Claude Gleason

Monday, February 24, 2020

Claude Keith Gleason

Jan. 23, 1929 - Feb.21, 2020

BIRD CITY, Kan. — Claude Keith Gleason, 91, of Bird City, died Feb. 21, 2020.

He was born south of Bird City on the family farm Jan. 23, 1929, to Philander (Pood) (PC) and Cora Palmer Gleason. He attended grade school, but his pop needed one of the twins to stay home and help with the chores during high school. Claude said he was the lucky one that drew the short stick, meaning he didn’t have to go to school any more.

Claude married Elizabeth (Betty) Ann Jones on June 20, 1946. Claude and Betty were true soul mates for 56½ years. In July 1948, they were blessed with their first child and named her Claudette Ann. Their son, Jimmy Gene, completed their family in October 1950. Claudette and Jim were raised in a fun and loving home that embraced close family, communication and a love of the Lord.

Claude was a hard-working man who started out farming for Farrell Anderson southwest of Bird City. Later he went to work for Bill Rambat farming and ranching in eastern Colorado, where he moved his family during the summer. After that, Claude was hired by his brother-in-law, Curly Kehlbeck, who had a farming and feedlot operation 2½ miles north of Bird City. Claude worked on the Kehlbeck farm for 46 years. During that time, Curly passed and Claude worked for his son, Don. Before retiring from the Kehlbeck farm, Claude enjoyed working alongside Curly’s grandson, Royce, who took over the farming. Claude and Betty retired and bought the place they called “The Little Ponderosa.” He lived there for 30 years before moving to the Hester Home in August of 2019, where he passed away on Feb. 21, 2020.

Claude was preceded in death by his parents; six brothers, Joseph, Bill, Lloyd, Clarence (Tom), Junior (J.C.) and his twin brother, Clyde; three sisters, Erma, Frances and Louise (Sawyer); and his wife, Betty.

Survivors include his daughter, Claudette (Kermit) Bear of Bird City; his son, Jim (Annette) of Benkelman; granddaughter, Tina Pacheco (Bill Avis) of Centennial, Colo.; grandson, Jesse (Carrie) Gleason of Billings, Mont.; granddaughter, Erica (Mike) Wood of Bozeman, Mony.; four great-grandkids, Haili Holub (finance, Dane Vokel) of Lakewood, Colo., Taylre Armstrong of Aurora, Colo., Axl and Oliver Wood of Bozeman, and Margo Gleason of Billings; two sisters-in-law, Wilma Gleason of Hays, Kan., and Marvel Gleason of St. Francis, Kan.; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

Services will be Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020, at 11 a.m. Central Time, at St. John Lutheran Church in Bird City. Memorials may be sent in Claude’s name to St. John Lutheran Church in Bird City or Sarah Ann Hester Memorial Home in Benkelman, Neb.

No viewing; Claude chose cremation.

Online condolences may be left at liewerfuneralhome.com

Benkelman Memorial Chapel is entrusted with arrangements.