Lolita Silsby

Lolita Mae Silsby was born to L. Marie (Hansen) and Leo Beanblossom at home on a farm in the Burr Oak, Kansas area on October 31, 1924. She died Tuesday, November 12, 2019 at the Mitchell County Resident Care Center. All her surviving children were with her at the end.

Lolita worked many jobs in her long life. Out of high school, she worked at an ammunition plant in DeSoto as part of the war effort. Other various jobs included school cook, line worker at a meat processing plant, seamstress at an upholstery manufacturing plant, film processor at Wichers Photography, and youth service worker at the Beloit Youth Center.  She was also a salesperson for Avon for many years. She was a member of Church of Christ in Beloit.

She married Hubert "Bert" Silsby on January 10, 1942.  Bert later worked as a depot agent for the Missouri Pacific Railroad and together they raised six children while living in several towns in North Central Kansas along the railroad line. They divorced on December 4,1974.

She enjoyed her family, cooking, doing embroidery. Her green tomato relish, peanut brittle, homemade noodles, and homemade chocolate ice cream were favorites with her family and friends. She loved dancing, playing cards, bowling, traveling, and watching Jayhawk basketball.

Her brother Robert and sister Barbara died as children, and her eldest daughter, Loretta, who lived with her for most of her life, died in 2013. She is survived by her sister Ruth Jones, Hill City; and her children Barbara Gale (David), McPherson; Joe Silsby (Lesley Brancaccio), Topeka; Mark Silsby (Janet), Minneapolis, MN; Deborah Wiles, Beloit; Robert Silsby (Lisa), Cawker City; eight grandchildren; Cory (Kara) Gale, Bridget (Bill) Davis, Steven (Courtney) Gale, Christopher (Jessica) Silsby, Michael (Billie Jean) Silsby, Miranda (Alan) Housh, Leandra Silsby, and Quintin Silsby; ten great grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 AM Monday, November 18 at the Roberts Family Funeral Home, & burial will take place at 2:30 PM Monday at Burr Oak Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2-7 PM with family present from 5-7 PM Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials may be given to Solomon Valley Hospice or the Beloit Church of Christ.