Local welding instructor a hometown hero to past students

Weld: to unite or reunite, according to the dictionary. Dick Kenck: a first class welder, according to every machinist in Libby, and many others around the Northwest.

Kenck, pronounced Kink, grew up in Augusta, Mont. where he learned the trade from his dad. By the time he was in high school he was working at the trade alongside his father. After graduating from high school, Kenck went on to earn an industrial arts degree at Montana State University.

He taught welding briefly before going into the army and, after he was discharged, he decided to get a teaching certificate. Kenck taught history in Shepard for six years before Libby recruited him in 1967. He taught welding, metal works, construction, etc., at Libby High School before his recent retirement. He also has a master's degree from Colorado State University.

Kenck retired after 47 years of teaching. A modest, unassuming individual, Kenck is reluctant to talk about the retirement plaque he received from Spokane's A and L Compressed Gasses, Inc. When asked why that company gave him a plaque recognizing 45 years of teaching, Kenck said, "I really don't know. I did buy a lot of supplies from them over the years."

When he was questioned about competitions his students won Kenck said, "Yeah, they did win a few prizes."

However, Todd Berget, Leroy Thom, Gary Rantala and Trapper Stehlik, all past students of Kenck's, laugh at their mentor's modesty.

"Those contests in Spokane were attended by individuals from all over the Northwest, from places a lot bigger than Libby, and over the years Kenck's students took first and second place and sometimes even made a clean sweep."

Berget, who created the metal eagles around Libby, learned all he knows about welding from Kenck and he still takes adult education welding classes from his former high school teacher. Berget said Kenck is responsible for the City of Eagles archway on Mineral Avenue.

"Kenck consulted a local engineer before tackling the huge pipe-arch that will be safe for years to come, but that is just one of his many marks around town. His students built grandstands at J. Neils park and the softball fields, and made the gates at the cemetery, just to name a few."

When asked which project he was most proud of, Kenck said he would have to say the larger span on the walking path behind the high school which weighs over 12,000 pounds.

Stehlik and others at Twinkle Welding in Libby learned what they needed to know from Kenck, who they agreed was an outstanding teacher. "He was informative, made sure the student knew the right way to do the job, and then demanded perfection."

Leroy Thom and Gary Rantala at Montana Machine & Fabrication on the other end of town said they never saw Kenck upset or angry.

"He was a tough grader, there were no gimmies. We earned our grades, but here we are, in business and making a good living because of what we learned from Dick."

Kenck turned down numerous opportunities to move up the career ladder because he didn't want to live anywhere else and because of that choice several young men were able to remain in their hometown to raise their families.