Wynona Mae Unruh, 97, passed away December 12, 2024, at Medicalodges of Great Bend, Kansas. She was born May 9, 1927, in Ringwood, Oklahoma to Clyde and Susie (Becker) Kehn. Wynona grew up on a farm in Oklahoma and graduated from Oklahoma Bible Academy in Meno, Okla. She married Grant Olin Unruh November 2, 1946, in Meno, Okla. He died January 11, 1999.
Olin and Wynona moved to Kansas and were longtime Barton County residents. Wynona took much pride in her family heritage on the farm and would help wherever she was needed. She provided her family home-cooked meals with homemade bread and pies. There were always cookies in the cookie jar for the grandkids.
Her talents in food service led her to work for Pawnee Rock Schools as a cook for 18 years. Other jobs included serving as a compassionate caregiver in home health, nurse’s aide and dressmaker shop. She was a talented seamstress, quilter, and did exceptional embroidery work. She was a proud member of the Thread Benders Quilt Guild.
She was a member of Bergthal Mennonite Church, rural Pawnee Rock and was a loyal servant to helping those in need. She worked tirelessly on projects for the Mennonite Central Committee. Church members donated funds to purchase items for school kits and hygiene kits and Wynona spent much time comparing prices and collecting items for the day that church members would pack up to 1000 school kits to be shipped overseas. The Bergthal Mission Workers completed, quilted and tied hundreds of comforters and constructed thousands of school kit bags. Items were sent to Mennonite Central Committee and shipped to the poorest countries. It could be said that Wynona’s compassion made an impact across the world.
Survivors include her children, Steve Unruh and his wife Sandy of Cimarron, Lois Ratliff of Great Bend, Benita Puck and her husband Brian of Arvada, Colo., Dale Unruh and his wife Berny of Great Bend; grandchildren, Brandy Unruh, Shanna Alexander (Matt), Kale Unruh (Lana), Jakeb Unruh (Sarah), Kevin Ratliff, James Ratliff (Suzi), Adam Unruh, Danette Unruh, Grant Unruh, Katrina Alsum (Levi); great grandchildren, Rylee Unruh, Keira Buccholz, Aidan Unruh, Sonny Ratliff, Jonathan Ratliff, Victoria Ratliff, Kaislee Unruh, and Whitlee Unruh. She had special caregivers from ElderCare, Vera Conley and Sheena Thomas. She was preceded in death by her parents; beloved husband of 53 years, Olin, infant brother, Clayton Kehn; twin sisters, Obera Ging, Valera Randall; granddaughter, Nicolette Unruh; son-in-law, Lee Ratliff.
Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at Bryant Funeral Home with family receiving guests from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Funeral Service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, December 19, 2024, at Bryant Funeral Home with Todd and Lynn Schlosser presiding. Interment will follow at Mennonite Memorial Cemetery in Pawnee Rock. Memorials have been designated to Mennonite Central Committee, in care of Bryant Funeral Home, 1425 Patton Rd., Great Bend, KS 67530.