IN MEMORIAM

EXPANDED EULOGIES

“In Memoriam” listings are expanded paid obituaries, phrased largely as the family requests, and may include enhanced information or photographs that might not fit within free death notices.

Helen Wenta

Graveside services for Helen F. Wenta, 98, who passed away early Friday morning, January 9, 2025, at her Hutchinson residence, will be 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, at Fowler Cemetery in Fowler.

Friends may call until 5 p.m. Jan. 14 at Fidler-Orme-Bachman Mortuary, Meade.

Born April 29, 1927, on a farm near Florence to Lee and Esther (Williams) Ireland, Helen graduated from Florence High School in 1945.

She attended Phillips University in, Enid, Oklahoma, graduating with a Bachelor of Music Education degree, majoring in piano, in 1949.

She taught music and 6th grade at Fowler Elementary at Fowler. Helen gave piano lessons to many students from surrounding towns. She also accompanied musical programs, weddings, and funerals. Her greatest joy was playing for church services.

Helen was a member of the Fowler Christian Church, Fowler, and an associate member of Crossroads Christian Church, Hutchinson.

On July 4, 1950, she married Paul T. Wenta in Meade. Many summers, the Wenta family custom-harvested from Oklahoma to North Dakota.

They shared 37 years of marriage before his death April 6, 1987.

She is survived by a son, Alan of Hutchinson; grandchildren Rustin (and wife Michelle) Lafferty of Inman; Rebecca (and husband David) Reid of Overland Park; Naomi (and Benjamin) Dean of Wheelersburg, Ohio; Miriam (and Mashalla) Gogadi of Millersville, Maryland; Hannah (and Hernan) Aguilar of Wichita; and Sarah McCarty of Buhler; great-grandchildren Christopher, Jonathan, and Nathaniel Dean; Joseph, Annaleise, and Josiah Gogadi; Katelyn Unruh; Achilles, and Alexander Aguilar; and Graham and Marshall McCarty; and great-great-grandchild, Kobe; nieces; nephews; cousins; and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughter, Paula Kay Dewey, and three sisters.

In lieu of flowers, the family would welcome monetary memorials made to the Crossroads Benevolence Fund at Crossroads Christian Church, 4310 N. Monroe St, Hutchinson, KS 67522, telephone (620) 663-9597, in care of the funeral home.

Personal condolences may be given to the family at www.fidlerormebachmanmortuary.com.