Donitta Wiles passed away on March 1, 2025, at her home in Lansing Kansas. She was born in Broken Bow, Nebraska on March 11, 1933, and spent her childhood on a ranch, where her father raised nationally recognized Purebred Hereford cattle. She had her own Palomino horse named "Pal" and spent many days riding the range and herding cows alongside her father.  Later she attended the University of Nebraska and taught at a country school.  In 1950 she met the new handsome Custer County Club Agent, Don Wiles.  They were married on July 6th, 1952, and spent 64 years loyally together. Like most baby boomer parents, soon after their marriage the children started arriving.  In the next four years three children joined the family.

They moved to Dodge City, Kansas in 1956 and lived there most of their married life, until Don passed away in 2020. In Dodge City, she and Don supported many local activities and promoted Dodge City as a good place to live and raise a family. One of their favorite activities later in life was working with the "Drover's Welcoming Committee".   They could be seen dressed in western attire welcoming visitors to Dodge City.  Donitta's favorite color was purple, partly because she and Don faithfully supported the KSU Wildcats.  They were "Catbackers" and often attended the football games in Manhattan.  During their life together they helped host numerous International Farm Tours and travelled internationally.

Donitta supported her husband and family in 4-H and school activities, like the local high school band and teaching sewing to 4-H club members. She was active in the Happy Hour Extension Unit and was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church. Most people knew Donitta was an avid seamstress and someone who enjoyed doing various crafts, such as woodworking, needlepoint, macrame and painting. She was chosen as the Kansas representative to the Annual National Extension Homemakers Conference for three consecutive terms, proving that she was a talented artist. She passed this love of arts and crafts to her three children, who to this day enjoy doing many of the same activities. After the children were raised, she worked in the mailing department and performed proof reading for the High Plains Journal.

She is survived by 3 children, Debbie Gregoire in Leavenworth, Denise Kline in Denver Colorado, and Dennis Wiles in Atlanta, Georgia, as well as two brothers, Roland and Norman Cooksley, both living in Nebraska. Donitta has 4 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.

Visitation and family gathering will be at Swaim Funeral Chapel on Monday April 21, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Private family burial will take place at the Kansas Veteran's Cemetery at Ft. Dodge. There will be no viewing as cremation has taken place. Memorials are suggested to Dodge City Senior Center in care of the funeral home.  Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.