January 5, 1929 – July 15, 2026

Leon Bernard (Short) Allen was born on January 5, 1929, in Beaver County Oklahoma to Ben and Marguerritte Allen.  Short was the 2nd son, with brother’s Don and Alvin Allen.  Short was raised on the family farm and was taught to love the Lord by his parents.  He graduated from Beaver High School and attended Friends University in Wichita, Kansas.  Short joined the United States Army in 1951 and was stationed in Germany during the Korean War.  He stepped foot on the transport ship on December 14,1951 and stepped off another ship on December 14, 1952.  He was a radio operator. 

When he returned home to Beaver, he met Wilda Filbeck one evening dragging main street in Liberal, Kansas.  His buddies dared him to jump into the pick-up that Wilda and her friends were driving.  The dare was taken.  At a stop light, he jumped out of the pickup and into the back of her pick-up.  The rest was history. 

Short and Wilda were married October 3, 1953, choosing the date because there was no field work at that time of the year which was later not true due to sugar beet harvest in October.  They had three children: Jerry Allen, Sue Burton and Connie Jones. 

Short and Wilda lived in Beaver, Oklahoma until 1965 when they left the family farm and moved to Arapahoe, Colorado to farm with his brothers, Don and A.W.  They built a home south of Arapahoe and continued to farm with his brothers until each brother had sons who wanted to farm also.  So the Allen Brothers operation divided up the land and equipment which allowed Short and Wilda to begin farming with their son Jerry and his wife, Vicki.  Short enjoyed the country life of farming and ranching but the cows were his favorite.  He was the veterinarian of the 3 brothers and loved to take care of the cattle. 

He raised wheat, irrigated corn, popcorn, sugar beets, alfalfa, milo and even pinto beans.  At harvest time, Short ran the combine, drove a beet truck and cut alfalfa.  They didn’t let him in the fields with a cultivator because his rows were never straight and he was famous in the family for cultivator blight. 

In the early years, the irrigation was with irrigation pipe and socks which meant daily moving of pipe from one place to another.  It was hard work with wives assisting by driving and even the young grandchildren got their first driving lessons while moving pipe.  Later center pivots lighten their physical load making irrigating easier. 

Short’s life was one of serving the Lord and serving others.  He enjoyed cooking and was the cook for the Cheyenne County Fair barbeque, Fair breakfast and the ham n’ bean dinner at the county fair. 

He served on the K.C. Electric board of directors for many years, the Cheyenne County Farm Bureau Board and the Great Western Sugar Beet board of directors.  He received the Outstanding Farm Bureau membership award in 2005 for the state of Colorado.  Short was an honor guard for the Cheyenne Wells VFW and served at many graveside services.

Short was a faithful member of the Arapahoe Community Church beginning upon his arrival in 1965.  He served his church family in many ways.  He was the chef for the Sweetheart Banquet and the Easter Sunrise breakfast for more than 20 years.  Short quietly served the congregation by making communion prior to service for more than 30 years.  He also served on the Church Board for more than 20 years.  He resigned because it was time for the younger men to take over. 

His children married and Short was blessed with 8 grandchildren.  He loved having his grandchildren around and taught them by example how to serve the Lord, work hard and was a quiet leader and teacher.  He helped the local grandchildren to work on the farm, work with cattle, drive vehicles before they should and have fun. 

Grandparents took the grands to Elitche’s, South Fork Colorado, Lake of the Ozarks and Lake Powell.  What crazy fun times they had.  Short would swim in the lakes with long pants, long sleeved shirt and straw hat.  Short was always in the middle of the action and his grandchildren loved it.  He even went snow skiing for the first time at age 56.  He didn’t take to it really well but the grands loved that he tried.  He followed the Grands in their school activities and athletics.  Short would drive all over the area to attend volleyball, football and basketball games.  He was a great fan. 

After the grandchildren graduated, Short still attended the Cheyenne Wells games and was named “Fan of the Year”.  You could tell he was a true fan as he watched even the Junior High C volleyball games.  He continued to go to games in Cheyenne Wells until it was time to watch his great grandchildren’s games.  He then donned his purple shirt and became a Weskan Coyote fan. 

Short had 14 great grandchildren spread from Tuttle, Oklahoma; Stratton, Colorado; Maize, Kansas; Colorado Springs; and Arapahoe. 

He is known as “Grandpa Fruit Snacks” to the local great grandchildren where the love and snacks flowed freely.  He loved for the kids to stop in and spend time with him.   

Plans were made to move from the farm into Arapahoe in 2011 but prior to the move, Short lost Wilda so Short moved to Arapahoe without her.  He resided there until his passing with his daughter, Connie, living with him and assisting him. He entered Hope Springs Care Center in Sharon Springs in March of 2026 and died there on July 15, 2026 at the age of 97. 

He is survived by his children, Jerry and Vicki Allen, and Connie Jones of Arapahoe, Colorado and daughter Sue Burton of Tuttle, Oklahoma; grandchildren, Coty and Jamie Allen of Colorado Springs, Chris and Sheila Allen of Arapahoe, Amber and Jason Chalastari of Maize, Kansas, Steven Burton of Alto, Texas, Mikael Burton of Alamosa, Colorado, Tim and Jaci Burton of Tuttle, Texas and Curtis Jones of Stratton, Colorado.  His great grandchildren are: Jacelyn, Brielle, Trexton, Dautry and Kyntrix Allen, McKinely Allen, Cole, Kaden and Gage Chalastari, Elijah Burton and Bella Jones. 

Short joined his wife Wilda and granddaughter Sarah in heaven on Wednesday with a “Welcome Home, good and faithful servant” by his savior, Jesus Christ. 

Funeral services will be held July 27, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. at the Arapahoe Community Church.  Burial will follow in the Arapahoe Cemetery with full military honors.

Visitation will be held July 26, 2026 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Brown Funeral Home in Cheyenne Wells.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Arapahoe Community Church, PO Box 167, Arapahoe, CO  80802.

Arrangements are under the direction of Brown Funeral Home.