Leonard Levon "Berky" Berkebile, 89 of Butler, Missouri passed away January 2, 2019 at Bates County Memorial Hospital in Butler. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Saturday, January 5, 2019 at Butler Presbyterian Church in Butler. Visitation will be Friday evening from 5-7 at Mullinax Funeral Home (660-679-0009) in Butler. Burial will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery with military rites. Memories and messages of condolence for the family may be left at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.
He was born to Ava Bert & Anna Myrtle (Doll) Berkebile. He married Peggy Lou Davis September 5, 1953 Butler, Bates, MO with Clifford L. Rogers solemnizing.
He was preceded in death by parents, 4 siblings, a granddaughter Maggie Kathryn Berkebile and a son-in-law Randy Cook.
He leaves his wife of 65 years Peggy Davis Berkebile, a daughter Debbie Berkebile Cook, son, Steve and Peggy Berkebile, Tucson, AZ, grandson Blake Cook and wife Ashley of Overland Park, KS. Their children: Beckett Dale and Nora Kathryn; grandson Bayler Cook and wife Dr. Christine Cook of Overland Park, KS. and their son Hudson Levon.
His formative years were spent in the Butler, Ballard area. He was one of the first students in the Butler Elementary School when it initially opened. He moved to Pacific Grove, Ca., at 12 years of age where he developed his love of aviation by watching the Edwards Air Force Base P38s practice air maneuvers in 1943. Growing up in the Monterey area of Ca. he had the opportunity to become a caddy at the renowned Pebble Beach golf course. He made the varsity football team as a freshman in high school.
As a teenager Berky hitchhiked back to the Ballard community because of family circumstances and lived with his uncle Leonard Doll. He graduated from Ballard High School in 1947.
He enlisted in the US Navy on Feb. 17, 1951, joining the SeeBees. He was recognized as an exceptional recruit and was accepted to the operating engineering school where he learned his skills in enginerring and heavy equipment. He was stationed at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for 18 months building air strips. Due to family hardships, he was honorably discharged to return home to support his family.
After returning home from Guantanamo Bay, he met and married Peggy Davis. They were married Sept. 5, 1953. He was self employed in the over-the-road trucking business for approximately 14 years before purchasing the Paraland Truck Stop located on north 71 highway.
After a few years, Berky decided to go into the soil conservation business and purchased his first dozer without consulting Peggy. She received a dozen red roses and was consulted in all dozer business thereafter. Berky and Peggy ran Berkebile Construction for 50 years. After retiring and selling his business, Berky realized he had more irrigation lakes to build and more waterways that needed his attention. He went back to work for Bill and Sharon McElwain Farms until the age of 87.
Berky was a member and elder of the Butler Presbyterian Church. He was kept quite busy on the maintenance committee. He was a charter member of the Butler Bass Masters Club, the Missouri Land Improvement Contractors, a Butler city councilman, the board of Butler Enterprises, the Butler Country Club where he built the first grass greens.
As a lifelong conservationist, he enjoyed fishing, hunting and working his land. He loved teaching children, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, how to fish. It was a real treat and and honor to fish in Berky's Pet Pond. Berky was an avid historian reading WWII biographies, watching the history channel but he also enjoyed episodes of The Pickers.
In his later years he built WWII model airplanes, barn-wood bird houses, and returned to his love of tooling leather. It brought him great joy to give his detailed and artistic leather pieces to friends and family. He surprised Peggy with a new leather purse monthly.
Berky loved nothing more than his family and his home. When he and Peggy left home, the first thing he would ask was, "When do we come back?" And when others would talk about going through rough times in life, he would say, "It never hurts to look up."
He was born to Ava Bert & Anna Myrtle (Doll) Berkebile. He married Peggy Lou Davis September 5, 1953 Butler, Bates, MO with Clifford L. Rogers solemnizing.
He was preceded in death by parents, 4 siblings, a granddaughter Maggie Kathryn Berkebile and a son-in-law Randy Cook.
He leaves his wife of 65 years Peggy Davis Berkebile, a daughter Debbie Berkebile Cook, son, Steve and Peggy Berkebile, Tucson, AZ, grandson Blake Cook and wife Ashley of Overland Park, KS. Their children: Beckett Dale and Nora Kathryn; grandson Bayler Cook and wife Dr. Christine Cook of Overland Park, KS. and their son Hudson Levon.
