Betty Joanne Dumler

Betty JoAnne (Kilian) Dumler , 89, died November 18, 2016, at the Stratford Commons memory care facility of Overland Park, Kansas, surrounded by nine family members, following complications from a fall.

Betty was born February 8, 1927, in Russell, Kansas, to Alma (Mai) and Sam Kilian.  The beautiful Russell High School drum majorette married dashing high school track and football star, Richard Henry Dumler, on June 1, 1947, at St. John’s  Lutheran Church in Russell. They made their home in Russell and Hill City, Kansas, before moving to Great Bend, Kansas, in 1960. She worked as an accounting assistant for Western Power Company for 23 years. They were members of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Great Bend and the Elks Club.  They were former members of the St. John Lutheran Church in Russell. She was an avid reader and bowler and loved Royals baseball,  KU basketball and fishing. Betty and Rich lived in Great Bend for 54 years before moving to Rose Estates assisted living in 2014.

She is survived by her two daughters and their husbands: Peggy Jo (Paul) Brown of Victoria, Texas, and Sharon Anne (Roger) Banbury of Overland Park, Kansas. Her five grandchildren are Nathan Brown of Austin, Texas; Jason (Michelle) Brown of Fort Worth, Texas; Monica Stewart of Olathe, Kansas; Amy (Jeremey) Fritson of Overland Park, Kansas; and Dustin Banbury, also of Overland Park. Her six great grandchildren are Hannah and Kaitlyn Stewart, Evan and Teagan Fritson, Korben and Lyla Brown. She is survived by sister Patty Walker and brothers Don, Bill and Dennis Kilian, all of Russell.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Richard, who died on October 14, 2014.

A celebration of Betty's life will be held at 10 A.M. on Saturday, November 26, 2016, at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, with Pastor Roger Dennis officiating.  Burial will follow at St. John Lutheran Cemetery in Russell.  Visitation will be from Noon to 8 P.M. on Friday, November 25, 2016, with family greeting guests from 6 P.M. to 7 P.M. Friday evening at the mortuary.  Memorials may be given to the Golden Belt Humane Society and sent in care of the mortuary.  Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.