Rev. Kenneth Wilbur Baisden, 91, of Buda, Texas Entered Into Glory on April 9, 2023 in Buda, Texas. He was born on March 8, 1932, in St. Paul, Minnesota - the 4th of six children born to Earl and Valborg (nee Stockland) Baisden. He was baptized into the Body of Christ by Rev. Martin S. Bredow at Bethlehem English Lutheran Church in St. Paul and later, at the age of 14, he was Confirmed into the Faith by Rev. Bredow. He attended Minneapolis Public Schools and graduated from Marshall High School in June of 1949. From there he embarked on his goal to dedicate his life to the service of God and Country.

Ken entered the state of Holy Matrimony with Sylvia Mae Hallgren, before the Lord at His Altar on August 23, 1951, at Bethlehem English Lutheran Church; the Rev. Martin S. Bredow again served as officiant and spiritual leader.

Ken entered the United State Air Force in 1951, attended Officer Candidate School and flew various aircraft, before eventually piloting his beloved B-52s. Ken served his country for 20 years, attaining the rank of Major, became a B-52 Instructor Pilot and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Combat Readiness Medal before retiring from military service in 1971. During these years, Ken and Sylvia were blessed with four sons and one daughter. Ken's assignments took the family from Minnesota to Texas, Alabama, Colorado, Maine, Louisiana, Newfoundland, California, and North Dakota.

Upon retirement from the USAF, Kenneth earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Merced College in Merced, California and then moved the family to Springfield, Illinois to pursue his goal of serving God as an LCMS pastor. He attended Concordia Theological Seminary in Springfield, Illinois, where he graduated with a Master of Divinity degree in 1974 and was ordained. Ken accepted his first call at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Palestine, Texas that same year. Over the next 40+ years Ken and Sylvia again moved around the country as Ken served pastorates at Redeemer Lutheran, Jacksonville, TX, Our Savior, Centerville, TX, King of Kings, Round Rock, TX, Redeemer, Wickenburg, AZ, a chaplaincy at Lutheran Homes in Northern Illinois, and finally culminating in a return to Texas where he served a nine year pastorate at Genesis Lutheran Church in Buchanan Dam, TX. It was in the beautiful hill country of Central Texas that they finally found their home.

Family was always paramount to Ken and Sylvia and they were blessed with a large and very loving family. Sylvia preceded him in death, as did two of his sons,

Jeffrey Baisden, and John Baisden (Pat). two brothers - Lowell Baisden (Fern) and Eugene Baisden and one of his sisters - Elaine Beecroft.

He is survived by his sister Norma Kovacik, brother Orrin (Bernard) Baisden; sons Gary (Debbie) and Tom (Toni) Baisden, and daughter Karen (A.J.) Foulois; grandchildren Brandon Baisden (Ally), Dana Baisden, Bethany (Zach) Wood, Matthew Baisden, Kathleen Baisden, Michael Baisden, Melissa Baisden, Lily Foulois, and Katelynn Baisden; step-grandchildren -- Danny (Jenn) Cowfer, Stephanie (Daniel) McIntyre, James Cowfer; six great grandchildren, and six step-great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, April 15, 2023, at Bethany Lutheran Church, 3701 W. Slaughter, Austin, Texas. A private inurnment will be held at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bethany Lutheran Church, Austin Tx; Genesis Lutheran Church, Buchanan Dam, Tx; or the the Central Texas Food Bank.

All services are under the direction of Harrell Funeral Home of Austin, 4435 Frontier Trail, Austin, Texas.