Kenneth "Ken" Paul Rist
1954 ~ 2017
Kenneth Paul Rist was born on November 16, 1954 in Boise, Idaho, interrupting his parents viewing of "White Christmas" at the Penney Theater. He died in Meridian on June 24, 2017 of a heart attack. He lived in Mountain Home, Idaho until his family moved to Boise in 1968. He attended middle school at West Junior High and graduated from Borah High Scholl in 1973 with huge assistance and patience of his counselors and Mr. Jameson. He eventually went on to get his Bachelor's Degree from the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado. After high school he spent a year at the Idaho Statesman as a photography intern. He then began Boise State University Learning Center which was the beginning of wide range of interests and abilities that led to a focus on restoring and remodeling homes. He married Karen Barsness in Moscow, Idaho in 1979. He followed and supported her while she pursued her dream of attending the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. They then followed their dream of living in New York City where he worked as a property manager for three premier restaurants. After enjoying the benefits of big city living for ten years they returned to the west where he finished his degree and began working for Whole Foods Market in a variety of positions.
In his spare time he restored a 19th century Victorian farmhouse and received an award from the City of Lafayette for his work.
He was an addicted runner. His most productive thinking was while running with his dogs on dirt trails.
He returned to Boise when his wife's mother began to age so they could be near family. He was working for Albertsons and remodeling their Kuna home at the time of his death.
He is survived by his loving and difficult wife Karen, his sisters, Betty (Mark) Purdy, Peg (Wade) Temple, niece and nephew Jill Purdy and Matt (Linsey) Rhodes-Purdy and their son Hank, and his dogs Kinsey, Jordan and Lily. He was predeceased by his parents, Frances and Florence Rist and brother, Hank Rist.
In lieu of flowers please send donations to Rocky Mountain Labrador Rescue.
A celebration of Ken's life will be held at 10 AM, Friday, June 30, 2017 at the Kuna Butte. Remembrances may be left for the family at www.AccentFuneral.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Idaho Statesman on Jun. 27, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for Kenneth Rist

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5 Entries

LeAnn LeBar

July 13, 2017

My deepest condolences to Ken's wife and family. I spend a lot of time for work at Albertsons' and would visit with Ken many mornings. His love for running and his fur babies was greatly discussed along with pictures of each pup. My mornings going by the butcher block and not seeing Ken setting up the sea food are not the same. He was extremely kind and very helpful professionally. I will miss him greatly.

Dawn Reeves

June 30, 2017

First let me say that I'm so sorry for your loss Karen. Ken and his older brother Hank died too young. I've known Ken since he was 11 when I joined the Rist family. He was always very good to me. I guess his greatest legacy to me, his nephew Jeff and niece Brandi is his photography. We moved back to Boise Ken's senior year in high school and he was in full creative mode. Besides the photos of the kids, I have one of Hank, Betty, Peggy, and Ken that he took sometime in the mid 70s. That one has been in my office for years. Ken and Hank may be gone but they are never forgotten.

Brandi Rist-Lockwood

June 29, 2017

My Uncle Kenny, like his older brother Hank Rist, lived all over the United States, once they both reached adulthood. Rarely living in the same city or the same state at the same time, but in my early childhood years when my Uncle, my parents Hank and Dawn Rist, my brother Jeff Rist, and I did live in the same city. I have fond memories of Uncle Kenny. He made us laugh, he was fun, creative, and rarely without his camera. But of those memories, the one I wish I had a photograph of...was his grin. That sort of sheepish, good natured naughty, witty, charming and kind grin. A grin I often saw in Uncle Kenny's mother Florence Rist, his brother Hank and sister Betty Rist Purdy. How I'll miss that grin.

Photo by Kenny Rist 1973 of niece Brandi Rist-Lockwood

Brandi Rist-Lockwood

June 29, 2017

brent marchbanks

June 29, 2017

When Ken talked, which was rare, he added value to the conversation; the discussion; the emerging solution to the problem under consideration. A man of few words, many skills and interests, and a heart o' gold.

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