Lifelong WaKeeney area resident, Fernetta Rhoden, passed away Monday, February 10, 2014 at Hays Medical Center.  She was 84 years of age.  She was born August 28, 1929 on the banks of the Smoky Hill River in Trego County to Elmer Gerard and Eartha Ellen (Joy) Pugh.

Fernetta was the sixth of seven children.  She grew up on the family farm, and attended one room country school, Cedar View District #60 for her first eight years.  She attended and graduated Trego Community High School in 1947.  During and after high school, she worked for Duckwalls, then went to work at Verbeck Lumber and Supply until the summer of 1952.  On November 18, 1951, Fernetta was united in marriage to Thomas W. Rhoden in the Congregational Church of Lenora.  They enjoyed 47 years of marriage together, until Thomas' death on October 23, 1999.  She was a stay at home mom after giving birth to her two children.  In 1963, she went to work for an accounting firm as a bookkeeper, and stayed in that line of work for 45 years.  During her entire life, Fernetta was actively involved in the Rhoden family farm, which reached century status in 2007 (owned entirely by the Rhoden family).  After her husband passed away, she managed the farm operations until her death.  She always said her most enjoyable occupation was that of a farmer.  Fernetta was a member of the Presbyterian Church where she taught Sunday school for many years.  She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary.  She was a Cub Scout Leader, a Girl Scout Leader and a Job's Daughter Guardian for her children.

Survivors include her two children, Brad and wife Marla Rhoden, and Terra and husband Kevin Glendening, all of Topeka; four grandchildren, Jeff and wife Kristy Rhoden of Ellis, Jana and husband Chris LaBarge of St. Francis, and Meghan and Ethan Glendening, both of Topeka; two step-grandchildren Sean Rutter of Ottawa and Melissa Reynolds of Topeka; four great-grandchildren; and four step-great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, four brothers, and two sisters.

Services will be 11:00 a.m., Friday, February 14, 2014 at Schmitt Funeral Home of WaKeeney.  Burial will be in the WaKeeney City Cemetery.

Visitation will be Friday from 10:00 a.m. to service time at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital Endowment Fund or the WaKeeney Presbyterian Church and may be sent in care of the funeral home.

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