Herbert Kent, 95, passed away February 25, 2012. He was born on December 27, 1916 in the homestead home of his parents, Charles and Pauline Kent, a few miles from Benge, Washington. Herb was the third of eight Kent children who reached adulthood: Wilbur, Robert, Virginia, Emma, Alfred, Anita and Mary Ann. During his school years, Herb worked for area farmers, some still using horses. He also helped herd sheep and trail them to summer pastures in north Idaho.
After graduating from Ritzville High School in 1935, Herb worked on U.S. Forest Service 'blister rust' crews in north Idaho. In January 1941, he and his older brother Bob joined the U.S. Army. They were together on the Philippine Islands in 1942 when the Japanese Army captured the islands. They were also together for a few months in a Japanese prison camp. Bob was killed on a Japanese prison ship in October 1944. Herb survived 40 months as a prisoner of war (POW), doing horrible labor, and learned of his brother Bob's death after World War II ended in 1945.
Herb married Dorothy Adams in December 1945. Dorothy was an Army nurse at the recovery hospital where Herb was sent after his POW ordeal. They both said it was 'love at first sight', so they married after a two week courtship! After discharge, they settled in Benge.
In 1950, Herb and his brother Alfred began buying and operating their father's wheat farm. They became fulltime farmers and over the next few decades, the Kent Brothers little family farm raised cattle, hay, wheat and two families. Herb served the Benge community in many ways, always stepping forward when something needed to be done. Herb and Dorothy loved to travel, from day trips to sea cruises to winters in Arizona.
Herb was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy in 2011 and son Alan in 2010. He is survived by children Robert (Judy McDowell), Ellen (Randy Bachman) and Lisa (George Whitney), and daughter-in-law Irma Hoffman Kent, as well as nine grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
Memorial services were held March 17 at the Benge Church. Arrangements in care of Danekas Funeral Home.
ref: Spokesman-Review March 8, 2012
After graduating from Ritzville High School in 1935, Herb worked on U.S. Forest Service 'blister rust' crews in north Idaho. In January 1941, he and his older brother Bob joined the U.S. Army. They were together on the Philippine Islands in 1942 when the Japanese Army captured the islands. They were also together for a few months in a Japanese prison camp. Bob was killed on a Japanese prison ship in October 1944. Herb survived 40 months as a prisoner of war (POW), doing horrible labor, and learned of his brother Bob's death after World War II ended in 1945.
Herb married Dorothy Adams in December 1945. Dorothy was an Army nurse at the recovery hospital where Herb was sent after his POW ordeal. They both said it was 'love at first sight', so they married after a two week courtship! After discharge, they settled in Benge.
In 1950, Herb and his brother Alfred began buying and operating their father's wheat farm. They became fulltime farmers and over the next few decades, the Kent Brothers little family farm raised cattle, hay, wheat and two families. Herb served the Benge community in many ways, always stepping forward when something needed to be done. Herb and Dorothy loved to travel, from day trips to sea cruises to winters in Arizona.
Herb was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy in 2011 and son Alan in 2010. He is survived by children Robert (Judy McDowell), Ellen (Randy Bachman) and Lisa (George Whitney), and daughter-in-law Irma Hoffman Kent, as well as nine grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
Memorial services were held March 17 at the Benge Church. Arrangements in care of Danekas Funeral Home.
ref: Spokesman-Review March 8, 2012
Herbert Kent, 95, passed away February 25, 2012. He was born on December 27, 1916 in the homestead home of his parents, Charles and Pauline Kent, a few miles from Benge, Washington. Herb was the third of eight Kent children who reached adulthood: Wilbur, Robert, Virginia, Emma, Alfred, Anita and Mary Ann. During his school years, Herb worked for area farmers, some still using horses. He also helped herd sheep and trail them to summer pastures in north Idaho.
After graduating from Ritzville High School in 1935, Herb worked on U.S. Forest Service 'blister rust' crews in north Idaho. In January 1941, he and his older brother Bob joined the U.S. Army. They were together on the Philippine Islands in 1942 when the Japanese Army captured the islands. They were also together for a few months in a Japanese prison camp. Bob was killed on a Japanese prison ship in October 1944. Herb survived 40 months as a prisoner of war (POW), doing horrible labor, and learned of his brother Bob's death after World War II ended in 1945.
Herb married Dorothy Adams in December 1945. Dorothy was an Army nurse at the recovery hospital where Herb was sent after his POW ordeal. They both said it was 'love at first sight', so they married after a two week courtship! After discharge, they settled in Benge.
In 1950, Herb and his brother Alfred began buying and operating their father's wheat farm. They became fulltime farmers and over the next few decades, the Kent Brothers little family farm raised cattle, hay, wheat and two families. Herb served the Benge community in many ways, always stepping forward when something needed to be done. Herb and Dorothy loved to travel, from day trips to sea cruises to winters in Arizona.
Herb was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy in 2011 and son Alan in 2010. He is survived by children Robert (Judy McDowell), Ellen (Randy Bachman) and Lisa (George Whitney), and daughter-in-law Irma Hoffman Kent, as well as nine grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
Memorial services were held March 17 at the Benge Church. Arrangements in care of Danekas Funeral Home.
ref: Spokesman-Review March 8, 2012
After graduating from Ritzville High School in 1935, Herb worked on U.S. Forest Service 'blister rust' crews in north Idaho. In January 1941, he and his older brother Bob joined the U.S. Army. They were together on the Philippine Islands in 1942 when the Japanese Army captured the islands. They were also together for a few months in a Japanese prison camp. Bob was killed on a Japanese prison ship in October 1944. Herb survived 40 months as a prisoner of war (POW), doing horrible labor, and learned of his brother Bob's death after World War II ended in 1945.
Herb married Dorothy Adams in December 1945. Dorothy was an Army nurse at the recovery hospital where Herb was sent after his POW ordeal. They both said it was 'love at first sight', so they married after a two week courtship! After discharge, they settled in Benge.
In 1950, Herb and his brother Alfred began buying and operating their father's wheat farm. They became fulltime farmers and over the next few decades, the Kent Brothers little family farm raised cattle, hay, wheat and two families. Herb served the Benge community in many ways, always stepping forward when something needed to be done. Herb and Dorothy loved to travel, from day trips to sea cruises to winters in Arizona.
Herb was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy in 2011 and son Alan in 2010. He is survived by children Robert (Judy McDowell), Ellen (Randy Bachman) and Lisa (George Whitney), and daughter-in-law Irma Hoffman Kent, as well as nine grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
Memorial services were held March 17 at the Benge Church. Arrangements in care of Danekas Funeral Home.
ref: Spokesman-Review March 8, 2012
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Kent
Married December 4, 1945
Dorothy 1924/2011
U.S. Army Nurse
Herbert 1916/2012
U.S. Pow in Japan
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