Claude Keith Gleason

January 23, 1929 - February 21, 2020

Claude Keith Gleason, 91, of Bird City, KS died February 21, 2020. He was born south of Bird City on the family farm January 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 February 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, CO, Grandson Jesse (Carrie) Gleason of Billings, MT, granddaughter Erica (Mike) Wood of Bozeman, MT, four great-grandkids Haili Holub (finance Dane Vokel) of Lakewood, CO, Taylre Armstrong of Aurora, CO, Axl and Oliver Wood of Bozeman, MT, and Margo Gleason of Billings, MT, two sisters-in-law Wilma Gleason of Hays, KS, Marvel Gleason of St. Francis, KS and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. Services will be held Saturday, February 29, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. Central Time, at St. John Lutheran Church in Bird City, KS. Memorials may be sent in Claude’s name to St. John Lutheran Church in Bird City or Sarah Ann Hester Memorial Home in Benkelman, NE. No viewing; Claude chose cremation. Online condolences may be left at liewerfuneralhome.com BENKELMAN MEMORIAL CHAPEL IS ENTRUSTED WITH ARRANGEMENTS