Mary Doris (Zimmerman) Reitcheck, 84, passed away Thursday, July 21,
2022, at her daughter’s home in rural Smith County, Kansas. She was born
October 10, 1937, in a sod house in rural Sheridan County, Kansas, to
Peter D. and Mary Edna (Slaven) Zimmerman. She graduated from Selden
High School with the Class of 1955. On October 26, 1961, she married
Leroy Blaise Reitcheck at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Selden,
Kansas.
Mary lived her entire life in Sheridan County Kansas. She was a
lifelong devout member of St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church and St.
Frances Altar Society. She was also involved in her community through
Hoxie Rotary, National Association of Retired Federal Employees (NARFE)
and the Red Hats.
In her younger years, she worked as a telephone operator and for the
Sheridan County Extension Service. In 1960 she began her career at the
Sheridan County Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation
Service/Farm Service Agency where she remained for 36 years. During her
tenure at ASCS/FSA she became the County Executive Director in 1981.
She was one of the first women in the state to have this title. She
retired in November 1996. She enjoyed her mission serving the farmers
of Sheridan County. Not one to sit still, she went on to work at The
Country Cottage, Mahanna Pharmacy, St. Frances Catholic Church and
Woofter Pump and Well. She finally decided at age 78 it was time to
give up working the 9-to-5 gig.
In her spare time, Mary kept herself occupied by helping her husband
Leroy on the farm, milking cows, preparing the fields, bringing in the
crops and whatever else needed done on the farm. She continued
assisting her son Leroy Jr. with farm work after the death of her
husband. In addition, she filled her time through the years raising and
harvesting a large garden which helped feed her family. Mary was also
known for her cooking skills. She was the queen of gravy-making. Pies
were always ready just in time for company, in addition to homemade
candy and tea-time tassies, among other goodies. That is, unless one of
her children found her stash ahead of time. She also kept her children
busy at Christmastime delivering warm homemade caramel rolls to
neighbors.
Mary could accomplish more in a 24-hour day than most could begin to
think of. Her hands were never at rest. You could hear the hum of
her sewing machine in the wee morning hours, working on matching dresses
for her daughters that would be finished just in time for the coming
holiday.
Mary was a loving, caring person to those she came in contact with.
She always warmed your heart with a smile, even to the very end. Even
though Mary worked at many tasks, her greatest accomplishment is the
priceless legacy of the importance of faith and family. Her life
revolved around both. They are what she lived and breathed for. Her
faith was simple, she just believed. She led a life of sacrifice,
serving her family and others. Mary lived and taught by example in
everything she did. When her health began to fail, she always managed
to find the strength for conversation with those around her, or to take
several phone calls from her children in a single evening. Even though
her mind was not always clear she never forgot her Lord, even to the end
with prayers on her lips and a rosary in her hand surrounded by her
family as she slipped away to her heavenly home.
Mary is survived by her children Leroy Reitcheck Jr. and wife Julie
of Hoxie, Kansas; daughters, Annette Wingerson and husband Steve of
Smith Center, Kansas, Kayleen Sparks and husband Bryan of Papillion,
Nebraska, Kimberly Schaffer and husband Troy of Wichita, Kansas, Jayne
Turner and fiancé Craig Rose of Olathe, Kansas; 12 grandchildren,
Katelyn Reitcheck, Alexis Wright and husband Lance, Landon Wingerson,
Sienna Wingerson, Jordan Sparks, Ian Sparks, Devin Sparks, Carter
Schaffer, Jaxon Schaffer, Braxton Schaffer, Mia Turner, Nash Turner;
great grandchildren Joseph Lance Wright, Jeremiah Wright, Laramie
Wright, Laynie Wright; brother, David Zimmerman; sisters, Linda Brown
and husband Bill of Kansas City, Kansas and Betty Scripsick and husband
Ron of Pittsburgh, Kansas; brother-in-law Gary Reitcheck and wife Sandy;
sisters-in-law Anna Rose Givens, Margaret Ritter, Delores Koerperich
and a host of nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Leroy; son Steven;
grandson Ashton Turner; brothers Donald Zimmerman, Ronald Zimmerman;
sisters Edna Whitehair and Diane Zimmerman, and many friends and
relatives.
Click HERE for service details.