Bill Bolen

Feb. 24, 1927-April 14, 2011

WALLACE COUNTY, Kansas -- Bill Bolen, 84, died Thursday (April 14, 2011) at the University of Colorado Hospital in Denver, Colorado.

He was born Feb. 24, 1927, in Sharon Springs, Kansas, the son of Georgia (Huffman) and Lester Bolen. After attending schools in Wallace County, he worked with his uncle, Glen Huffman, breaking horses. He served his country in the U.S. Army beginning Dec. 19, 1945, and was honorably discharged Nov. 6, 1946.

On Aug. 13, 1950, he and Marlene C. Deines were married in Sharon Springs, Kansas. The couple lived in the Sandhills of Nebraska for ten years before moving to Wallace County. He did re-enactments with the Fort Wallace 7th Cavalry Unit. He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Sharon Springs.

Preceding him in death were his parents; sister, Betty Bender; and brother, Keith Bolen.

Surviving family includes his wife, Marlene Bolen of Sharon Springs; daughter, Brenda Morell and husband, Steve of McCook, Nebraska; son, Bob Bolen and wife, Lori of Sharon Springs; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two sisters, Bonnie Barton and husband, Tom of Sharon Springs and Marie Walker and husband, Gary of Maryville, Tennessee; brother, Guy Bolen and wife, Marlene of Wallace, Kansas; and sister-in-law, Frances Bolen of Denver, Colorado.

Funeral services are Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. MDT, at the United Methodist Church in Sharon Springs, with the Revs. Paul McNall and Keith Anglemyer officiating. Burial is in Sharon Springs Cemetery.

Visitation is Tuesday, 3-7 p.m. MDT, at Koons Funeral Home in Sharon Springs.

Memorials may be made to the Wallace County Ambulance Association or Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund and left at Koons Funeral Home in Sharon Springs, or mailed to 211 N. Main, Goodland, KS 67735-1555.

Koons Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.