His formative years were spent in the Butler, Ballard area. He was one of the first students in the Butler Elementary School when it initially opened. He moved to Pacific Grove, Ca., at 12 years of age where he developed his love of aviation by watching the Edwards Air Force Base P38s practice air maneuvers in 1943. Growing up in the Monterey area of Ca. he had the opportunity to become a caddy at the renowned Pebble Beach golf course. He made the varsity football team as a freshman in high school.
As a teenager Berky hitchhiked back to the Ballard community because of family circumstances and lived with his uncle Leonard Doll. He graduated from Ballard High School in 1947.
He enlisted in the US Navy on Feb. 17, 1951, joining the SeeBees. He was recognized as an exceptional recruit and was accepted to the operating engineering school where he learned his skills in enginerring and heavy equipment. He was stationed at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for 18 months building air strips. Due to family hardships, he was honorably discharged to return home to support his family.
After returning home from Guantanamo Bay, he met and married Peggy Davis. They were married Sept. 5, 1953. He was self employed in the over-the-road trucking business for approximately 14 years before purchasing the Paraland Truck Stop located on north 71 highway.
After a few years, Berky decided to go into the soil conservation business and purchased his first dozer without consulting Peggy. She received a dozen red roses and was consulted in all dozer business thereafter. Berky and Peggy ran Berkebile Construction for 50 years. After retiring and selling his business, Berky realized he had more irrigation lakes to build and more waterways that needed his attention. He went back to work for Bill and Sharon McElwain Farms until the age of 87.
Berky was a member and elder of the Butler Presbyterian Church. He was kept quite busy on the maintenance committee. He was a charter member of the Butler Bass Masters Club, the Missouri Land Improvement Contractors, a Butler city councilman, the board of Butler Enterprises, the Butler Country Club where he built the first grass greens.
As a lifelong conservationist, he enjoyed fishing, hunting and working his land. He loved teaching children, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, how to fish. It was a real treat and and honor to fish in Berky's Pet Pond. Berky was an avid historian reading WWII biographies, watching the history channel but he also enjoyed episodes of The Pickers.
In his later years he built WWII model airplanes, barn-wood bird houses, and returned to his love of tooling leather. It brought him great joy to give his detailed and artistic leather pieces to friends and family. He surprised Peggy with a new leather purse monthly.
Berky loved nothing more than his family and his home. When he and Peggy left home, the first thing he would ask was, "When do we come back?" And when others would talk about going through rough times in life, he would say, "It never hurts to look up."
Leonard Levon "Berky" Berkebile, 89 of Butler, Missouri passed away January 2, 2019 at Bates County Memorial Hospital in Butler. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Saturday, January 5, 2019 at Butler Presbyterian Church in Butler. Visitation will be Friday evening from 5-7 at Mullinax Funeral Home (660-679-0009) in Butler. Burial will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery with military rites. Memories and messages of condolence for the family may be left at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.
He was born to Ava Bert & Anna Myrtle (Doll) Berkebile. He married Peggy Lou Davis September 5, 1953 Butler, Bates, MO with Clifford L. Rogers solemnizing.
He was preceded in death by parents, 4 siblings, a granddaughter Maggie Kathryn Berkebile and a son-in-law Randy Cook.
He leaves his wife of 65 years Peggy Davis Berkebile, a daughter Debbie Berkebile Cook, son, Steve and Peggy Berkebile, Tucson, AZ, grandson Blake Cook and wife Ashley of Overland Park, KS. Their children: Beckett Dale and Nora Kathryn; grandson Bayler Cook and wife Dr. Christine Cook of Overland Park, KS. and their son Hudson Levon.
His formative years were spent in the Butler, Ballard area. He was one of the first students in the Butler Elementary School when it initially opened. He moved to Pacific Grove, Ca., at 12 years of age where he developed his love of aviation by watching the Edwards Air Force Base P38s practice air maneuvers in 1943. Growing up in the Monterey area of Ca. he had the opportunity to become a caddy at the renowned Pebble Beach golf course. He made the varsity football team as a freshman in high school.
As a teenager Berky hitchhiked back to the Ballard community because of family circumstances and lived with his uncle Leonard Doll. He graduated from Ballard High School in 1947.
He enlisted in the US Navy on Feb. 17, 1951, joining the SeeBees. He was recognized as an exceptional recruit and was accepted to the operating engineering school where he learned his skills in enginerring and heavy equipment. He was stationed at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for 18 months building air strips. Due to family hardships, he was honorably discharged to return home to support his family.
After returning home from Guantanamo Bay, he met and married Peggy Davis. They were married Sept. 5, 1953. He was self employed in the over-the-road trucking business for approximately 14 years before purchasing the Paraland Truck Stop located on north 71 highway.
