Delbert D. Bryan

Delbert Dean Bryan was born May 15, 1930 to John Harley and Esther Caroline Amanda Mason Bryan on a farm near Lincoln, Kansas. His quiet departure from this life of 83 years came early Sunday, March 2, 2014 in Beloit, Kansas.

"Del", as he was known by all who knew and loved him, grew up on a farm near Lincoln. He graduated from Lincoln High School in the Class of 1948 and shortly thereafter became a telegraph operator for the Union Pacific Railroad in Ellsworth, Kansas.

In 1951, he answered the call of his country to serve in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. He was honorably discharged as a Corporal on February 3, 1953.

On February 15, 1953, he married Dorothy Elaine Marten at Duluth, Kansas. Two daughters Cindy and Sandi were born to this happy union. After their marriage, they lived in Hays for a year before moving to Barneston, Nebraska. In 1976 they moved to Carleton, Nebraska and in 1980 moved to Beloit, Kansas.

Be specific. Ship Union Pacific was an integral part of Delbert's distinguished career as a depot agent with the Union Pacific Railroad spanning forty-three years. One of the primary duties in his early years was being a telegraph operator. Besides Barneston & Carleton, he was an agent at Hays, Delphos, and Onaga, Kansas along with Belvidere, Nebraska. Computers eventually replaced telegraphy. His greatest and most demanding assignment was at Ft. Riley, where he was directly involved with shipping 9000 pieces of military equipment to Houston, Texas for Operation Desert Storm; the largest movement of equipment from a single military base in railroad history. He never missed a day of work and after 43 years retired in 1993.

Delbert was a man of few words but of great actions. He was always very loyal to his family and his employer. He loved his home wherever that was, and when not busy with work he enjoyed creating wood treasures in his workshop. He loved sports of all types and in college played football. He was quick with numbers and had an uncanny memory.

He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, VFW, American Legion, Union Pacific Employees Club. He was a pillar of the Beloit Lions Club and enjoyed caring for the Cookie Baseball fields. Delbert also served on the Board of Directors for the Lincoln High School Alumni Association.

His first wife Dorothy died in 2004. On April 23, 2005 he married Janice Ellen Meili and they enjoyed several years together in Beloit.

Besides his first wife, Delbert was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Loren, Donald, Oliver, and Max Bryan.

Left to mourn his passing and celebrate his life are his wife Janice of the home, daughters Cindy Galstad and husband James of Wichita, Sandra Dutt and husband Greg of Abilene; stepson John Meili, Ellsworth; grandchildren Abbey Markley (Ben), Alexis Dutt, Patrick Oehm (Amber), step grandchildren Julia Galstad & partner Lacy Huebel; one great grandson Max Markley, and many relatives and friends.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Thursday, March 6, 2014 at Zion Lutheran Church. Burial with military honors will be at 2:00 P.M. in the Lincoln Cemetery at Lincoln. Visitation will be from 9:00 A.M. until 8:00 P.M. Wednesday at the McDonald Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 5:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M.