Celebration of life for Kent and Karon Harvey will be held on Thursday, July 22 at 10:00 a.m. CT at the Thedford Cemetery. A lunch will be served afterwards at the Bethel Assembly of God Church. This will be a time to share stories, laughter and memories. All are welcomed.
Dean “Kent” Harvey of Scottsbluff passed away on March 13, 2020, at Regional West Medical Center. Kent was born Dec. 14, 1944, in Sutherland, Nebraska, to Dean Wilford Harvey and Zoe (Kirkpatrick) Harvey.
Following his father’s death, Kent and his mother lived outside Campbell, Nebraska, on their farm. They later lived in Inavale, Palisade, York, Falls City and Parks, Nebraska.
Kent graduated from Parks High School in 1963. He earned his Bachelor of Social Science at Chadron State College in 1966 and his master’s degree in 1967. He completed his post-graduate work at Northern University of Arizona in Flagstaff and th University of Northern Colorado in Greeley.
Kent met Karon Lee Nutter at Chadron State College in 1963. They were married in Chadron on May 21, 1966. To this union were born three wonderful children. Kent and Karon enjoyed going to summer school and traveling in the U.S. and abroad in the summer and after retirement. They visited 47 states, several European countries, Mexico and Canada.
Kent began his teaching career in 1967 at Nebraska Western College in Scottsbluff (later renamed Western Nebraska Community College). From 1967 until his retirement in 2003, Kent was a member of Kiwanis, the Elks, National Education Association and the Nebraska State Education Association. He was a member of Rebecca Winter’s Genealogical Society, a board member of Panhandle Mental Health, board member of North Platte Valley Museum and Vice-President of NSEA-Retired Teachers.
Kent is survived by his daughter Dea’ Charle’ “Kim” (Royce) Biegler of Gillette, Wyoming; son Dustin “Kirk” Patrick (Brandie) Harvey of Firth, Nebraska; daughter Denhal “Kif” (Nick) Corcoran of Mason, Ohio; grandchildren, Nicole (Anthony) Mundekis, Levi Biegler, Austin Biegler, Mathew Harvey, Caitlyn Harvey, Andrew Harvey, Mallorie Harvey, Madelynn Corcoran and Joseph Corcoran; sister, Hazel LaPorte; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Alma and Mike Johnson and Dennis and Jana Nutter; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Karon Lee Harvey, 77, of Scottsbluff, passed away peacefully on Friday, Sept. 4, 2020. Karon was born on July 20, 1943, in Leavenworth, Kansas, to Charles and Coyla (Lesher) Nutter.
Her father was stationed at Ft. Leavenworth until he was deployed to the European theater in WWII. Karon had two younger siblings, Alma Johnson and Dennis Nutter. Over the years, the family lived in Thedford, Broken Bow, Valentine, Niobrara, O’Neill, and Lincoln as Charles, a civil engineer, was transferred.
Karon was married to Dean “Kent” Harvey on May 21, 1966. She received her Bachelor of Science from Chadron State College the day after the wedding. The couple moved to Gering/Scottsbluff in September, where they established their roots lasting their lifetime. To this union, three children were born: Kim, Kirk and Kif.
Karon earned her master’s degree in English in 1971 after attending several summers at the University of Northern Colorado. She taught English at Gering High School (1967-1968), Gering Junior High (1968-1989) and she was the Gering Junior High Media Director from 1989 until her retirement in 1999. During her retirement years, she taught several adjunct classes for Chadron State College and Western Nebraska Community College, continuing her lifelong love of education.
Karon enjoyed volunteering and serving in various organizations including Campfire Board of Directors, Campfire leader, BPW, Questers, North Platte Valley Museum, Rebecca Winters Genealogical Society, book clubs, Friends of the Library and the Scottsbluff County Spelling Bee. She had been a lifetime member of the Nebraska Education Association. She was especially proud of the three decades serving the Scottsbluff Public Library as Board and Foundation member.
Karon received an Admiralship in the Great Nebraska Navy award for her service on the Nebraska Library Commission. During retirement, Kent and Karon traveled around the U.S. visiting family, enjoying grandchildrens’ activities and attending family reunions. They also traveled to Iceland, Luxembourg, Holland, Netherlands, Russia, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Monaco, Spain, France, England, Wales, Mexico, Canada, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Belgium, Greece, Tur key, Scotland and Ireland.
Karon was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Dean Kent; her parents; grandparents Mabel and Leonard Lesher of Thedford, Nebraska; grandparents Catherine and Walter P. Nutter of Thedford; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. She is survived by her daughter Kim Biegler (Royce) and grandchildren Nicole Mundekis, Levi Biegler, Austin Biegler; son Kirk Harvey (Brandie) and grandchildren Mathew, Caitlyn, Andrew, and Mallorie Harvey; daughter Kif Corcoran (Nick) and grandchildren Madelynn and Joseph Corcoran; sister Alma Johnson (Mike); brother Dennis Nutter (Jana); sister-in-law Hazel LaPorte and many nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews.