Darlene Andsager died on Wednesday, August 14, of complications of dementia. Born in Long Beach, California, on March 26, 1933, she lived in Kansas for more than 75 years, mostly around Hutchinson.
Darlene was a realtor with Century 21 for about 20 years. She also drove a school bus for USD 313 (Buhler) and was a writer for the Inman Review/Buhler News. She was a cashier at WalMart for a short period in the 2000s.
Darlene married Forrest “Bill”/“Andy” Andsager on October 6, 1948. They lived in Dodge City for a few years, then moved to Hutchinson when he was appointed as manager of the Singer Sewing Machine store. Both loved horses, and they were longtime members of the Sand Hill Saddle Club. Darlene was a founding member of the Kansas Girls’ Barrel Racing Association.
Darlene is survived by her two children, Julie Andsager (Thanos Papanicolaou), Knoxville, Tenn., and Jon Andsager (Menchie Morales), Frisco, Texas. She is survived by her nephews Larry Van Horn (Sharon), Wichita; Stephen Andsager, Columbia, Mo.; Kevin Andsager; Darin Andsager; and Tim Kerwood; and nieces Judy Corcoran, Hutchinson; Pam Schell, Sterling, Colo.; Frances Seaworth, Fort Collins, Colo.; Karen Benedict (Carter), Burlington, Colo.; Jana Miller, Fort Worth, Texas; Kim Andsager, Hutchinson; Lisa Judd, Wichita; and Joyce Anderson, Wichita. Brothers-in-law Richard Andsager (Mary Ruth); Marvin Andsager, Hutchinson; and sister-in-law Phyllis Kerwood, Wichita. Beloved former daughter-in-law Dawn Seymour, and numerous great- and great-great nieces and nephews.
Preceding Darlene in death were her parents, John Ernest Hill and Anna Grace Hill, of rural Hutchinson; her husband, Forrest; and her parents-in-law, Willis and Rosa Andsager, of Plevna. Also, her sisters and their husbands: Geraldine Hill Elliott (Francis) of Atwood, Colo.; Josephine Hill Van Horn (Russell), Wichita; and Maxine Hill Miller (Edwin), Hutchinson. Also, nephew Michael Andsager, Neb., and nieces Linda Elliott McAdams and Janet Elliott Barker, both of Fort Collins, Colo.
Burial will be in Sterling Community Cemetery. A graveside service will be held on Monday at 10:30 a.m. Viewing for family members will be Sunday at 4 p.m. until 5 at Elliott Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Hutchinson Animal Shelter, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.