LeRoy “Buster” Ritchie, 90, of Seneca, KS, died Thursday, February 10, 2005, at Crestview Manor care home in Seneca. He had been a resident there for two years.

He was born December 20, 1914, on a farm southwest of Seneca, the son of Roy and Anna Weyer Ritchie. He attended Seneca Public Schools and worked on the family farm.

On April 14, 1942, he entered the U.S. Army and served as a rifleman during WWII in the Aleutian Islands. After his discharge on December 2, 1945, he returned to the farm. He also worked at Hill’s Packing Plant in Topeka.

On May 24, 1955, he married Clara A. Steinlage at St. Bede’s Church in Kelly. They lived, farmed, and raised livestock east of Centralia. In 1986 they moved to Seneca. Buster was a hard working person. He had a truck and did all kinds of odd jobs such as mowing lawns, trimming trees, and hauling trash. His wife Clara entered the nursing home due to failing health in 1990 and preceded him in death on October 25, 1998.

Survivors are two half-brothers, William (Bill) Ritchie of Las Vegas, NV and Jackie L. Ritchie of Topeka.

Besides his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a half-brother, Roy L. Ritchie, Jr.

He was a member of St. Bede’s Church in Kelly and a lifetime member of the Earl W. Taylor Post #21 of the American Legion in Seneca.

Mass of Christian burial will be at 1:30 PM Saturday at St. Bede’s Church in Kelly. Burial will be in the church cemetery, with military honors. A rosary will be prayed at 8 PM Friday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials may be given for St. Bede’s Cemetery.