HOISINGTON — Marjorie Ruth Cotten, 103, passed from this earth to meet her Savior on Aug. 28, 2026, with her family at her bedside. She was born on April 14, 1923, on a farm north of Arnold, Kan., to Wilhelm and Celia (Rufenacht) Nimz. She had many fond memories of her childhood on the farm with her parents, four brothers, Roy, Willie, Fred, and Marvin, and two sisters, Emma and Celia.
Marjorie attended the local country school as she was growing up, and graduated from Trego Community High School in WaKeeney, Kan. She received her teacher’s certificate from Fort Hays State College in Hays, Kan., and taught for four years in one room schools in Ness and Trego counties in Kansas.
Marjorie also worked at a newspaper office in WaKeeney, Kan., but left to help care for her niece at her parent’s farm.
Marjorie married Wayne Duncan in 1949 and moved to Hoisington, Kan. They had four daughters, Celia, Gaylene, Vickie, and Denise. During her life in Hoisington, she worked at the Ford dealership and was a Stanley dealer. Marjorie had always wanted to become a nurse and was able to partially fulfill that dream by helping care for Mrs. Durand and Mrs. Smiley in their homes. Marjorie then became a teller at the Hoisington National Bank where she worked until she retired. She was head teller at the time of her retirement. She also enjoyed working part time as a hostess at Maude’s and Martin’s cafes in Hoisington, and hostess/waitress at 96 Steak House.
Marjorie was active in her daughter’s lives by becoming a Brownie Leader, a 4-H leader, Sunday School teacher, and helping with the Christian youth program.
Marjorie accepted Christ as her Savior in 1950 and was baptized. She participated in church activities. Loving Christian music, she played the piano and organ for church services.
Marjorie loved to work in the yard and tend to her flower gardens. She also loved watching the birds that she fed and watered at her bird bath. She was an avid player of Dominoes, Sorry, and putting jigsaw puzzles together. She also enjoyed watching her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren play sports. Her favorite was baseball and softball. Her favorite flowers were roses. Her favorite food was fried chicken. Her favorite drink was Dr. Pepper.
Marjorie and Wayne divorced in 1972. She married Wilbur Cotten in 1979 and they later divorced.
Marjorie will be dearly missed. She is survived by her daughters, Celia Reese of Paducah, Kent, Gaylene (Brian) Thayer of Hoisington, Kan., Vickie (Steve) Basye of Hoisington, Kan., and Denise (Nick) Bertram of Great Bend, Kan.; six grandchildren, Sheven (John) Copp of Hoisington, Kan., Stacie Stone of Hoisington, Kan., Noble (Ha) Duncan of Wichita, Kan., Brian Reese of Paducah, Kent., Marjorie (Rusty) Smith of Paducah, Kent., and Leora (Gene) Patton of Arlington, Texas; 12 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by a sister-in-law, Francis Nimz of WaKeeney, Kan. and numerous nephews and nieces who also held a special place in her heart. Marjorie was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers, Roy, Willie, Fred, and Marvin Nimz; two sisters, Celia Nimz and Emma Moody; four sisters-in-law, Gertrude Nimz, Elsie Nimz, Jo Nimz and Barbara Nimz; one brother-in-law, Nova Moody; one son-in-law, Michael Reese; and two former husbands, Wayne Duncan and Wilbur Cotten.
Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday. Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 3rd, 2026, at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, with Pastor Don Fisher presiding. Private family burial will be at Ransom Cemetery, Ransom, Kan.
Memorials may be made to Tunnels to Towers, Alzheimer’s Foundation, or Victory Village, in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544. Notices may be viewed and condolences sent at www.nicholsonrickefh.net.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home
PO Box 146
Hoisington, KS 67544
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Sept. 1, 2026
