Kenneth (Ken) Eldon Stoy

Kenneth (Ken) Eldon Stoy completed his final journey home to his Lord on January 12, 2024. A memorial service to celebrate his full life will be held February 13, 2024 at 4:30 p.m. Service will be at Victory Baptist Church, 2890 North Townsend Ave, Montrose, Colorado.

Ken was born January 22,1957 in St. Charles, MO. to Kurt and Bernice (Mueller)Stoy. He graduated from Francis Howell High School in 1975. Ken then moved to Montrose,Colorado. He had worked for his dad’s water well drilling and pump business in St. Charles since he was fourteen, and he knew that was what he wanted to do in life.

Ken started his own business at age eighteen with just a few hand tools, meters and a green Datsun pickup truck. He would go anywhere there were water wells and ask the owners if he could do a free pressure tank inspection. This got his foot in the door for future repairs and new installations. He also put his business cards in ziplock baggies and would staple them to the entrance of driveways where there were wells. In 1978, he bought a cable tool drilling rig and started drilling wells.

Eventually Valley Drilling Co. grew. The business invested in new rotary rigs and employed many men, one of which would become his son-in-law, Jason Kastendieck. After seven years of training, Ken encouraged Jason to start his own pump business, San Juan Pump. Ken’s grand-son-in-law, Kievit, is now learning from Jason. That makes four generations God has blessed in the business.

A life changing gift was given to Ken on February 14,1977. He accepted the free gift of salvation and put his faith and trust in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Ken and his wife Faith have worshiped at Trinity Reformed Presbyterian Church since 1985.Ken served faithfully as an elder and Sunday school teacher. He also took the youth of the church on a mission trip to Yakima, WA. where he refurbished a well. Ken also refurbished a well for an eye clinic in Mexico.

Ken and Faith were married Feb.25,1979. Ken treasured his wife of almost forty-five years. Faith stood by his side through their many adventures which included: raising their precious daughter, Jessica, Ken’s road bike racing, running a well drilling business for forty-seven years, drilling wells in Haiti, helping a struggling water well drilling ministry in Tanzania, Africa get on the right track by training the African men to drill the wells, and many hospital visits due to dangerous work and play injuries. Faith always nursed him back to health.

He deeply loved his daughter Jessica, son-in-law Jason and five grandchildren. They brought such joy and laughter to his life. So many family times were spent at their cabin or on the lakes. These are the memories Ken hopes are told to his great-grandchildren. His greatest desire was for them to love the Lord and walk faithfully with Him through every stage of life. He knew that this was the key to real success in life. All of them are doing that today. Ken’s genuine, caring heart-attitude toward his family mirrored our Heavenly Father’s heart toward each of us.

Ken loved camping, hunting, biking, hiking, boating, and fishing. It brought him joy to share these blessings with friends and family.

Those who knew Ken immediately saw a humble and sensitive man who was so grateful to God for the salvation he had in Christ. His faith was fully integrated into his life and his personal relationship with God was represented in his words, deeds, and concern for others. His desire for everyone reading this obituary would be that you too would trust your life into God’s hands, and place your faith in Jesus Christ. John 3:16 says, “ For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal

life.” We were not made to go through this challenging life separated from God. He has a better way.

Through tears near the end, Ken told Faith he had two desires upon reaching Heaven. One was to follow Jesus around and hold the aborted babies in his arms. The second was to teach them how to work as they grew older. Scripture talks about work in heaven, and Ken always loved to work.

Ken is survived by his wife, Faith, daughter, Jessica (Jason Kastendieck), and five grandchildren: Ivy of Homer, AK, Jewel (Kievit) Vandenhoek, Emmert, Gunner, and Serena Kastendieck all of Montrose. Ken is also survived by his sisters Donna Stepanovic (Doug) of Flagstaff, AZ. and Karen (Eric) Backer of Durango, CO. Nieces, Janice and Anne and nephews Bruce and Adam.

Our family would like to thank Hope West Hospice for their loving, expert care of Ken during his fight with metastatic colon cancer. Thanks also to the many friends and family near and far that prayed, communicated their love, ran errands, made meals, did lawn work, and comforted and supported our family.

In support of Ken’s heart for clean drinking water for the children of Africa, please, in lieu of flowers, donate to: TRPC 2705 Sunnyside Rd Montrose, CO. 81401. Put “Wells for Africa” in the memo.