Mary Ethel (Dennis) Herold, 95, passed away Tuesday, December 6, 2016 at 7:15 a.m. at the Residential Living Center in Garnett, KS.
Ethel was born May 10, 1921, in Kansas City, Missouri to John Elbern and Josephine Agatha Dennis.
Ethel was raised in Parsons, Kansas and later at the family farm at the northeast corner of Altamont, Kansas. Ethel met her future husband, Kenneth Herold one summer when he worked on a wheat thrashing crew hired by her Mother. During high school years, she enjoyed the many teen activities at the First Baptist Church of which Kenneth also attended. She graduated from LCCHS in Altamont and continued her education taking the post-graduate course in normal training. This allowed her to be a school teacher in a one-room school house south west of Altamont. In December of her first year teaching, she and Kenneth decided to elope. They kept their marriage a secret for six months, as school teachers were not allowed to be married in 1940. Their marriage lasted 71 years.
During WWII, they moved to California so Kenneth could work at the Northrup Aircraft plant. During this time, they were blessed with two daughters, Carolyn Faith and Cleora Loree. When Kenneth had to report to the Army in 1944, he moved Ethel and the girls back to Altamont to the farm. After the war, Kenneth returned to Altamont, the couple purchased the farm from her Mother and they farmed in partnership with Henry and Pauline Herold, for 50 years. They were blessed with three more children: Kenneth Edward, Judy Marie, and Patty June.
Ethel was a Charter Member of the Independent Baptist Church, now Grace Baptist, in Altamont. She was very active as a Sunday school teacher, and often opened her home to visiting missionaries and preachers.
She was a wonderful seamstress, making most of her daughters' clothes and several wedding dresses. Ethel also had a "green thumb" and always had the most exceptional gardens. After living through the depression, she made sure they always had canned food to last the year. She was a wonderful homemaker, wife, mother, and grandmother and made the best pies in the world!
After retirement, Kenneth and Ethel enjoyed traveling in their camper and also flying off to wonderful destinations with her daughter, Carolyn and husband Roger.
Survivors include:
One brother- William Henry Dennis Grand Coulee, WA
One Son- Kenneth Herold, Jr & wife, Linda Altamont, KS
Three Daughters:
Cleora Ulbrich & husband, Norman Girard, KS
Judy Herold Kansas City, KS
Patty Benton & husband, Tim Garnett, KS
Son-in-law-Roger Evans & wife Carol Benton, KS
16 Grandchildren
28 Great Grandchildren
3 Beloved Sisters-in-law:
Cleora Borghman Grand Prairie, TX
Lucretia Cabias Santa Monica, CA
Margaret Lansdowne Manhattan, KS
Ethel was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth on November 26, 2012; her daughter, Carolyn on October 18, 2014; and one brother, James Oliver Dennis on January 22, 2013.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, December 11, at the Grace Baptist Church in Altamont, KS. Burial will follow at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Altamont. The family will receive friends at the Church at 1:00 p.m. preceding the service.
Memorials are suggested to the Grace Baptist Church. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 325, Altamont, KS 67330.
Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mary Ethel Herold, please visit our flower store.
Ethel was born May 10, 1921, in Kansas City, Missouri to John Elbern and Josephine Agatha Dennis.
Ethel was raised in Parsons, Kansas and later at the family farm at the northeast corner of Altamont, Kansas. Ethel met her future husband, Kenneth Herold one summer when he worked on a wheat thrashing crew hired by her Mother. During high school years, she enjoyed the many teen activities at the First Baptist Church of which Kenneth also attended. She graduated from LCCHS in Altamont and continued her education taking the post-graduate course in normal training. This allowed her to be a school teacher in a one-room school house south west of Altamont. In December of her first year teaching, she and Kenneth decided to elope. They kept their marriage a secret for six months, as school teachers were not allowed to be married in 1940. Their marriage lasted 71 years.
During WWII, they moved to California so Kenneth could work at the Northrup Aircraft plant. During this time, they were blessed with two daughters, Carolyn Faith and Cleora Loree. When Kenneth had to report to the Army in 1944, he moved Ethel and the girls back to Altamont to the farm. After the war, Kenneth returned to Altamont, the couple purchased the farm from her Mother and they farmed in partnership with Henry and Pauline Herold, for 50 years. They were blessed with three more children: Kenneth Edward, Judy Marie, and Patty June.
Ethel was a Charter Member of the Independent Baptist Church, now Grace Baptist, in Altamont. She was very active as a Sunday school teacher, and often opened her home to visiting missionaries and preachers.
She was a wonderful seamstress, making most of her daughters' clothes and several wedding dresses. Ethel also had a "green thumb" and always had the most exceptional gardens. After living through the depression, she made sure they always had canned food to last the year. She was a wonderful homemaker, wife, mother, and grandmother and made the best pies in the world!
After retirement, Kenneth and Ethel enjoyed traveling in their camper and also flying off to wonderful destinations with her daughter, Carolyn and husband Roger.
Survivors include:
One brother- William Henry Dennis Grand Coulee, WA
One Son- Kenneth Herold, Jr & wife, Linda Altamont, KS
Three Daughters:
Cleora Ulbrich & husband, Norman Girard, KS
Judy Herold Kansas City, KS
Patty Benton & husband, Tim Garnett, KS
Son-in-law-Roger Evans & wife Carol Benton, KS
16 Grandchildren
28 Great Grandchildren
3 Beloved Sisters-in-law:
Cleora Borghman Grand Prairie, TX
Lucretia Cabias Santa Monica, CA
Margaret Lansdowne Manhattan, KS
Ethel was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth on November 26, 2012; her daughter, Carolyn on October 18, 2014; and one brother, James Oliver Dennis on January 22, 2013.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, December 11, at the Grace Baptist Church in Altamont, KS. Burial will follow at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Altamont. The family will receive friends at the Church at 1:00 p.m. preceding the service.
Memorials are suggested to the Grace Baptist Church. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 325, Altamont, KS 67330.
Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mary Ethel Herold, please visit our flower store.
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