Hays, Kansas – Mary E. (Betty) Dechant, age 90, died Tuesday, July 14, 2015, at Hays Medical Center Hays, Kansas.

She was born April 18, 1925 in Catharine, Kansas, to William J. and Catherine (Schuler) Staab. She married Richard F. Dechant on January 22, 1946 at Hays, Kansas. He died March 26, 2007.

She was a homemaker, worked at St. Anthony’s Hospital and was a member of the Auxiliary and was known as one of the “noodle ladies”, a member of St. John’s Auxiliary and made bierocks for many years, and worked 15 years at Travenol Labs and retired in 1985 when the plant closed. She was a charter member of St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church and St. Nicholas of Myra Ladies Guild both of Hays. She has been a resident of the Good Samaritan Society of Hays for 18 months.

Survivors include two sons, Jerry Dechant and wife, Nanette, Gravois Mills, MO; David Dechant and wife, Rosie, Wichita, KS; two daughters, Janet Redding and husband, Mike, Enid, OK; Joyce Heffel and husband, Roger, Hays, KS; one sister, Agnes Lundy, Westland, MI; 12 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and one due shortly.

She was preceded in death by her parents; eight brothers, Felix, Fidelis, Edgar, William, Richard, Joseph, Lawrence and Alfred Staab; one infant brother, Robert Staab; one sister, Alexia Younger.

Services are 10:00 A.M. Friday, July 17, 2015, at St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church, 2901 East 13th Street. Burial in St. Joseph Cemetery Hays, Kansas.

A St. Nicholas of Myra Ladies Guild rosary is at 6:30 P.M. Thursday, followed by a vigil service at 7:00 P.M. Thursday, both at Cline’s Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601.

Visitation is from 6:00 to 9:00 P.M. Thursday, and from 8:30 to 9:45 A.M. Friday, all at Cline’s Mortuary of Hays.

Memorial to St. Nicholas of Myra Faith and Family Center. Condolences can be sent via email to [email protected]