Kenneth Dean Lacey

Kenneth Dean Lacey, age 84, died Tuesday, September 8, 2009 at the Cambridge Manor.

He was born in Sharon Springs, Kansas to Ernest Ellsworth and Eunice Cleora (Donaldson) Lacey on April 13, 1925. He graduated from Sharon Springs High School in 1943.

He entered the US Army Air Force on August 8, 1943 and served during World War II with the 455th Bomb Group as a ball turret gunner on a B-24. He completed 50 missions before his honorable discharge on August 25, 1945. He was the recipient of Five Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster Medals for meritorious achievement in aerial flights and the Distinguished Flying Cross for aerial combat in the Mediterranean Theatre.

Following the war Kenneth traveled through a number of states competing in rodeo bull riding and bareback riding before building Smokey Hill River Ranch where he resided until 1970.

He married April Underwood on August 31, 1946 in Russell, KS. She preceded him in death. He later married Elaine Shea on May 23, 1971 in Ogallala, she passed away in 1985. He married Charlotte Sahm on March 17, 1992 in Indianola. Kenneth was owner and operator of Lacey Feed in Indianola for many years.

He was a member of the VFW in Indianola.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Eunice Lacey; wife, April on December 3, 1991 and wife Elaine on November 1, 1985; one grandson, Bradley Allaman; and stepchildren, Maureen Placek, and Bob Sahm. He was followed in death by his son Kim Lacey on September 10, 2009 in Albuquerque, NM.

He is survived by his daughters, Gayle Stecklein and husband, Dan of Hays, KS and Gwen Kroeker and husband, Jeffery of Albuquerque, NM; step-children, Clarence "Clue" Sahm of Indianola, Fred Sahm and wife, Cheri of Omaha, Catherine McConnell and husband, Steve of McCook, Michael Sahm of California, Mary Swartz and husband, Kevin of Dumas, TX, and Elizabeth Weiss and husband, Murry of McCook; 7 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

Memorials were to be given in his name.

Rosary took place Friday, September 11, 2009, 7:00 p.m. at Carpenter Breland Funeral Home in McCook.

Mass of Christian Burial took place Saturday, September 12, 2009, 10:00 a.m. at St. Catherine's Catholic Church in Indianola with Father Thomas McGuire as Celebrant with burial in the Dinas Cemetery in Wallace, KS with Pastor Paul McNall officiating.

Carpenter Breland Funeral Home of McCook was in charge of the arrangements.