Lucille Minnie Detrixhe

Lucille Minnie Detrixhe, age 91, passed away Tuesday, April 15, 2014, at Park Villa Nursing Home, Clyde, Kansas. She was born March 15, 1923, to Ben and Minnie Benson at the Family's farm home in the Gottland neighborhood northeast of Concordia. She attended Gottland grade school and joined 4-H. Lucille was baptized and confirmed at First Presbyterian Church in Concordia. She graduated from Concordia High School in 1940 and worked at Martin Drug Store.
On October 12, 1941, Lucille married Arvid Detrixhe, and they began life together on their farm in Nelson Township. They were the parents of two sons, Joe born on July 4, 1945, and Ed, born on May 10, 1948. Lucille helped her husband on the farm, preparing meals for hired hands, milking cows, raising chickens, tending the garden, canning and freezing vegetables, and keeping farm records. Lucille supported Arvid's custom work during the war years when he operated one of the first mechanical corn-pickers in Cloud County and, in the 1950's and 60's, when he drilled thousands of acres to native grass in the Conservation Reserve Program.
For more than 20 years, Lucille belonged to the Sunshine EHU (Extension Homemakers Unit) in the Clyde community. Lucille taught Sunday School at the First Presbyterian Church of Concordia for twelve years and was a member and hostess in the Presbyterian Women's organization for over thirty years. A talented pianist, she took her sons to piano lessons; a lover of art, she made sure that family trips included visits to art museums. From her childhood on her parents' farm to life on her own farm, Lucille developed deep concern, understanding, and affection for animals.
In 1962, Lucille and Arvid added grain vac sales and services to their farming business. Eventually, they would serve customers throughout the Midwest, exhibiting grain vacs at farm machinery shows in Nebraska and Kansas. She finally retired from her work as the company treasurer in 2002.
Lucille took pride in her Swedish heritage and enjoyed attending reunions with her cousins and their families. In old age, she continued to appreciate the seasons and challenges of farm life and looked forward to almost daily visits by family members and neighbors. She remained in her farm home until February 27, 2012, when she moved to Park Villa in Clyde, where she received excellent care for the rest of her life.
Lucille was preceded in death by her husband Arvid and by her sisters Hazel Keil and Evelyn Golden. She is survived by sons Joseph and wife Sandra and Edward and wife Mari. Grandchildren in clued Jonathan Detrixhe and wife Megan Brackney, Eden Detrixhe and husband Kevin Sivits, Paul Detrixhe, and Ben Detrixhe. Great-grandchildren include Beatrix Detrixhe and Adelaide and Vivian Sivits.
Nutter Mortuary has been in charge of arrangements, including cremation. Visitation will be at the Mortuary on Monday, April 28, with the family present 7 to 9 p.m. Cards and memorials honoring the faith and life of Lucille Detrixhe may be sent to Nutter Mortuary, 116 E. 6th. Concordia, Kansas 66901. Memorials may be designated to First Presbyterian Church or to Meadowlark Hospice.
Funeral services will be conducted by Rev. Jim Hawley at 2 p.m., Tuesday, April 29, at First Presbyterian Church, 233 West 7th, Concordia, Kansas 66901. Graveside services will follow at Nelson Cemetery, A