Kenneth Dean Highet, 72, of Austin, Minn., died Thursday, July 4, 2013, at Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin.

Kenneth was born on July 17, 1940, in Austin, Minn., to Kenneth and M. Lorraine (Swenson) Highet. Ken grew up in Austin and graduated from Austin High School, joining the United States Air Force in 1958, where he served his country for eight years. He was stationed in San Antonio, Texas; Anchorage, Alaska; Sacramento, Calif.; Duluth, Minn.; Saigon, Vietnam; and Klamath Falls, Ore. Ken received a business degree from Moorhead State University. On Nov. 18, 1961, Ken married Barbara Jane Monahan in Austin, the same year the Ken doll was introduced to the Barbie doll. He spent his career in the banking industry, working at a Savings & Loan in Oregon, Moorhead State Bank and Sterling State Bank in Austin, where he lived for the last 20 years. A member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Austin, Ken served as a Trustee there. He was also a member of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans and Shrine. As a member of Blue Lodge, York Rite Commandery, Ken received the Hiram Award for his work in the Blue Lodge and the Knights Templar Cross of Honor from the Commandery. Golfing, fishing, and woodworking were among Ken’s favorite pastimes. He also loved to help at the Shrine Circus.

Survivors include his wife, Barb of Austin; mother, M. Lorraine Highet, also of Austin; children, Curtis (Diana) Highet of Apple Valley, Minn., Craig (Darlene) Highet of Zumbrota, Minn., Bryan Highet of Shakopee, Minn., and daughter-in-law Laura Highet of Shakopee; his grandchildren Rachel (Chris) Toland, Megan Highet, Christina (Dane) Halverson, Keith Highet, Emily Highet, Kyle Hughes, Ayden Highet and Isabella Highet; great-grandchildren Brooke and Derek Toland; brother, David (Della) Highet of Nicholasville, Ky.; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father Kenneth Alan Highet, his grandparents and his brother Duane Highet.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 9, 2013, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Austin with the Rev. Glenn Monson officiating. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Monday, July 8, 2013, at Worlein Funeral Home, Austin, with a Masonic service at 7 p.m. Interment will be in Fort Snelling National Cemetery at a later date. The American Legion Post 91 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1216 are in charge of military honors. The family prefers that memorials be directed to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church or the Shriners Hospital for Children. Worlein Funeral Home of Austin is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.