Marcus Mantanona (Giselle), Kallee Ross (Hunter), and Haiden Ross. Step grandson: Jake Haller. Great grandson: Kobe Jaxon Mantanona. Sister, Carol, and brother-in-law, Mike Collins, and sister-in-law Carole Pate.

He was preceded in death by his parents, mother and father-in-law, sister Nancy Haskins Weber, nephew Michael Collins, brother-in-law Bob Pate and son-in-law Gary Thompson, Jr.

Due to Covid precautions, a private family service will be held at a later date at Merrill I.O.O.F. Cemetery.

Donations may be made to the Merrill Fire Department, Basin Ambulance, or donor's choice in his memory.