Kent Boughton Nebraska Obituary, Nebraska Weather Icon Kent Boughton Dies After Brief Cancer Battle
LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska broadcasting community and countless viewers are mourning the loss of a trusted voice. Kent Boughton, the esteemed chief forecaster for News Channel Nebraska, died Sunday after a brief and courageous battle with cancer. His passing was announced by his family on his personal Facebook page.
Boughton’s diagnosis came swiftly this spring. In a March social media post, he revealed he had stage 4 cancer, explaining that he initially sought medical care after losing his voice. Doctors discovered a tumor in his lung that had grown against his tonsil, paralyzing it. By May, he shared the difficult update that chemotherapy was not working and the cancer had spread.
His death concludes a legendary broadcasting career that spanned decades and earned him the highest honors. In 2024, Boughton was inducted into the Nebraska Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame—a testament to his profound impact. His journey began at just 15 years old as a disc jockey at KRGI in Grand Island.
After graduating from the Brown Institute, he launched his television career as a sports and weather director at KIFI TV in Idaho Falls. He returned to his home state in 1979, becoming the weather director at KHAS (now KSNB) in Hastings. In a heartfelt decision, Boughton stepped away from broadcasting for 12 years to focus on his family and watch his children grow.
He made a celebrated return to the airwaves in 1999 as chief forecaster at KHGI in Kearney. After retiring in 2023, his passion for meteorology kept him involved part-time at KLKN TV before he joined the News Channel Nebraska team as chief forecaster in March 2025.
Kent Boughton was more than a forecaster; he was a familiar and reliable presence in Nebraska homes for generations. His dedication, warmth, and professionalism have left an indelible mark on the industry and the community he served so faithfully. He is survived by his family, friends, and legions of loyal viewers who trusted him to guide them through storms and sunshine alike.