Kenneth Nelson Degerman

Ken Degerman, 91, of Twin Lakes Village in Rathdrum, Idaho, passed away March 19th, 2026, after a brief illness. Born in the farming town of Omak, “Warshington”, the drive to become a businessman led him to attend Portland State University and the University of Oregon. Ken showed his support of the Oregon Ducks in many ways. Even his prized golf cart was painted U of O yellow - to the dismay of almost everyone but Mary Sue, his loving wife of 43 years.

Ken was the only child of Kenneth R. and Odie Degerman. Kenneth moved the family in the early 1940s to work in the Everett shipyards as part of the war effort. “Sonny” was blessed to grow up as Odie’s son, and no one received more love and delicious food. He spent his later youth in Eugene, Oregon, not far from the McKenzie River, which contributed to his love of swimming. As a boy, he would take to the water and use the current to swim downstream to visit friends. As a businessman and early riser, he would do laps in the Spokane Club pool prior to his demanding days as a terminal manager for Consolidated Freightways. Ken was the second of three generations of Degerman men to work at CF, and he turned down a number of promotions in order to keep his family in Spokane. He played a leadership role in business and civic organizations, including the Spokane Chamber of Commerce and what is now the Spokane Regional Transportation Council. He had the ear of lawmakers and union leaders in Washington and Idaho until his retirement in 1989 after a 35-year career with CF.

In the late 1980s Ken and Mary Sue, a banker in Spokane, acquired fledgling Twin Lakes Cable and turned it into a profitable operation. They worked hard, but enjoyed the perks of being part of the cable TV industry, including hobnobbing with ESPN personalities at state conventions. Along the way, Ken became the founding president of the Rathdrum Area Chamber of Commerce and activism on behalf of that group prompted them to twice name Ken as Grand Marshal of the Rathdrum Days Parade. After successful treatment, he also served as an advocate for Kootenai Health in the early days of its robotic surgery for prostate cancer, appearing in regional newspapers and on billboards. Ken and Mary Sue sold their company in the late 1990s, which allowed them to fully retire. They relished the life of “snowbirds” - playing golf and wine touring throughout the Southwest. Those trips included time with fellow snowbird friends from Twin Lakes Village, and a traditional New Year’s Eve visit with Mary Sue’s brother Raymond and wife Jody in Arizona. They also ventured to Australia, Hong Kong and Europe, and numerous times they traveled to the South to visit son David, often with their golf clubs in tow.

Ken introduced many family members to golf, the game that became a lifelong passion. He took pride in two sons receiving scholarships to play golf at community college. In 1999, the trip of a lifetime took Ken, Mary Sue, sons Brad and Eric and their wives to the British Isles and the “Home of Golf” in St. Andrews, Scotland. The goal was met: playing all the Scottish courses that host The Open Championship. In addition to winning the TLV Club Championship and the Member-Guest Tournament on multiple occasions, Ken and Mary Sue teamed up to become a force in local tournaments, and as the years went by, Ken shot his age several times. His long love affair with golf culminated in a trip to Orlando, Florida, to meet his golfing hero, Arnold Palmer, and to play his famed Bay Hill course.

No one cared more about Twin Lakes Village as a golf course and community than Ken. His 45+ years of devotion to TLV included years on the board and spearheading the annual member - guest golf tournament. Ken took special pride in serving for decades on the greens committee, and he never left a ball mark unrepaired or divot unfilled.

Ken is survived by his wife, Mary Sue; sons Bradley (Sandy), Eric (Traci), Dallas Becker (Michelle), David Becker (Caroline Hartley); daughter Dawn Urbiha (Tony); grandchildren Michelle Williams (Marshall), Johnathan Becker (Adrianne), Rob Castleton; and 4 great-grandchildren.

Brad and Eric are grateful to Mary Sue’s children for their love and respect for Ken. We especially thank Dawn and Tony for their compassionate care of Dad and take heart in knowing that he is now,

“Absent from the body, and at home with the Lord”. (2 Corinthians 5:8)

We will celebrate Ken’s life on Saturday, May 16, 3:00 PM at MoonDollars Bistro in the Twin Lakes Village Clubhouse.