ELLINWOOD — Esther I. Burhenn, 97, died Aug. 26 at Woodhaven Care Center in Ellinwood. Born Feb. 21, 1914 in Barton County, she was the daughter of Paul and Lillian (Foelgner) Kasselman. In 1932, she graduated from Ellinwood High School. On Jan. 27, 1939 she married Ralph Burhenn in Stafford. He died on June 23, 1993. She was lifetime resident of Barton County. Before her retirement, she was a school teacher in Ellinwood. She moved to Great Bend in 1950 and was a cook at Harrison Middle School and then for the central kitchen facility for USD 428.

Mrs. Burhenn was a member of the First Christian Church in Great Bend.

Survivors include five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by a son, Robert Burhenn; a daughter, Connie Sager; a brother, William Wayne "Jack" Kasselman; and two sisters, Opal Pauline Kasselman and Adeline Hope (Kasselman) Buehler.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday at Charter Funerals in Great Bend, with the Rev. Cecil Burhenn officiating. Burial will be at Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may visit from 10 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Woodhaven Care Center in Ellinwood.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Charter Funerals

2115 Washington

Great Bend, KS 67530

Great Bend (Kan) Tribune, Aug. 30, 2011