Vada Tegtmeier

Vada Elizabeth Tegtmeier, Seneca, Kansas died December 24, 2009 at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca. She was the third child, born at the family home on September 27, 1915 to Floyd A. Butler and Gladys I. Goodridge Butler in Pawnee City, Nebraska.

She lived on a farm nine miles west of Pawnee City, NE and attended Rosinweed country School. She walked 1 � miles each way to attend this elementary school. During one brief period when Vada was eight years old, her parents packed up the family and left Nebraska in a Model T Ford, camping along the way during their move to California. After one year of living and attending school there, they moved back to Nebraska and resided on a farm north of Pawnee City. Vada attended and graduated from Pawnee City High School in 1934, where she enjoyed participating in drama, cheerleading, chorus, glee club and was chosen as a Queen. Following graduation, she worked at the Pawnee Variety Store as a clerk at the candy counter.

On April 10, 1935 she married Henry F. (Hank) Tegtmeier, Jr. in Alma, KS after a one year engagement. They made their home on a farm two miles south of DuBois, NE. on the Kansas-Nebraska state line. To this union, a son, Terry Tegtmeier was born. Vada worked at several part-time jobs throughout the years. After her husband's death in 1980, she spent eight years managing a Retirement Home in Napa, California. In 1990 she retired and moved to Hastings, Nebraska where she lived until the fall of 2002, when she moved to Seneca, Kansas to be closer to her immediate family.

Vada enjoyed nature and being outdoors. As a child, she spent time working the fields with her father, then as a wife, she continued to help with the farm work and cattle on their farm, Angus Acres. Her favorite pastime was horseback riding; she was a former member of the Pawnee Saddle Club. Vada spent countless hours working in her garden and growing beautiful flowers each year. During the cold months, she enjoyed crocheting and was an avid reader. She also enjoyed traveling and visiting friends. In addition, she was a talented artist, gifted with the ability to paint with oil and watercolor. She also enjoyed china painting.

Vada was a 4-H project and community leader for many years. She was a member of the Friedens Women's Fellowship, where she served as a former President of the group.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Donovan Butler and Floyd "Grail" Butler and a sister, Jane Estelle "Tillie" Holman, all of Hastings, Nebraska and a daughter-in-law, Dana Strahm Tegtmeier of Bern, KS.

She is survived in death by her son, Terry Tegtmeier of Bern, KS; four grandchildren, Clint Tegtmeier and wife, Mary of Bern, KS; Sandra Farwell and husband, Mark of Seneca, KS; Brenda Macke and husband, Bob, Baileyville, KS; and Jill Ploner and husband, Clay of Olathe, KS; and seven great grandchildren, Jessica Stallbaumer and husband Garret, and David Tegtmeier, Eric, Jenna, and Kelsey Farwell, Brandon and Jamison Macke.

Vada was a member of Friedens United Church of Christ, of rural Bern, KS. Memorials may be left to Friedens United Church of Christ, Bern, KS.

Services will be Wednesday, December 30, 2009; 11:00 A.M. at Friedens United Church of Christ, with Pastor Ken Tubbesing officiating. Burial will be in the churchyard cemetery.