Herbie L. Bontrager, 71, of Garnett, KS, formerly of Seneca, died Wednesday, April 23, 2003, shortly after arrival at St. Francis Hospital in Topeka.

He was born May 6, 1931, on a farm near Goff, KS, the son of George and Clara Troxel Bontrager. He grew up near Granada, KS, and graduated from Wetmore High School in 1949. He worked for Huerter Skelgas delivering propane for farmers, on a dairy farm, and as a truck driver for the F. J. Levret Trucking Co. at Goff from 1950 to 1953.

On February 18, 1953, he entered the U.S. Army where he served in Korea with the 38th Infantry Division. He received the Korean Service Medal, ROK Presidential Unit Citation, the United Nations Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. He was discharged on November 30, 1954 and served in the Army Reserves for eight years.

He married Millie Olberding in February of 1956 at Sacred Heart Church in Baileyville, KS. They were later divorced.

He lived in Seneca and was the under-sheriff at Nemaha County under Deke Swartz for seven years and was elected sheriff from 1971 to 1976. Herbie and his family were the last sheriff and family to live in and manage the original Nemaha County Jail, which is now a museum. He worked for Hall Brothers Construction until he moved to Garnett in 1977. He worked as a security guard at the Wolf Creek Energy Center until 1985.

He was a former member of the Kansas Sheriff’s Association and the American Legion.

Survivors are three sons, Herbie Bontrager, Jr. of Manhattan, Jim Bontrager of Seneca, and Terry Bontrager of Topeka; a daughter, Connie Holthaus of Topeka; a brother Leo “Scottie” Bontrager of Wetmore, KS; three sisters, Gladys Ward of Lee’s Summit, MO, Elma Spiker of Holton, KS, and Edith Reed of Pueblo, CO; four grandchildren and four step-grandchildren; and three step-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two brothers James and Merle, and a sister, Ethel Barnes.

Funeral services will be 10 AM Saturday, April 26, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Burial will be in the Wetmore Cemetery with military honors. Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Friday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials may be given for Sts. Peter & Paul Grade School, or the American Legion, and sent in care of the family.