Wilma P. (Kurth) Lancaster, 94, passed away with her family by her side on May 12, 2024 at Country Living Nursing Home in Larned. She was born on February 20, 1930 in Ford County, Kansas the daughter of A.C. and Lena (Weiss) Kurth.
Wilma attended elementary school at the Golden Eagle School, District #14 located on her parents property. She graduated from Offerle High School in 1947 as class Valedictorian. On September 11, 1947 she married R. Duane Lancaster. They were privileged to spend 57 years together.
She was first and foremost a farm wife and helped in all aspects of farming. Wilma also was the lunchroom manager at the Offerle Middle School from 1970 to 1984. She then took the job as rural mail carrier at the Offerle Post Office. Wilma worked there from 1984 until her retirement in January of 1998. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, LWML of Offerle, American Legion Auxiliary, National Association Retired Federal Employees, National Rural Letter Carriers Association, and Red Hats of Edwards County.
Wilma is survived by her children, Sidney Hicks of Offerle, Shelley Schmidt and husband Dale Haselhorst of Hays, and Bret Lancaster and wife Debbie of Offerle; 7 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, 1 great great grand daughter, 5 step grandchildren, 12 step great grandchildren, and 4 step great great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Duane; a daughter, Sharolyn; a great grandson, Stanton Lancaster, 4 brothers, Rev. Woodrow Kurth, Rev Homer Kurth, twins, Reinhart and Gerhart Kurth, and 2 sisters, Gertrude Witte and Vera Buss. She loved spending time with all her grandchildren and great grandchildren and looked forward to their visits and going to their ball games and activities.
Funeral service will be held at Zion Lutheran Church on Friday, May 17, 2024 at 10:30 AM with Rev Stanley Palmer presiding. Burial will follow at Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Offerle. Visitation will be at Zion Lutheran Church on Thursday, May 16, 2024 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM with the family present. In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to Zion Lutheran Church, Ablelight (formerly Bethesda Lutheran Communities), or Arrowhead West all in care of the funeral home. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.