Martha K. DeNayer

Martha K. DeNayer

Martha K. DeNayer was born on April 3, 1917, near Holcomb, Kan., the daughter of Charles A. and Anna Bertha (Maune) Krug. Martha was one of 11 children born to Charles and Anna, and she grew up in the Holcomb community, attending school in Garden City and Satanta, and obtaining her GED in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Martha was united in marriage to Lawrence Earl DeNayer on Sept. 12, 1936, in Topeka, and to this marriage, five children were born.

Martha worked as an insurance agent, and was the owner of Mankato Storage. She loved working with genealogy and history, and enjoyed making lap quilts for veterans. Martha was an avid bookkeeper and businesswoman, and she enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. She was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mankato.

Martha passed away on Feb. 25, 2021, at the Blue Valley Lutheran Home in Hebron, Neb., at the age of 103 years, 10 months and 22 days.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Lawrence, brothers Emil Krug, Charles Krug, Albert Krug and Leo Krug, sisters Mena Wolff, Frieda Duree, Anna Jean Durant and Delores Urban. Martha is also preceded in death by son-in-law Wayne Dunn, and grandchildren Julie Shipman and Hether Archuleta.

Martha will be forever remembered by her children; daughter Judy Dunn of Belleville, daughter Kathy Ruffus and her husband Stephen of Salt Lake City, Utah; daughter Lori DeNayer of Fort Collins, Colo.; son David DeNayer and his wife Ping of Deltona, Fla., and son Charles DeNayer and his wife Ellen of Raymore, Mo.

She is also survived by her sisters Marian Hazelwood and Phyllis Krug, 13 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be Thursday, March 4, and Friday, March 5, 2021, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days, at Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home in Belleville. The family will not be present.

Family funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 6, 2021, at 2 p.m., at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Butler, Mo., with Pastor Jennifer Thomas officiating. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery in Rich Hill, Mo.

Memorials are requested to the Charles and Anna (Maune) Krug Scholarship at Garden City (KS) Community College or the Martha DeNayer Scholarship at Fort Scott (KS) Community College, and may be sent in care of Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home, PO Box 566, Belleville, Kansas 66935.

Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home of Belleville assisted the DeNayer family with these arrangements, www.tibbettsfischerfuneralhome.com.