Obituary

Leland G. Denton, 88, passed away Thursday, November 15, 2012, at his home in Topeka.

Leland was born October 2, 1924, in Garland Kansas, to Robert and Effie Denton. He graduated from Fort Scott High School in 1943 and Kansas State University in 1948 with a Bachelor in Business. Leland married Betty Lou Collins in Fort Scott, in 1945, she preceded him in death in 1994. He remarried June 15, 1996, to Margaret Beltz, from Haven, KS. He worked for Mosby-Mack Ford & Noller Ford for 16 years and was a CFO of Security Funds/Security Benefit Group of Companies for 23 years. Leland served in the Army Air Corps with the 17th Bomb Group in Europe during WWII and later served in the Air Force Reserves, retiring in 1984 as a Lt. Col. He was on the Kansas Masonic Foundation, Board of Directors as SEC/TRE, Kansas 4H Foundation, Investment Advisory Committee, Arab Shrine, Ritualistic Cast past pres., Beulah Chapter #34 O.E.S. past Patron, Orient Lodge #51 AF&AM, past Master, Downtown Topeka Optimist, past pres., The Military Order of the World Wars, past Commander, and a member of Central Presbyterian Church and served as a deacon and elder. Leland enjoyed piloting planes, traveling, painting and spending time with his family.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Betty Lou Denton; his parents; his brother, Elmer Denton; and his son-in-law, Charles Rucker.

Leland is survived by his loving wife, Margaret Denton; two daughters, Deborah (Larry) Wilson, and Vickie Rucker; two sons, Randall (Carole) Denton, and Dwight Beltz; seven grandchildren, Sean Wilson, Brian Wilson, Michelle Alvarez, Leanna Coon, Daniel Denton, Darcy Koch and Kristi Wesley; and eleven great grandchildren.

A funeral service for Leland will be held at 1:00 PM on Monday, November 19, 2012, at Central Presbyterian Church, 920 SW Huntoon St, Topeka, KS 66604. He will lie in-state at 12:00 PM on Sunday, November 18, 2012, at Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel, 1321 SW 10th Ave, and the family will greet friends from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Burial will follow at Penwell-Gabel Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Kansas Masonic Foundation for the Cancer Research at KU Medical Center, 2909 SW Maupin Lane, Topeka, KS 66614-5335.