Hilda Ann Levret, 94, of Shawnee, KS, formerly of Kelly, KS, died Thursday morning, January 15, 2009 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, MO.

Hilda, the oldest daughter of Edward and Katherine Russ Altenhofen, was born on May 10, 1914, east of Seneca, KS. When she was a child the family moved to Dr. Murdock’s farm north of Goff, where she attended Sunny Knoll Country School and religion classes at St. Bede’s School in Kelly. She later graduated from Goff Public School. As a young girl she helped her parents on the farm and did domestic work for neighboring families. The family moved to Seneca in 1933. From 1935 to 1936 Hilda lived and worked in Oklahoma City, OK. In 1936, she returned to Seneca.

On June 7, 1938, she married Lawrence Levret at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. They lived in Kelly, where she was a homemaker and bookkeeper for the family trucking business (L.E. Levret Truckline). Hilda was a cook at the Kelly School for 10 years, and helped care for her mother, who died in 1981. She was also an Avon representative for 37 years in the Goff, Corning and Kelly area.

The couple celebrated their 50th and 60th wedding anniversaries in Kelly. In June of 2001, Lawrence and Hilda moved to Shawnee, KS to be closer to their children. Lawrence died on December 6, 2003, after 65 years of marriage.

Hilda was a member of St. Bede’s Catholic Church in Kelly, St. Bede’s Altar Society, the Extension Council and the Commercial Club. She was also a 4-H leader for many years. Hilda was honored as the Grand Duchess for the 1995 Goff Lion’s Club 4th of July parade and celebration. She enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and reading. Hilda will be fondly remembered as a devoted, caring, and loving wife, mother and grandmother who will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

She is survived by her son, Larry Levret and his wife Linda of Overland Park, KS; her daughter, Ruthann Fein of Westwood Hills, KS; four grandchildren, Cara (Patrick) Levret Carroll of Winnetka, IL, Laine Levret deMelo of New York City, Andrew (Julie) Fein of Merriam, KS, and Christopher (Christy) Fein of Chicago; five great-grandchildren; and a sister, Dorothy Roeder of Seneca.

Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Paul, Virgil, Justin and Kenneth Altenhofen; and her sisters, Elsie Altenhofen and Bertha Haug.

Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:30 AM on Monday, January 19, at St. Bede’s Catholic Church in Kelly. 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 in Hilda’s memory for St. Bede’s Cemetery, and sent in care of the family.