Virgil Anthony Palen was born on September 15, 1939 in Beloit, Kansas, the son of Benedict and Monica Koenigsman Palen. He died Saturday, May 18, 2019 at Hilltop Lodge in Beloit at the age of 79.

Virgil spent most of his life in Tipton, where he attended and graduated from Tipton schools.

On June 1, 1959, he was united in marriage with Betty Schroeder in Tipton. They were privileged to spend 49 years of marriage together until her death in February, 2009, just a few months short of their Golden Anniversary. Five children were born to this union.

Virgil did soil conservation work for 38 years, and also farmed and worked on township roads. In his spare time, he was very active golfing, bowling, umpiring kids’ baseball games, and serving as official scorekeeper for the Tipton High School’s basketball and football games. He also served as a Mitchell County Commissioner for 12 years, was a member of the Tipton Lions Club, and Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, also serving as a state officer. He was also a member of the St. Boniface Catholic Church.

He and Betty enjoyed various activities together – playing cards, dancing the polka and leading the grand march at many weddings, and watching Kansas City Royals baseball games.

In addition to his wife Betty, he was preceded in death by his parents, son Steven in 2015, brothers, Adrian (Ching) and Cyril, and in-laws, Bill (Stella) Mans, Merwyn Pahls, Clarence Schroeder, Bill Ellenz, and Ralph Schmitt.

He is survived by his daughter, Sandra Harder of Salina; sons, Roger and fiancé Linda Batliner of Goddard, Rodney and wife Anne of Beloit, and Byron and wife Barb of Beloit; seven grandchildren, Krista (Doug) Patterson, Jeremy (Kay) Harder, Caleb Palen, Alison Palen, Vincent Palen, Brady Palen, and Blaise Palen; six great grandchildren, Alyssa, Brooke, Jarred, Adalie, Lucas, and Lauren; brother, Nelson and wife Joan of Beloit; sisters-in-law, DiAnna Palen of Osborne, Laurine Schmitt of Tipton, Carolyn (Richard) Schmitt of Cawker City, Eleanor Pahls of Beloit, and Delores (Wendell) Brummer of Downs; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be at 10 AM Wednesday, May 22 at the St. Boniface Catholic Church in Tipton. A rosary service will be at 7 PM, & visitation will be from 5 PM until the rosary service Tuesday, May 21 at the Church. Memorials may be given to the Tipton Schools or the Knights of Columbus.