William Kenneth, age 86 of Belcourt, ND passed away on Monday, August 22, 2022 at home with his wife of 31 years, Bernice Delorme.

William Kenneth was born on July 21, 1936 in Cincinnati, Ohio to Sylvester and Marcetta (Tate) Smith.  He attended Stowe Elementary School, and graduated from Central High School in 1954 in Cincinnati, Ohio.  Cincinnati was very segregated at that time, and Kenneth could not wait to leave there.  He tried to enlist in the Navy at the age of 17 but his mother would not sign for him to join.  He was able to enlist in the United States Navy at the age of 18.  He followed in the footsteps of his father, Sylvester Fitch Smith, who served in the Navy in World War II; and of his grandfather, David Fitch, who served in the Army in World War I.  Kenneth and his best friend, Paul Mitchum enlisted together.  Shortly after enlisting in the Navy, Kenneth met and married his first wife, with whom he had a son, Michael Smith.  Kenneth said he waited to get married until he was sure he could support a wife and family.  This was a lesson he learned from his father and grandfather who both had lived through the Great Depression.  Kenneth's father Sylvester once told him that during the Depression, Sylvester had a job setting pins in a bowling alley for 25 cents a shift. That 25 cents bought a bowl of chili, which Sylvester shared with his father, as times were very tough.  Kenneth's first marriage did not last, as his wife came to realize that Kenneth would be gone to sea for three to six months at a time.

Kenneth said he applied for the Submarine Service because "I wanted to serve on a ship instead of wiping my behind with leaves in the Army or the Marines."  Kenneth was rated as a Sonarman in the Navy.  He went on to serve on five diesel submarines and three nuclear submarines.  He had lots of stories about submarine sailors not being able to get girlfriends because they all stunk like diesel fuel. After being single for two years, Kenneth met and married Annie Lois Kenneth while stationed in Key West, Florida.  She had four children, all of whom he adopted and raised to adulthood.  He was the only father they ever knew.  He often commented that though these children were not his biological children, "they were all bought and paid for with lots of bacon and eggs."

Kenneth's Navy career spanned from 1954-1975 and included service in both the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War.  He traveled all Seven Seas and around the world.  Kenneth was initiated into the "Silent Occult Mysteries of the Far East" on two occasions:  (1) when he crossed the equator aboard the USS Charr in 1957, and (2) when he crossed the 180 ^th Meridian in 1970 (the latitude was Classified) on the USS Aspro.  He was awarded the status of "Golden Shellback" when he crossed the equator going both directions aboard the USS Segundo in 1962.  He also experienced the integration of the Navy first hand.  He achieved the rank of Chief Petty Officer (E-7) and retired from the U.S. Navy with an honorable discharge in 1975.  When he passed away, among his papers were his own military discharge papers (DD-214), his father's discharge papers from World War II, and his grandfather's discharge papers from World War I.

After retiring from the Navy in Pearl Harbor, Kenneth lived in Hawaii for 22 years.  He worked first as a Federal Police Officer.  Then he worked 18 years as an Electronic Technician for the Federal Aviation Administration, repairing electronic airplane landing equipment.  During his working years, Kenneth was always concerned about saving money for all of his children to go to college.  Kenneth already had three Associate degrees in Electronic Engineering and Criminal Justice.  However, when the time came for the children to go to college, no one wanted to go.  So Kenneth took the money he had saved for his children's college and he enrolled in the University of Hawaii, graduating 4 years later with a Bachelor's degree in Justice Administration.

He moved to Seattle in 1991 because he missed having all four seasons.  There he taught Math and Electronics for the Federal Aviation Administration.  It was in Seattle that he met the love of his life, Bernice Delorme.  Kenneth was united in marriage to Bernice Delorme on August 5, 1991 at the Daybreak Star Indian Art Center in Seattle, Washington. Kenneth's children were grown, yet he helped raise Bernice's three daughters, Lori, Jennifer and Angela. When Lori was in the 6 ^th grade, she was having trouble with her Math. Her Math teacher told her he would be at work at 6 am if she wanted to come and do her homework there.  As a result, Kenneth would get up at 5 am, wake Lori up and drive her a block and a half down the hill to her school so she could get Math tutoring.  Kenneth also conducted a Math Homework Club in his basement to help Lori and her friends with their Math. That's the kind of man he was.  Today, that daughter is Dr. Lori Banks who received her Ph.D. in Molecular Virology and Microbiology from the Baylor College of Medicine.  Kenneth worked for the Federal Aviation Administration teaching Math and Electronics for 18 years before retiring again.  Kenneth retired the second time with 38 years of combined Navy and Federal service.

