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Lifelong Sherman County, Kansas resident Edward LeRoy Hayden, 95, died Wednesday, April 13, 2011, at Good Samaritan Society—Sherman County, in Goodland, Kansas.
He was born May 7, 1915, at the family homestead thirteen miles south of Ruleton, Kansas, the son of William Benjamin and Katherine (Doerfer) Hayden. He grew up on that homestead and went to school in district 80 Rural School, eleven miles south of Ruleton, completing the 8th grade. He worked for his father on his farm, and then in 1937, he started farming for himself. On November 23, 1938, he and Josephine Clara Todd were married at the Catholic parsonage in Goodland. They lived on his father’s home place, where they farmed for his father and also 160 acres for themselves. During that time, Shirley, Edward, Jr., and Doris were born to them. Later, he purchased the SW quarter of 26-10-41 in Sherman County, and they made their home there. They were further blessed with the births of James, Clara Jo, and Richard. They enjoyed very good years with their farming, and delighted in yearly vacation trips. In the summer of 1964, his wife Josephine became very ill, and after fighting leukemia for eighteen months, she died on February 1, 1966. On February 10, 1968, he and Loretta Schiltz Seeberger were married, and they also lived on his farm. Something in common they both shared was that each of them had six children, so twins Betty Ann and Joann, Charlene, Carol, and twins Dorothy and Deloris, gave them the joy of twelve children to love. In November of 1968, he was elected County Commissioner, and served the citizens of Sherman County for three terms. He was a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Goodland Elks Lodge #1528, and the Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed golfing, traveling, gardening, carpentry, and playing cards. Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife Josephine; his second wife Loretta, who died March 17, 2007; son Edward L. “Eddie” Hayden, Jr.; four brothers William Benjamin Hayden, Jr., Lloyd Doerfer, Frank Hayden, and Eldwin Hayden; sister, Helen West; grandson Dale Anderson; and great-grandson Christopher Nordyke. Surviving family includes daughter Shirley Anderson and her husband Gerald of Goodland; daughter Doris Armstrong and her husband Jack of Goodland; son James Hayden and his wife Judy of Willis, Virginia; daughter Clara Gillum and her husband Gary of Jennings; son Richard Hayden and his wife Joy of Goodland; half-sister Rosanna Parker of Goodland; eighteen grandchildren; forty-one great-grandchildren; eleven great-great-grandchildren. The Mass of Christian Burial will be on Monday, April 18, at 10:00 AM MDT, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Goodland, with Father Norbert Dlabal presiding. Burial will be in the Goodland Cemetery. Friends may share their respects at Koons Chapel on Sunday, from 3:00 until 6:00 PM MDT, with Vigil and Rosary at 6:00 PM MDT. Memorials may be designated to OLPH Memorial Fund or to Good Samaritan Society—Sherman County, and may be left at or mailed to Koons Funeral Home, 211 N Main, Goodland, KS 67735-1555. |