Anna C. Hutchins, 82, of Axtell, KS, formerly of Carthage, MO, died Wednesday, March 17, 2004, at Life Care Center in Seneca, KS. She had been a resident there since November 2003.

She was born December 10, 1921, at Oxford Junction, IA, the daughter of George and Antonia Kubetz Nowachek. After graduating from high school there in 1939, she moved to Santa Monica, CA. She attended a Douglas Aircraft technical school, graduated in 1940, and became a “Rosie the Riveter” for Douglas Aircraft. Later she did more advanced work for the same plant.

On April 14, 1942, she married Onas Benton Hutchins in Santa Monica. While her husband was in the U.S. Army serving in the Aleutian Islands, she moved to Carthage, MO, where his parents lived. Following his discharge, he joined her there. They lived in Carthage until 1987 when they moved to Eagle Rock, MO. They moved to Axtell in 1998 to be near their daughter and family. Her husband Onas died October 21, 2003.

She was a member of St. Michael’s Church in Axtell. She spent a lot of time with her grandchildren, educating them, and taking them on trips. Anna enjoyed politics, was politically involved, and also was a voracious reader. In Carthage, she was a member of the VFW Auxiliary #2590, a leader for Brownie and Cub Scouts, and very involved in the school system and the PTA.

Survivors are a son, Robert Hutchins of Slippery Rock, PA; two daughters, Martha Biggs of Axtell and Ruthanne Holbert of Manhattan Beach, CA; two sisters, Blanche Ales of Oxford Junction, IA and Joyce Wessmer of Eagle Rock, MO; 11 grandchildren; and 12 great grandchildren.

Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Thomas, and two brothers, Robert and Bernard Nowachek.

Memorial service will be held Sunday at 1 PM at the Knell Mortuary in Carthage, MO. Inurnment will be in the Park Cemetery at Carthage.

Memorial contributions may be given for the Hutchins Scholarship Fund, and sent in care of the family.

Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca was in charge of local arrangements.