Obituaries

Billie Marie (Botkin) Kraft Memorial Services will be held Saturday, February 6, 12:30 P.M. in Tulsa, OK for Billie Marie (Botkin) Kraft, 82, at " Floral Haven Funeral Home", 6500 S 129th E. Ave., Broken Arrow, OK 74102. A catered dinner will follow the service. Billie Marie, daughter of Mary (Elliott) Botkin and William (Bill) Botkin was born on June 7, 1927 in Kiowa, KS. She passed away at home on January 29, 2010 after a short illness. Billie, in her Kiowa school years had an excellent record in band; she had been with it for nine years; upon graduating from Kiowa High in 1945, she was offered three scholarships with her music. However, her ambition was to be a nurse, she attended nurses training in Wichita, KS but stopped her training in March 1946 and was united in marriage to Ray Kraft, from Burlington, OK. Ray was in service at the time. After Ray completed his service, he attended college in this area, during this time Billie played in a dance band playing her clarinet & saxophone in the Alva area. She played up until the time their first child was born. They moved to Stillwater, OK where Ray finished school, they made several moves during the years but settled in Tulsa many years ago. To their marriage they were blessed with six children, Stephen, Douglas, Cheryl, Kathy, Bruce, and Gail. Billie was a Loving Homemaker; her hobby was collecting music and she joined the "Tulsa Community Band" after her children were grown. She and Ray spent many hours with the band, which was made up mainly of retired professional musicians and music teachers. Billie was preceded in death by her son, Douglas; brother, Lyle Botkin; and Parents. Billie is survived by her husband, Ray Kraft, of 62 years, sister, Lyla Cropp; Children and their spouses: Stephen, Cheryl, Kathy, Bruce, and Gail; nine grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren; a number of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Billie Marie will be dearly missed by her family and friends. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to "Tulsa Community Band" c/o Mary Grigg, 609 E. Van Buren, Broken Arrow, OK 74011

June E. Duerksen June Ernabelle Duerksen, of Kiowa, Kansas, formerly of Clinton, Oklahoma, 94, died February 5, 2010 at the Kiowa Manor in Kiowa, Kansas. Funeral service will be Tuesday Feb. 9th at 10:30 a.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Clinton, Oklahoma. June was born June 7, 1915 to Ernest and Christina Klump on the family farm one mile west of Bessie, Oklahoma. She was baptized as an infant at Peace Lutheran Church in Bessie, Oklahoma. She later affirmed her baptism by Rite of Confirmation September 8, 1929, and has been a lifetime member of the Trinity Lutheran Church, Clinton, Oklahoma. June received her elementary education at the Sunflower Rural School in Bessie, Oklahoma and graduated from Bessie High School in 1932. On December 14, 1933, June married John R. Duerksen. They made their home in Bessie, Oklahoma. Two daughters were born to this marriage, Arleene Virginia and Aleene Kay. In 1944, the family moved to a farm seven miles northwest of Weatherford, Oklahoma. June began working at the Mark Motel, Weatherford, Oklahoma, in 1959 and worked there until 1965. She was then employed by the Clinton Laundry and Dry Cleaning, Clinton, Oklahoma. When John retired in 1972, they moved from the farm to their home in Clinton and she continued her employment at Clinton Laundry and Dry Cleaning until she also retired in 1972. June was a seamstress, doing alterations for local businesses, as well as for her own customers. She also was an excellent cook and was well known for her cinnamon rolls. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband John R. Duerksen, and her grandson David Kreier. Survivors include: Two daughters: Arleene Kreier and her husband Robert of Salina, KS; and Kay Fry and her husband Walter of Kiowa, KS. Four grandchildren: Patricia Kreier of Walton, Kansas; Kristina Mader and her husband, Curtis of Russell, Kansas; Kelly Fry of Oklahoma City; and Terrell Fry, and his wife Meishel of Yukon, Oklahoma. Seven Great Grandchildren: Zoe Ann Mader, Hayley Mader, and Emily Mader of Russell, Kansas; Cody Fry, Rebecca Fry, and Garrett Fry of Oklahoma City; and Jessyca Fry and Kymberlee Fry of Yukon, Oklahoma. Two Sisters: Leoda Mueller and Goldie Pettle, both of Clinton, Oklahoma. Memorials may be made in lieu of flowers to the Hospice Care of Kansas or to the Kiowa Manor.