Thelma Smith, 89, passed away on Monday (June 20, 2011) at Schowalter Villa in Hesston.
She was born on June 4, 1922, in Buhler, the daughter of John K. and Sara Regier Ratzlaff. She worked on the cafeteria staff at Hutchinson Community College for more than 17 years.
On June 4, 1943, she married Harold Smith in Jackson, Miss. He survives.
She was a member of Hesston United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday school for many years, and a Cub Scout Den mother.
She is survived by sons, Harold J. "Jim" (Mary Lee Wiens) of Hesston, Richard (Joleen) of Albuquerque, N.M., Kevin of Shawnee, and Lindsay (Katie) of Manhattan; brothers, LaVerne Ratzlaff of Westminster, Calif., and Merle Ratzlaff of Santa Ana, Calif.; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by three infant children, Wayne, Sara and Steven, and a brother, Raymond E. Ratzlaff.
Family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m., with family present from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Schowalter Villa Chapel in Hesston. Graveside services will be at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at Buhler East Cemetery in Buhler. The Rev. Geniese Stanford will officiate. Memorial services will follow at 11 a.m. at Hesston United Methodist Church.
Memorials may be made to Schowalter Villa or Hospice Care of Kansas, in care of Miller-Ott Funeral Home, 107 S. Lancaster St., P.O. Box 32, Hesston, KS 67062.
