Kent L. Smith was born in Ainsworth, NE on September 3, 1955 to George Ira Smith and Clarice Cleo Bolich, and passed away on June 28, 2026 in Bassett, NE. He was raised on the ranch south of Bassett along with his sister, Rennae. Kent attended the Sybrant School which was a tradition for the Smith Family. Kent’s great-grandma, Laura Maurer taught there and lived with Pauly and Bessie Lanz during her tenure at the school. Pauly and Bessie may have had something to do with Laura meeting their neighbor, Ira Smith, and the rest is history. Kent’s father, George and his sister, Alice, Kent and his sister, Rennae, and his son, Trevor all attended Sybrant School through the eighth grade. Kent graduated from Rock County High School in 1973. He attended Chadron State College for one year, after which he returned to the ranch to join the family operation.

On June 5, 1976, Kent and Faye Croghan tied the knot in this very church, and headed to the ranch 26 miles southeast of Bassett with a lot of hopes and dreams. Kent and Faye fixed up a tenant house on the ranch and called it home. They were blessed with two boys, Trevor Kent and Cameron Kade. Those two boys were Kent’s pride and joy, even if they insist they got very few “Atta boys!” at the end of a long day. Before they had kids, Kent always liked to have Faye ride along with him when he would check cattle and pastures. Faye wasn’t raised on a ranch so this was a totally new experience for her. They would go through gate after gate, and Faye would get turned around, but she didn’t want him to know that. She would casually ask Kent, “Whose house are we driving by?” Kent’s reply was “Pauly and Bessie Lanz.” They would go by another place and Faye would again ask, “Whose place is that?” Kent would patiently say, “Bill and Carolyn Sybrant.” Faye saw a place with a lot of beautiful trees on it and asked Kent again, “Who lives there?” His head whipped around in disbelief as he said, “we do!” And now, 50 years later here, we are here to pay tribute to this amazing man.

In Kent and Faye’s early years, they made some big decisions and took a very large risk when Kent decided to purchase the registered K+ cowherd from the Jerry Kirwan family and he trailed them home. When Kent got home, he asked Faye, “What do you think we should do with these cows?” Faye shrugged her shoulders, and said, “I don’t know, what do you think we should do?” And Kent asked, “Wanna have a bull sale?” And the rest is history.

Kent was a definite risk taker, and during his tenure on the ranch he purchased the home place from his dad. In 1999, he purchased the Linke place from his lifelong neighbors, Karl and June Linke. Karl and his family wanted Kent to own part of their property and they chose not to put it up for sale with a realtor. Kent and Faye didn’t even have to go to the bank for a loan. The Linke’s carried them for several years until they got it paid off. They will never forget the kindness of that family and all they have done for them throughout the years. After Kent’s aunt, Alice Van Norman passed away, he purchased the ground “over west” from his Van Norman cousins. His final act of securing the operation for the future came in the last few years when he purchased the ground “down south” from his mother, Clarice.

Legacies are sometimes thought of as the “material stuff” that you leave behind. But for Kent, none of that was important. He gave his sons, Trevor and Cameron hands on experience growing up because it took the whole family to make it all work. The boys experienced hard life lessons that they didn’t always appreciate, but they are what have made them the strong and confident men they are today. He gave them a love and respect for the land, and taught them if you take care of the land, it will always take care of you. But most importantly, he instilled in them a work ethic that is second to none. He knew these were the things they would need to lead a good and successful life. Kent loved his sons very much, and was proud of the fathers they have become. Whether it was watching Trevor coach the basketball and football teams for Aubrey and Teddy, or Cameron packing up a bag with diapers, books to read, and a pillow so that Ella Kate could go help him bale hay, all of those were moments that Kent cherished with his children.

Somehow Kent knew the secret to a good life long before anyone wrote about it in a song, “Do what you love and call it work!” Kent loved and took care of his family through the good and tough times. What a strong legacy this rancher, husband, father and grandfather leaves behind for all of us to follow.

Kent was preceded in death by his father, George in 2000. He leave to mourn his passing, his wife, Faye of Bassett; sons, Trevor (Amber) Smith of Cohagen, MT and Cameron (Hannah) Smith of Bassett; three grandchildren, Aubrey, Teddy and Ella Kate Smith; mother, Clarice of Bassett; sister, Rennae (Alvin) Ruiz of Torrington, WY; along with numerous other family members.

Funeral Service was held on Friday, July 3, 2026 at the Bassett Methodist Church with Pastors Andrea Schadel and Joel Wentworth officiating at the event. The CD selections of “Dirt Cheap” and “Till You Can’t” by Cody Johnson and “One More Day” by Diamond Rio were played. Casketbearers were: “Faye’s Magnificent Seven” Butch Fischer, Ben Fischer, Keith Ammon, Kurt Ammon, Curt Luther and Jake Maurer. Honorary Casketbearers were: All of Kent’s Other Neighbors & Friends. Specials remarks/memories were given by Teddy and Aubrey Smith, Payton Shankland and Jacob Maurer with a eulogy given by Bim Nelson. Memorials were suggested to the family in Kent’s name for a future designation. Interment was in the Sybrant Cemetery under the direction of the Hoch Funeral Home of Bassett. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.hochfuneralhome.com.