Betty Hestermann

Betty Charlene Hestermann passed away at the Good Samaritan Society, Atwood, Kansas on October 11, 2020 at the age of 91. Betty was born August 31, 1929, to Henry and Sophie (Holthus) Wicke, on a farm north of Ludell, Kansas. She was baptized on September 15, 1929 and confirmed on April 18, 1943, at Trinity Lutheran Church. After graduating from Atwood High School, Betty began her banking career, which spanned almost 40 years. She worked in the bank at Ludell for three years before moving to Denver and working in a bank there for four years. After moving back to Ludell in 1954 she worked at Farmers State Bank until she retired in 1988.

On November 12, 1955, she married the love of her life, Loris “Bud” Hestermann, at Trinity Lutheran Church. They would have celebrated their 65Th wedding anniversary in November.

Four sons were born to their union, Thomas, Richard, John and James.

Betty was an active member of Trinity, Immanuel and Redeemer Lutheran churches in Ludell and Atwood. She enjoyed singing and participated in the choir for over 60 years. Betty also cherished family and friends. She participated in a Tuesday night bowling league in Atwood for many years. Betty played women’s fast pitch softball in Ludell and liked to recount her memories catching for the team.

Preceding her in death were her parents; son John (1996); infant brother Victor; brothers, Clarence, Floyd, Edwin, and John and sisters Lelia Focke and Henrietta “Toots” Frick.

She is survived by her husband Bud, Atwood, KS; sons, Thomas and wife Francine, of Hays KS, Richard, of Valley Center, KS and James and wife Roxane, of Valley Center, KS; daughter-in-law Deb Hestermann, Topeka, Kansas; grandchildren, Jeremy Coulter, Hays, KS, Joshua Coulter(Rose), Cypress, TX, Metka Kolm (Allen), Norfolk NE, Kasandra Hoover(Cody), Burlington, CO, Tysa Ostrander (Kelby), Henderson, NE, Zane Hestermann, Hays, KS, Jayme Hestermann (Alisha), Bakersfield, CA and Zachary Hestermann (Nichole), Maize, KS, and greatgrandchildren, Sophia Mickelson-Coulter, Riley and Tobias Coulter, Kyler and Mariah Kolm, Evan and Grace Hoover, Kaleb and Damon Ostrander, Hayden and Jax Hestermann and Avery and Ryder Hestermann.

Visitation is 5-7:00 p.m. Thursday, October 15, 2020, at Baalmann Mortuary, Atwood. Funeral Service is 10:30 a.m. Friday, October 16, 2020, at Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church, Atwood. The service will be live streamed on the church’s Facebook page. Interment will take place at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Lutheran Hour Ministries or Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch and can be sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or condolences visit www.baalmannmortuary.com