First Mates, June 2004

Rogers Persons-of-Consequence, 1956-1960

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John R. Rogers
Essays about Rogers '60 people  who influenced us. This month's contributors are: Wyatt Newman and Delores (Dee) Gardner Biegler.

Ken "Pepe" Kelling--the Duke of Dogtown

It's about time that I finally give tribute to the ONE person who certainly was the most significant and had the most memorable influence on me during my Pirate period: KEN KELLING. From our first semester as freshmen, when we met and together conspired skits and other mini-dramas in the Introduction to Drama class, to this day, when we regularly touch base by e-mail, I've known Ken longer than I've known my wife, Nancy, and we've been married over 40 years.

Drama was a good class for a couple of freshman goof-offs to have time to develop skits and such, along with generally gabbing about the newly discovered wonders of Rogers. Roy Magden, our teacher, would tell us the type of thespian activity we needed to develop, then he left us alone to sit in the auditorium seats and plan. I still have a MEMSHOT of Ken during the time we were rehearsing for the class final, the language arts speech and drama competition. How many times I listened to and watched Ken, sitting on the edge of the stage, doing his "Sandy McNass sat on the curbstone of Jefferson grade school," humorous reading. He played the part well, but like me, drama was not our calling.

When I got bounced by PE coach Fred Brown (to be revealed in a future installment) into cross country my sophomore year, it was Ken that took me under his wing, or should I say foot, to help me through the challenges those first practices of running through the Rogers neighborhoods. Ken, you see, was already a one-year veteran, having been a freshman harrier and having the advantage of two older brothers mentor him. Long distance running was new to me--I didn't really like it. I also didn't like doing it on hot, sunny, September Spokane days. Ken's support and friendship kept me at it, an activity that's still a major part of my life.

Ken, again like the three brothers before him, was a devoted member of the Hillyard Booster Club. The club's "three cardinal virtues" were "clean living, crime prevention, community service." Good enough for me. I was tired of and felt too old to continue Boy Scouting. Being with a good bunch of guys was appealing enough. I often wonder how different my life would be if I hadn't been involved, almost totally, with cross country, track and the HBC. Those were not merely high school activities--those provided lessons of life and associations that remain invaluable.

It seemed that Ken was always around. He'd drop by my house every morning before school, having walked all the way from "Dogtown" to my house two blocks from Rogers, cheerfully chatting as I finished my shredded wheat and Spokesman Review. We were in Spanish class together con la senora suprema Pence, hence the nickname "Pepe." That became his nickname with fellow track rats, those unschooled in Spanish thinking it was "Peppy," which also fit him. There were countless laps around the track that we distance runners did under Coach Walters, who's favorite training regimen was "440s." Ken always seemed to run the same steady pace, same serious, determined look on his face, never a complainer, just keeping chugging along, a genuine "I'll do it," guy. His running style and attitude reflected his character.

Ken introduced me in July, 1958 (I still have the scorecard) to golf at the relatively new Esmeralda course. He remains a serious golfer. I probably have golfed only a half-dozen times since. In this, we went our separate ways.

After Rogers, Ken tried enlisting into the Army. Thanks to Chiquita Banana, he made it in ...barely. Being underweight the day he tried to enlist, the recruiter told him to eat some bananas to gain enough weight to qualify by Army standards. Being a good soldier-to-be, he followed orders, was sworn in and spent his duty assignment in Korea. The Army taught him the skills of surveying, which led to a long, 40-year career of construction management. Retirement is just around the corner as this is written. I went off to WSU and a teaching life in Oregon. Ken, the most loyal friend anyone could ever hope for, always kept in touch. He kept me from ever wondering, "Whatever happened to Ken Kelling?"

Ken grew up, raised by a mom that was a Mothers Day role model, in that part of Hillyard known as "Dogtown." He's the youngest of 6 kids. The Kelling kids are all very close. All have married well. All are steady. All have contributed to society, raised families, remained honest hard-workers. Quite a tribute to their late mom, I'd say. A place like Dogtown isn't the kind of place that such successful and solid people usually come from according to sociologists. But they beat the odds and earned the right to be damn proud of being "kids from Dogtown."

Ken was probably one of the smallest kids in our class, physically. He's not one to whine, feel sorry for himself or complain about things that can't be helped, but I suspect he got picked on more than once. Smaller guys often develop "small man attitudes." Not him. If attributes such as honesty, loyalty, doing one's duty, compassion for others, tenacity, hardworking, unassuming mean anything, and they certainly do, then he's like the title of that song from our era, "Big Man Yesterday"...yesterday, today, and hopefully many tomorrows.

- Wyatt Newman

Margaret Funk Crofoot

Margaret Funk Crofoot passed last week (May 2004), in Ventura California, of an illness that she dealt with most of her life. She is survived by her Parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Funk, who still reside on East Joseph in Spokane, husband Charlie Crofoot of Ventura, daughters Tracy of Gardnerville, NV, Kary, Ventura, a son Charlie of Ventura. Sisters, Gladys and Gloria of Yakima, WA., Brothers, Charlie of California, Donald of Mead, WA., and Gary of Spokane.

Some of Margaret's fondest memories were the trips she made back to Spokane for the 1960 Rogers High School reunions. She loved seeing and visiting all the old gang from High School and northeast Spokane.

Margaret loved the days she spent at John R. Rogers, never forgetting any of the old gang there. She could remember nearly everyone's name in our class 40 years after graduation. I doubt Margaret ever said a unkind word to anyone during her entire life. She loved people, art and traveling. I grew up with Margaret in our neighborhood, Arlington grade school, the years at Rogers and the years following graduation. She married Charlie Crofoot of Mead, WA. Several years after graduating, Charlie became a Building Contractor and they moved to the coast of Washington then on to California. They would make trips to Spokane at least once and sometimes several times a year.

The art education she received while attending Rogers was an asset to Margaret during her entire life. She often spoke of the art instruction she received from Mr. Aller and Mr. Snyder and what super teachers they were. She constructed art projects for many years while in California and attended craft shows to sell her items. Margaret and Charlie loved to take their camper to various places and spent a lot of time camping around Baja California. Margaret loved to laugh, and many of our classmates will remember her fondly she was a very nice lady. We will miss her at forthcoming reunions.

Margaret's parents, George and Agnes Funk, are still living at home and would surely appreciate anyone calling them for information or to give them condolences. (Ed note: Search for George Funk in Spokane, using www.switchboard.com).

- Deloris Gardner Biegler
- Spokane, WA


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