Delores Dean Goyen Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Delores Dean Goyen, 87, died January 14, 2017 in Pratt. She was born December 20, 1929 at Stafford, KS, the daughter of Herman and Ollie Knoche. On October 2, 1949 she married Lester Goyen of Pratt, KS. She is survived by 3 sons: Kent (Deb) Goyen of Pratt; Michael (Denise) Goyen of Cedar Falls, IA; Phillip Goyen of Eagle, Co, Three grandchildren: Karen (Keith) Hesse of Colorado Springs, Co; Kathy (Luke) Backstrom of Cedar Falls, IA; Weston (Cassie) Goyen of Wichita, KS; four great grandsons: Dakota, Austin, (Karen’s), Landyn, Grant, (Kathy’s); one sister: Aldean Banker of Russell, KS, one Brother: Herman Knoche of Ceresco, NE. Proceeded in death by her husband Lester Goyen, her parents, and three sisters, Nathalee Paulsen, Carol Knoche and Donna Heaton. Delores grew up on a family farm near Stafford. Life was full of challenges as she grew up during the depression of the 1930’s, her father died of a ruptured appendix in 1939, they had scarlet fever and sister Carol died following her case of rheumatic fever all during her childhood. She graduated from Stafford High school in 1943. Strong family and Christian values were built during this time. Delores attended 2 years at Kansas State University at which time she married Lester in 1949 and moved to the farm near Cairo, Ks. She later went back to school and earned her teaching degrees which started her teaching career in 1964 and she taught for 26 yrs. She was a long time teacher in the Pratt School system teaching 4th grade with many years at Haskins school. Delores had degrees from KSU and WSU with credit hours from 8 colleges and universities (PCC, Sterling, Emporia State, Fort Hays, Manhattan Bible College, La Verne College, La Vern, CA, KSU, and WSU) Delores and Lester took youth groups water skiing (church and 4-H) and were avid travelers, visiting over 65 countries and numerous states. They gave numerous talks and presentations to groups about their trips. In 2006 they received the Kraisinger award at the Pratt County Fair. In 2007 they received the Master Farmer and Homemaker Award. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Pratt, PNEA, KNEA, NEA, Delta –K-R, Adult Literacy or Am., 4AUW, Cairo Mother’s Club, 4-H (Cairo and Glendale clubs), Pratt Chamber of Commerce, and Pratt County Farm Bureau. Memorial Service will be Friday, January 20, 2017 at 11:00 at the First United Methodist Church in Pratt, KS with Rev. Marvin Ewertt presiding. Memorials may be made to Pratt 4H foundation, Pratt First United Methodist Church, or the Pratt Historical society in care of Larrison Mortuary, 300 Country Club Road, Pratt, KS.

Delores Dean Goyen

December 20, 1929 - January 14, 2017