Montezuma - Our aunt, Vada Fern Unruh, was born on October 18, 1930 to Peter T. and Dina (Buller) Unruh in Montezuma, Kansas. She peacefully passed away on July 8, 2024 at Bethel Home in Montezuma, reaching the age of 93.

At a young age, the family moved to near Johnson, Kansas.  It was here that her father tragically passed away when Vada was three years old. The family then moved back to Montezuma. Vada received her education in Montezuma, graduating high school in 1948.  Vada's brothers taught her how to play ball and she played well.

After high school she worked for her uncle, Enoch Buller, at Buller Produce for four years.  She then attended Dodge City Community College receiving a teaching certificate.  Later she obtained her Bachelors of Art degree in elementary education from Adams State University in Alamosa, Colorado.  She began her teaching career in Big Bow, Kansas teaching there for several years.  She then taught third grade in Ingalls, Kansas for many years, retiring in 1995.  After she retired she did volunteer work, traveled, and spent several winters in Mesa, Arizona with her niece, Donita.

When Aunt Vada was in her mid twenties, she experienced the new birth and was baptized on December 16, 1956, by Minister Daniel J. Koehn. She encountered struggles in her Christian life and after many years away from God she again yielded her life to Him and was reunited with the Church on December 21, 2014. She remained faithful until the end.

Aunt Vada was never married but her life was full of family including her school children. .She spent a lot of time with her nephews and nieces. She had a wonderful sense of humor and spoke her mind.  One of the joys of her life was her love of cats.

Due to declining health Aunt Vada moved to Bethel Home in 2019.  We as a family are appreciative of the loving care that she received there.

Survivors include one sister-in-law Helen Unruh of Moundridge, KS and numerous nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents; eight brothers, Abraham, Tobias, Cornelius, David, John, Cecil, Henry, and Frank; and six sisters, Elizabeth Frank, Nettie Koehn, Lena Unruh, Lydia Koehn, Emma Unruh, and Ida Toews.

Funeral service will be held at Montezuma Mennonite Church on Thursday, July 11, 2024 at 10:30 AM. Burial will follow at Montezuma Mennonite Cemetery.  Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Chapel, Montezuma on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.  Memorials are suggested to Bethel Home in care of the funeral home.  Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.