Lonnie Frick

Lonnie Eve Kelley Frick, 91, died July 1, 2015 at her home in Atwood, Kansas. She was born January 12, 1924 in Atwood to Alonzo Wilson Kelley and Irene Henderson Kelley. Lonnie was eight months old when her father died suddenly, leaving three daughters of whom Lonnie was the youngest. Her eldest sister, Mary Elizabeth Maley, died in 2004 and Ruth Kelley Hayden, 94, lives in Atwood with her husband, Irven.

Through Irene Kelley’s commitment and perseverance as a single working parent, Lonnie and her sisters were provided a childhood filled with joy, love and opportunity. Lonnie grew up very close to her cousins and many childhood friends. Up until their marriages, Lonnie rarely spent the night away from her dear sister Ruth. Lonnie was a member of the Foo Club, a girls’ club started among friends in junior high school that continued throughout her life and sustained lasting relations among the twelve women.

Lonnie attended grade school and high school in Atwood, graduating in 1941. She loved music and it played an important role in her life. Lonnie began learning the trombone in the 6th grade band. She loved playing so much she sold her horse to purchase a new trombone. Following high school she attended Cottey College where she played in the orchestra one year, then the University of Kansas where she played three years in band and orchestra and first chair trombone with the Marching Jayhawks. In later years she taught private trombone lessons.

Lonnie majored in Spanish and minored in English at KU and prepared to teach secondary education. Following graduation from KU in 1945, Lonnie moved to California to be the youth program director with the San Pedro YWCA. Then WWII ended and her fiancé, Bob Frick, came home and marriage became the priority.

Lonnie and Bob traveled back to Kansas for the wedding in a borrowed car with a chaperone. They were married December 27, 1945 in the Atwood Methodist Church followed by a reception at her mother’s home. Returning to California for a year and then moving to Sunflower Village near Lawrence, Kansas the couple then relocated to Atwood where they started their family and a business, Rawlins County Plumbing and Heating, Co. Deborah Ruth was born in 1948, Sarah Elizabeth in 1950, Christine Ellen in 1953 and Marty Lynne in 1962. Bob and Lonnie gracefully danced their way through 44 years of marriage until Bob passed away June 9, 1989.

Lonnie taught English and Spanish at Atwood High School for four years. She loved teaching and many of her former students have acknowledged her positive impact on their education.

She took an active role in the community serving on the School Board and Hospital Board. She was active in the Parent Teacher Association, Methodist Youth Fellowship and the Girl Scouts.

Lonnie enjoyed homemaking, preparing meals, creating and sewing dresses for her daughters. She and Bob also loved traveling abroad. Her home was always open to friends and family. As her daughters grew up and moved out into the world, she continued to be a mentor to many women, teaching and leading many Bible studies and prayer groups in her home and the community.

Lonnie’s deep and abiding faith was central to her life. She was a Bible scholar and continually discovered how to apply God’s Word to her life She was a committed Prayer Warrior and Intercessor for her friends, family, community, the State of Kansas and the nations. Sunday was her favorite day of the week, when she would attend Courts of Praise and share her life with her church family.

Lonnie was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. Her presence will be greatly missed. Her long, well-lived life and her legacy of love continue to be an inspiration.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Robert O. Frick; and sister Mary Elizabeth Maley.

Survivors include her four daughters. Debby and husband, Charles Reilly, of Spring, Texas; Sarah and husband, Don Benda, of Lawrence; Chris Baird of Hutchinson; and Marty Golden Goltl of Wichita; nine grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and three step great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Memorials have been designated in her name to the Atwood Second Century Fund and the Prairie Plaza Tree Fund in care of Baalmann Mortuary.

The family of Lonnie K. Frick is very grateful for the loving support of our family and friends throughout the last few months of our mother’s life. We are thankful for the care provided by the Rawlins County Health Center, the Good Samaritan Society Atwood, Hospice Care of Northwest Kansas, and Baalmann Mortuary. The many prayers, cards, visits and expressions of love were a blessing to us. We thank the Prairie Plaza Community for their friendship and support. We especially thank the Courts of Praise church family and Pastor Kent Morgan for their many helpful acts, including a delicious meal and memorial service for our mother.