Richard “Dick” Bartel, 95, of Valley Center, Kansas, passed away on Saturday, November 4, 2023. He was born December 11, 1927 to Jacob and Ida (Unruh) Bartel in Hillsboro, Kansas. He was the youngest of five children and grew up on the family farm north of Lehigh, Kansas. He graduated from Lehigh High School in 1945. During his youth his main sport was fast-pitch softball where he was a pitcher and played for many town teams around Marion County. One of his favorite stories to share was about showing up in a grain truck to his games. After high school he farmed and ranched and was proud of his registered Black Angus cattle herd.
In 1949 he married the local bookkeeper for the Lehigh Co-op Elevator, Ethel Dalke. They farmed for several more years before moving to Newton, Kansas where Dick was employed in the collections department for a finance company. In 1963 they purchased a Western Auto Store in Valley Center and moved into town. They continued to operate a hardware business until 2021.
Dick enjoyed fishing, water skiing, boating and his lake house on Table Rock Lake. He and Ethel also enjoyed charter bus trips and traveled throughout the country. Dick was always in search of a good visit and could talk to anyone at length. He didn’t know a stranger.
One of his greatest involvements was with the local Lions Club where he had been a member since 1964. He served on all levels within the club and was a Melvin Jones Recipient for his years of service to the club and the community. He was one of the best recruiters of new members and was short of his goal of a 100 member group at the time of his death.
He is preceded in death by his parents Jacob and Ida Bartel, brothers Art, Walter and Harrison, sister Mabel, infant son Richard K. and his wife of 72 years, Ethel.
He is survived by two sons and their wives, Mike and Charolette, Tom and Lynn, all of Valley Center, grandchildren Sarah and Benjie Wolter, Nathan Bartel, Kristen Bartel, Michael Hodson, Jennifer and Joe Anaya, Stephanie and Brad Blessen and ten great grandsons.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, November 11 at the First United Methodist Church, 560 N. Park, Valley Center, Kansas.
Memorials may be designated in his memory to Menocause, payable to Menocause Central Ks Community Foundation, Attention: Menocause 400 S Main St Suite 100, Newton KS 67114.
Baker Funeral Home Valley Center. Condolences may be left for the family at www.bakerfhvc.com.