John Steve Hallett was born on June 16, 1951 at Imperial Nebraska. He was the fourth of six children born to John and Reneta McLain Hallett. He grew up in Chase County and attended high school in Imperial. He didn’t graduate but later completed his G.E.D.

John joined the United States Marines in 1973 during the Viet Nam War era. He was based at Camp Lejume in North Carolina and was honorably discharged in 1975. John married Judy Wilcox at Imperial. Two sons were born to this union. The marriage later ended in divorce. The family lived in Imperial where John worked at the bean plant and later for Harris Construction. John moved to Madrid in 1976 and worked for Occidental Chemical and later for Wendell's Irrigation. John moved to North Platte and attended Mid Plains Community College where he received training in carpentry work. After his training he worked for Weathercraft.

He moved back to Perkins County in 1998 when he began working for Scoular Grain in Madrid. He was a dependable and reliable worker for the elevator. John had made a trip to Arizona the last part of July to visit his son and his family. He returned to his home southwest of Elsie on Monday August 15th and died there Monday night of an apparent heart attack. He had reached the age of 60. John had always been a horseman and many times you would see him on long rides in the county with his sons.

John was preceded in death by his parents and an infant brother - Robert Hallet. He is survived by two sons - John and his wife Nicole of Coolidge Arizona and George and his wife Devin of rural Paxton; two grandsons - Trevor and Gabe; three sisters - Charlotte and her husband Lloyd Scarrow of Midland Texas, Frances and her husband Harold Olson of Grant, and Bonnie and her husband Wayne Weiss of Champion; one brother - George and his wife Cindi Hallett of Imperial; other relatives and friends.

Memorial services will be held Monday August 22 at 10:30 a.m. at the Madrid United Methodist Church with Pastor Linda Battello, officiating. Burial of cremains in the Ft. McPherson National Cemetery.

Bullock-Long Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.