Berton Terry Akeson Sr., 84, died at his home in Warrensburg, Missouri, on Jan. 2.

Services will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6, at Williams Funeral Chapel in Warrensburg. The family will receive friends from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the chapel. There will be an additional service 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8, at Holechek Funeral Home in Chappell, Nebraska. Interment will follow in the Chappell Cemetery.

Bert was born in Chappell, Nebraska, on Aug. 24, 1930. He was the oldest child of Leffie Terry and Roy Perry Akeson. He attended country school and Deuel County High School, graduating in 1948. He played on the football team and ran track, placing sixth at state in the 220-yard dash his senior year. He was active in FFA and competed at state on the Parliamentary Procedure team.

In 1954, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural economics from the University of Nebraska. At Nebraska, he was a member of AgMen Club. He was the third generation to operate the family farm, now a century farm. Nebraska Cornhuskers football games, farming, politics and reading historical books were his main interests.

In 1960, he was united in marriage to Donna Criswell. To this union, six children were born. Bert lived in Chappell, Nebraska, for 82 years before moving with Donna to Warrensburg to be near their daughter. His beloved dog, Flossee, was his constant companion.

He was a past member of Junior JCs, Rotary International, Farm Bureau Board, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, Masons, DeMolay, Eastern Star, Deuel County Extension Board, and FFA Alumni. He was also a church deacon, Sunday school teacher, and a director of the Deuel County State Bank. He attended the First Baptist Church in Warrensburg.

Bert was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Ronald Todd; one sister-in-law and two brothers-in- law.

He leaves his wife, Donna; one daughter, Deb (Tom) Hobson, of Warrensburg; four sons, Terry (Connie), of Chappell, Nebraska; Steven (Wendy), of Ozark, Missouri; M. Scott (Kerri) Akeson, of Virginia Beach, Virginia; and Stuart (Alexandria), of Houston, Texas. Bert leaves five granddaughters, Megan (Kyungwon) Suh, Ashley Akeson, Taylor Maynard, McKenzie Akeson, Marin Akeson; and seven grandsons, Wesley Hobson, Michael Akeson, Daniel Akeson, Cameron Akeson, Samuel Akeson, Zachary Akeson and Benjamin Akeson. He leaves one sister, Barbara (Bill) Robbinson, and one brother, Walter (Marilyn) Akeson. He also leaves two sisters-in-law, Linda (Vern) Welch, and Gay Lynn (Tracy) Case.

Online condolences may be left at www.williamsfuneralchapel.net