Kenneth Clark Wood

Kenneth Clark Wood, 88, of Kearney, Nebraska, formerly of Lexington, NE and Quinn, SD, died Monday, April 2, 2012, at Mt. Carmel Home Keens Memorial in Kearney. Kennie was born May 29, 1923, in Sioux Falls, SD. That year, his parents, Waldon Clark Wood and Olive Blanche (Adams ) Wood, moved Kennie and his older sister, Maxine, north of Quinn, SD, to the place Waldon’s parents (Wesley Clark Wood and Elizabeth Adelia (Herbert) Wood) had homesteaded in 1906 (now the NW corner of Quinn Road and Wolf Road). The family later moved to the Winkler place and built a home there in 1928. Kennie grew up there and spent his elementary years at the Lake Hill country school, located about a half mile from the Wood family ranch. He graduated from Quinn High School in 1941. Kennie married the love of his life Aletha Maye Bryan (a 1941 graduate of Wall High School) on December 5, 1942, in Rapid City, SD. He served in the US Navy for 6 years during World War II in both the Atlantic and Pacific arenas. Kennie and Aletha moved to Lexington, NE, in November of 1976. Kennie worked for Sperry New Holland, then Shotkoski Hay Company, until he retired in November 2005 at the ripe old age of 82. He always had a horse nearby and enjoyed square dancing on horseback with the Plum Creekers. Kennie and Aletha moved to Kearney, NE, in October of 2008. He was cherished by his children and grandchildren and loved by many friends and family. He made friends easily and often, including doctors, nurses and staff who attended him in his later years. He always had a smile and usually, a song or two. He was a member of the Methodist Church, SD StockGrower’s, VFW, American Legion, and enjoyed the time he spent with his roping clubs and horseback square dancing club. He was devoted to all his grandchildren, but his great-grandson, Keenan Charles White, who shares his great-grandfather’s KCW initials, had his own special place in Kennie’s heart. Missing Kennie with great love are his wife, Aletha of Kearney, NE; daughters: Johnny Winn-Holsether (Chuck) of Wall, SD; Shirley (Ron) Huss of Kearney, NE; and Carol (Steve) Walker of Kearney, NE. Grandchildren: Fr. Steven Tomlinson of Lincoln, NE; Shelly (Zach) White of Piedmont, SD; Stacy Molai of Omaha, NE; Sara (Yinka) Akinyemi of Lincoln, NE; and great-grandson Keenan Charles White of Piedmont, SD. He is survived by brother-in-law Lyle Witt and niece Jean (Tony) Hay of Rapid City, SD, as well. Kennie was also very devoted to his cousins in the Mins family. He was preceded in death by a son, Wesley Bryan Wood; his parents and a sister, Maxine Witt. A visitation will be held Wednesday, April 4, 2012, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Mt. Carmel Home Keens Memorial in Kearney – 412 W. 18th Street – Kearney, NE 68850. Memorials are suggested to the Family for later designation. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, April 7, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. at the Wall Methodist Church in Wall, SD with Pastor Harold Delbridge officiating. Burial will be in the Wall Cemetery with Military Honors at Wall, SD. Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is in charge of local arrangements with Rush Funeral Home in Wall, SD in charge of arrangements in South Dakota. Please forward Online condolences to the family through: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com.