Rosalee M. Bontrager, 88, formerly of Hutchinson, died March 2, 2015 at Ellsworth County Medical Center. She was born March 20, 1926 in Hutchinson the daughter of Floyd and Viola Underwood Sumwalt. She was a longtime Hutchison resident also living in Johnson, Scott City, and Ellsworth, KS.
She was a 1945 graduate of Hutchinson High School had attended Hutchinson Junior College and graduated from Salt City Business College. She had been a secretary for Davis Grain, and the Scott County Extension Agents, later she had worked for Doskocil Prepared Foods. She had attended Mitchell United Methodist Chapel, she was an avid gardener, and enjoyed all kinds of sewing, and was a loving wife and mother.
On Sept. 3, 1948 she married David Bontrager in Hutchison, he survives. Other survivors include a daughter, Gayle Seibel (Steve), McPherson, a son, Brian Bontrager (Jan), Kanopolis, a son-in-law, Kevin Koechlein, Anchorage, AK, five grandchildren; Dedra Curteman, Arlington, VA, Wendy Van Duyne, Bismark, ND, Rex Bontrager, Salina, KS, Roxi Sandell, Albuquerque, NM, and Alyssa Koechlein, Anchorage, AK, and 8 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Beth Ellen Koechlein, six sisters and two brothers.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held 1:00pm, Friday at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home. Inurnment will follow in Fairlawn Burial Park. There will be a book to sign from 9:00am to 9:00pm Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials may be given to Meals on Wheels, in care of the funeral home.