Chester E. Tweten

Chester E. Tweten, 89, Nevada, Mo., passed from this life on Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, at Mercy Hospital, in Joplin, following a brief illness. Chester was born Feb. 10, 1927, in Hamberg, N.D., to Alfred and Gena Matilda (Hagen) Tweten. He was united in marriage to Ardell Ione Bye in June of 1949, in Devils Lake, N.D. Five children were born of this marriage. He united in marriage with Florence Darlene Forkner on June 30, 1972, in Nevada.

Chester was raised in North Dakota and graduated from Devil's Lake High School in North Dakota with the Class of 1945. At the age of 17 he enlisted in the United States Navy and served his country for two years during World War II being trained as an Aviation Electrician while stationed in Hawaii. He returned to Devils Lake, N.D., to start his own construction company. In 1957, he moved to Minot, N.D., to be a construction foreman at the Air Force Base there. In 1963, he moved the family to Minnesota to work for Donovan Construction of St. Paul and then in 1967, took a job as a construction manager for 3M in Hutchinson, Minn. In 1970, he was transferred to the 3M plant in Nevada, Mo. In 1972, Chester purchased Economy Ready Mix and Operated Tweten Construction. He later went to work for the State of Missouri Office of Administration as a construction manager. Following his retirement, he continued to be involved in various construction projects.

Chester was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, in Nevada. Other memberships included BPO Elks No. 564 and VFW Post No. 2590 in Carthage. Chester was an avid gardener and enjoyed spending time in his workshop tinkering and working on various projects. He was also an amateur wine maker.

In addition to his wife, Darlene, survivors include his children, Linda Johnson and her husband, Ron, David Forkner and his wife, Diana, Jamie Tweten and his wife, Janet, Cindy Forkner-Barlow and her fiancee, Larry Rowland, Jeff Tweten and his wife, Amy, Melissa Tweten, Jeramy Tweten and friend, Christine Zelenka; 20 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Marilyn Hagen and her husband, Roger, of Bismark, N.D. He was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred and Gena Matilda (Hagen) Tweten; and his sister, Viola Summers.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, March 5, at Ferry Funeral Home, in Nevada, with the Rev. Chris Deines officiating. Friends may call now and until the hour of service at Ferry Funeral Home.

Contributions may be made in his memory to Fisher House, or MO Veterans Home, Mt. Vernon, Mo., in care of Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada.

View obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.