Wilmetta Dorothy Weaver Dietzel, 95, died Saturday, Sept 24, 2016, at Schowalter Villa in Hesston. She was born Aug. 25, 1921, at Bethel Deaconess Hospital in Newton to Harry Lester and Margaret Dorthea (Deschner) Weaver of Hesston.
On July 12, 1946, Wilmetta married Arnold J. Dietzel at Hesston Mennonite Church (HMC) in Hesston.
After one year at Hesston College, she went to nursing school at La Junta Mennonite Hospital, La Junta, Colo., and graduated in 1944 as a registered nurse (RN).
Wilmetta had a long career as an RN, missionary and travel agent. She worked as an RN at La Junta Mennonite Hospital; at Axtell Hospital in Newton; at Bethesda Hospital in Goessel; and Peninsula General Hospital in Salisbury, Md. She was a missionary RN when she and Arnold served five years in India at the Shantipur leprosy home and hospital. As a travel agent, Wilmetta worked at the Menno Travel Service (MTS) office in Beirut, Lebanon; and then she devoted many years to the MTS office in Newton. She retired from MTS in 1988.
Wilmetta resided in North Newton for 44 years. In 2008, she moved with her husband Arnold to Schowalter Villa in Hesston. He preceded her in death on July 4, 2014.
Wilmetta is survived by brother, Milford (Barbara) Weaver of Hesston; three children, son Ronald L. (Shirley) Dietzel of Newton, daughter Margaret E Hillegass of Hollsopple, Pa., and daughter Carol J. Cranston of Newton; seven grandchildren, Rhonda J. (Tracy) Sanders of New Braunfels, Texas, R. Loren Dietzel Jr. of Tomball, Texas, Justin A. Dietzel of McPherson, Christina D. (Aaron) Clement of Kansas City, Kan, Elizabeth L. Hillegass of Hollsopple, Pa., John R (Michelle) Hillegass of Akron, Pa., and Shondra J. Cranston of Newton; and eight great-grandchildren.
A celebration of Wilmetta’s life will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept 29, at Hesston Mennonite Church with Pastor Wendy Miller presiding. Private family interment will be in Eastlawn Cemetery at Zimmerdale (rural Hesston).
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Mennonite Central Commitee in care of Hesston Mennonite Church, 309 S. Main, Hesston, KS 67062. Petersen Funeral Home in Newton is in charge of arrangements.
