Lifelong Wallace, Kansas, resident Shirley Rose Bussen, 84, passed away on Tuesday, November 10, 2020, at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas.
Shirley was born on April 24, 1936, to Celestine Leiker and Virginia Rumbach in a sod house east of Wallace, KS. She was the fourth of five children; Gloria, Roger, Elizabeth (Betty), and Celestine (Junior). She attended Wallace Grade School and graduated from Wallace County High School in Sharon Springs.
On August 31, 1954, she married Raymond Theodore Bussen and moved to the farm east of Wallace until her death. Together, they raised six children. Thomas (Tom), their natural born, and five adopted, Brian, Rhonda, Julie, Joseph (Joe), and Celeste.
Shirley was very strong in her faith and was an active member of St Peter’s Catholic Church and Alter Society in Wallace and later of Holy Ghost Catholic Church and Alter Society of Sharon Springs. She was especially devoted to Jesus’ Blessed Mother Mary. Many a Rosary was prayed at the Bussen farm for special intentions, family, and friends. Rosaries were especially prayed during bad weather and on family vacations during long car rides.
Shirley’s children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren were her greatest blessings. She treasured spending time with each and every one of them making all feel as if they were her favorite. Shirley welcomed everyone to the Bussen farm and at mealtimes the table was set with homecooked food and was surrounded by family and friends. Shirley enjoyed all her nieces and nephews that spent extra time at the farm during summers, harvest, and holidays and welcomed her children’s friends as if they were here own family. Many lived there for extended periods of time. Shirley enjoyed having family reunions and neighborhood gatherings at the farm, creating great feasts of food and making fond, happy memories for many. Everyone left with a full stomach and a warm heart.
Immediate family preceding her in death is her oldest son Tom, sister Gloria Jones, and brother Roger Leiker.
Shirley is survived by her husband Raymond of the farm at Wallace, sister Elizabeth Colson (Leo) of North Platte, NE, brother Junior Leiker (Dolly) of Atwood, KS, Tom’s wife Deanna Bussen of Wallace, son Brian Bussen of Denver, CO, daughter Rhonda and husband Greg Winkler of Haven, KS, daughter Julie Bussen of Baltimore MD, son Joe and wife Suzanne Bussen of Great Bend, KS, and daughter Celeste and husband Mike Rains of Oakley, KS. She is also survived by 20 grandchildren and 32 great grandchildren.
Shirley leaves a legacy as a faith filled woman of God, devoted wife, loving mother, grandma and great grandma. Her arms, kitchen, and home were always open.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, November 16, 2020 at 10:30 AM MT at the Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Sharon Springs with Father David Michael officiating. Burial will follow in the Fort Wallace Cemetery, Wallace, Kansas.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 15, 2020, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM MT with a combined Vigil and Parish Rosary to begin at 7:00 PM all at the Church in Sharon Springs.
Memorial contributions may be designated to Hope for the Village Child-Dominican Sisters and may be left at the services or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.
Online condolences for the family may be left at www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com.
Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Sharon Springs has been entrusted with Shirley’s services.