Bert Daniel Bennett

Bert Daniel Bennett was born on June 5, 1930, in Ponca City, Oklahoma, and departed this life on Monday, June 29, 2015, in Ponca City, Oklahoma, at the age of 85. Bert, the son of Cyrol 'Carl' and Dorothy Margaret (Freidley) Bennett, was a resident of Prague, Oklahoma for 43 years. Due to his health, he moved to Ponca City in 2014 to live with his daughter and son-in-law. He graduated from Ponca City High School with the class of 1950. He married Mildred Magdalene Conklin on September 3, 1952, in Stillwater. Bert was drafted into the United States Army and served years during the Korean Conflict. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Prague and Life Springs Worship Center in Ponca City. He was a member of the Prague Chapter of the American Legion. He loved his God, his family, and his country. He was faithful to all. Bert had numerous talents. Once he was honorably discharged, he attended the Oklahoma City Barber College and had the #1 chair in Fairfax, Oklahoma for 5 years. He drove a semi-truck for several years, and then found his true calling as a farmer and mechanic. Along with his wife and in-laws, he was a member of a custom combine company. Not only did he operate a combine, he was their resident mechanic keeping the machinery and vehicles in working condition. He also worked for Atlas Tank in Tonkawa, Oklahoma where he was severely injured during a crane accident. He spent years recovering from the many injuries he sustained at that time. In the spring of 1971, the family moved to Prague, Oklahoma to become sheep farmers. Then come the years he is known for. He worked as a master mechanic at the Chevrolet dealership in Prague for many years. He married Helen Delores Nester, on December 24, 1986. One of Bert’s passions was restoring old machinery, tractors, and steam engines. He loved riding his antique John Deere tractor in the Prague Kolache Festival parade. Bert was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mildred; son, David Bennett; sisters, Marie Hare and Margaret Headrick; his wife, Helen; and son, Allen Nester. Survivors include: daughters and sons-in-law: Janet and John McFarland of Ponca City and Lisa and Ray McKnight of Perkins; daughter-in-law, Pamela Bennett of Prague; step-sons, Kenneth and Mona Nester of Woodward, Tommy and Cindy Nester of Scottsdale, AZ, Randy Nester & Sherry of Checotah, Russell Nester of Prague; over 50 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, other relatives and a host of friends. The Bennett family will receive friends on Thursday, July 2, 2015 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Parks Brothers Funeral Home in Prague. Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 3, 2015 at 10:00 AM, at the First Baptist Church in Prague with Bro Tim Emmons and Rev. Steve Brown officiating. Interment will follow at Garden Grove Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Parks Brothers Funeral Service in Prague.