Kit Carson County, Colorado
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Kit Carson County Pioneers:

Jacob Kechter, 6 South 47 West


Jacob proved up a quarter in 32, 6 South, 47W in 1900.
In 1909 he cash-claimed 40 acres in section 21.

In 1910 Kit Carson County, Jacob is farming, 39, married 21 years to Elizabeth 41, both born in Russia. Elizabeth is 17, Molly 15, Louise 13, Pauline 6, and Willie 3, all born in Colorado.


1914 Pleasant Ridge items in the Wray Rattler "Jake Kechter is breaking up a quarter of land. Mr. Thompson and son, Willie are assisting him."

In 1920 Kit Carson County, Jacob is farming 48, immigrating in1892, with Elizabeth 50, Pauline 15, and William H. 12.

1929 Kirk items "Henry Byrd's are planning to have a public sale later on as they have sold their farm, the home quarter to Jake Kechter and the other quarter to Henry Klassen. "

June 1960 "Mrs. Jacob Kechter received a telegram from Laurel, Mont., Saturday morning bearing the sad news that her brother had died.
Mrs. Kechter was unable to attend the funeral, not being too well herself. "

Jacob Kechter 1871-1961 is buried in Kirk # 67354547, with Elizabeth 1869-1963 # 67354546.





"Elizabeth Kechter, daughter of Adam and Katherine Alles Geisick, was born March 7, 1869, in the German Colony of Walters, Russia. She died on Friday, Aug. 2, 1963, at the Kit Carson County Memorial Hospital in Burlington. She was 94 years, 4 months and 26 days old at the time of her death.
She was united in marriage to Jacob Kechter on Feb. 16, 1890. They came to the United States in February of 1892. They lived for a time in Lake County Illinois, where their oldest daughter was born. They later came to Colorado and homesteaded near Kirk which had been their home.
Mr. and Mrs. Kechter built their home in Kirk in 1930 where they resided until his death on May 30, 1961. Mrs. Kechter lived in the home alone until eight months ago. On Thanksgiving in 1962, she moved to the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. William Kechter Sr. where she lived until her death.
She leaves two daughters, Mrs. Louise Martin of Kirk and Mrs. Pauline Chaney of Denver, one son, William Kechter of Vona, 12 grandchildren, 26 great-great-grandchildren and many other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by one son, in infancy before she came to this country, two daughters, Elizabeth Clair in 1925 and Mollie Clair in 1933, and her husband.
Grandma Kechter, as she was called by everyone, was a loving mother and grandmother, and a kind and thoughtful friend. It can be truly said she loved people and was loved by all who knew her. She was a member of the Lutheran church.
Funeral services were held from the Kirk Baptist Church on Tuesday afternoon, August 6."

" In Kirk for the recent funeral services of Mrs. Elizabeth Kechter were Mr and Mrs. Jacob Kechter, Henry Kechter and son Robert, all of Fort Collins, Mrs. Pauline Chaney, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Eaton and daughter, the Robert Chaneys, the Roy Hrberleins and daughter Elaine, Mr. and Mrs. William McCoy and June, Mr and Mrs Ivan Clair, Mr and Mrs. Jack Clair and children, Mr. and Mrs. Linden Baxter, Mrs. Velma Achziger, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Finley, all from the Denver area. Mr and Mrs Henry Hess of Goodland, Mr. and Mrs. Bud Finley, Mr .and Mrs. Leonard Koop, Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Hitchcock, all of Burlington."

MOLLY



Molly (Kechter) Clair 1895-1933 is buried in Kirk # 67354342, on the same stone as Elizabeth 1892-1925.
So is Roy Barton Clair 1888-1962.


LOUISE

Ralph Martin and Louise Kechter married October 12, 1916, recorded in Kit Carson COunty.

LIZZIE

Newton Clair married Lizzie W. Kechter on January 20, 1913, recorded in Kit Carson County.

Elizabeth is buried in Kirk 1892-1925 # 67354338.

WILLIAM

William H. Kechter 1907-1999 is buried in Kirk # 67354550.





1960 Yuma "1960 Mrs. Warren Britton and chilldren of Lakewood came down Sunday and visited at the Louisa Pound and the William Kechter homes until Tuesday. "





