NESS CITY — Delma Grace Bondurant Stenzel, 94, passed away Aug. 30, 2015, at Cedar Village Long Term Care in Ness City. A life-long Ness County resident, she was born on April 10, 1921, in Highpoint Township in rural Ness County, where she lived with her parents Vernon Frances Bondurant and Vellah Irene Morphew Bondurant, until graduating from Bazine High School in 1938. Delma married her high school sweetheart, Vernon Lawrence Stenzel, on Aug. 7, 1941, in her family home. Her uncle, the Reverend Henry Bondurant officiated, with Ralph Stenzel as best man, and sister Vella Bondurant Hunt as matron of honor. He survives. Vernon and Delma farmed for many years in Ness County. They initially rented a farmhouse half-way between Ness City and Bazine until 1950, when they finished their new home in Ness. They raised four children, all of whom survive, Karen Brown of Long Beach, Calif., Bonnie Legg (Joseph) of Niantic, Conn., Rick Stenzel (Deb) of Ness City, and Patti Pfannenstiel (Tim), of Salina.
Delma was a devoted wife, mother, and homemaker. With the guidance of the Ness County Extension, she developed sewing, cooking, and canning skills. She was a member of the Arlington bowling team. As a member of the Ness City Methodist church, she sang in the church choir, joined the Lydia circle, and volunteered in the Thrift Shop. Eventually she and Vernon wintered in Texas where they enjoyed fishing, cards, crafts, and fish fries with many relatives and new friends. After Labor Day they often pulled the RV to Wisconsin and Michigan for more fishing.
In addition to their four children, they were blessed with nine grandchildren, Steven Brown, Stephanie Kenny, Kirsten Aghen, Jeffrey Legg, Elizabeth Maes, Andrew Stenzel, James Stenzel, Dusty Pfannenstiel, Josh Pfannenstiel; and 22 great grandchildren, Matthew and Owen Brown, Daniel and Michael Kenny, Skylar, Jonah, and Brooklyn Aghen, Ethan, Braelyn, and Gabriella Legg, Joseph, Rebecca, Jacob, and Caleb Maes, Nathaniel Dace,  Hunter, Preston and Gracie Stenzel, Brody Stenzel, Margaret Pfannenstiel, and Amelia and Hudson Pfannenstiel. Delma was preceded by her parents; and four siblings, Vella Hunt, Merle Bondurant, Howard Bondurant, and Cecil Bondurant; as well as many other friends and relatives.
While attending Bazine High School (class of 1938) she sang in musical performances and various musical groups, and played basketball. Her “epitaph” in the Senior Yearbook reads, “Delma is in Heaven, but singing no song, St. Peter wouldn’t let her take Vernon along.”
Viewing will be from  9 a.m. to 9 p.m.  today, and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on  Wednesday, with calling hours Wednesday, 6 to 8 p.m., both at Fitzgerald Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday at the First United Methodist Church in Ness City. Burial will be at the Ness City Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be offered to United Methodist Church or Cedar Village Long Term Care. Condolences may reach the family at www.fitzgeraldfuneral.com.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Fitzgerald Funeral Home**
P.O. Box 96
Ness City, KS.  67560
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Sept. 1, 2015