November 08, 1954 - June 07, 2021
Kevan Leif Long, age 66, of Topeka died early Monday morning, June 7, 2021, after a lengthy illness. Born to Oren and Vera Long on November 8, 1954, Kevan grew up on their farm in Valley Falls, attending school there while helping his parents and siblings raising livestock, tending crops, and pitching in to help with the many daily chores that farm life requires.
Kevan served in the US Air Force during the Vietnam war. His time in the service took him all over the world, but he spoke fondly and often of his experiences while stationed on the island of Guam. It gave his family so much pleasure to listen to his stories of the warmth and openness of the people of Guam, the perfect weather, endless food and music, and the beauty of the landscape. It was always his dream to get back there someday.
On August 27, 1982, Kevan married his sweetheart, Annette Butterfield. Together, they bought a home in Topeka where they raised two children, Katheryn Long (Jeremy), and Kyle Long (Sara) until their paths diverged. Kevan’s children blessed him with two biological grandchildren, Oren Long and Bailey Bentley, and five step grandchildren, Ryker, Aunika, Asher, Paige, and Michael, who were loved and cherished equally. Kevan liked to remind his family that he put his grandchildren, all of them, above everyone and everything. They were his world.
