Our mother’s journey began on Nov. 21, 1930, and stood still on May 17, 2026. In between those dates, she was a daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, friend, medical transport volunteer, and indefatigable explorer of destinations near and far. Born Dolores Nadine Deckert in Great Bend, Kan., to Ivan Earl and Sylvia Ethel (Williams) Deckert, she was the second of five siblings. Except for a short period in Parsons, Kan., she lived her life in Great Bend. She graduated from Great Bend High School in 1948 and married A. Leon Westfall on Nov. 19, 1950. During the first few years of her marriage, she worked outside the home and, at her father’s insistence, returned to her parents’ house (against her wishes) when the U.S. Army decided Dad’s time was better spent fighting in Korea.

Mother gave up paid work when they were blessed with the first of five children. She became a Boy Scout den mother and Girl Scout leader, putting hundreds of miles on the family station wagon, transporting her children to activities. There was always a sleeping bag on the clothesline, getting another child ready for a great adventure. Each year, our home overflowed with boxes of Girl Scout cookies when Mom chaired the annual cookie drive. Mom took up bowling (a reprieve from the chaos) when her children gained some responsibility. She was an expert bowler with many accomplishments during her league years, attending 13 national tournaments.

Church was her community, and she gladly volunteered her time to serve her faith. She maintained a busy schedule of activities: tennis, teaching swimming lessons, lifeguarding for scouting swim events, RSVP volunteer, election boards, blood drives, leadership offices in scouting, bowling leagues and associations, volunteering with special populations, and many others too numerous to list. She encouraged a family love affair with the water after our father bought a boat for Lake Wilson (it was really just her boat), making sure her grandchildren could swim and have long, fun-filled days on the water. But her greatest adventure was exploring Kansas with her sister; they pored over maps and plotted many trips. She never missed an opportunity to pick up and go.

She was predeceased by her parents; husband; son Dale Westfall; sister; Dorothy Bryan; brothers Delbert and Gary Deckert; and brothers-in-law, J.C. Westfall (Laverna), Kermit Westfall (Gerri) (Donna), Bill Westfall (Madge), and Vernon Archer.

Surviving family members include her sons, Larry (Jan) of Graford, Texas (Possum Kingdom Lake) and Alan of Great Bend; daughters, Connie Remmert (Rick) of Great Bend and Karen Copeland (Greg) of Wilson, Kan.; her sister, Patty Archer of McPherson, KS; and her sisters-in-law, Yvonne Deckert of Texas, Pat Waggoner of Oregon, and Linda Edwards (Mike) of Texas. She is also survived by seven grandchildren; and six bonus-grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; as well as cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at the First Christian Church with Reverend Joshua Leu presiding. Internment in the Great Bend Cemetery immediately following. Visitation at will be held from noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 26, 2026, with family receiving friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., all at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorials may be given to the First Christian Church in care of Bryant Funeral Home, 1425 Patton Rd., Great Bend, KS 67530.

A life well lived, a job well done. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Bryant Funeral Home

1425 Patton Road

Great Bend, KS 67530

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, May 21, 2026