PAWNEE ROCK — Wesley L. Belden, 73, died Jan. 9 at Great Bend Regional Hospital in Great Bend. He was born Feb. 7, 1939, at Binghamton, N.Y., the son of Helen (Cobb) Belden. He married Judy Smee Dean on Aug. 29, 1992, in Hoisington.
He joined the Navy where he proudly served for six years on the USS Brownson.
He was a truck driver for many years and also a diesel mechanic.
Mr. Belden had been a Pawnee Rock resident since 2007 coming from Hoisington, where he had resided since 1992, moving from Phoenix, Ariz.
He was an associate minister at the Assembly of God Church, Crossroads Foursquare Church, and the Living Joy Community Church, where he taught ISOM (International School of Ministry), all of Hoisington; and House of Flames, Pawnee Rock, where he also taught ministry classes. He was a musician playing keyboard, guitar and many other instruments.  He enjoyed carpentry work. He was a member of Christian Motorcycle Association.
Survivors include his wife, of the home; three sons, Irvin Belden, Fred Belden and Walter Belden; and five daughters, Mariea, Billie Jo Belden, Sheryl Taylor, Valerie Allton and Melanie Pray; 22 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two brothers, Charlie, whom he adored, and Bill, and he had two sisters whose whereabouts are unknown. He is also survived by his adoptive family, Doc, Sequoya and Pam.
He was preceded in death by two sons, Wesley L. Belden Jr. and John Belden; one daughter, Angel Belden; much loved adoptive family, Bill and Margie Cruger.
Funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 14, at Bryant Funeral Home, with Pastor John Thomas officiating. Interment will be at Lyons District Cemetery in Lyons, with military honors provided by the U.S. Navy. Visitation will be from 1-9 p.m., with family receiving friends from 5-7 p.m., Sunday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to the Wesley L. Belden Funeral Expense Fund, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Bryant Funeral Home
1425 Patton Road
Great Bend, KS 67530
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Jan. 11, 2013