In Memory of

U.S. Army Sergeant

Kent Lyle Carpenter

Murdo, South Dakota

Jones County

July 31, 1910 -- January 5,1945

Died at Fitzsimons General Hospital, Denver, Colorado

Kent Lyle Carpenter was born July 31, 1910, in Murdo, South Dakota, to Fred and Abbie Carpenter. He had a sister. Kent spent most of his life in Jones County, where he attended grade and high schools in Murdo, participating in football and basketball. Then in 1928 Kent graduated form Murdo High School. Kent married Marlys Sheldon on October 2, 1928, and they had two children: Abbie Mae and Kenneth Fred. Before he entered the service, Kent worked for the Jones County Department and the State Highway Department, and then became self-employed “when he purchased half interest in the Murdo Auto Company garage and implement business.”

Carpenter entered active service at Ft. Snelling, Minnesota, on May 10, 1944. As part of the U.S. Army Engineers, Carpenter trained at Camp Bowie, Texas, and in September of 1944 he earned a technical rating.

In September of 1944, Sergeant Kent Carpenter “was taken seriously ill while enroute home on furlough.” First cared for at the hospital in Parkston, he was then sent to the Army Air Base Hospital at Sioux Falls and from there flown to the Fitzsimons General Hospital in Denver, Colorado. According to the Murdo Coyote, “Everything humanly possible was done to save his life, but in spite of this and his brave fight death he himself made, death came in the early morning hours.” His wife, Marlys, was at his side throughout his illness. Kent Lyle Carpenter was buried at the Murdo Cemetery in Murdo, South Dakota.

This entry was respectfully submitted by Tyler Bruckner, 11th Grader at Stevens High School, Rapid City, South Dakota, March 20,2002. Information for this entry was provided by the Murdo Coyote and an application for a SD veteran’s bonus payment.

Kent L Carpenter