Kathy Diane Whitcher, 72, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023.
She was born on April 20, 1951, in Geneva, Nebraska to Robert and Mary Erb, the first of three siblings with Jim and Lori soon to follow. After spending her early life on the Nebraska farm between Shickley and Geneva, the Erbs made a pilgrimage to Hesston, Kansas when Kath was 14. She graduated from Hesston High School in 1969 and attended Hesston College.
At HC, she met an ornery guy from Texas, Sid Whitcher. The couple soon started dating even after Sid went back home to school at Texas A&I (now Texas A&M-Kingsville). They couldn’t be without each other and they were married at the Hesston Mennonite Church on November 27, 1971.
The couple enjoyed playing cards, softball and even bowling together before Rusty came along in February of 1977. Mindy followed in November of 1980 before Wendy surprised everyone in November of 1991. Before Wendy arrived, the family of four still played baseball and softball with Kathy deciding it was time to cut back when she, Sid, Rusty and Mindy had four different games in four different towns at the same time.
Kathy worked a plethora of different jobs from the counter at the Hitchin’ Post, to a clerking job at Central Livestock Company in South Hutchinson. Before hanging up her working spurs, she worked at Water’s Edge as a hostess along with managing special events. Under her eye, Water’s Edge had a successful dinner theater in a partnership with Hesston College, an endeavor which sadly went by the wayside.
Her passion was horses and she organized many trail rides, from scavenger hunts to fundraiser for the Hopi Mission School in Kykotsmovi Village, AZ. She loved her horses from Charlie to Chet and loved to see people getting joy from riding as well.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Mary Erb and her husband Sid.
Kathy is survived by her son, Rusty of Hesston, her daugthers, Mindy and Wendy (Terry) Whitchway of Wichita, her brother Jim (Jan) Erb of Hesston, sister Lori (John) Thimm of Beatrice, Nebraska, nephew Jesse (Rebecca) Erb, nieces Steph (Joe) Rheem, Kari (Beau) Cox, Abby (Shaun) Stover, Becca (Brandon) Kelley, several great nieces and nephews and much to her chagrin, several grand-cats.
A memorial service will be held at a later date as her last wishes were to have her ashes scattered with horses. Memorial contributions may be made to Hopi Mission School in care of Miller-Ott Funeral Home, PO Box 32, Hesston, KS 67062.