Person:Cleo Bastin (1)

Oral Traditions

On 3/26/1931 Cleo got lost in a blizzard about 3/4 mile north of Menlo. They let school out early and Cleo got a ride with friends, but the car ran off the road and got stuck. They followed the fence to Joe Cousins house, and when they got there, Joe had to climb up the telephone pole, reconnect the line, and call Harvey Bastin. He yelled "He made it" into the phone.

Cleo remembers hunting jack rabbits on horseback. They also got 25 cents for a skunk hide. In 1934 he worked for Dean Osborne mowing, raking and pitching loose hay. Osborne's farm had two large concrete lined stock tanks set in the ground, fed by a windmill. The water was cold, but made for good swimming. In 1936 he threshed his own wheat in 110 degree weather.

Later, Cleo was threshing barley for Mr. Sower, and he met Grace over the dinner table.

Obituary

Cleo E. Bastin, 91, Lenexa, died Friday, Oct. 3, 2008, in Lenexa.

He was born Sept. 24, 1917, southwest of Menlo in Thomas County to Harvey Bastin and Edith Hawkins. He attended Menlo schools. He married Grace Irene Sowers on July 1, 1945, in Gem. She preceded him in death. He was a farmer. He was a U.S. Army Air force veteran, serving during World War II. Survivors include a son, John Bastin, Salina; two daughters, Edith Adamson, Clay Center, and Janet Carson, Lenexa; six grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Rexford Community Church; burial in Rexford Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday at Pauls Funeral Home, Selden, and from 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday at the church. Memorials are suggested to Gideons, Rexford Community Church or the donor's choice in care of the funeral home.

MENLO--Cleo Elberta Bastin, 91, died Friday, Oct. 3, 2008, at his daughter's home in Lenexa.

Mr. Bastin was born Sept. 24, 1917, in Thomas County, the son of Harvey Elberta and Edith (Hawkins) Bastin.

He grew up on the farm where he was born in the Menlo area and attended school in Menlo.

During WWII, he entered the U.S. Army as part of the 235th Army Air Force Base Unit at Biggs Field, Tex. He served as a radio operator with the U.S. Army Signal Corps and saw action in North Africa, Sicily, Southern France and Italy and attained the rank of corporal. On July 1, 1945, he married Grace Irene Sowers in Gem. They lived in Colby for one year before moving to their farm northeast of Rexford in southwest Decatur County. He was a farmer and a rancher. He attended the Rexford Community Church. Cleo attended agriculture related events and tractor shows. He was preceded in death by his son, James Harvey on July 6, 1956; his wife Grace on May 9, 1997; and three brothers, Marion Dean and Alvin Bastin; and one sister, Erma Jean Hill.

Survivors include his son, John Bastin and wife Karen of Salina; daughters, Edith Adamson and husband Elby of Clay Center, and Janet Carson and husband Mark of Lenexa; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

A funeral service was held Sunday, Oct. 12 at Rexford Community Church in Rexford with Pastor Lane Purcell officiating. Burial is in Rexford Cemetery. Military Committal: Ft. Riley Military Honor Guard.

Memorials may be made to the Rexford Community Church, Gideon's or donor's choice.

Burial

Cleo is buried in the Rexford Cemetary in Rexford, Kansas.

External Links

[Cleo Bastin's] burial at www.findagrave.com.

Footnotes

1. ↑ Cleo Bastin, in Find A Grave.

   Rexford Cemetary, Rexford, Thomas, Kansas, United States

2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} Vera Louise Bastin. Vera Bastin's Genealogy Notes; 1963 - present.