Leota Stockwell

Leota Mae Stockwell, age 88 of Riley, passed from this world to the next on Monday, March 26, 2018 at the Wamego Health Center.

She was born on August 9, 1929 on the family farm near Bala, the daughter of Daniel Kurtz and Edna Alphretta (Stone) Bohnenblust.  She attended school in the Laurel Hill one-room schoolhouse near Bala.  She graduated from Leonardville High School in 1947.

She dated the love of her life, Glenn Dale Stockwell, Jr. for the first time on February 14, 1948 -- 70 years ago.  They were married on May 6, 1948 in Randolph.

Her greatest joy was motherhood.  She was the proud mom of six and helped raise many other children.  Leota shared her love of Christ through music, leading children’s choir and Bible school and sing-a-longs at nursing homes.

Leota worked for 38 years as a cook in food service at Kansas State University.  She cared deeply for the students she fed and with whom she worked, sharing wisdom with them as they joined her in the dish room to scrub pots and pray together.  Leota is perhaps best remembered for her sense of humor  She met everyone with an open heart, a quick wit and a ready laugh.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Kenneth; a sister-in-law, Virginia; a son-in-law, Don Cox; a daughter-in-law, Linda Stockwell; one grandchild and two great-great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband, Glenn Stockwell of Riley; six children, Glenda Downing of Riley (Bob of Leonardville), Albert Lee Stockwell of Riley, Danny Stockwell (Chris) of Westmoreland, Judy Miller (Jeff) of Tyler, Texas, Scott Stockwell (Sonja) of Lawrence and Susan Stockwell of Riley; 13 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. Friday at the Anderes-Pfeifley Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 31, 2018 at the Living Word Church, 2711 Amherst Avenue in Manhattan with Lay Pastor Eddie Savage officiating.  Following the service will be lunch and fellowship.  Burial will be at 2:00 p.m. Saturday in the Leonardville City Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Life Choice Ministries or Mother Sugnaman India Children’s Orphanage and left in care of the Anderes-Pfeifley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 176, Riley, Kansas 66531.