Paul William Tschetter, the son of Peter P. Tschetter and Caroline (Dirks) Tschetter, was born February 15, 1917, in Hydro, Montana. Most of his grade school and high school years were spent in Bridgewater and Freeman, South Dakota. He graduated from Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas, in 1937. In his last year there he met Mary Duella Quiring. They were married on August 6, 1940.
Paul and Mary began their lives together in Peoria, Illinois, where he worked for R. G. LeTourneau in Peoria. Four daughters were born to them in these years: Evelyn Ruth, Wilma Kay, Lois Anne, and Martha Louise. Beginning in 1941 Paul also began serving the Mennonite Church of Congerville, Illinois, as supply pastor. This led to his being called to the Mennonite Church in Butterfield, Minnesota, in 1946, where he served for six years. Three more children were born to them in these years: Alan Roy, John Paul, and Irene Marie. In 1954 the family moved to Winona Lake, Indiana, where Paul worked for the Free Methodist Publishing House for most of his 26 years in Winona Lake. Twins Timothy Wayne and Thomas Glen joined the family during this time. Timothy died at the age of four months.
After retirement in 1979 Paul and Mary moved to Smolan, Kansas. Here they first attended Sunset Bible Chapel and then First Covenant Church in Salina. Paul was active in teaching Sunday-school classes and in leading Bible study discussion groups. Major activities during these years were gardening, reading, playing scrabble and chess, hiking, and visiting their scattered family. In 1991 they lost their daughter Wilma Kay as a result of a brain tumor.
In 2010 Paul and Mary celebrated their seventieth wedding anniversary with children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren at a favorite spot in the Rocky Mountains, rejoicing together in the Lord’s goodness to the family over those many years.
In March of 2011 Paul lost his wife of 70 years. Later that year he moved to Phoenix to live with his daughter Irene Totel and her husband David, who have cared for him until his death.
Paul is survived by seven children, fourteen grandchildren, thirty-nine great-grandchildren, and one sister, Caroline Jones of San Antonio, Texas. He was also preceded in death by his brother Richard Tschetter and by one sister, Eva Ruth Trammel.
Services will be announced shortly.
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William “Bill” Roets Jr., 57, of Salina, died Saturday June 21, 2014. He was born in Wichita to Bill Sr. and Leonor (Runion) Roets.
Bill proudly severed his county as a Marine. In his free time he was an excellent cook and enjoyed working in his garden. Bill had many grandchildren, nieces, and nephews and loved spending time with them.
He was preceded in death by his mother Leonor and sister Mary Antoinette.
Bill is survived by his wife, Barbara; two sons, Shannon D. Crowder Roets and wife Holly, and Ralph Martin Crowder Roets Jr; father, Bill Roets Sr.; sister Elizebeth and husband Phil Berg; brother-in-law Charles Rush; 11 grandchildren, one great-grandson, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, July 5 at Beverly Cemetery in Beverly, KS.
Memorials may be made to the William Roets Jr. memorial fund in care of Bank of Tescott, 600 S. Santa Fe, P.O. Box 2537 Salina.
Ryan Mortuary is handling arrangements.