Kenneth Feiler
courtesy photo
Kenneth Feiler
POLSON — Kenneth Alan Feiler, age 69, passed away on Jan.14, 2024, at his residence. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Feb. 4, 1954, to mother and father, Erwin and Madelyn (Koch) Feiler.
Ken graduated from Peter’s Township High School, McMurray, Pennsylvania, in 1972. He excelled in men’s gymnastics throughout high school. After high school, he crewed a sailboat to and resided in the Virgin Islands, which began his unquenchable thirst for adventure. A bibliophile at heart Ken read about every book he picked up.
Wild at heart and always searching for adventures, Ken would jump freight trains and hobo across the states and parts of Canada throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, which brought him to Montana where he met the mother of his six children, Lauria Beneventi. Ken found the Lord in the late 1970s and with the arrival of his children he had to live a bit less wild and settled in the Flathead Valley in the early 80s.
Due to his love of the outdoors, Ken pursued a career in forestry and remained self-employed chopping down trees all over the Flathead Valley all the way up to just months before his passing.
Ken had a love for sailing and spent many days out on Flathead Lake with anyone who would join him. Ken could never be found more than a couple feet from one of his guitars. He would start conversations with everyone about everything and was always picking up hitchhikers, hobos, fruit bums, vagrants, hippies, cowboys, rednecks and whomever else he would cross paths with.
The love Ken had for people is rare to find. He spent the last of his years with his loving partner and friend, Lita Fonda, laughing and dancing through memories made during travels, music festivals and concerts.
A lover of animals of all kinds, the neighborhood critters will be missing out on Ken feeding them all treats and petting them.
Ken is preceded in death by his mother, father, his uncle, and his grandson.
Ken is survived by his love, Lita; his sister, Barb (Ed) Hardinger; his six children, Jake (Christina) Feiler, Hannah (Tyson) Derber, Abigail Feiler, Levi Feiler, Caleb Feiler and Anneliese Feiler; 12 grandchildren and countless friends that he considered family.
He was a father, a son, a grandpa, a brother, a husband, and a friend. He will be missed by everyone who knew him and all that crossed paths with him.
Legend tells it that on certain nights sitting around the fire if you listen closely, you can hear him playing his guitar.
Memorial services for Ken will be held at a later date. Memories and condolences may be sent to the family at: www.lakefuneralhomeandcremation.com.
Arrangements are under the care of The Lake Funeral Home and Crematory.
