Obituaries

Victor Denney (Veteran)

Photo of Victor Denney (Veteran)
Victor B. Denney, 97, of California, died Thursday, March 4, 2010, at the California Care Center. Victor was born May 22, 1912, in Blencoe, Iowa the son of Frank and Ida (Jacoba) Denney, both of whom preceded him in death. On September 3, 1935, he married Marie Irene Dale, who also preceded him in death on April 16, 2006. Victor graduated from Blencoe High School in 1931. As a youth, he worked on the family farm near Blencoe. He was first employed at a grocery store and later was the bookkeeper at the Farmer's Elevator until his service in the United States Army during World War II. He was with the 20th Armored Division and saw action in Germany during the advance to Munich. He returned home to become manager of the Blencoe Farmer's Elevator. He also managed grain elevators in Craig and Eustis, Nebraska. In semi-retirement, he purchased a farm in Ray County, Missouri and then worked part-time as a rural mail carrier out of Excelsior Springs. In 1978, he fully retired to California, to be near his son and grandsons. Mr. Denney was a member of the United Church of Christ in California. He was a past member of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. He continued to be active at the Care Center performing many voluntary duties such as planting and caring for flowers, dining room activities, and being friendly and popular among the staff and other residents. Throughout his life he enjoyed tinkering with machines and creating items for the house and garden. He is survived by one son: Roger Denney of Jefferson City; two grandsons: Michael Denney and wife Shannon of Jefferson City, and Gregory Denney and wife Liana of Centertown; one granddaughter: Kimela Mullin and husband Mick of Springfield; six great-grandchildren: Danielle, Kyle, Ryan and Cory Denney of Centertown, and Kristina Gray and Jenifer Saucier and husband Brian of Houston, Texas; and two great-great-grandchildren: Rescie and Rylan of Houston, Texas. He was preceded in death by an adopted daughter: Barbara Ann Soutter. He was the last surviving member of a family of 14 children, including four brothers: Pearl, Dan, Floyd, Ray, and step-brother, Everett “Bud” Denney; and eight sisters: Ethel Sorenson, Laura Parks, Ruth Brooks, Mabel Denney, Maggie Young, Nellie Harding, Hazel Holsapple and Ida Berdena Graham. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 6, at 3 p.m. at Bowlin-Cantriel Funeral Services in California. Burial with full military honors will be in California City Cemetery. Officiating will be Rev. Jeffery Hammonds. Visitation will also be on March 6, from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to California United Church of Christ, 101 North Oak, California, MO 65018, or to the California Care Center, 1106 South Oak, California, MO 65018. Arrangements are under the direction of Bowlin-Cantriel Funeral Services, California.

Published March 5, 2010