Michael Kent Spear

Michael Kent Spear 76, of Rogers, passed away July 26, 2021. He was born February 28, 1945, in Aberdeen, S.D., to Carroll and Phyllis Spear. He was the eldest of 12 children, and grew up on a farm near Turton, S.D. Mike graduated from high school in Brentford, S.D., and attended Northern State University in Aberdeen. He started his retail career in Aberdeen, in 1968 at J.J. Newberry company. From there he transferred to different locations in Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Tennessee as an assistant and store manager. Later he joined Walmart, where he became a store manager and was eventually brought into the home office in Bentonville, in 1976 and retired in 1998. He loved anything with an engine. He started with riding and racing motorcycles. He then became interested in GoKarts and started racing those also, along with son, Mike. They made quite a team, and raced on tracks like Daytona, Road America, and Barber Motorsports Park, winning too many races to list. A long way from when he drove the first kart he built when he was 17 to school, and it caught on fire on the way. Just one of many stories from growing up on the farm. Daughter Stephanie was crew chief, recording laps and helping in the pits. Grandson Shane later became his grandpa's right hand man and he was so proud of him. Mike was a master mechanic and built all of his own karts and engines. We called him Mr. Fixit as he could fix anything no matter what it was. When he stopped kart racing, he moved to dirt bikes. He also got his private pilot's license and enjoyed flying all over the country. He was proficient in the sport of shooting skeet/trap, and later competition target shooting. His latest hobby was riding a recumbent bike. It allowed him to get great exercise while riding the beautiful greenway trails and enjoying nature. He excelled in every hobby he took on and enjoyed every minute of all of them. He lived life to the hilt. He was passionate about our country and those who defend it. He was loved dearly and will be missed by so many. He is preceded in death by his parents; and one niece, Crystal Torrez. Michael is survived by his wife, Susan, two children, Mike Spear and Stephanie Pack; his siblings, Carolyn (Mahlon) Harders, Janet (Bruce) Witter, Paula (Allen) Artz, Patty (Curtis) Rahm, Colleen Spear (Phil Bellis) Marianne Svec (John) Lisa (Brad) Berens, Shaun (Wayne) Barber, David (Sandi) Spear, Jim (Karen) Spear and Sherri (Rob) Aldinger; grandchildren, Shane (Nicole) Spear, C.J. Spear, Christopher Ogle, Jenna Ogle, Eric Ogle, and Charlie Pack; and one great-grandson, Luka, and many nieces and nephews. A celebration of Mike's life will be held Sunday, August 1, 2021, at 2 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 100 South Gutensohn Road, Springdale, Ark. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to one of the following charitable organizations: * WoundedWarriorProject.org * Hopeforlagonave.org Arrangements by Benton County Funeral Home, 306 N. 4th Street, Rogers, Ark. Online condolences to www.bentoncountyfuneralhome.com