Bernetha 'Bea' Leiker, 91, Winfield, died Thursday, May 22, 2025 at Cumbernauld Village in Winfield.
She was born December 23, 1933 in Hays, the daughter of Joseph and Catherine (Kronewitter) Boos. Bernetha graduated from Girls Catholic High School in 1951. On June 3, 1952 she was united in marriage to Herbert L. “Herb” Leiker in Hays and they celebrated 50 years of marriage before he preceded her in death on May 6, 2003. She was a cook and waitress for many years, starting as a potato chip maker and at Daylight Donuts in Hays, then being the cook at Graham County Hospital for over twenty years, then as a dishwasher at the Country Kitchen in Hays, just to keep busy after her retirement.
Time with her children and grandchildren meant everything to Bernetha and she loved having fun with them. She and Herb enjoyed polka dancing, wedding dances, with the Tennessee Waltz being her favorite. She enjoyed playing pinochle and was a wonderful cook and baker, with her kitchen cookie jar always full of treats for her family. She loved her dog Gizzy, traveling with her family, motorcycle trike rides, and relished every moment of getting chosen to be the flower girl at her granddaughter’s wedding just a few years ago. She was truly an amazing wife, mother, and grandmother, and will be dearly missed.
Survivors include three sons, Mike Leiker and wife Ruth of Hays, Tim Leiker and wife Dot of Elkhart, and Steve Leiker of Russell, a daughter, Barbara Moore and husband Bruce of Winfield, 12 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, and 1 great great granddaughter.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a daughter, Sue Trimble, four sisters, and three brothers.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church with Fr. Damian Richards officiating. Burial will follow in St. Francis Cemetery, Munjor. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 8:00 on Tuesday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Wednesday, all at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. A vigil service and rosary will be at 6:30 pm on Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church or to St. John’s Chapel at Via Christi Village. Condolences and memories of Bernetha may be shared with her family at www.haysmemorial.com