Agnes W. Sweetland, 89, of Seneca, KS, died Saturday, July 27, 2002, at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca.

She was born May 27, 1913, on a farm west of Seneca, the youngest of 12 children of Joseph and Mary Rethman Olberding. She grew up there and graduated from Sts. Peter & Paul High School in 1931. Agnes was employed at the Agricultural Adjustment Administration in Seneca from 1934 to 1944, the Pomona Federal Building & Loan in Pomona, CA, and the State Soil Conservation office in Laramie, WY. From 1967 until 1969 she worked in medical records at the Seneca Hospital and from 1970 to 1974 at the law offices of Harry Lanning & Bill Drumm, and later at the Richard Massieon Law Office.

On October 29, 1938, she married Lorin L. Sweetland in Falls City, NE. They spent their lives in Seneca with exception of the time Lorin was in the service. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on October 29, 1988, and also celebrated their 60th anniversary. Her husband Lorin preceded her in death on October 5, 1999.

She was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca and St. Ann’s Altar Society at the church. For 13 years she served as the chairman of the Nemaha County Chapter of the American Red Cross and for eight years as the chairman of the local Red Cross Blood Mobile. Agnes also was a member of the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital Guild, the Earl W. Taylor Post #21 of the American Legion Auxiliary, and the Seneca Business & Professional Women’s Club.

Survivors are a son, Gary Sweetland of Seneca; a daughter, Trudy Pennington of Seneca; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by two sons, Lorin Herbert (stillborn) in 1943, and Daniel E. Sweetland on June 9, 1988. She was also preceded in death by seven brothers, two as infants, and August, Ed, Ben, Leo and Joe Olberding; and four sisters, Anna Olberding, Mary Grollmes, Rose Holthaus and Edith Kokenge.

Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 10:30 AM Monday at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Sunday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials may be given for Sts. Peter & Paul School or the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital, and sent in care of the family.