Benny Jack Holt

Benny "Jack" Holt, age 86, of Lone Elm, Kansas, passed away on Monday, December 21, 2015, at his home. Jack was born on November 18, 1929, in Liberal, Kansas, the middle child of five born to LeRoy and Winifred Hazel (Black) Holt. He grew up near Liberal, Kansas, and was a survivor of the dust bowls of the "dirty thirties". He would often ride his pony to the Golden Plains School. Occasionally if he got bucked off, the pony would just go home. Jack graduated from Moscow High School. His family attended church at Golden Plain and Jack had fond memories of the annual summer church trip to Garden City where they were treated to all the ice cream they could eat. Jack had a passion for farming, which began at the early age of 3 or 4 and continued throughout his lifetime. As a young boy one of Jack's jobs was to herd the milk cows with his pony and bring them into the corral at night. He would also recall memories of pretending the tumbleweeds were buffalo and he would chase them with his spear (a stick). Due to the lack of trees in that area sometimes the family Christmas tree was actually a decorated tumbleweed. After Jack had completed high school his parents moved to the Lone Elm community in Anderson County. Jack remained in Liberal where he farmed for a few years before joining them in Lone Elm. Jack then began working for the railroad, repairing the damages from the flood of 1951. It was during this time that he met his future wife, Violet Sprague, at a youth fellowship at Lone Elm. He later took a job working for Anderson County on the road crew. Jack and Violet were united in marriage on October 12, 1952, in Kincaid, Kansas. This union was blessed with two children. Jack and Violet made their first home in Garnett, and Jack continued to work for the county. In 1958, they purchased and moved to a farm near Lone Elm. At this time Jack, began farming again in addition to working for the county and then later working as a carpenter for Kenneth Calahan for a few years. Over the years the farm grew to be his only job, which he thoroughly loved. They later moved to their home south of the Lone Elm Cemetery in the mid 1960's, living there until building their current home south of Lone Elm. Jack was able to pursue his passion of farming throughout his life and he took great pride in his straight rows and clean fields. He was a simple man who was most content while working out in the fields. He will be remembered and missed for being a family man that put them first. Jack was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Howard Paul Holt; and one granddaughter, Chelsie Ann Spain in 2004. He is survived by his wife, Violet Holt, of the home; a son, Timothy Jack Holt and wife Linda of Lone Elm, Kansas; a daughter, Patricia Ann Spain of Lone Elm, Kansas; brothers, Donald Earl Holt of Liberal, Kansas; Jerry Dale Holt and wife, Juliane, of Stilwell, Kansas; sister, Roma June Fincher of Sterling, Kansas; five grandchildren, Whitney, Josh, Chris, Jessica, and Brad; and five great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM, Monday, December 28, 2015, at the Colony Community Church, Colony, Kansas. Burial will follow in the Lone Elm Cemetery. The family will greet friends from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, Sunday evening at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel, Garnett, Kansas. Memorial contributions may be made to the Chelsie Spain Scholarship Fund at Crest High School and may be left in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left at www.feuerbornfuneral.com .