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