Ms. Crystal Ann Green Kahlich and family have given me permission to pay tribute to Jimmy in this special way.

In due time Crystal will send me the information that she deems appropriate for this site and changes will be made as necessary.

Meanwhile – here is a video I took with Ms. Christina Haselhorst singing.

Leroy Behnke left home 12-11-21 to go to Heaven. We here on earth think that he dearly wants us to join him at the correct time.

Listed below is the lasting tribute that I, Jerry Kitten, did indeed say at Leroy’s Rosary Services;

John Shelby – We called him Don for he was named after his Famous Uncle Don Shelby who in WWll fought the famous General Rommel and chased him across Africa, then Italy, then Germany so as to defend our Freedom in the USA. John’s father thought that his brother would not make it thru the war so he named one of his sons after his Heroic Brother, John Donald Shelby.  The famous Shelby name in the USA began in the 1700’s when Evan Shelby emigrated to America from Tehigran Gardenshire Wales. The name SHELBY  here in America can trace their roots to this one man, named EVAN SHELBY.

This John Shelby lived up to the task of preserving the integrity of his forefathers.

I had the privilege on knowing Don Shelby when he came from Chicago to Texas to visit his Grandmother Annie Maloney Shelby at Slaton, Texas. David Bednarz and I (Jerry Kitten) did have the privilege of spending the night at the ole Shelby two story home next to the NEW high school. You can imagine, this home had only an evaporative air  conditioner but the best part was waking up and going to school without having to milk the cows, feed the pigs or gather eggs before going to school. It was like a camping out trip  not too far away if only for a day. As city folks their lifestyle was somewhat different than the farm life.

I enjoyed listening to Annie (Don’s grandmother) talk about her life. She told me several times how she would CALL/SING the words to the SQUARE DANCING at Slaton, Texas. How challenging it was for Annie to raise her family after her husband, H. T. Shelby, a railroad engineer, who died from the wreck at Posey, Texas while trying to preserve the Steam Locomotive which ran off the tracks.

Don Shelby joined the Knights of Columbus at Slaton, Texas the same time as I did in 1961.  All too soon he joined the Lubbock Council 3008 to be a charter member. How Blessed he was to have in his heart to DO WHAT IS RIGHT all thru his life.

To look at his attitude in a different way;

Pride is concerned with who is right — while

HUMILITY IS CONCERNED WITH WHAT IS RIGHT.

To my Brother in law, John Don Shelby, son of Henry Howard (LUKE) Shelby, thank you for life here at Slaton, Texas.

Signed, Jerry Kitten

At the rosary service for John Don Shelby, his partner had this to say;

John Shelby, when asked for advice, said HE WANTED TO DO WHAT WAS RIGHT.

Don Shelby said that even when he was in high school at Slaton, Tx.

After researching this some I found in the Bible a story of a famous person from long ago who also had that same words of wisdom — please read this short story.

A woman named Rahab  lived in Jericho when the army of Israel laid siege to the city. She used her street smarts to secure her future by helping two Israelite spies. Not only did she save herself and her family, she ultimately became the GREAT-GRANDMOTHER OF KING DAVID and an ANCESTOR OF JESUS CHRIST.

David was the youngest of his brothers, a shepherd boy who was known only to his family. But when his spiritual sensibilities were offended by a Philistine giant named GOLIATH, he stepped forward – not to make a name for himself but TO DO THE RIGHT THING… He was anointed to be Israel’s king even before this event, he went from shepherd boy to KING.

Jerry says; John Don Shelby was instilled early in life while he lived in Chicago (Harvey) Illinois to live by these simple words – DO WHAT IS RIGHT  – and so  life’s challenges were easy stepping stones for him.

An OLD TESTAMENT SCHOLAR, named TREMPER LONGMAN is quoted in HOW TO READ PROVERBS;

Wisdom is a rich concept and is not easily summarized… Wisdom is the skill of living. It is a practical knowledge that helps one know how to act and how to speak in different situations. Wisdom entails the ability to avoid problems, and the skill to handle them when they present themselves. Wisdom includes the ability to interpret other people’s speech and writing in order to react correctly to what they are saying to us.

A simpler definition of wisdom is this; “DOING THE RIGHT THING WITHOUT A PRECEDENT.” The believer who can respond to an unexpected situation or circumstance in the same way Christ would is someone who has biblical wisdom – the mind of Christ.

When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve you; understanding will keep you.  PROVERBS 2: 10-11.

Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding.  PROVERBS 3:13.

For wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.  PROVERBS 8:11.

Don Shelby, I will see you again in Heaven.

One of Bob’s brothers, Donald Kitten, had this tribute in a few short words of  Bob’s lifestyle which you can see from the picture above.

