Obituary of Frank Eugene Judd, Chase County, KSGenWeb Digital Library

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NEWSPAPER UNKNOWN, 30 August 1982

Obituary of KENT LOYAL CHESNEY

Kent Loyal Chesney slipped into the morning mists at dawn on Aug. 30, 1982, at the age of 88 years, 6 months, 27 days from the land and the life that he loved. His valiant battle was over and he could be
"received in Heaven", as he often prayed.

He was born, Feb. 3, 1894 at Bazaar, Kansas in Chase County near Cottonwood Falls, the eldest son of Edward Kent and Alwilda (Mize) Chesney.

When Kent was 16 years of age he moved with the family from eastern Kansas at Fulton in the spring of 1911 to Rooks County, by bringing their household goods and livestock in a "moving car" on the Union Pacific Railroad with the family riding in the caboose. They moved to the Bessey place five miles northwest of Natoma. There Kent continued his education by riding horseback or a bicycle or walking that distance into Natoma, so eager was he for knowledge. He completed the work and graduated in 1916 from Natoma High School --the second class to do so! He completed a course at Kansas State College in Steam Boilers and welding and continued to love to read and study all his life and was a very knowledgeable and wise man.

He made a commitment to the Lord and became a Methodist at Aurora Church during his teen years and continued to stand for the right principles and justice all of his life. He served as Sunday School Superintendent and was a lay delegate to the Annual Conference of the West Kansas Conference of the Methodist Church at Natoma. Later he and his family joined the Methodist Church at Woodston where he attended until 1978.

Kent married Hazel Eola Day, daughter of Henry and Annie Day on September 3, 1917. They began farming on the McCandless place 3 miles west of Natoma in the spring of 1918. Later they farmed near Paradise and in Osborne County. He bought land west of Layton on Medicine Creek. Then in 1944, on his 50th birthday Kent bought the Gutherie Ranch about 10 miles south of Woodston as the family home. Kent and his sons made the land prosper and bought more land adjoining the original Gutherie land, including the Simeon, Schmitz, and Putman places. Kent's great love of the land was a real thing that his children inherited and has been instilled in the grandchildren and now the second and third
generation are on the land in Rooks County.

He was Chairman of the Board of the Kent L. Chesney Farms, Inc., at the time of his death. He and Hazel celebrated their golden wedding anniversary at the Woodston Methodist Church with a host of family and friends. Hazel died Aug. 19, 1970. Their children are: Evelyn (Mrs. Kenneth) Baumer of Hutchinson, Warren K. and Robert of Woodston, and Homer B. of Natoma.

Later, on October 24, 1970, he married Ruth Bridwell Nickel at Hutchinson. She passed away Dec. 1, 1976 at Woodston, Kansas.

Kent was active in the community in many projects. He was a director for 40 years of the Federal Land Bank of Hays, he helped organize and promote the first Co-op Oil Refinery in the world at Phillipsburg. He has helped service the Natoma Telephone Co. and at the age of 65 years after believing that oil could be found, he and his sons formed the Chesney Oil Co. and have drilled several producing oil wells on the ranch land. Homer and Warren are still working in that production. The 15 years before he retired was spent in the oil business.

On June 16, 1979, he married Jennie Pfortmiller Beisner at the Osborne Congregational Church. Their love has been a source of inspiration to their family and friends and her loving care during his illness has been a blessing.

His funeral was held at the United Methodist Church of Woodston, Kansas. Rev. Donald McDougle of Osborne Congregational Church, assisted by Rev. Ralph Jones of Stockton officiated at the service. Clark Mortuary of Osborne was in charge. Burial was in the Survey Cemetery near the Chesney Farms.

His survivors include: Jennie, his wife; two daughters, Evelyn Baumer and Ruth Steele of Topeka; five sons, Warren and Robert of Woodston, Homer of Natoma, Noel Nickel of Concordia, and Harold Beisner of Topeka; five grand-daughters, 13 grandsons, 12 great-grandsons, and 15
great-granddaughters; one sister, Mrs. Ruth Morgan, Hutchinson, and one brother, Everett M. Chesney, Natoma.

Many nieces and nephews and many friends, also, are among those who are saddened at his passing.

Transcribed and Contributed by Linda Clark