Vernon Theodore Behrendt

In Loving MemoryVernon Theodore Behrendt, age 85, of Liberal, passed away at 5:15 p.m., August 13, 2012 at Wheatridge Park Care Center, in Liberal. A native of Keyes, Oklahoma, he was born April 18, 1927, in Elkhart, Kansas, son of Elmer James and Fern Irene (Lowery) Behrendt. He attended Keyes High School and went to college at Panhandle State and Oklahoma State University, where he studied Geology. While at Panhandle, he met and then married Audrey Ellen Ray, March 18, 1949. She preceded him in death, July 29, 2012, after 63 years of marriage.They took up residence in Liberal, where their 4 children were born. Vernon enlisted in the Navy, and served from 1951 - 1953 as a Clerk Typist. Upon returning to Liberal, he was employed for several years by Beech Aircraft. But his life work in the oil business began when he went to work for Skelly Oil Company. Vernon and family moved around the country, with transfers to Trenton, Nebraska; Valley Center, Kansas; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Salina, Kansas; and Springfield, Missouri. The family moved back to Liberal in 1974, and Vernon began work for Lowry’s Lease Management for several years. He then started his own business as a land man, and worked until he retired at age 75.Vernon enjoyed woodworking and loved to build furniture, bird houses and yard decorations for his wife Audrey’s yard and garden. He was also instrumental in the planning of Arkalon Park, with his friend Pete Wriston. He served on the Arkalon board for years and helped plant trees, also building bird and duck houses, for the campground area. He was extremely proud to have the 3rd lake named Behrendt Pond. Vernon was a member of First Prestige Club and the Keyes VFW, Post #286 . He was preceded in death by his parents Elmer James “Dutch” and Fern Behrendt, and a baby brother, Charles August Behrendt, all of Keyes Oklahoma; his wife, Audrey Ellen Behrendt; and son-in-law, Leonard Buddenhagen, of Baltimore, Maryland.Vernon is survived by his daughters, Cathy Buddenhagen and Ada Linenbroker with companion Jack Rich, of Liberal; two sons, Terry Behrendt and wife Mae, of Wichita, KS, Teddy and wife Terrie, of Turpin, OK; three grandsons, Christopher Linenbroker and wife Penny, Daniel Buddenhagen, of Liberal, Joey Behrendt and wife Cynthia, of Turpin, OK; four granddaughters, April Sawyer and husband Darin and Alison Boyd of Wichita, KS, Becky Bridensteine and husband Matthew, of Las Vegas, NV, Jessica Rodgers and husband Michael, of Turpin, OK; 12 great grandchildren, Kailey and Divan Linenbroker of Liberal, Brianna, Alexis and Zackery Behrendt, and Braxton Rodgers of Turpin, OK, Paige, Blake and Carter Sawyer, and Cameron, Sabin and Jordan Boyd of Wichita, KS.Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 pm Thursday, August 16, 2012 at Brenneman Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Jack Jacob presiding. Burial will be held in Restlawn Cemetery.Visitation time will be held 9 am to service time Thursday at Brenneman Funeral Home. Memorial Contributions may be sent to Seward County Historical Society or Arkalon Park in care of Brenneman Funeral Home 1212 W. 2nd Liberal, KS 67901.