William Lee Broadbent

William Lee Broadbent

William Lee Broadbent, 70, Topeka, died Friday, July 9, 2004, at St. Francis Hospital. He was born Nov. 17, 1933, at Corning, the son of Allison W. "Buss" and Juanita L. Turman Broadbent. He moved to Topeka at the age of 5. He graduated from Seaman High School in 1952. Mr. Broadbent served in the Army during the Korean War. He worked at Seymour Foods for 27 years. He also worked for Seaman USD 345 for 10 years as a custodian at Rochester School before retiring. He was a 46-year member of Northland Christian Church, where he had served as a deacon, trustee, board member and server. He also was a member of Capitol Post No. 1 of the American Legion, Moose Lodge No. 555 and the Seaman Alumni Association. Bill was the founder of the Seaman Hall of Fame and worked on the editing of the Seaman Directory. He was secretary of the Seaman Alumni Association. He had been active with the Boy Scouts of America, Troop No. 193, and the Jayhawk Area Council, BSA. Bill was a former member of the Rochester Cemetery Board. Bill married Darlene Streeter. They divorced. He married Lucy Meade Thompson on June 24, 1995, at Northland Christian Church in Topeka. She survives, of the home. Also surviving are two sons, William Brad Broadbent and Brian Lee Broadbent, both of Topeka; a daughter, Darla Ann Broadbent, Topeka; three stepsons, Donald F. Thompson, Cottonwood Falls, Kenneth L. Thompson, Carbondale, and Douglas L. Thompson, Topeka; three stepdaughters, Donna M. Boyer, Topeka, Carolyn K. McGee, Columbia, Miss., and Cynthia D. Daprato, Carbondale; two brothers, Duane Broadbent, Ballantine, Mont., and Larry Broadbent, Topeka; three sisters, Helen Fiebig, Barbara Sowards and Shirley Miller, all of Topeka; eight grandchildren; 13 stepgrandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and four stepgreat-grandchildren. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Northland Christian Church. Burial will be in Rochester Cemetery, with military honors at the graveside by an Army detail from Fort Riley. Mr. Broadbent will lie in state after 1 p.m. Monday at Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel, 245 N.W. Independence, where the family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Monday. Online condolences may be sent to penwellgabel.com. Memorial contributions may be sent to Northland Christian Church, 3102 N.W. Topeka Blvd., Topeka, 66617.