Henrietta Olvera Duran, 94, passed away on November 21, 2025, in Pretty Prairie, KS. She was born on October 21, 1931, in Arkansas City, KS, to Benjamin P. and Juanita (Valencia) Olvera. Henrietta was raised in Arkansas City along with her brother Antonio “Tony” and sisters, Sofia, Eva, Rachel, Margaret and Gloria.
Henrietta graduated from Arkansas High School in 1949 and Cowley County Jr, College in 1952. She married Salvador Duran on September 26, 1953, and became a lifelong resident of Pretty Prairie. Henrietta and Salvy had two sons, William “Mike” and Salvador Jr. “Jay”.
In 1958, Henrietta and Salvy opened Northside Café on Main Street in Pretty Prairie. They ran it until 1965. They then opened the Wagon Wheel Café. She made the best hamburger and fried chicken until it closed in 2020. She enjoyed serving the Booster Club, Rebeca Lodge and the Lions Club at the Wagon Wheel. Henrietta was the first woman and first Hispanic on the Pretty Prairie City Council. Serving from 1985 to 1995. He
nrietta had a beautiful singing voice. She was a choir member, adult and children’s choir leader at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. The church she and Salvy joined after the closing of the Castleton Catholic Church. She was a Eucharist Minister and Alter Society member. She was a very devoted and loyal member of Our Lady of Guadalupe. She always answered the phone call by Father Boor or Father Blick when they needed anything with – “Yes Father, I will take care of it.”
Henrietta is proceeded in death by husband, Salvador; parents, Benjamin and Juanita; brother, Tony Olvera; sisters, Sofia DiPasqua, Eva Reyez, Gloria Williams Margaret Hearne, and great granddaughter, Isabella Duran.
She is survived by her sons, Mike Duran and Jay (Jan) Duran; grandson, Ben (Kim) Duran; great granddaughters, Alayna and Olivia Duran; sister, Rachel (Roger) Olson; sisters-in-law, Mary Alice (Robert) Martin, Carman Villines, Louise Duran, and Susan Duran; numerous nieces and nephews; and very dear friends, Sister Martha and Mandy Aldrete.
Visitation will be at Our Lady of Guadalupe, 612 S. Maple, South Hutchinson KS. on Monday; December 1, 2025, from 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. Rosary will be held at 7:00 p.m. during visitation.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at Our Lady of Guadalupe, 612 S. Maple, South Hutchinson KS. Burial will be at Fairlawn Burial Park, Hutchinson, KS. Following Mass. Memorial contributions are suggested to Our Lady of Guadalupe and can be sent in care of Hutchinson Funeral Chapel, 300 E. 30th Ave, Hutchinson, KS 67502.