Willis Dean Hodgson...Age78

**ALL SERVICES AT EDDY-BIRCHARD FUNERAL HOME***

VISITATION: 5-8PM THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2015

SERVICES: 10:30AM FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

BURIAL: BEAGLE CEMETERY, BEAGLE, KANSAS

MEMORIALS: PLUM CREEK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, OSAWATOMIE, KS

Memorials may be sent in care of:
Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home
P.O. Box 430
Osawatomie, KS 66064


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Willis Dean Hodgson age 78 and Beth Elaine (Diehm) Hodgson age 77, of Parker, Kansas died Sunday, February 22, 2015 in an automobile accident. They had been husband and wife for almost fifty years.

Willis was born on May 8, 1936 in Centerville, Kansas the younger son of two born to Ora Dayton and Susan Anita (Cooke) Hodgson. He grew up in Centerville, Kansas and attended school in Parker. He was very proud of his high school years and being designated ”State Farmer” (a precursor to FFA) was one of his proudest moments. Willis graduated from Parker High School with the class of 1954. He then attended Kansas University in Lawrence, Kansas acquiring a Bachelor’s degree in Business. Willis then returned home, becoming a travelling auditor and bookkeeper.

Beth was born March 21, 1937 in Kansas City, Missouri the younger of two children born to Henry and Grayce Lenore (Kizer) Diehm. She grew up in Beagle and attended school in Parker, graduating from Parker High School with the class of 1955. She attended Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas and acquired a Bachelor’s Degree in 1960. She then attended Pittsburg University in Pittsburg, Kansas where she acquired several Master Degree’s, in Education, Music Education, English Education and an Education Specialist- Music. She later attended St. Pauls’ School of Theology for Course of Study.

Willis and Beth knew each other from school and growing up in the Parker area. Willis sang in a school Quartet which had been selected by his future wife, Beth, who accompanied the group and chose special guy friends to join. But their interest in each other became special after they both returned home to Parker after college. Once their love for each other bloomed they knew they were meant to be together. Beth was a June bride marrying Willis on June 27, 1965 at the Beagle United Methodist Church. They made their home in Osawatomie, Kansas and became the parents of two children, Jada DeLayne and Willis Wayne. Beth and Willis moved to their farm in rural Parker in 1998.

Willis owned his own business, Hodgson Accounting and Trophy Service from 1965 to 1980. Before raising a family, Beth taught school at Roseland in Kansas City, Fontana, and Blue Mound.

She and Willis were dedicated parents, attending all school activities the children were in. They both took an active role in the lives of their two children and Beth was involved in many of the children’s other childhood projects. She was a Girl Scout Leader, A Cub Scout Den Mother, and a Bethel Guardian of Jobs Daughters and was always a room mother at school which even carried over in the kid’s college years, helping with many of the parties and other activities.

Beth had many interests but serving the Lord was her passion in life. She was a true artist in the way she ministered to her members of the congregation, and Willis was her support system always there to help in any way he could. They were an inseparable couple, where one was the other was only a step behind. Beth ministered for over thirty-five years, and had led the congregation at the Plum Creek United Methodist Church for well over fifteen years.

Willis loved anything to do with farming, working with cattle and he loved to work outside in the yard and the garden. When it came to hunting and fishing, hunting was his favorite even though Beth did drag him fishing with her. He loved tractors and collected many miniatures and replicas. He could be seen many times riding his old Ford tractor to town just because he enjoyed it.

They both loved their grandchildren Dara and Layton and spent as much time as possible with them. They always attended their sporting and school events and were very proud grandparents.

Willis and Beth were preceded by both sets of parents and Willis’ older brother Paul Russell Hodgson.

Survivors include: their children: Jada Hodgson of the home, Wayne Hodgson and wife Mary, two grandchildren: Dara Tannis and Layton Archer Hodgson all of Osawatomie, KS and Beth’s brother, George Diehm and wife Loretta of Parker, KS and other family members.

Willis and Beth loved each other, their children, their grandchildren and the life the Lord had created for them together. They will be missed dearly by their family and a lifetime of friends.