After a few years, Berky decided to go into the soil conservation business and purchased his first dozer without consulting Peggy. She received a dozen red roses and was consulted in all dozer business thereafter. Berky and Peggy ran Berkebile Construction for 50 years. After retiring and selling his business, Berky realized he had more irrigation lakes to build and more waterways that needed his attention. He went back to work for Bill and Sharon McElwain Farms until the age of 87.
Berky was a member and elder of the Butler Presbyterian Church. He was kept quite busy on the maintenance committee. He was a charter member of the Butler Bass Masters Club, the Missouri Land Improvement Contractors, a Butler city councilman, the board of Butler Enterprises, the Butler Country Club where he built the first grass greens.
As a lifelong conservationist, he enjoyed fishing, hunting and working his land. He loved teaching children, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, how to fish. It was a real treat and and honor to fish in Berky's Pet Pond. Berky was an avid historian reading WWII biographies, watching the history channel but he also enjoyed episodes of The Pickers.
In his later years he built WWII model airplanes, barn-wood bird houses, and returned to his love of tooling leather. It brought him great joy to give his detailed and artistic leather pieces to friends and family. He surprised Peggy with a new leather purse monthly.
Berky loved nothing more than his family and his home. When he and Peggy left home, the first thing he would ask was, "When do we come back?" And when others would talk about going through rough times in life, he would say, "It never hurts to look up."
He was born to Ava Bert & Anna Myrtle (Doll) Berkebile. He married Peggy Lou Davis September 5, 1953 Butler, Bates, MO with Clifford L. Rogers solemnizing.
He was preceded in death by parents, 4 siblings, a granddaughter Maggie Kathryn Berkebile and a son-in-law Randy Cook.
He leaves his wife of 65 years Peggy Davis Berkebile, a daughter Debbie Berkebile Cook, son, Steve and Peggy Berkebile, Tucson, AZ, grandson Blake Cook and wife Ashley of Overland Park, KS. Their children: Beckett Dale and Nora Kathryn; grandson Bayler Cook and wife Dr. Christine Cook of Overland Park, KS. and their son Hudson Levon.
His formative years were spent in the Butler, Ballard area. He was one of the first students in the Butler Elementary School when it initially opened. He moved to Pacific Grove, Ca., at 12 years of age where he developed his love of aviation by watching the Edwards Air Force Base P38s practice air maneuvers in 1943. Growing up in the Monterey area of Ca. he had the opportunity to become a caddy at the renowned Pebble Beach golf course. He made the varsity football team as a freshman in high school.
As a teenager Berky hitchhiked back to the Ballard community because of family circumstances and lived with his uncle Leonard Doll. He graduated from Ballard High School in 1947.
He enlisted in the US Navy on Feb. 17, 1951, joining the SeeBees. He was recognized as an exceptional recruit and was accepted to the operating engineering school where he learned his skills in enginerring and heavy equipment. He was stationed at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for 18 months building air strips. Due to family hardships, he was honorably discharged to return home to support his family.
After returning home from Guantanamo Bay, he met and married Peggy Davis. They were married Sept. 5, 1953. He was self employed in the over-the-road trucking business for approximately 14 years before purchasing the Paraland Truck Stop located on north 71 highway.
After a few years, Berky decided to go into the soil conservation business and purchased his first dozer without consulting Peggy. She received a dozen red roses and was consulted in all dozer business thereafter. Berky and Peggy ran Berkebile Construction for 50 years. After retiring and selling his business, Berky realized he had more irrigation lakes to build and more waterways that needed his attention. He went back to work for Bill and Sharon McElwain Farms until the age of 87.
Berky was a member and elder of the Butler Presbyterian Church. He was kept quite busy on the maintenance committee. He was a charter member of the Butler Bass Masters Club, the Missouri Land Improvement Contractors, a Butler city councilman, the board of Butler Enterprises, the Butler Country Club where he built the first grass greens.
As a lifelong conservationist, he enjoyed fishing, hunting and working his land. He loved teaching children, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, how to fish. It was a real treat and and honor to fish in Berky's Pet Pond. Berky was an avid historian reading WWII biographies, watching the history channel but he also enjoyed episodes of The Pickers.
In his later years he built WWII model airplanes, barn-wood bird houses, and returned to his love of tooling leather. It brought him great joy to give his detailed and artistic leather pieces to friends and family. He surprised Peggy with a new leather purse monthly.
Berky loved nothing more than his family and his home. When he and Peggy left home, the first thing he would ask was, "When do we come back?" And when others would talk about going through rough times in life, he would say, "It never hurts to look up."
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