ABILENE — Velma Mae Sievers went home to Jesus at the age of 93 on March 20, 2015, at Abilene Memorial Hospital, surrounded by family. She was born Sept. 22, 1921, to Robert John and Mae McWilliams Barnett on a farm southwest of Humboldt. Because her Dad rented from a family named Chicken, she always chuckled and said “I was born in the Chicken House.”
She attended school at Cuppy country school, graduated from Humboldt High School, and was a member of the National Honor Society. She married Harold Sievers on Nov. 17, 1942. The couple joined the Sievers family farm operation in rural Humboldt until their house burned down. They then moved to Iola and operated a Grade A dairy until 1960. They were members of the Cattleman’s A1 Program. They received the Banker’s Balanced Farming Award. They then moved to western Kansas where they managed Gunnel’s 8,000 acre cattle ranch outside of Winona. In 1964, Harold moved their family to Rock Springs Ranch State 4-H Center where they were employed for 20 years. They retired in 1984 to rural Chapman, later moving into Chapman before moving to Abilene in 2001. She lived at Frontier Estates for 14 years.
She was a longtime member of the Lyona United Methodist Church, and a member of a local EHU Club. She enjoyed many years of friendship around card tables in the various communities. She was a devoted wife to Harold of 67 years, a loving and caring mother, and had a dedicated conscientious work ethic.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Frank Sievers in 2008; four brothers, John, Francis, Clair, and Lloyd Barnett; and one sister, Lucille Henderson Reedy. She is survived by their children, Coni Jo Bates of Wichita, Sherry Osland and her husband Rod of Abilene, Harold Eugene” Gene” Sievers of Zeandale, Sandy Gregg and her husband Terry of Great Bend, and Randy Sievers of Manhattan; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Celebration of Life services will be held at the Lyona United Methodist Church at 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, following a luncheon at noon. Pastor Shane Britt along with Pastor Tyler Clarke will be officiating. Burial will be at the Lyona Cemetery, across the road west of the church. Visitation will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Lyona United Methodist Church, 1850 Wolf Road in Junction City. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Lyona United Methodist Church and/or to the Heifer Project International.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Londeen Funeral Chapel**
P.O. Box 429
Chapman, KS 67431
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, March 25, 2015
