Bertus Duane Huiting (known as “Dink”), a retired farmer from Downs, KS, passed away on August 3rd, 2024, at Parkview Care Center in Osborne, KS at the age of 99.
He was born on the family farm in Jewell County, KS, on July 18th, 1925, to Frederick and Muriel Huiting. He was the third child of four children, Bryson, Dale, Duane & Esther. In 1927, the family moved to the current farm northwest of Downs. Duane attended Fairview District 58 School and then graduated from Downs High School in 1943, where he played football and basketball and became an FFA State Farmer. In football, that’s where he got the nickname “Dink” and has stayed with him ever since. At a very young age, Duane was baptized in the Christian Church.
A few years after high school, Duane developed “Combine Fever” after joining a custom harvest crew. Duane helped his dad on the farm, and he also worked for the Missouri Pacific Railroad, helped build the Kirwin Dam and a welder at Richardson Manufacturing. But the custom harvesting got in his blood. Duane met his future wife, Juanita Goheen at a local dance, they dated for a while, then married on September 24, 1950, in Downs. To this union six children were born, Shirley, Jim, Tava, Stanley, Nancy & Brian. The new couple farmed, raised sheep and cattle and went custom harvesting.
In 1962, Duane became a co-owner of the Huiting and Cary Fertilizer and Elevator with Howard Cary. After years in the business, they sold out. Duane continued to farm and custom harvest until retiring in 1979. His middle son, Stanley, continued the custom harvest. In the early 1970’s, Duane helped Melton Motors in Belleville bring back new trucks from Detroit. In the late 1970’s, Duane was contacted by the Massey Ferguson Company to come to Florida and teach and train the people on the sugar cane machines. So, Duane and Juanita and their two younger children went to Florida for the winters to work in the sugar cane fields. In 1982, the marriage ended. Duane continued to farm, and he started selling Cargill seeds, then Myogen seeds until 2009, he sold certified and registered wheat as well.
In 1994, Duane married Verna Preuss in Stuttgart, KS and they continued to farm, raise cattle and sell seed between the two farms. He retired from farming in 2011. During this time, Duane and Verna enjoyed going to polka dances. Verna, having health problems and not being able to help much, her family took care of her, and Duane moved into Parkview Care Center in Osborne in February of 2021 and the phonelines were always hot.
Duane was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Bryson & Dale, sister Esther, daughter Shirley, son Jim, two grandchildren Jason and Jaime, first wife Juanita, current wife Verna in 2023 and son-in-law Wayne.
He is survived by his children, daughters Tave & Nancy (Dave), sons Stanley & Brian (Minda), grandchildren Jared (MaKenzie), Lexis, Rocky and three great grandchildren Baylee, Aubree & Bentlee, step children Darrell (Sandra), Velma (Dave) & Eldon (Sandy), and many step grandchildren and step great grandchildren.