Frances M. Wichman, 87, of Seneca, Kansas, died Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at Cambridge Court care home in Marysville.

Frances was born September 20, 1920, on a farm east of Kelly, Kansas, the daughter of Henry and Josephine Sextro Boeckman. She graduated from St. Bede’s Grade School in Kelly. After school, she worked as a midwife, and at the Nemaha County Jail doing a variety of jobs. In the 1940s, she moved to Kansas City and was employed as a nanny. She later returned to Nemaha County and worked at Harsh Drug Store in Seneca.

On January 3, 1946, she married Walter Wichman at St. Bede’s Church in Kelly. They lived on a farm east of Bern for two years. In 1948, they moved to a farm northeast of Seneca, and in 1950, they purchased the Clem Wichman farm north of Seneca. They raised cattle, horses, and operated a dairy. The couple celebrated 42 years of marriage before Walter preceded her in death on October 1, 1988.

Frances worked outside of the home at the egg factory in Tecumseh, NE, the Nemaha County Convalescent Home in Seneca, and Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca, retiring from the hospital after 25 years of service.

Frances was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church and St. Ann’s Altar Society at the church in Seneca. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She enjoyed volunteering at the Sts. Peter & Paul Mission Center, listening to music, cross-stitching, baking, and working in her flowerbeds. She cherished time with her friends, playing cards, and bingo.

She is survived by two sons, Carroll (and wife Sharon) of Weatherford, Texas and Bob (and wife Jeanie) of Seneca; four daughters, Patricia Howery (and husband Bill) of Arlington, Texas, Glenda Sowder (and husband Harry) of Muldrow, Oklahoma, Diana Camp of Everett, Washington and Ruth Bergman (Robert) of Lillis; a brother, Lawrence Boeckman of Seneca; two sisters, Arlene Schmitz of Seneca and Mary Ann Schmitz of Baileyville; 17 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

Besides her husband Walter, she was preceded in death by her parents; a grandson, Justin Howery on July 30, 2006; three brothers, Clarence Boeckman on May 1, 1926, Raymond Boeckman on February 2, 1973, and Alvin Boeckman on September 8, 1984; and four sisters, Clara Segenhagen on August 30, 1972, Rosalia “Sally” Deters on August 8, 1992, Dorothy M. Henry on December 5, 2000, and Mary Augusta Hutfles on March 6, 2006.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 AM Saturday at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Friday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials may be given for Meadowlark Hospice, or Cambridge Court care home, or S.K.I.P. (Special Kids Informed Parents) for Autism, and sent in care of the family.