William Fredrick Kant

William Kant Dies Friday In Torrington

William Fredrick Kant, 85, Torrington, formerly of Lance Creek, died Friday, April 16 at Torrington. Funeral services were conducted from the Peet Mortuary in Lusk Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. with the Rev. Robert Boutwell officiating. Burial was in the Lusk Cemetery.

Mrs. J. P. Watson, organist, accompanied Mrs. Jack (Carolyn) Hammond and Mrs. Gerald (Dawn) Hicks as they sang "Whispering Hope" and "Abide With Me."

Casket bearers were Clem Moiser, Dale Henton, Herb Mangus, Tom Bower, Jack Hammond, and Lloyd Miller. Honorary bearers were James Russell, Cotton Aberle, Charles V. Lee, Marion Rassmussen, Fred Sheamon, Bill Manke, Clarence Masson, Henry Stiles and Judson Watson.

William Kant was born June 9, 1886, to William F. and Pauline Kant in Princeton, Wisc., and grew to manhood in that area. He came to Wyoming in 1913 to take a homestead six miles north and east of Lost Springs. February 3, 1917, he and Estelle Runser were married. They were the parents of six children. In 1923 he went to work for the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad and moved into Lost Springs, later moving to a ranch two miles north.

In 1933 his wife died. He was able to keep the family together except for the baby who was just 2 1/2 years old. His sister Elsie in Wisconsin adopted and raised this child. In 1942 he quit work on the railroad to take care of the ranch when a son was called to the service. In 1946 he sold the ranch and moved to Lance Creek where two of the children had gone into business. In 1952 he married May Smith, a friend and neighbor of the family. They resided in Lance Creek until 1965 when they moved to Torrington.

He is survived by his widow, a step-daughter, Mrs. Ethel York of Lance Creek; sons Walter of Lance Creek and Richard of Lusk; three daughters, Mrs. Edith Delahunty of San Francisco, Mrs. Emmy Lou Austin of Lance Creek, and Mrs. Pauline Fitzwilliam of Rockville, Md.; twelve grandchildren, four great-grandchildren; three brothers, Walter, Carl and Richard; and two sisters, Lydia and Emma. A son Charles William (Billy) was killed in a bombing raid over Germany during World War II.

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