Donna L. Kruse

Donna L. Kruse, age 81, of Frankfort, passed away on Thursday, August 12, 2021, at Blue Valley Senior Living in Blue Rapids.

Donna was born December 3, 1939, in Beloit, to Boyd A. and Katie L. (Holloway) Laflen. 

She graduated from Greenleaf High School in 1958. 

She married Merlin E. Kruse on June 18, 1959, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Greenleaf. He passed away in 2007. They lived in Waterville thirty-four years before moving to Shenandoah, Iowa for eleven years. In 2005 they moved to Frankfort.

Donna worked at various jobs during her life. She had worked at Roepke’s Locker Plant in Waterville, Rockwell’s Boot Shop in Marysville, and for Walmart in Shenandoah, Iowa. Donna retired in 2005.

Family was very important in Donna’s life. She had many hobbies such as cooking, crocheting, sewing and quilt making. She also enjoyed traveling with her husband Merlin.Survivors include her children: Debra (Don) Roche of Frankfort, Mike (Denise) Kruse of Villisca, Iowa, Marc Kruse of Blue Rapids and Dianne (Doug) Kenworthy of Waterville, eleven grandchildren and twenty-seven great grandchildren, three siblings: Mary Oviatt of Downs, Junior Laflen of Greenleaf and Vernon Laflen of Stockton, California.

Preceding Donna in death were her parents, husband Merlin and ten siblings: Donald Laflen, Roy Laflen, Maxine Larson, Alta Jean Porter, Frances Sporeleder, Alice Latham, Harriette Rockwell, Dick Laflen, Dale Laflen and Katheryn Laue.

Viewing is from noon to 8:00 pm, Sunday, with visitation between 2:00 to 3:00 pm, at Terry-Christie Funeral Home in Waterville.

Funeral services are at 10:30 am, Monday, August 16, 2021, at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Waterville with Sister Mary Arie officiating. Music is to include solo’s by Wayne Kruse of “On Eagles’ Wings”, “In The Garden” and “Can The Circle Be Unbroken”, accompanied by Kim Oatney. Casket Bearers are Josh Kruse, Kyle Kruse, Steve Kenworthy, Micah Kenworthy, Aron DeWalt and Hank Schell. Burial is at Riverside Cemetery in Waterville. 

Memorials are suggested to St. Mark Lutheran Church, and may be sent in care of Terry-Christie Funeral Home at PO Box 61, Waterville, Kansas 66548.