Letha M. Boettcher Stewart Obituary (1921 - 2011)

Letha M. Boettcher Stewart, age 90 years, of Wymore died Tuesday morning, Nov. 1, 2011 at the Wymore Good Samaritan Center. She was born at Lucerne, KS to John and Nannie (Trueblood) Barnett on Aug. 19, 1921. She moved to Wymore at a young age and was valedictorian of Wymore High School Class of 1939. On Aug. 29, 1939 Letha married Walter L. Boettcher. To this union, two daughters were born, Shirley Ann and Marjorie Lee. Letha and Walt celebrated forty years of marriage prior to his death on Nov. 6, 1979. She was an excellent seamstress and worked for Bybee's in Wymore and ClaBees in Beatrice. She also worked for Leonard and Jeanne Wilhelm at the J & L Hardware and Gifts in Wymore. She was a clerk at Wymore Super Foods for many years. Letha was a member of the Wymore United Methodist Church where she served on the communion committee, was memorial chairman, and helped by providing food whenever needed. Her church was a very important part of her life. She also served on the Wymore Cemetery Board and keeping the cemetery looking beautiful was also of importance to her. Letha loved people, and enjoyed family get-togethers. Her children and grandchildren were the love of her life. She will always be remembered for her fried chicken and banana cream pie. She enjoyed gardening and flowers, and as time went by, flowers seemed to take over the garden. She loved her neighbors, and started a card club which was enjoyed for many years. She loved her cousins, and she helped start a "Trueblood Cousin Reunion" which was enjoyed for many years, until the health of some, made it hard to continue to get together. After many years of being a widow, Letha married Murray Stewart, who was a former classmate, on Feb. 14, 1997. Murray died on Dec. 6, 2000. Letha will always be remembered by having a smile on her face. She made life better for those who were lucky enough to have known her. Letha leaves to cherish her memory two daughters, Shirley (Boettcher) and son-in-law Terry Terhune, of Beatrice; and Marge (Boettcher) Younger of Manhattan, KS; by grandchildren, Dick Terhune and wife Peggy of Litchfield, CT; Steve Terhune and wife Melissa of Ceresco; Stephanie Gilbert and husband Justin of Oak Hill, VA; Elizabeth Morton and husband Robert of Belton, MO; Amy Ainsley and husband Mark of Lincoln; and John Fiedler and wife Nicole of Houston, TX; by great grandchildren, Colin, Audrey and Isabelle Terhune of Litchfield, CT; Josh and Adam Gilbert of Oak Hill, VA; Dakota and Levi Morton of Belton, MO; Julia and Nathan Damme, and Caitlyn Ainsley of Lincoln; by a sister, Dorothy Collins of Beatrice; and by many nieces, nephews, and cousins; by friends and staff at the Wymore Good Samaritan Center, and by her roommate, Maxine Husa, and a host of friends. She is also survived by Murrays children, Janette, Chris, Cindy, and John and their children and grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, infant brother, Delbert; husband, Walter Boettcher; her second husband, Murray Stewart; by a sister, Naomi Boettcher; and by two brothers-in-law, LeRoy Boettcher and Kenneth Collins. Funeral service will be at 10:30 A.M. Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011 at the Wymore United Methodist Church, 10th & F Streets, with Pastor Dan Albers officiating. Interment will be at the Wymore Cemetery. Visitation will be at the Laughlin-Hoevet Funeral Home from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, and at the church one hour preceding the service. Memorial to the church and the Wymore Good Samaritan Center with the funeral home in charge. Laughlin-Hoevet Funeral Home, Wymore, is in charge of arrangements.