Kent died October 9, 2014, in Olathe, Kansas. He had battled multiple myeloma for nearly eight years. Kent graduated from Valley City State University and did graduate work at St. Cloud in Minnesota.

Kent taught special education and coached in Sauk Center, MN, and worked part time in the insurance business. After retirement from teaching, Kent went into the insurance business full time and was presented a lifetime achievement award earlier this year. Kent jumped at Idaho City for the 1968 and'69 seasons.