Obituary of Kenneth Junior Wellen

Ken Wellen, 93

West Saint Paul- Ken Wellen passed away peacefully on August 30, 2023 at the age of 93. Ken was born in Roseau, MN on August 18, 1930 to Gladys (Markstrom) and Louis Wellen. He grew up in Roseau and loved to play hockey. During his freshman year, Ken was a goalie on the 1946 MN state championship team. He was later switched to center during his senior year. Ken graduated from Roseau High School in 1949 and stayed in Roseau for a year playing hockey on the Roseau Senior Amateur team. Ken enrolled at St. Cloud State and then went into the U.S. Air Force until 1953. After his military service, Ken attended the University of Minnesota playing hockey for the Gophers. During the summers he worked as a life guard. Ken transferred to the University of North Dakota and played on the 1959 NCAA Championship hockey team. He graduated from UND in 1959.

On June 20, 1959, Ken married Patricia Lillo of Roseau. They moved to Hallock where they both began teaching. While in Hallock, Ken taught Phy Ed for grades K-12 and coached football, hockey, and baseball. He continued to play senior hockey for Emerson, Manitoba and also earned a Master’s degree from Bemidji State University. In 1967, Ken and Pat moved to West Saint Paul where he taught elementary Phy Ed for 30 years and coached JV and youth hockey. He also ran a small custodial services business for many years. Ken loved to play golf and became a talented woodworking craftsman.

Ken was preceded in death by his son Kendall Jon. Ken is survived by wife Patricia (Lillo); their four children Cynthia Seidl, Kent, Kathryn (Will) Reiley, and Tiffany (Charles) Cook, and five grandchildren Rachel Seidl, Alexis Cook, Henry Reiley, Mason Cook, and Vivian Reiley.

Services will be held on Friday, September 8 with visitation at 10:00am and funeral at 11:00am at St. Stephens Lutheran Church, 1575 Charlton Street, West Saint Paul, MN, 55118. Burial will be at Fort Snelling Cemetery in St. Paul, MN.