Kenneth Hutton

Kenneth Robert Hutton was born in Nemaha County, Nebraska, south of Auburn on August 22, 1925, to Bert F. Hutton and Jeanne Marie (Migot) Hutton. The Hutton family farmed southwest of Howe. Kenneth attended Champion School and graduated from Nemaha High School in 1942. Following graduation, he was appointed Clerk of the County Court for five years. He enrolled at Peru State College and completed his Bachelor of Science degree in education with honors in 1950. He attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln where he earned his Master of Education degree in 1956. He also attended Cornell and Stanford Universities working toward his Doctorate in Science and Mathematics. However, he was unable to complete his doctoral dissertation due to the illness of his parents.

Kenneth was baptized December 19, 1926, and confirmed April 2, 1939, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Auburn where he was an active member his entire life. He enjoyed teaching confirmation classes and Sunday school, sponsoring the Luther League, serving on the church council, and singing in the church choir.

On July 16, 1977, Kenneth was married to Joyce L. (Kennedy) Hall at the Congregational Church in Sabetha, Kansas. Kenneth welcomed Joyce?s two children, Randall and Susan Hall, making the family complete.

Mr. Hutton?s teaching career began in 1950 at Missouri Valley High School in Iowa. In 1951 he began his long tenure teaching mathematics in Auburn High School where he helped to organize the Math-Science Club. Numerous trips to Colorado and Washington D.C. with the Math-Science Club and receiving Teacher of the Year at the state level were highlights of his teaching career. Mr. Hutton retired in 1991 after teaching high school for 42 years. Being reluctant to retire and moved by his passion for teaching, he taught math classes at Peru State College and later supervised student teachers for 16 more years until 2007. Ever the teacher, Kenneth mentored a middle school student the past three years. His delight was in helping any student he could, and he enjoyed visiting with all his former students.

Kenneth was a willing and faithful volunteer as an active member of Kiwanis Club for 56 years, a member of the Auburn Community Builders, and chairman of Sheridan Cemetery Association.

Having been raised on a farm, he looked forward to spending time working outdoors. He was fond of gardening and yard work and enjoyed purchasing and refinishing antique walnut furniture.

On the late afternoon of January 6, 2011, Kenneth passed away at Bryan East Hospital in Lincoln after an illness of nearly three weeks. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Chet, Floyd, and Frank; sisters Ottis and husband Julius Bergmann, Ilma and husband Walter Schlange, Lucille and husband Floyd Bohlken, and Ruth Ima and husband Clyde Baade. Surviving is one brother, Raymond, of Auburn. In his last years, Kenneth especially enjoyed being with Raymond working on the farm and taking trips to Nemaha.

Also surviving are his wife Joyce; step-son Randall and wife Denise Hall of Sabetha, KS; step-daughter Susan and husband Mike Knox of Omaha; step-grandchildren Micah, Matthew, and Meggie Hall, and Daniel and Elizabeth Nelson, and Brandon, Taylor, and Tanner Knox.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, January 11, 2011, 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Auburn. Burial will follow in Prairie Union Cemetery near Shubert. Visitation will be at the funeral home Monday 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with family greeting friends 6:00 to 7:30.

Memorials are suggested to Auburn Volunteer Fire Dept, Auburn Rescue Squad, Sheridan Cemetery Assn., or St. Paul Lutheran Church.