Kent Henry Beffort, 79, went to be with the Lord, at home, on October 10th, 2019. He was born on June 8th, 1940 in Salina, KS to Edmund and Myrtle (Borgstadter) Beffort, Kent grew up in Salina, KS with his parents and 3 brothers.
He attended Sacred Heart grade, junior, and high school and graduated from Salina High in 1958. He then attended trade school in NE, worked with his dad building milking parlors in central Kansas and then enlisted in the United States Army in 1961. He married Viola “Kay” Eads Beffort just before leaving for the service on June 10, 1961. While in the service, Kent and Kay were stationed in California and Germany where Kent obtained a rank of E5 Sgt. After the Army, they lived in California where Kent helped train racehorses. They then moved to Oregon where he worked for the forest services, fed cattle and worked in potato fields. He finally moved back to Kansas where he tried his hand at in the burger business opening up many Coocoo Burgers in Emporia and Topeka, KS and one in Oklahoma.
When misfortunes happened, Kent and Kay moved back home to Salina where Kent worked for Scientific Engineering for over 35 years, retiring as CEO in 2004. Kent and Kay had 2 children, Lon Eads Beffort (48) and Darcy Kay Beffort Reed (45), both born in Salina, KS. In 2001, Kent lost Kay, his wife of 40 years to cancer. In 2004, Kent married Janice Gillen Jolly. With the intent to become snowbirds, they bought an RV and went to TX to “visit” for the winter and ended up finding a home and moving to Kyle, TX permanently.
Throughout his life, Kent was known as the jack of all trades. If you needed a tool or someone with the know-how, Kent was the one to ask. He was a plumber, carpenter, electrician, machinist … once he moved to TX he enjoyed “playing farmer” with his brother. He was a member of the Prairie Long Rifle Association in Salina for many years and truly loved going on camp outs, dressing in old time clothes and shooting his black powder guns. For his 70th birthday, he rode as passenger in a race at Thunder hill Speedway in Kyle, TX. Kent was a tell it like it is, stern man, but also loved to joke and laugh and give people a hard time. He loved his family with all his heart.
Kent was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife and his brothers (Stan and Steve Beffort). He is survived by his wife, Janice “Jan” Beffort of Kyle, TX; Son, Lon Beffort (Lisa) of Salina, KS; Daughter Darcy (Mike) Reed; Step-Daughter Jerri (Mike) Mann of Salina, KS; Step-Son William Jolly of Kyle, TX; brother JD (Jan) Beffort of Buda, TX; and granddaughters Sierra, Kipra and Espyn; step grandsons Clinton and Chad. Two step great granddaughters.
A memorial service will be held on October 19, 2019 at 10:30 am at First Baptist Church Buda, 104 S. San Marcos St., Buda, TX 78610. In lieu of flowers, make contributions to First Baptist Church Buda Building Funds and send directly to the church.
Kent will be buried at Ft. Riley in Kansas at a later date.
Please visit www.Harrellfuneralhomes.com to share a fond memory, photograph, or condolence with Kent’s family on his On-line memorial site.
Funeral assistance provided by Harrell Funeral Home 1715 Kirby Lane, Kyle, TX 78640 (512) 268-8200
