Donald J. “Don” Bott, 85, La Crosse, Kansas, died at Salina Presbyterian Manor in Salina, Kansas, on December 11, 2016.
He was born October 3, 1931 on the family farm southeast of McCracken, Kansas, to John and Lola Bott.
He attended Alexander Consolidated School and graduated high school in 1949. The fall of that year, he entered Fort Hays Kansas State College. Upon leaving college, he went into farming with his father, John. He took over the family farm upon the death of his father in 1956.
Donald married Patricia Wells, August 20, 1961, in the EUB Church, Alexander, Kansas. They have one child Sonya Bott of Salina, Kansas. They recently celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary.
He was an active member of the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Alexander, Kansas, and later joined the United Methodist Church in La Crosse, Kansas, and served on the board of trustees.
He and his wife lived on the farm until 1974 when they moved into their newly built house in La Crosse, Kansas. Donald was a dedicated farmer and good steward of the land in his care, winning a conservation award.
He served on the Boards of the Alexander Co-op, Rush County Farm Bureau, ASCS, and EUB Trust Fund. He was a member of Alexander Kiwanis for many years. He occasionally played golf and enjoyed entering tournaments with friends. He enjoyed being on a bowling team for many years and playing ping pong, even entering in a tournament on a cruise. In later years, he enjoyed playing Words with Friends, and surfing on his iPad.
He retired from farming in 1997 and enjoyed many years of his retirement with his wife. He enjoyed helping at the farm after retirement and later, enjoyed trips to the farm as long as he was able after his retirement. He and his wife enjoyed several trips in the United States and abroad, experienced being short term Winter Texans, and often traveled to see the their daughter.
In 2010, his health began to fail, and in October 2016 he entered hospice care at Salina Presbyterian Manor, in Salina, Kansas. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Lola Bott. In passing, he leaves his wife, Patricia, daughter, Sonya, sister, Lucile Shabowich, and her husband, Stan Shabowich, and several cousins.
Visitation will be Wednesday, December 14, 2016, from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at the Janousek Funeral Home, La Crosse, Kansas, with the family receiving friends from 6:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.
Memorial service will be Thursday, December 15, 2016, at 11:30 A.M. at the United Methodist Church, La Crosse, Kansas, with Pastor Angie Vertz officiating. Interment will be private family.
Memorials are suggested to the United Methodist Church, La Crosse, Kansas, or Kindred Hospice, McPherson, Kansas.
Condolences or remembrances may be left for the family at www.charterfunerals.com/locations/janousek-lacrosse.php.
Arrangements were by Janousek Funeral Home, 719 Pine Street, P O Box 550, La Crosse, Kansas 67548, 785/222-2517.