Susanna T. Huerter, 90, of Seneca, Kansas, died Tuesday evening, January 13, 2009 at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca.

She was born April 13, 1918, on a farm east of Kelly, Kansas, to John A. and Anna F. Schurman Heinen. She attended St. Bede’s School in Kelly and graduated from the eighth grade on May 25, 1932. When she was young, she worked for various area families helping out with domestic chores and caring for newborns.

She married Anthony Huerter on June 4, 1940 at St. Bede’s Catholic Church in Kelly. Anthony died as a result of a farming accident on November 3, 1962. Susanna remained on the farm and with the help of her sons continued to operate the farm until 1983, when she moved to Seneca. Her youngest son Linus then took over the family farm and made it his residence. Susanna worked for several years for the Seneca Public School lunch program, and did housekeeping for the Methodist Church, Lauer Funeral Home, and Dr. David’s optometry office.

Family gatherings were very important to Susanna. She loved to quilt, cook, sew and play cards. She spent many hours quilting with the ladies of Sts. Peter & Paul’s Quilting Circle. She was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church and St. Ann’s Altar Society in Seneca, and a former member of St. Bede’s Church in Kelly.

She is survived by her five children, Daryl (Katy) Huerter of Topeka, Maurice (Rosie) Huerter of Riverside, CA, Betty Ann (Ed) Fischer of Topeka, Lynn (Judy) Huerter of Silver Lake, and Linus (Laura) Huerter of Seneca; seven grandchildren, five step-grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and nine step-great-grandchildren.

Besides her husband she was preceded in death by all her siblings, including eight brothers, Henry, Jacob, Aloyious, Joseph, George, Edward, Leonard and Ray Heinen; and five sisters, Amelia Wilhelm, Elizabeth Wilhelm, Catherine Sextro, Agnes Wilhelm, and Marie Conley.

Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Thursday, January 15, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 AM Friday, January 16, at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. Burial will be at St. Bede’s Church Cemetery in Kelly.

Memorials may be given in Susanna’s memory for St. Bede’s Cemetery, Sts. Peter & Paul Building Fund, or the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital, and sent in care of the family.