Robert Ott Rethorst was born January 12, 1927 to Louis H. and Hazel Ott
Rethorst in Dodge City, Kansas. The family moved to Spearville, Kansas
in 1932 and Bob graduated high school in 1944. He served in the United
States Army during the Occupation of Germany and was discharged in 1946.
He attended Kansas State University where he graduated in 1951 with a
degree in Ag Education. Following graduation, he taught vocational
agriculture for three years at Spearville, Kansas.
On June 3, 1951 he was united in marriage to Lois Newell at
Stafford, Kansas. They enjoyed 69 years of marriage. To this union two
children were born, a son David in 1952 and a daughter Susan 1955. In
1954 they moved to Ashland, Kansas where he served as Clark County
Extension agent. Following his county agent work he worked as manager of
a large ranch in Clark County, Kansas. In 1966 the family moved to
Smith Center and he began work at the Smith County State Bank as
agricultural loan representative, working up to the Sr. Vice President.
In 1986 he retired from the bank and started his own real estate
company, Rethorst Real Estate and Ag Services. He retired from real
estate in 2014. Bob was an active member of the United Methodist Church
in Smith Center, served in many capacities including teaching Sunday
school and singing in the choir. He started singing in the church choir
when he was in 8th grade and always enjoyed being a part of the choir.
He was active in the community serving as a 4-H leader, a charter member
of Smith County Kiwanis and was a Rotary International Paul Harris
Fellow.
A strong supporter of Kansas State University he served on the board
of directors of the KSU Alumni Association and was president of the KSU
Ag Alumni Association. He also served on the board of directors of the
Kansas Livestock Association. His favorite pastime included maintaining a
nice yard, flowers and vegetable garden as well as going fishing.
Spending time with his 4 grandchildren, Andi, Chad, Justin and Ashley
brought him much pleasure. The 10 great grandchildren, Kori, Kyler and
Kenzie Beckman, Everly and Chase Rethorst, Payton, Brooks and Maddox
Rethorst and Noah and Oliver Hiser gave him abundant joy.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Maurine Gragson and Hazel Lou Herron and a brother Edward.
Survived include: his wife Lois, son David and wife Starla Rethorst
of Wamego, KS, daughter Susan and husband Tom Hardacre of Athol, KS,
Andi & Jason Beckman, Kori, Kyler and Kenzie of Hays, KS, Chad &
Erica Rethorst, Everly and Chase, Dallas, TX , Justin & Tasha
Rethorst, Payton, Brooks and Maddox of Kearney NE and Wes and Ashley
Hiser, Noah and Oliver of Dallas, TX and numerous nieces and nephews.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the family would like to ask that
persons attending visitations and funerals at this time to wear masks or
other type of facial covering, and to practice social distancing
guidelines.