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Submitted: 11/18/13 • Approved: 11/18/13 • Last Updated: 3/12/18 • R16547-G16535-S3
Austin 29 Dec 1915 - 13 Jun 1997
Vanita 25 Jun 1925 - 18 Nov 2011
*Obituary
Swaim Funeral Home
Dodge City, Kansas
Published 19 Nov 2011 Vanita Fern Mentzer, 86, died November 18, 2011 at Presbyterian Manor of the Plains in Dodge City. She was born on June 25, 1925 in rural Ford County, the daughter of L.A. and Oda Mae (Brown) Nelson.
Vanita was a graduate of Ensign High School class of 1942. She then attended Chilicothe Business College of Missouri and graduated in 1943. On June 25, 1943, she married Austin Mentzer of Ensign. He preceded her in death on June 13, 1997. She had worked her early years as Secretary for the Civil Service and served as Postmaster at Ensign for many years besides being a homemaker and farm wife.
She was a member of the of the Ensign United Methodist Church, Ensign Better Home Extension Unit, Women's Society of Christian Service, Retired Post Masters, Dodge City Cowbells, and was instrumental in organizing numerous funeral dinners for the community of Ensign throughout the years.
Vanita is survived by one daughter, Cindy Hamilton and husband Terry of Ensign; five grandchildren, Tana Everett of Edmond, Oklahoma, Tracee Briggs and husband Justin of Dodge City, Toby Mentzer and wife Janet of Ensign, Tristine Winter and husband Aaron of Dodge City, and Todd Hamilton and wife Stacey of Ensign; five great grandchildren, Brandon and Brenna Briggs, Eryn Everett, Ryan and Tanner Hamilton; three step grandchildren, Peyton Mentzer, Ross and Maddison Winter; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, she is preceded in death by her son, Richard "Rick" Mentzer on July 6, 2000; her sister, Zella McFarland; her brother, Vernon Nelson; her parents, and her step mother, Johnnie Nelson.
Funeral service will be held at Swaim Funeral Home in Dodge City on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 at 10:30 A.M. with Rev. Randall Jahnke presiding. Burial will follow at Ensign Cemetery in Ensign. Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Home on Monday, November 21, 2011 from noon to 8:00 P.M. with the family receiving friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Memorials are suggested to Presbyterian Manor of the Plains or the Ensign Cemetery in care of the funeral home. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com
Photo Courtesy of Leon Barton
Contributed on 11/18/13 by donna_rees2003
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Record #: 16547