"Mabel Joyce Collette Kechter, or Sue as most knew her, age 87, died from a severe stroke on Saturday, June 8, 2019 in Yuma, Colorado with family at her side.
Sue was the youngest of five siblings, born September 25, 1931 in Idalia, Colorado to Ralph and Alva Collette. She attended elementary at Red Top School and graduated from Kirk High School in 1949. She enjoyed working at the Kirk State Bank and the Kirk Store prior to marrying Bill Kechter, Jr. at Jack and Ruth Wise's farm on December 15, 1950. The couple lived on the Kechter Ranch southwest of Kirk throughout their entire sixty-eight and a half years of marriage. The couple brought four children into the union, Kent, Kurt, Bob, and Marla.
Sue valued faith, family, and friends. It was at the time her boys were young that she realized her own need for salvation and desired a personal relationship with Jesus. In 1961, she gave her life to Christ and was then baptized and joined the Kirk Baptist Church. Sue had a servant heart and nourished others with love, music, and of course, food. Sitting at Sue's table for a meal was always a treat as she was a fantastic cook and loved to bake. She was happy to share her recipes, but no one could make the same dish quite like her; beef and noodles, meringue pies, and the absolute best chocolate chip cookies ever made. Upon entering the Kechter home, it was typical to rush right to the cookie jar for some of Grandma Sue's Cookies.
In addition to caring for her family, she helped feed the cattle, taught Sunday School, and even taught herself to play the piano when Marla was young. She spent hours at the piano or organ, sometimes playing and sometimes listening as her daughter played and the family sang. She enjoyed taking morning and evening walks, working in her flower garden, and loved to watch game shows in the evening hours. She and Bill greatly enjoyed travelling and made many good friends through their travel adventures. Together they visited 47 states, including Alaska and Hawaii, as well as international travel to England, Scotland, Wales, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, and the Caribbean.
Sue is survived by her husband, Bill, son Kent and Marsha of Saint Francis, Kansas, and their family—Shara and Jason Johnson, Lauren, Lindsey and Emma; Amber and Mat Brown, Rhett; Travis and Jill Kechter, Madelyn and Abigail; son Kurt and Janelle of Fort Collins, Colorado and their family—Joseph Kechter; Derek Smith; Domenic Carpine, Isaac, Nathaniel, Katie, and Anna; son Bob and Brenda of Kirk and their family—Candice and Christopher Monahan, Bode and Ryker; Toby and Brianne Kechter, Jaylyn, Gabriel, Skyler, and Ella; Kay Dee and Ty'Ray Thompson, Tyce, T'Ziah, and Taya; her brother Bud and sister-in-law Bernie Collette of Burlington, and a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends.
Sue was proceeded in death by her parents, Ralph and Alva Collette; siblings Ruth Wise, Ed Collette, and James Collette; her daughter Marla Jo Kechter; granddaughter Johanna Carpine; brother-in-law Jack Wise; sister-in-laws Leona Collette, Nadine Collette, and Marilyn Wood; and mother and father-in-law Bill and Lola Kechter.
Memorial services will be held Wednesday, June 12, 2019 at 10:30 am at the Liberty School. Interment will follow at the Kirk Cemetery."

June 1954 "A beautiful wedding: was solemnized at the First Missionary Baptist church of Kirk on Sunday, May 30, when Miss Marilyn Jean Kechter became the bride of William Harvey Wood. A double ring service was read at one o'clock by Elder Eugene Seay, pastor of the Anton Baptist church. The church was beautifully decorated with large bouquets of pastel colored flowers and lighted candelabras. The pastel theme was carried out in the ribbons and bows marking the path of the bride as she walked toward the altar. Miss Barbara Idler played the Wedding Chorus by Lohengrin and accompanied Miss Marian Crawford who sang "Always" and "I Love You Truly." Both were friends of the bride. The candles were lighted by Robert Wood, brother of the groom. The bride was given in marriage by her father, William Kechter. She chose a white nylon lace afternoon dress with white accessories and a corsage of pink carnations. Her only jewelry was a strand of pearls, given as a gift from the groom. Her bridesmaid, Miss Eva Adolph of Burlington, wore a yellow nylon afternoon dress with a corsage of white carnations. Best man for the groom was William Kechter Jr., brother of the bride. The bride's mother chose a navy blue suit dress with white accessories and the groom's mother was dressed in a pastel blue suit. The three grandmothers in attendance all had corsages of white carnations. The reception was in the parsonage -living room which was tastefully decorated in pink and white. The bride's table was centered with the large three tiered cake, baked and decorated by Mrs. Ralph Adolph, the groom's sister. The cake was reflected on a large mirror decked with sprigs of green and pink carnations and candles. Mrs. Adolph. Mrs. William Kechter Jr. and Mrs. Mildred Atkinson served and Miss Barbara Blank, friend of the bride, was in charge of the guest book and gift table. The bridal couple left immediately, amidst a shower of rice and good wishes, on a week's honeymoon trip after which they planned to make their home in Burlington.
Both are popular in the Kirk community where they attended high school. The bride, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Kechter Sr., graduated with the class of '54. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Wood of Stratton.

PAULINE

Pauline Kechter, 19, married Robert I. Chaney on April 3, 1924 in Kit Carson County.

Pauline Kechter Chaney is buried in Wheat Ridge 1903-2005 # 69640545.

So is Robert Irwin Chaney 1903-1961 3 69640518.

November 1961 "Robert Chaney of Denver, husband of Mrs. Pauline Chaney and son-in-law of Mrs. Jacob Kechter of Kirk, died Saturday night, October 28, following a heart attack while on a deer hunting trip near Glenwood Springs. While Mr Chaney had a heart condition previous to his trip, he had more recently been in good health. His party of hunters had just arrived and made camp when he became chilled and went to bed. Death came a few minutes later.
Attending the services on Thursday in Denver were Mr. and Mrs. William Kechter, Sr., Mr. and Mrs. William Kechter Jr., Mr. and Mrs. William Wood, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Martin, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Martin and Darlene from the Kirk community, Mrs. Sadie Dustake and Mr. and Mrs. Koop of Burlington."




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