Bob was a person who was happy to be your friend. He never shied away from hard work, a good time or the dinner table.

Susan Kitten had this to say about her brother in law Bob Kitten at the Rosary  on 2-19-2021;

AND LET US CONSIDER HOW WE MAY SPUR ONE ANOTHER ON TOWARD LOVE AND GOOD DEEDS, NOT GIVING UP MEETING TOGETHER, AS SOME ARE IN THE HABIT OF DOING, BUT ENCOURAGING ONE ANOTHER — AND ALL THE MORE AS YOU SEE THE DAY APPROACHING. HEBREWS 10: 24-25.

THEN I HEARD A VOICE FROM HEAVEN SAY, “WRITE THIS: BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHO DIE IN THE LORD FROM NOW ON.” “YES, ” SAYS THE SPIRIT, “THEY WILL REST FROM THEIR LABOR, FOR THEIR DEEDS WILL FOLLOW THEM.” REVELATION 14:13.

This video was furnished by Ms. Holly Claire Kitten (Donald Kitten’s Daughter).

Thank you Ms. Holly from Jerry.

Bob Kitten’s favorite jobs; Driving the JOHN DEERE TRACTOR and/or making BBQ.

Bob Kitten’s physical body services; His spiritual body we shall meet again in Heaven.

KURT AND BONNIE KITTEN TAUGHT THEIR FAMILY TO HAVE THE SHIELD OF FAITH AND THE COURAGE TO DARE TO STAND UP AND GO FORTH CORRECTLY.

SEE STORY BELOW OF OCTOBER 29, 2020 IN THE SLATONITE NEWSPAPER.

bbtexas  (click here, link appears on bottom left,  then click on bottom left of screen to listen)

Watch & listen to this video below to see the Legacy that Kurt Kitten started on his farms before he was called to Heaven.

This video below shows Kurt Kitten’s grandson Kash Kitten understands the no-till technique.

Joseph Bednarz is Kurt Joseph Kitten’s Great Grandfather. He lived a few short years at Slaton, Texas and is buried in High Hill, Texas just north of Schulenburg, Texas. High Hill is home to the QUEEN OF THE PAINTED CHURCHES in Texas.

The next two pictures show a story about Alex Bednarz who was born to be a farmer.

Alex married Cordella Wolf who came to visit the Meurer’s …

The Legacy continues as Kade Joseph Kitten, Kurt Joseph Kitten’s son was also born to be a farmer who now farms the Land that his Great, Great, Grandfather broke out in 1917.

With summer closing and fall fast approaching the K if C’s from Slaton, Texas made our special BBQ to share with our tireless workers in the staff of local hospitals in Lubbock, Texas (Covenant & Covenant Childrens).

Just as veterans of service for our country have a difficult time describing what is deep in the hearts, our K of C’s have this difficult task of preparing the special meal in tribute of those who are trained to save lives. Words are not enough to show our appreciation so we dare to boldly step forward to provide a gift from deep inside our hearts. For a true message from the K C’s all you have to do is look deep in their eyes — even in these pictures  — and one can see that yes in our Hearts are God’s GRACE.

By DAWNS EARLY LIGHT the fire was started at our special BBQ pit in Slaton next to DIVISION street starting with a prayer we hope and then enjoying the day just as our forefathers have done here at Slaton for over a 100 years. Division street – why is it so named Division? We have the best answer. On the days of equinox (Equal day and night) in the fall  (September 22) and in the spring (March 22) the Sun rises on East Division Street – EXACTLY – and the Sun sets on FM 41 West of Slaton.  Only on the Equinox days. So it stands to reason that the special street in Slaton is named DIVISION because it is the dividing line of Spring/Summer, Summer/Fall. See the SUNRISE/SUNSET pictures below taken 9-21-2020. The BBQ crew is happy because the heat of summer is past and we are privileged to help those who save lives.

SUNRISE – a little after – because of the smoke haze so the sun was close to center of division.

Close to SUNSET on 9-21-2020 taken at the corner of DIVISION/20th Street. For only one day before EQUINOX I say the street is correctly named.

Some of the hospital staff are preparing to sample this special meal. My guess is only one is ready to eat.

Once again — one is prepared to taste this special treat.

Last year the Slaton Council donated $6200.00.
And now with the Slaton communities support the 2019 donation has increased to be over $10,000.00.
Thank you Veterans for your service.

Slaton Council members pictured here are Don Heinrich, Larry Buxkemper and Jerry Kitten plus 2017 honor flight recipient from Slaton Coy Evans also pictured are the Honor Flight

Officers left to right in gray t shirt, Victor Moore, Casey Davis and Angela Allen, with white t shirt is Diane Walker.