Beatrice M. Skoch, 91, of Sabetha, KS, formerly of Powhattan and Fairview, died early Monday morning, February 6, 2012, at the Apostolic Christian Home in Sabetha.

Beatrice was born on June 13, 1920 on a farm west of Seneca, the oldest child of Leo and Catherine Walk Nolte. She attended Prairie View School, graduating from 8th grade. After graduation, she helped with housework and childcare at home and with various neighbors. She also worked at a café in Seneca.

She married Raymond J. Skoch on May 20, 1941 at Sacred Heart Church in Baileyville. The couple farmed and raised stock in the Powhattan area since 1947. Raymond and Beatrice celebrated 50 years of marriage before Ray’s death on December 6, 1991.

Beatrice was a member of St. Augustine Church in Fidelity and was a member and past officer of St. Augustine Altar Society. She was a member of the LN (Loyal Neighbor) Club and the Brown County Kansas Farm Bureau. She was a generous and hospitable homemaker who enjoyed cooking and making pies.

She is survived by three daughters, Donna (Larry) Beer of Shawnee, Evelyn (Larry) Lierz of Fairview and Rebecca Skoch of St. Joseph, MO; two sons, Leroy (Janice) Skoch of St. Louis, MO and Gene (Judy) Skoch of St. Joseph, MO; siblings, Andrew Nolte of Topeka, KS, Anna Correa of Knob Noster, MO and Irene Myers of Heyburn, ID; 12 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.

Besides her husband Ray, she was preceded in death by her grandson Bradley Beer on March 7, 2001; her father Leo Nolte on June 6, 1974; her mother Catherine Nolte on February 8, 1984; five brothers, Gerard Nolte on March 29, 2011, Melvin Nolte on November 6, 2005, Richard Nolte on April 3, 2003, Norbert Nolte on December 15, 1991 and Donald Nolte on August 9, 1984; and three sisters, Elda Mae Foote on July 24, 2010, Rosann Fox on June 9, 2007 and an infant sister, Gladys Mae Nolte.

Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 10 AM Friday, February 10, at St. Augustine’s Church in Fidelity. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Baileyville. A rosary will be prayed at 7 PM Thursday, February 9, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials may be given in Beatrice’s memory for St. Augustine’s Church in Fidelity or Sacred Heart Cemetery in Baileyville.