Chester R. Seeley

Chester L. Seeley, 84, of Pomona, Kansas, passed away December 25, 2017 at the Stormont – Vail Regional Medical Center in Topeka, KS. Graveside services and inurnment will be held at 11:00 am, Friday, May 11, 2018, at Oak Hill Cemetery, Quenemo. Military honors and flag presentation by United States Air Force. Chester was born May 2, 1933 in Minneapolis, MN. As a young boy, he came to live with his aunt and uncle, Wesley and Myrtle Ames, on their farm north of Miller, SD, and became part of their family of four. He was educated in the Miller school system; he joined the Air Force before graduation from high school. He served during the Korean conflict as a tail gunner on the B-29 bombers. He was proud to have trained aboard the Enola Gay. He received his honorable discharge from the Air Force in November of 1955. Chester later married Dena JoAnne Bohannan September 3, 1959, in Denver, CO. They lived in Denver and Seattle before moving back to Miller, where he owned and operated “Chet’s Cut Rate” gas station for a few years. They then moved to Pomona, where Chester was a building inspector for HUD until his retirement. He is survived by two of the cousins he was raised with, Larry (Nancy) Ames of Miller, SD, and Jeanette Ames Campbell of Clarkston, WA; also, Kenneth Stewart of Miller, SD; and Chester’s beloved little dog, Daisy. Chester was preceded in death by his wife, JoAnne on January 12, 2008. Chester and JoAnne had no children, but they had a great love for animals, especially little dogs. Their home was never without several dogs and a cat or two, that were treated like royalty! Family and friends are encouraged to post their condolences and memories on Chester’s Tribute Wall at www.dengelmortuary.com