Outside of his professional life, Kenneth was the proud father of five daughters, Phyllis, Lisa, Angela, Jennifer and Lori; as well as two sons, Paul and Michael.  He was inspired by the movies of the 1950's to learn how to tailor women's clothing.  He was also a wedding photographer. He had an amazing collection of jazz music and Black History movies.  He was an expert in Black Military History.  He also enjoyed woodworking, a skill he had learned from his grandfather, Dave Fitch.  Kenneth often told the story of how he rode the city bus with his grandfather and his grandfather's tool box.  He said his grandfather could almost build a house out of that tool box.  Kenneth built his own beautiful bar and entertainment center, which Bernice called "Male Bonding Corner" in their home.  He loved spending time with his family and his friends, entertaining many people in his and Bernice's home throughout the years.  He was especially proud of his grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.  Fabian Rocha and Destiny Rocha were especially close to their grandfather.  They and their mother, Jennifer Delorme helped to take care of Kenneth in his last days.  He was from the generation of men that not only took care of their family, but took great pride in his family.  He will be lovingly remembered and greatly missed.

William is survived by his loving wife, Bernice Delorme of Belcourt, ND; daughters, Angela Delorme of Devils Lake, ND; Phyllis Thompson of San Antonio, TX; Lisa Kentle of Seattle, WA; Jennifer Delorme of Grand Forks, ND; and Lori Banks of Lewiston, ME; son, Paul Smith of Honolulu, HI; and grandchildren, Katura Gaines of Broomfield, CO; Alex Rocha, Bryce Rocha, Crystal Rocha, Destiny Rocha, Eric Rocha and Fabian Rocha, all of Grand Forks, ND; Alex Delorme, Aloura Delorme, and Angelo Delorme all of Devils Lake, ND; Patrick J. McGee and Brianna Horton both of Lewiston, ME; Lana Smith, Aloha Smith, Richard Smith and Donnie Smith, all of Honolulu, HI; Lee Kentle, Lakeya Kentle and Daughter Kentle, all of Seattle, WA; Travis Stevenson of San Antonio, TX; Robert Stevenson of Braedenton, FL, and Valerie Cobb Brown of Braedenton, FL; great grandchildren, Tiana Stevenson, Kimani Stevenson, Thai Stevenson and Sontia Stevenson all of San Antonio, Tx; Jeremiah Brown, Khalilah Brown, Brian Brown and Briana Brown, all of Braedenton, FL; Taylor Stevenson, Katia Stevenson, Mercutio Stevenson, Donovan Stevenson, Takwanda Stevenson and Zuriah Stevenson, all of Braedenton, FL; and two great-great-great grandchildren of Braedenton, FL.

William was preceded in death by his grandparents, Dave Fitch Smith and Lavenia (Morris) Smith (his favorite grandmother), his parents Sylvester Fitch Smith and Marcetta (Tate) Smith, his son, Michael Smith, sister, Lucee Smith and Master Chief Ross J. Thomas, his best friend of 60 years and Navy brother.

Wake services will be held at 4:00 pm, Friday, September 16, 2022 in the Sprung Structure, Belcourt, ND.  Funeral services with full Military Honors will be held at 10:00 am, Saturday, September 17, 2022 at 10:00 am at the Sprung Structure, Belcourt, ND.  Military Honors will be provided by the Navy Funeral Honor Guard of North Dakota and the Rolette County Veterans of Foreign Wars, assisted by the Vietnam Veterans of America.  Burial will be in the Delorme private cemetery near Belcourt, ND.  Cremation services were provided by the Elick Funeral Home, Rolla, ND.