Lavonne Kay Horchem

Lavonne Kay Horchem, 91, died peacefully in her sleep Oct. 6, 2022, at Meadowlark Hills retirement community in Manhattan, Kansas. She was born Sept. 20, 1931, at home in Utica, Kansas, the daughter of Ephriam “Pete” Gerald and Martha Matilda (Schwindt) Bernbeck.

She graduated from Utica High School and Kansas State University.

She married Richard “Dick” Gayle Horchem Aug. 16, 1953, in the First Christian Church in Utica. They made their home in Ness City, Kansas, where they raised their three sons.

Kay is survived by two sons, Brad (Cindy) Horchem, Manhattan, Kansas, and Todd (Brenda) Horchem, Ness City; four grandchildren, Travis Horchem, Newton, Kansas; Megan (George) Heyns, Kansas City, Missouri; Kali (Mark) Solomon, Wichita, Kansas; and Jana Horchem, Englewood, Colorado; and five great-grandchildren, Aiyana, Adijah and Ajani Solomon, and Van and Vivian Horchem.

In addition, she is survived by two sisters, Elvira Kilroy, Nokomis, Florida; and Wanda McKenzie, Gold Canyon, Arizona; one brother, Gary (Anita) Bernbeck, Grand Junction, Colorado; a sister-in-law Linda (Terry) Claycamp, Hays, Kansas; and many nieces and nephews. Petros Levis joined the family as an exchange student from Greece during his senior year of high school. Petros and his wife, Ann, Denver, remain a part of the family.

Kay was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a son Craig Horchem, and two brothers, Don Bernbeck and Gerald Bernbeck.

Kay taught in the Ness City School District for many years. She was active in various community organizations and supported numerous charities over the years.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Ness County Bank Building Foundation, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital or any organization of the donor’s choice. Memorials may be sent to Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City or Carlson's Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home, Manhattan

Graveside service will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, at the Ness City Cemetery.