0 Kent Dortman Funeral - August 16, 2012

Early this past week I received word that an old friend has passed away. I had not seen Kent for quite a long time maybe as long as 2 years. We became friends with he used to come to a coffee shop I had some years ago. We would play chess and talk. Turns out he was diagnosed with cancer about a month or 2 before his death in Ubon Rachatani at the hospital there. He is survived by his 2 older Danish children, his older son Mikhail (who are shown leading the procession around the crematory) and 2 younger children (a boy and a girl who were dressed as a monk and a nun as tradition dictates).
There was some confusion as to the site of the funeral. I had first heard of his death from another expat here in town that knew a little bit only. We assumed, and the rumor was, that the funeral was to be held here in Mukdahan where Kent was a long time resident. After a couple days there was no word. On Thursday morning (the day of the funeral) I got an email telling me that the funeral was to be held in a Wat near Kamcha-I about 30 km. away from Mukdahan. There are many wats in the villages outside of Kamcha-I and some of the guys had GPS units and were going to just drive to each one until they found it. Luckily I have a friend that lives in Kamcha-I and teaches lessons at one of the wats. She was able to find out through the wat network what village the wat was in. It was Wat Pa in Ban Kho a quick Google map search and a phone call to my friend Wayne who lives near there was able to get me the best directions.
My buddy John and I took the wife's car and made the trip without much problem. - Khun Rut

Curt on the left and Glen on the right.

Curt and his wife.

Wayne and his wife from near Kamcha-I

View Wat Pa Ban Kho in a larger map