Kenneth Lyle Viste

1927 - 2025

Boise - Kenneth Lyle Viste, 98, of Boise died on Sept. 5, 2025. He was born March 8, 1927 in Nashua, Montana, the son of Theodore and Anna Viste. After high school, he served in the U.S. Army as a cryptanalyst, deciphering messages in occupied Germany. Ken then attended Montana State College, where he studied agronomy. He met Kay Fornell there, and the couple wed on July 10, 1953. He went on to University of California at Davis, where he earned a Ph.D. in Plant Physiology.

Ken did research for the USDA while working toward his Ph.D., then for an agricultural chemical company in the Philadelphia area. After 10 years the family left the suburban life to own a farm in Idaho. After 15 years of farming, first near Hazelton, then near Shoshone, he and Kay moved to Wisconsin, where he worked as an agronomist for a farmer's coop. After retiring, they returned to Idaho and settled in Boise.

He was the father of four daughters. When the girls were young, Ken was involved in their activities including 4-H. He and Kay taught their daughters to be empathetic, value learning, appreciate nature, and think critically.

Ken's hobbies included photography, gardening, and woodworking, especially woodturning. He was always engaged with the news and politics, frequently writing letters to the editor.

Ken lived through a time of great societal changes and scientific advances. He was intrigued by new technology from his first programmable calculator in the 1970s to his latest iPhone 15 in 2025. He told dad jokes before they were a thing, and had more than one sweet tooth.

This is how he summed up his life:

I think I have been lucky to have lived in the best time and place for America and humanity in general. My life was shaped by the Great Depression, World War II, and the post war time when America unquestionably became the greatest country ever because of the good it did at home and around the world.

I was a child during the Great Depression and was blessed with parents that, despite stresses and strains of drought and economic hardship, made my childhood very enjoyable and happy.

I had good experiences in school. I thought my teachers were quite good. My chemistry teacher explained the "scientific method' where you cannot accept something is true until you can prove that all other possible explanations are false. I learned from my English teacher how to tell whether what we hear or read is based on established fact or opinion or hear-say.

I was a high school freshman on Dec. 7,1941 and graduated in 1945 as the war was ending so my high school years were the war years.

I went into the Army after the war was over and met many good men from all parts of the country. I was in Frankfurt, Germany, for two years and saw the ravages of war and the hopeful and optimistic beginning of recovery for the German people. I took leave to Switzerland and Norway as well as Bavaria. Over all my Army experience was a positive influence on me and I have benefited immensely from it including the GI Bill for my education and the Department of Veterans Affairs for my health care in my later years.

I attended Montana State. That was a positive experience that would have eluded me without the GI Bill. On top of that, I met Kay, almost by accident by accepting a blind date. Of all the good luck I have had, marrying her was the top of the list. Our four wonderful daughters and their mates are the icing on the cake.

Yes, I have lived in the best of times. I drew a winning ticket in the lottery of life.

Ken was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Kay Fornell Viste. He is survived by his four daughters, Raelene Viste of Boise, Glenda Viste (Stephanie Sheppard) of Boise, Lynnette Viste (Jay Thompson) of San Jose, CA, and Karen Viste-Sparkman (Stuart Sparkman) of Salem, OR.

A short service will be held Thursday, Oct. 2 at 11:00 at Idaho State Veterans Cemetery. The family will host a reception between noon and 2 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, at 707 W Fort St, Boise. A light lunch will be served.

Ken's family wishes to thank the staff of Truewood by Merrill, Boise and White Oak Hospice for their loving care. In lieu of flowers, donations to The Idaho Foodbank (idahofoodbank.org) would be greatly appreciated.