by Arnie Cardon
Kenneth J. Cardon was born August 11, 1934 in Hinckley Utah, to Jesse Leo Cardon and Allie A. Anderson. His brothers and sister are Arnie Cardon, Colleen Cardon Smith, Jesse Cardon, Donna Mae Cardon Jones, Margo Cardon Andersen, Lois Cardon and Gary Cardon. His sister Delores Cardon Andersen preceded him in death
Ken’s life started in Hinckley, Utah. He and his family lived there until about 1940 when they moved to Tremonton Utah and there our father worked for IFA. Ken took most of his time looking out for the younger children. He accidently put Arnie’s arm through the wringer washing machine one time and he also shot the neighbor boy in the butt with a B.B. gun. Most of the time he made certain we were well given good care so nothing serious would happen to us.
Our father then took a job in Lehi Utah and we moved there living in a frame home in the south part of Lehi. Neighbors there were the Petersons to the South, Owen Johnson to the West, Dwayne Woffinden, to the North and Greenwoods to the East.
Ken made a lot of friends there and he went to church every Sunday. We were there about 2 years and the family moved to a frame house on Center Street and 2nd North. This is where Ken started his sports. He had a lot of good friends and they played football without pads on at the old Lehi High Football field. They played basketball most of time at the Haws’ residence. Every Sunday right after church there was a game. Mrs. Haws would come out every Sunday and tell us that we should not be playing basketball on Sunday. Hugh Haws would say don’t worry about it until my dad comes out.
Mother would make sure that all of us children would go to church. Elwood Hunt was the scout master at the time. Kenneth loved scouting and attended all his meetings faithfully.
We lived at this house for about 3 years and then we moved to the house in the fourth ward by Whimpey’s and the Clarks.
Kenneth and I were playing high school sports at this time. Kenneth played football, basketball, baseball and he ran track. He was good in all sports. He ran the mile in track and his biggest competitor was Pres. Boyd Stewart. He also played the trombone in the band and we loved hearing him play tunes.
Ken and his younger brothers and sisters worked every summer for Vern Hollandrake in the fields at the bottoms of American Fork by the Utah Lake. We planted celery, onions and sugar beets. We worked hard at this but we also had a lot of fun because we were all together. We really never had any big fights with one another. We just had fun.
Ken would go to Oak City Utah or Delta part of some of the summers to be with Grandpa and Grandma Anderson who lived in Oak City. He would help on the farm there hauling hay, picking fruit, and trying to make the work horses jump ditches and fences. When he went to Delta we went to Uncle Lloyd Peterson’s to have fun with our cousins, Wayne and Rayola. Ken would help milk the cows and work in the hay fields. We would walk to the show house and back on Saturday nights which was about 5 miles.
Ken and I went deer hunting to West canyon when he was 16 and I was 14 years old. Our father took us up there and dropped us off. We had a small tent to camp overnight in. We got up the next morning and were gone about 20 minutes from our tent and then I saw a deer. Ken said is it a buck. I said yes it has horns and he shot it. Our deer hunt was over.
When Ken graduated from Lehi High School he worked for Holly Auto in American Fork, until he was called on his mission to San Diego, California. Ken served an honorable mission. He loved serving the Lord. The last day of his mission he called and asked me if I would be able to drive down and pick him up from his mission. I went down and picked him up. I said to Ken, I’ve heard a lot about Tijuana, Mexico and so since we were so close I asked him if he would like to go there. He agreed. We left the car on the border and walked in which was not very far and then decided it was not where we should be so we turned around and walked right back out to the car and drove home. Ken went right to work when he got home from his mission.
He soon was introduced to the love of his life, Marilyn Larsen by his sister Colleen and they were married November 22, 1957. Ken then went to work for Farmers Insurance for 42 years. They were blessed with five children: Kevin, Larry, Russell, Wade and Anita whom he loved very much. Ken also loved his son-in-law and daughters-in-law very much and was grateful for the loving tender care which they all gave to him. He adored his grand children and was so happy when they were all around him. Many of them served him in a more personal way and this was a blessing which enhanced his life greatly
Easter for Ken & Marilyn and the kids was a big event. We would all get together and mostly go out West to have a picnic, hide eggs, climb the mountainside and play games. All of the kids really looked forward to this as did our mother.
Ken and Marilyn loved BYU games and attended most all of them. They enjoyed traveling out of state to the games with his sister Colleen and brother in-law Glen.
Ken and Marilyn talked often about the Cardon trip to Italy when most of the brothers and sisters were able to go. It was a high light in his life to see the country where our Cardon ancestors originated from in Italy
He and Marilyn also enjoyed the trip with several families of Cardon’s who went to the Mexican Mormon Colonies , inJuarez, Mexico. While we were there they held a special session just for Cardon’s in the Colonia Juarez Temple and a session was held with all Cardon’s in attendance. We felt the spirit strong at that time. Kenneth during the trip suffered a bloody nose that would not stop. He had faith though that if he could have a priesthood blessing he would be able to continue on. He asked me to assist with the blessing which was a great privilege. Because of his strong faith he was able to continue the trip which was very enjoyable.
Ken along with Marilyn enjoyed a lot of fun times and travel with their many good friends and family.
Ken enjoyed very much playing golf with his good friends, Don Palmer, Mel Kirkham and Gary Evans. They were so good to him, he dearly loved being in their presence.
Ken was a faithful church member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and had many callings His favorite was being Scout Master where he served for over 20 years, earning the Silver Beaver Award.
Ken and our mother would make sure we always had a family Christmas party which everyone looked forward to each year. Well it got bigger and bigger and when it grew to be over 100 we started having it catered. We went from having a yearly Christmas party to a summer party at the park where the kids could run around more. He also enjoyed later in years meeting almost monthly with his brothers and sisters and their spouses for lunch. We laugh, talked and ate and it was done with the hope we could all become closer together and stay together as a family.
After Marilyn died, approx. 18 months ago, Ken was very lonely. He missed her so very much. He invited his sister Lois to move in with him. This helped Ken a lot and it also helped Lois too.
Ken loved the Gospel of Jesus Christ and was a great example of service. He loved and adored his wife and kids. He loved all of his brothers and sisters and their spouses and was always in the middle of trying to help all of them out. He was the first one to come forward and do what had to be done to get any of us out of a jam. His main goal was to serve in what ever way he could to help others.
Ken died on December 26, 2010, surrounded by his loving family……………..