Kenneth Maher, age 78, passed away on May 28, 2026, surrounded by the love of family and friends.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11 AM Friday, July 24, at Spirit of Life Catholic Church, 801 1st St SE, Mandan.

Visitation will be held from 5-7 PM, Thursday July 23rd, at Eastgate Funeral Service, 3117 E Century Ave, Bismarck.

Interment will follow at 2 PM, North Dakota Veterans Cemetery.

Born to John and Betty Maher, he grew up in Bowman, North Dakota, where he excelled in athletics and developed the determination, work ethic, and compassion that would define his life. A standout athlete, he participated in football, basketball, baseball, golf, and nearly any sport available, carrying a lifelong love of athletics and teamwork.

After graduating from Bowman High School, he served in Vietnam, attended Dickinson State University and later earned his master’s degree in School Counseling from North Dakota State University. While sports were an important part of his life, his true passion was helping young people. As a middle school counselor, he dedicated his career to seeing potential in students who often struggled to see it in themselves. He believed every child mattered and worked tirelessly to help them recognize their worth. Over the years, he changed countless lives through his encouragement, guidance, and unwavering belief in others.

Ken also dedicated much of his life outside of work to supporting and encouraging others, offering friendship, guidance, and understanding to those who needed it. He believed in second chances, valued genuine connection, and found purpose in helping people find their footing. To those who knew him, he was a man of extraordinary generosity. He would gladly give the shirt off his back to help someone in need and never hesitated to offer support, encouragement, or a listening ear. Friends have described him as an outlier, as someone who did not fit the ordinary mold, a fitting tribute to a man whose unique humor, kindness, character, and influence were truly exceptional. Ken had a wonderful sense of humor and never took himself too seriously. He was often the source of family laughter, whether he was bumping his head on something, misplacing his keys for the third time that day, or sharing one of his many stories.

Nothing brought him greater pride than his family. He was a devoted father to his daughter, Angie, and a very proud grandfather to Owen, whom he loved dearly. In recent years was blessed with the unexpected gift of discovering another daughter, Terri, through ancestry.com. He treasured the opportunity to build a relationship with Terri and her husband Kevin, and to get to know her daughters, Gigi and Addy, during the last five years of his life.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Betty Maher, his brother, Tim Maher, and his nephew, James Maher.

He leaves behind a family who loved him deeply, countless friends, former students, colleagues, and members of the recovery community whose lives are better because they knew him.

His legacy lives on in the many people he encouraged, guided, believed in, and loved. Those who knew him will carry forward his humor, generosity, and unwavering belief that every person has value.