Mildred Melcher, 93, of Seneca, Kansas, died Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at Hickory Point care center in Oskaloosa, Kansas.

She had moved to Atchison, Kansas in 2006 to be near her daughter, June Bower. After three years in assisted living, she lived for a year in her daughter’s home. In 2010 she moved to the Hickory Point nursing home near Atchison.

She was born May 4, 1918, on a farm two miles north of Seneca, the daughter of Louis and Mary Engelken Rettele. She attended St. Mary’s School in St. Benedict, and graduated from college at Mount St. Scholastica Academy in Atchison in 1936.

Mildred married Francis Melcher on May 11, 1944 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Benedict. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1994 and have always been known as active, contributing members of the community.

From 1936 to 1944, Mildred taught in rural one-room school houses in Nemaha County. She also helped her husband Francis run their Standard Oil tanker truck business, while raising their four daughters.

She loved to draw and paint, garden, crochet, embroider, quilt and teach the game of bridge. She also enjoyed playing spades, pitch, dominoes, and sequence with her husband, family and friends.

Her memberships included the Hospital Guild Room, Sts. Peter & Paul funeral choir, TNC & DHS bridge clubs, American Legion Ladies Auxiliary, a bowling league, Worship and Spiritual Life Committee and the Mount St. Scholastica Alumni organization.

Mildred is survived by her daughters, June Bower of Atchison, Kay Kent of Carlsbad, California, and Debbie Quilty of Granbury, Texas and their husbands, and seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband Francis on July 3, 2006, and their oldest daughter Joyce on December 30, 1967.

A rosary will be prayed at 2 PM Tuesday, April 10, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 AM Wednesday, April 11, at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Memorials may be given for the sisters of Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison.