Kenneth Lee Jessen

Kenneth Lee Jessen passed away Monday September 21, 2026, at the age of 89 of natural causes.

Kenny was born in Caldwell Idaho to Clifton and Vera Jessen on July 10, 1937. Kenny was the youngest of his other 5 siblings, 3 sisters and 2 brothers. At a young age Kennys family moved to Nampa where he went through the Nampa schools with the class of 1955. In Junior and Senior high he was active in the band playing the trumpet and active in the boxing club.

He met Betty Johnston in the summer of 1952 and married Betty July 21,1954. At the time of his marriage, he was employed by the Idaho Free Press delivering papers on his Whizzer Motorized bicycle. On July 10, 1954, he joined Company B 116 Armored division with the Idaho National Guard, he served for 8 years. He then worked for 15 years as a meat cutter mostly in the Boise area. In 1981 Kenny went to work for the Department of Employment and retired in 1993.

Kenny and Betty raised 3 children together, daughter Valerie, and sons Rob and Tim. All 3 graduated from Boise High School. They enjoyed watching Valerie in the Drill Team, Rob was into Rodeo and Tim in various sports. One of Ken and Bettys favorite things to do together was following the Boise State Broncos football and basketball. As Ken and Bettys kids grew up and married and had families of their own, they enjoyed supporting the grandkids in sports and other activities.

Ken and Betty were active members of the Nampa Elks Lodge when they moved back to Nampa where they enjoyed having dinner with friends on Friday nights.

Kenny lost Betty to a brief illness on June 2, 2023. In November of 2024 he moved back to Boise to live at Grace Assisted Living. He enjoyed being close to family that lived in the Boise Meridian area.

Kenny was preceded in death by his wife Betty, his parents, 3 siblings, (Bob, Cecil and Shirley) and his beloved daughter Valerie. He is survived by sons Rob (Annette Jessen) Tim (Michele Jessen), grandchildren Christoper (Hannah Aldape), Angela (Greg Barnes), Timothy (Pam Jessen), Jennifer (Ryan Bachmann), Brayden (Jamie Jessen), and Skylar Jessen along with 16 great grandchildren and 9 great great grandchildren and sisters Peggy Moss and Beverly Kennedy and many nephews and nieces.

A service for Kenny will be held at Nampa Funeral Home on 12 Ave. S in Nampa on October 9 at 11:00 a.m. and will be laid to rest at the Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Caldwell with his beloved wife Betty.