Lavene E. “Beanie” Koch, 72, of Loveland, CO, formerly of Seneca, KS, died Sunday, July 28, 2002, at a Loveland care home. She moved to Loveland in February 2000 to be near her daughter.

She was born October 30, 1929, in St. Benedict, KS, the daughter of Herman and Emma Vondemkamp Dick. She grew up on the family farm and was the third of 12 children. She graduated from St. Mary’s High School in St. Benedict in 1948. She attended Marymount College in Salina, KS, and St. Anthony’s Hospital School of Nursing where she received her nursing diploma in 1951. After taking the Kansas State Board, she became a registered nurse.

On December 27, 1951, she married Cyril J. Koch at St. Mary’s Church in St. Benedict. They lived in various locations in Kansas in their early-married years due to Cyril’s construction work. In 1964 they moved to Seneca. “Beanie,” as she was known, began working at the Seneca Hospital in March of 1964. She continued work at the new hospital, the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca, until her retirement in May 1995 after 31 years of employment as a registered nurse and several years as the day supervisor.

Her husband Cyril, preceded her in death on May 18, 1995. She was also preceded in death by a son, Johnny Koch, who died at birth on December 26, 1952.

She was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church and the St. Ann’s Altar Society at the church, the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital Guild, where she was a past president as well as holding other offices, the Seneca Memorial Post #7458 of the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, and the Kidney Foundation. She was an accomplished seamstress and quilter. Beanie made many quilts for her family including a quilt for each grandchild. She also crocheted, embroidered, and enjoyed ceramics. Beanie and Cyril always had a large garden and grew a large crop of strawberries. She and her sisters traveled throughout the U.S. together.

Survivors are three sons, Roger Koch of Lawrence, KS, Jeff Koch of Colorado Springs, CO and Steve Koch of Topeka, KS; a daughter, Cyrilla Haverkamp of Loveland, CO; a brother, Joe Dick of Monck’s Corner, SC; and five sisters, Valeria Edwards of Goodland, KS, Norene Haynes of Wichita, KS, Lucille Winkler of Oneida, KS, Alice Rumsey of Topeka, KS, and Linda Baughman of Hendersonville, NC; and 10 grandchildren.

Besides her husband and son, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Omar and Orville Dick, and three sisters, Joan Dick, Norma Tsuglis, and Edna Krogman.

Mass of Christian burial will be 10 AM Thursday, August 1, at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Church Cemetery in St. Benedict. Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Wednesday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials may be given for the Polycystic Kidney Foundation or the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital Guild, and sent in care of the family.