Valetta M. Kesler, age 93, passed away on August 15, 2026, at Presbyterian Manor in Lawrence, Kansas. She was born on February 14, 1933, to Herman and Frieda (Finkbeiner) Folkers in Trego County, Kansas.

Valetta attended Excelsior Grade School in Trego County, Kansas, and graduated from Trego County High School in WaKeeney, Kansas, with the class of 1950. Valetta then attended nursing training in Salina, Kansas, until December 1951.

On February 24, 1952, she married Roland D. Kesler of Quinter, Kansas. To this union were born four sons.

Roland and Valetta lived in rural Gove County, Kansas, for six years before moving to Quinter in 1959. Valetta worked part-time at both Graham’s Greenhouse and the Coast-to-Coast Store, both in Quinter, Kansas. In the 1960s, Valetta took organ lessons and eventually became the organist at the Quinter Church of the Brethren, where she served for many years.

After Roland retired from the post office in 1987, they volunteered for two months each year for twenty years in New Windsor, Maryland, for SERV. The two spent three winter months each year for 25 years in McAllen, Texas. Roland and Valetta enjoyed traveling and traveled through all 50 states and several foreign countries.

Valetta is survived by her four sons, Daryl of WaKeeney, Kansas; Rex (My Hanh) of Houston, Texas; Gary (Laura) of Ottawa, Kansas; and Lynn (Bonnie) of St. Cloud, Florida. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Jeff (Tara) Kesler, McKenzie (Thiago) Baby, Grady (Jessica) Kesler, Brice (Whitney) Kesler, Lucas Kesler, Catherine Kesler, and Quinten Kesler; four step-grandchildren, Jordan Long, Christopher (Cuc) Long, Charissa Castellanos, and Brittany Abbott; and her great-grandchildren, Matthew Kesler, Emma Kesler, Aubrey Kesler, Connor Kesler, Garrett Kesler, Emily Kesler, Kellan Kesler, Isabella Baby, Noah Baby, Kobe Long, and Sarah Long. Also surviving is one sister, Corleen Morris.

Valetta was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Roland Kesler; her sisters, Marjorie Marcy, Dorothy Fuller, and Ruby Pranger; and her brothers, Eldon Folkers and Emery Folkers.

A funeral service will be held at the Quinter Church of the Brethren, 700 Grant St., on Saturday, August 22, 2026, with visitation at 9:30 a.m. and the funeral service at 10:30 a.m. Burial will immediately follow at the Quinter Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Quinter Senior Center or St. Croix Hospice. Memorial contributions may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 901 S. Main, Quinter, KS 67752.

Condolences may be left for the family at www.schmittfuneral.com.