Donald William Runft, son of Ernest W. and Ella F. (Moos) Runft, was born February 9, 1921 in
Downs
,
Kansas
and died Thursday, July 8, 2010 at
Country
Place
Senior
Living
Center
in
Belleville
,
Kansas
. He was 89 years of age. Don attended country school in
Osborne
County
before moving with his family to a farm south of
Belleville
. On February 24, 1945 he and Hazel Marie Rasmussen were married in
Washington
,
KS
. Their first home was on a farm south of Rydal. Later they moved to a farm southwest of
Scandia
. In 1956 Don and Hazel bought their first Charolais bull. Runft Charolais Ranch gained state and national recognition as premier breeders of Charolais cattle. He was a diligent steward of the land as a farmer and progressive stockman. Don also sold insurance for a brief time and was an Archer dealer for over twenty-five years for which he received several awards. He was a member of the National Farmers Organization, Scandia Lions Club and Kansas Farmers'
Union
. Don was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Harold Runft, his brother-in-law Anthony Seaman, son-in-law Ellis Gowing and daughter-in-law Judith Ann Runft. He is survived by his wife Hazel, Belleville; son Myron Runft and wife Cheryl, Belleville; daughters Donna Martinson and husband Gail, Junction City, and Sharon Gowing, San Angelo, TX; and son Bruce Runft and wife Stacey, Scandia; sister Alice Seaman, Belleville; thirteen grandchildren: Amy Koehn, Robyn Liu, Jill Martinson, Clint Martinson, Chad Gowing, Britt Runft, Cody Runft, Jaid Runft, Payton Runft, Mason Runft, Joe Strnad, Tony Strnad, and Madge Mac Hardy, and nine great-grandchildren. Celebration of life services were held Sunday, July 11, 2010 at the
United
Methodist
Church
in
Scandia
,
Kansas
with Pastor Kathy Aeillo officiating. Family inurnment services were held at the
Belleville
City
Cemetery
. In lieu of flowers, memorials were requested for Meadowlark Hospice,
Republic
County
4-H Foundation, and the
Scandia
United
Methodist
Church
. Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home,
Belleville
,
Kansas
was in charge of these arrangements.
