E. Berdene Welch, 87, of Hillsdale, Kansas passed away August 17, 2006 at the Olathe Medical Center. Funeral services will be held 2:00 P.M. Sunday, August 20, 2006 at the Wilson & Son Funeral Home – Paola Chapel. Burial in Hillsdale Cemetery. Visitation will be held 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Saturday at the Wilson & Son Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Hillsdale Presbyterian Church in care of Wilson & Son Funeral Home, 305 North Pearl Street, Paola, Kansas 66071 (913) 294-2372.

Berdene was born February 10, 1919 in Osawatomie, Kansas to Fred and Veryl Waller Overbeck. She grew up in the Osawatomie area and graduated from Osawatomie High School with the class of 1939. Berdene was united in marriage to Merlyn Welch on December 23, 1939 in Olathe, Kansas. After their marriage they made their home in the Hillsdale area. Berdene worked for an insurance company in Kansas City as a claims specialist before being employed at the Miami County Court House. She worked for the county for several years and served two terms as the county treasurer before retiring. Berdene was an active member of the Hillsdale Presbyterian Church. She belonged to the What-So-Evers group at the church, Foster Grandparent Association, Eastern Star, NARF, and the Mid America Council of Aging. Berdene enjoyed genealogy, reading, and spending time with her family especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She also enjoyed meeting every morning with the table 10 group at Cathy’s Corner.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Veryl Overbeck, her beloved husband, Merlyn on August 14, 1987 and one brother, Kenneth Dale Overbeck.

She is survived by her son, Larry Welch and his wife Judy, of Hillsdale, Kansas; grandchildren, Lisa Berve and her husband Richard, of Overland Park, Kansas, Jennifer Frain and her husband Jerry, of Round Rock, Texas, and Kevin Welch, of Kansas City, Kansas; great grandchildren, Katelyn and Lindsey Berve and Connor and Nathan Frain and a host of friends all who will miss her deeply.