GREAT BEND — Leona Victoria (Beck) Weiser, 89, died July 14, 2011 at the Great Bend residence.
She was born August 1, 1921 at Odin, the daughter of Ferdinand and Anna (Peschka) Beck.
She was a 1941 graduate of Odin High School and attended St. Catherine School of Nursing in Garden City, where she graduated with honors in June 1943. She passed her state boards in July 1943 and began a career as a registered nurse, a profession she continued for 55 years. After obtaining her nursing degree, she moved to Great Bend and was a private duty nurse. She married her high school sweetheart, Larry Weiser May 5, 1947 at Great Bend.
She was a registered nurse for St. Rose Hospital and Central Kansas Medical Center where she was supervisor of pediatrics until 1979. After leaving the hospital she worked for Drs. Replogle, Copening, and McAllaster. In 1980, she and Sister Dominic began the Home Health Service in Great Bend. She retired from nursing in 1998.
She was a member of Prince of Peace Parish at St. Patrick Catholic Church, the Altar Society, Lake Barton Women’s Golf Association and Nurses Association. Besides being a loving and caring wife and mother, she enjoyed music, golfing, traveling, and KU football and basketball games. She enjoyed having her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren around and always made sure to take great care of them when they visited. She was the happiest when her family was around her.
Survivors include her husband of 64 years, Larry Weiser, of the home; three daughters, Connie Weiser, Great Bend; Linda Barnes and husband Bill, Wichita; Patricia Harbaugh and husband Doug, Leawood; three sons, Don Weiser and wife Lynne, Salina; Michael Weiser and wife Lexie, Salina; Kent Weiser and wife Amy, Emporia; a brother, Larry Beck, Winoka, Okla.; two sisters: Mildred Fitzstephens, Casper, Wyo.; and Dorothy Johnson, Springfield, Tenn.; 14 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a brother, Arthur Beck.
A Mass of Christian burial is scheduled at 10 a.m., Monday, July 18 at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Great Bend with Officiant Father Don Bedore. Interment will be at the Great Bend Cemetery North. An Altar Society rosary is scheduled at 4 p.m. Sunday with a Vigil Service at 7 p.m., Sunday, both at the Bryant Funeral Home. Visitation is scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, July 16 and 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday, July 17 at the Bryant Funeral Home.
Memorials are suggested to the Benedictine Mission House, Schulyer, Neb.; Elder Care; or Golden Belt Home Health and Hospice, in care of the Bryant Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net

Funeral arrangements provided by
Bryant Funeral Home
1425 Patton Road
Great Bend, KS, 67530
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, July 15, 2011