Barton Deen Koehn

Montezuma - Barton Deen Koehn first saw the light of day at the home of Fred and Rozella Unruh Koehn, in rural Gray County, Kansas, on September 7, 1933. His life's chapter came to a peaceful close at Manor of the Plains, Dodge City Kansas, on November 13, 2024. He lived a full and productive life spanning a few months over 91 years.
He had a relatively happy childhood swimming at monkey dam with his cousins, trapping and skinning skunks to sell, which created some unpleasant episodes. He attended elementary grades in the Ensign and Montezuma public schools, and graduated from High School. Evenings were spent studying by a kerosene lamp. Times were hard.
He surrendered his will to the Lord at the tender age of 12 years, and was baptized into the Church of God in Christ by Minister David J. Koehn at Montezuma. He met the love of his life at the home of Minister Sam Fricke in the Cimarron congregation. His eyes settled upon Clara Belle, the youngest of eight girls, and they were married on December 6, 1953, by Minister Vernon Nightingale of Copeland. The reception was at the home, under the protection of the Bethel Home tent. It was wintertime. Three weeks after the wedding, both Barton and Clara reported to Spring Grove State Hospital, Baltimore Maryland, for his term of 1W service. This was a mental hospital, with unpredictable and often harrowing experiences with the inmates, but it was a happy time in their lives.
Two and a half years later, folks returned to Montezuma and Dad found employment at John Deere as a setup man. The opportunity to farm for himself came later, on the family farm south of town. It wasn't easy, the three daughters and one son pressed into service watering trees, hauling pipe, rogueing milo, and gassing prairie dogs. He enjoyed farming, custom harvesting, but his real love was as a stockman. He bought his own cattle, primarily top of the line black baldie calves. One of his more enjoyable enterprises was sending cattle to the flint hills. Dad loved children, and an outlet for this came as Bible School Superintendent. His object lessons during opening were worth coming to see, employing chemistry, animals, and at times it seemed a bit of magic. His grandchildren loved him.
His enthusiasm for yearly fishing trips in Colorado was legendary, bleeding down to the fourth generation. He loved the mountains and everything associated with them. His declining health forced his retirement from deer hunting, finally selling his deer rifle to his great grandson. In his late sixties, he enrolled in a CNA class, and hired on to Bethel Home as a physical therapist. He absolutely loved it, interacting with the residents in Plautdietsch, and encouraging their mobility and independence as long as possible.
His farming career came to a close at the ripe age of eighty. He suffered a fall digging out a stuck sprinkler which resulted in chronic back pain the rest of his life. He bore this stoically without complaint. They have spent their retirement years in an apartment at Bethel Home. One of dad's greatest concerns was for his family to be prepared for heaven. His prayers were meaningful.
He leaves behind his sorrowing wife Clara; three daughters; Sandra Brack of Dodge City; Patricia and husband Mark Isaac of Ingalls; and Robin of Montezuma; daughter-in-law Donna Beste of Emporia; seven grandchildren; twelve great grandchildren; close family friend Cathy Little; and two siblings. Barton was preceded in death by a son, son-in-law, his parents, and three brothers and one sister.
Funeral service will be held at Homeland Mennonite Church, Montezuma on Monday, November 18, 2024 at 10:30 AM with Ministers Lyndon Toews, Donnie Koehn, and Neil Toews presiding. Burial will follow at Homeland Mennonite Cemetery. Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Chapel, Montezuma on Sunday, November 17, 2024 from noon to 3:00 PM. Memorials are suggested to Hospice of the Prairie or Manor of the Plains in care of the funeral home. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.