Lela Mae Borth

Lela Mae Borth, age 97, passed away on March 18, 2021, in Wichita, Kansas. She was born April 23, 1923, at home near Shattuck, Oklahoma, to Henry G. and Millie (Hanshu) Schoenhals. Lela’s early years were spent on the family farm near Darrouzett, Texas. She attended Third Creek Country School and Darrouzett Public Schools. She married Oscar M. Borth on June 1, 1941, at Follett, Texas. They lived with Oscar’s parents in Ditch Valley, Oklahoma, where he farmed with his dad. In 1942, they guided their small herd of cattle across the Cimarron River Bridge, with help from relatives, to property near Englewood, Kansas, where they established their farm. While at Englewood, they were blessed with two children, Perry and Belinda. During their marriage, Lela drove the tractor, milked cows, raised chickens, helped with irrigation and drove a school bus route. She served the Englewood Methodist Church as Sunday School teacher, choir member and circle member. Community involvement included PTA, county extension and fair board. Lela helped establish the Englewood Boutique Resale Shop. When Englewood and Ashland Methodist Churches merged, she and Oscar were active in church and circle groups there as well. Getting together with friends for musical jam sessions, including Lela on piano and Oscar on the fiddle, provided much enjoyment. In 1990, Lela relocated to Wichita, Kansas, following the death of her husband. She soon joined West Heights United Methodist Church where she participated in Sunday School classes, compiling the church newsletter and feeding the homeless. Lela’s family brought much joy into her life. Keeping up with their activities was very important to her. Cooking was her favorite hobby. Her home was always open for visits from neighbors, friends, and relatives. When you visited Lela, she always had something good to eat and she didn’t worry about counting calories. Lela was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Oscar; daughter-in-law, Carol Borth; brother, Harry Schoenhals; sisters-in-law, Agnetha Schoenhals, Rosa Becker and Nadine Schoenhals; brothers-in-law, Benjamin Borth, Bill Long, Kenzy Turner, Charles Green, Paul Willard and Leroy Becker; nephews, Larry Schoenhals, Clinton Turner and Clayton Turner. Survivors include children, Perry Borth and Belinda Barstow (Neil); grandchildren, Michael Borth (Deborah), Danna Swartz (Jim), Erica Hodge (Brent), Mandy Everitt (Rob); great-grandchildren, Dalton and Lila Hodge, Blaine Swartz, Neil, Reese and Leo Everitt; sisters, Ella Willard, Bonnie Green, Jean Long; brothers, Vernon and Jake Schoenhals, and a host of relatives and friends. Funeral Service, will be held 2:00 p.m., Saturday, March 27, 2021 at Downing & Lahey Mortuary West Chapel, 10515 W. Maple in Wichita. The service will be livestreamed on this website. Graveside Service will be at 1:00 p.m., Monday, March 29, 2021, in Gate Cemetery, Beaver County, Oklahoma. Memorial contributions may be made to Englewood Rural Fire Department, P.O. Box 127, Englewood, KS 67840 and/or West Heights United Methodist Church, 745 N. Westlink Avenue, Wichita, KS 67212.

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