Kent Flatness, 67, of Bowman, ND, formerly of Marmarth, ND, passed away on April 14, 2018 at the Southwest Healthcare Hospital in Bowman, ND of pneumonia.

Funeral Services for Kent will be on Saturday, April 21, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at the Southwest Healthcare Long Term Center Chapel in Bowman. Pastor Mark Nygard will officiate with burial to follow in the Riverside Cemetery in Marmarth.

Visitation for Kent will be on Friday, April 20, 2018 from 12-9 at the Krebsbach and Kulseth Funeral Home Chapel.

Kent was born August 23, 1950, in Miles City, MT to Maurice and Adair Flatness. Kent grew up on the family ranch at Marmarth, ND. He attended grade school in Marmarth and other local country schools where his mother taught.

Kent graduated from Baker High School in 1968. He participated in football and track. He set school records in track. His 56' 9" record in the shot-put still stands. Kent won the Montana State Class B shot-put in 1968. He was invited to participate in the Match of Champions Track Meet which included AA, A, B, and C state champions. Kent won that shot-put contest and had the honor of representing Montana at the national level in Eugene, Oregon. In the words of his classmates, "Kent was a class act and a gentle giant".

Kent also had a love of writing. He was the sports writer for the school newspaper writing under the name of "Flat the Magnificent" (showing his humor). He continued his writing in later years writing humorous poems and spiritual writings. Kent attended college at Rocky Mountain College where he played football and Eastern Montana College where he did track.

Kent married Velora Gunderson in Baker, MT. They later divorced. Kent worked on the family ranch, was a local sheriff and he and Velora ran the Marmarth Post Office and transported mail to Bowman.

Kent had a love of hunting and a love of dogs. He inherited these loves from his Grandpa Guy Johnson.

Kent had battled MS for many years, first being diagnosed in his twenties. He never complained and always had a smile and a high five for his family and the staff. This was a true testament of his strong faith in God. Kent showed us how to be strong in difficult times. He had been a resident of the Southwest Healthcare Long Term Care facility since August 7, 2001. Kent received wonderful care there and the family wishes to thank the staff for the loving care they gave Kent.

Kent was preceded in death by his parents, Maurice and Adair Flatness and his nephew, Brent McNeill.

Kent is survived by his sisters Sandra (Dan) McNeill of Chinook, MT, and Sonja (Jack) Brock of Paris KY; niece Courtney (Bill) Bell of Chinook, MT and their children Mariah, Derek, Hailey and Ryan; nephews Guy (Pam) Brock of Worthington, OH and their children Max, Wes and Brody; Hugh (Hilary) Brock of Albuquerque, NM and their children Claire, Maisy, Theo and Clyde; and Jed (Jordan) Brock of Placitas, NM and their child Amelie.

Krebsbach and Kulseth Funeral Services of Bowman in charge of the arrangements