Kent O. Magnuson

Kent O. Magnuson, 72 of Kearney passed away Wednesday, August 27, 2025 near Kearney as a result of an airplane accident. Private family services will be held. Interment will be held at the Dickens Cemetery in Dickens, NE. A public celebration of Life will be held in Thedford at a later date. Kent Oran Magnuson was born July 1, 1953 in North Platte, NE to Oran C. and Beverly (Chamberlain) Magnuson. He attended several rural Lincoln Country schools before moving to Thedford, NE. He graduated from Thedford High School in 1971 and North Platte Community College after that. Kent proudly served in the U.S. Air Force from 1973, until his honorable discharge in 1976. Kent moved back to Thedford where he helped on the family ranch. He obtained his professional pilots license and was employed by several different companies including, Orthman Manufacturing, Frontier Rodeo Company, R.A. Swick and Associates and Maverick International. As a pilot he enjoyed flying members of the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association cowboys including, Don Gay, Roy Cooper, Lyle Sankey and others. On November 9, 2001, Kent was united in marriage to Beth Baxter. The couple made their home near Kearney where Kent continued to fly and enjoyed horses, barrel racing, doing leatherwork and riding his bike. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Beth Baxter of Kearney; siblings, Kendra (Larry) Burgess of Ashby, NE, Mari Ann (Monte) Warner of Paxton, NE, and Charles (Moraine) Magnuson of North Platte; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Judy (Keith) Block of Gothenburg, Bob (Edica) Baxter of Burwell, Dick Baxter of North Platte, and Doug (Lesley) Baxter of Surprise, AZ; nieces and nephews, James (Sekhar Paladugu) Burgess, Jack (Glenda) Burgess, and Kristen (Ben Wolfe) Burgess, Margina Denbo, Mavreena Schaffer, Megan Dunkirk, Bennett Magnuson, Sawyer Magnuson, Lisa (Todd) Mandeville-Freeman, Rob (Sandy) Mandeville, Tracy (Tim) Pore, Tina (Brad) Welton, Holly (Cody) Hill, Tammi (Josh) Vicars, and Todd (Jenny) Baxter; as well as many extended family members and friends. Kent was preceded in death by his mother, Beverly and step-dad, Glen Nutter; his father, Oran and step-mother, Janet (Staples) Magnuson; his brother, Duane Lee Magnuson; and a niece, Tasha Baxter.

Kent O. Magnuson

July 1, 1953 - August 27, 2025