Gilbert H. Deters, 87, of Centralia passed away February 11, 2025, on his parents’ wedding anniversary.

The son of Lawrence and Rachel Rettele-Deters, he was born October 25, 1937, on the family farm north of Baileyville. He was the fourth child of 14 brothers and sisters. He was a loving husband, father of nine, and grandfather of 18 with six great-grandchildren. He worked his whole life farming and raising livestock.

Gilbert went to school in Baileyville until the eighth grade then worked on the family farm with his father and brothers. He then farmed 2 miles north of Centralia right through last season’s harvest.

He married Phyllis Curtis (Horton) on April 22, 1961, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Baileyville. Together they had five daughters, Elizabeth, Darlene, Mary Jane, Mary Rose and Alice. After Phyllis’s passing, they lived with his parents and brothers and sisters, who helped raise the children. Five years later, they moved back to his farm.

On April 19, 1975, he married Shirley Deters of Seneca at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. Together they raised four children, Linda, Luke, Jason and Jeff.

Besides farming, he served on the Center township board and drove the road grader for decades. As a young father, he taught CCD classes in Baileyville after Sunday mass and always enjoyed spending time with family and telling stories.

He was preceded in death by his wife Phyllis, daughter Elizabeth (Alan) Ronnebaum, his parents Lawrence and Rachel Deters, brothers Elmer Deters and Virgil Deters, sisters Audrey Feldkamp, Mary Ruhkamp, Elaine Duryea, Karlene Ronnebaum and Reva Deters.

Survivors include wife Shirley, of the home, children Darlene Deters (Topeka), Mary Jane Ronnebaum (Rolan) Axtell, Mary Rose Sudbeck (Dan) Seneca, Alice Hermesch (Leon) Goff, Linda Schieferecke (Mark) Eudora, Luke Deters, Lawence, Jason Deters (Dana) Seneca, Jeff Deters, Lawrence and son-in-law Alan Ronnebaum (Connie) Axtell; siblings, Paul Deters (Carol), Topeka, Rosann Huninghake (Seneca), Donald Deters (Mary Jane) Axtell, Larry Deters (Mary Ellen) Topeka, Mark Deters (Dottie) Baileyville, and Marceil Bergman (John) Seneca.

Rosaries will be prayed at 2 and 7 p.m. Thursday, February 13 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Baileyville. Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, February 14 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Baileyville. The burial will be in the church cemetery.

Pallbearers are sons Luke Deters, Jason Deters, Jeff Deters, and sons-in-law Alan Ronnebaum, Rolan Ronnebaum, Dan Sudbeck, Leon Hermesch and Mark Schieferecke.

Memorials may be sent to the Baileyville Sacred Heart Catholic Church Hall fund and St. Benedict’s Abbey in Atchison.