Annette Louise "Anita" Walraven

Annette "Anita" Louise (Adams) Walraven passed peacefully into the arms of Our Lord in the pre-dawn hours of Sunday, July 13, where she was reunited with the love of her life. Anita, as she was known to her friends, was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, four sisters, and the love of her life and husband of 58+ years, Dale. She is survived by daughter Betty and her husband Lew Price of Burnsville, Minnesota; daughter Deborah Wenger and son Ronald Walraven of Wichita; four grandchildren: Devin Price, Paulette Price, Nick {Kim} Wenger, Elizabeth {Steven} Ukena; and six great-grandchildren: Jakob, Jackson, Caroline Wenger; Kolton, Karson, Bryson Ukena. Anita was born and raised in California during the Great Depression. She was sixth of nine children. Only one brother survives. She moved to Plainville, Kansas, with her Aunt Rosa and Uncle Harry Thomson when she was 17 years old. It was there she met and married Dale Walraven in 1949. Anita followed Dale from Kansas to the Nebraska panhandle to Southeastern Montana before moving back to Plainville in 1983 when Dale retired from Shell Oil Company. During this time she was active as a leader in Camp Fire Girls Blue Birds, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and 4-H. She was an active member in the Potter (Nebraska) Methodist Church. When the family moved to Montana, she transferred hers and her oldest daughter's memberships to Baker Community Church (UCC). She became an accomplished seamstress doing sewing for others as well as creating attractive wardrobes for "her girls" every year before school began as well as for others. When growth spurts would occur, as they often did, she would be busy at the sewing machine creating yet another wardrobe. People in Baker Montana will remember her for her sewing multiple uniforms for the Baker High School drill team of 36 members. She also helped with the drill team’s bake sales efforts, ensuring enough baked goods would fill the tables during the entire time of their sale. Along the way, Anita learned to crochet which she became quite adept at it; she had a host of other crafts she enjoyed: knitting, quilting, embroidery, etc. Upon their return to Plainville, she took up ceramics. She made many Christmas ornaments and other wonderful pieces for family and friends. Anita was active member of the First Christian Church in Plainville from 1983-2007. Whenever she learned of a funeral, she was always ready to lend a hand to fix something for the families. As her health failed, she wanted to help and enlisted the aid of Dale. Anita moved to Wichita after Dale's injury in November 2007, so she could be near him. She remained in Wichita until her death. Private interment will be held. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday 16 August 2014 from 1:30-3 pm at the Plainville Masonic Lodge Fellowship Hall at 109 South Main, Plainville Kansas. In lieu of flowers or cards, we welcome remembrances at Deb.Wenger4Anita@gmail.com. Reception: Masonic Paradise Lodge #290