Denise Evelyn Deines Schulte, 68, passed away February 14, 2026, at Medicalodges, Inc., Great Bend, Kansas, following a lengthy battle with dementia of which she is now finally free. She was born July 13, 1957, in Great Bend, Kansas, the daughter of Lawrence L. and Evelyn W. (Brack) Deines. One of five children, she spent her childhood in Galatia, Kansas, and it was here that she was baptized and confirmed in St. Paul Lutheran Church. Denise graduated from Hoisington High School in 1975 and then attended Barton County Community College.
On May 14, 1977, she married Ronald Nuss in the United Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Milberger, Kansas. To this union two children were born, Sonya and Tyler. They later divorced and she then married Greg Schulte on November 22, 1995, in Cripple Creek, Colorado. They were blessed with a son Trey. Greg preceded her in death on February 10, 2016.
A lifetime Barton County resident, Denise worked as a certified dietary manager for seventeen years at Country Place Senior Living, retiring in 2019.
She is survived by her three children, Sonya Nuss Jennison and husband Ryan of Mulvane, Tyler Nuss and wife Kayla of Salina, and Trey Schulte and wife Hannah of Clay Center; grandchildren, Ike and Ellabelle Jennison, Harper and Cole Nuss, and Caisyn, Havley, Brigdon and Baker Schulte; a sister, Gloria Myers of Ellinwood; and a brother, Larry Deines and wife Diane of Great Bend; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and several special life-long friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, a sister, Karen Keil and a brother, Jerry Deines.
Visitation will be 1 to 8 p.m., Sunday with family to greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, February 23, 2026, at Emmanual Lutheran Church, Hoisington, Kansas, with Rev. Wayne Baldyga presiding. Burial will follow at 1:00 p.m. in Fairview Cemetery, Galatia, Kansas.
Memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Association or Gentiva Hospice in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.