Owen Kornkven, age 84 of Lake Metigoshe, died Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at a nursing home in Velva, ND. A private family graveside service will be held. Visitation will be Friday, December 18, 2020 from 1pm to 7pm at Nero Funeral Home in Bottineau.

Owen Glenn Kornkven, a son of Nels and Ruth (Gravseth) Kornkven, was born on November 20, 1936 in Bottineau. He graduated from Souris Public School in 1954 and then attended Wahpeton School of Science. He graduated in 1956 with a degree in sheet metal and plumbing. He was a master plumber and owned his own business, Owen's Plumbing & Heating. Through the years he told many stories of all the places he had done the plumbing and heating. Owen and his Dad farmed alongside each other for many years and together in 1976 started Souris Farm Supply. In 1958, Owen took his first solo flight. He went on to get his commercial license in 1966 which enabled him to start Owen's Aerial Spraying business. In 1995, he sent out notices that he was going to retire from spraying but it turned out to be a very wet year so he ended up spraying one more year which was his 35 ^th year of spraying. Owen served for three years in the ND National Guard as a Section Sergeant. In 2015, after harvest was complete, Owen retired from farming at the age of 78.

Owen married Geraldine (Jeri) Shank in 1958 and together they had two daughters, Veronica and Pam. Their marriage later ended. In September 1984, he married Elizabeth Owens and they made their home at Lake Metigoshe.

Owen was a member of Metigoshe Lutheran Church. In 2006, Owen and Elizabeth received the Bottineau County Agricultural Improvement Association award. For Owen, his work always came first and when that was done he loved to go hunting and fishing, which meant many trips to Canada. He enjoyed sharing his adventurous stories of those times. Sitting in the airplane was second nature to him. In the summer time, the Super Cub was turned into a float plane and brought up to the lake. He spent many hours giving rides to friends, family and even strangers that would pull up and ask for a ride. He was so proud to have passed on his love for flying to his daughter Pam and her three children. In April 2013, he was awarded the Wright Brothers "Master Pilot" award given for 50 years of dedicated service in aviation. Owen had a love for farming and John Deere equipment; most of his conversations with others was "farm talk". Family was very important to Owen. His grandchildren were his pride and joy and when those great grandchildren came along, he was in his glory whenever he was around them.

Owen is survived by his wife Elizabeth, daughters, Veronica (Larry) Christenson of Kramer, ND, Pam Kornkven of Lake Metigoshe, ND; grandchildren, Cole (Cara) Christenson of West Fargo, ND, Kaela (Josh) Block of Minot, ND, Preston (Chelsea) Page of Mandan, ND, Tyson (Kenzie) Page of Minot, ND, Whitney (Corey) Kolquist of Duluth, MN; great grandchildren, Sloane Christenson, Audrina and Ava Block, Leo and Max Page, Corbin Page; step children, Mickey (Susan) Freeman of Santa Cruz, CA, Susan (Bret) Forbes of Rancho Cucamonga, CA, Carla (Ken) Berard of San Dimas, CA; step grandchildren, Day Lynn (Joe) Luttrell, Kyle Forbes, Bryce (Katelyn) Forbes, Carly Forbes, Adam and Julia Berard; step great grandchildren, Harlow Luttrell, Nolan Forbes; siblings, Geraldine (Billy) Siercks, Donald (Kim) Kornkven, Dayton (Michelle) Kornkven; brother-in-law, Leon (Carol Joy) Richards; several nieces and nephews.

Owen was preceded in death by his parents.

Arrangements were with Nero Funeral Home in Bottineau.  Friends may isgn the online register book at www.nerofuneralhome.net.