Linda Jean (Grinter) Rodgers

Our Tribal officer Linda Rodgers passed on to the Great Spirit above on December 22, 2003. Linda was very active in the tribe and held many tribal offices. May the Great Spirit grant her Everlasting Peace.



Thomas Swiftwater Hahn

Thomas Hahn passed on May 23, 2007. Tom was a former chief of the Kansas Delaware and a valued member of the tribe for many years. Tom did extensive research on the history of the tribe, and his website has been a valuable resource for all of us. His wisdom and support will be greatly missed.



Milton L. Morris

Milton Morris of Odessa, Missouri, passed away at his home March 2, 2015, surrounded by his loving family. Milton lived in the Kansas City area most of his life and was quite proud of his Delaware heritage. He was a loving husband and father, and a caring and trusted friend. His memory will be an inspiration to all who knew him.



Claudia Bourne Alonzo

Claudia Bourne Alonzo of Cripple Creek, Colorado, died June 29, 2015. Claudia lived her 71 years fully and well. She touched many lives through her work with 4H, High 4-H, youth groups, school boards in California and Colorado, her therapy practice and many strong relationships.
Claudia had a love for adventure and travel. Her photography was featured in calendars and hung in galleries. She authored stories that are currently used in the University of Oregon’s easyCBM system, which helps teachers identify students at risk for reading disabilities. Claudia also wrote short stories for a research project of the U.S. Institute for Education Sciences.



Pinkston Zeigler

Pinkston Zeigler of Mendenmines, Missouri, died May 7, 2016, at the age of 79 years. Pinks was born on August 30, 1936 in Coffeyville, Kansas. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Following his service, Richard worked at Sherwin-Williams Paint Co. for many years before retiring in 1998.



Katherine Elizabeth Dean

Katherine Dean died June 27, 2016, at the age of 88 in Oklahoma City. She was the daughter of Iona Grinter Hodge and Wallace M. Hodge. After her parents died when she was eleven, Katherine moved to Kansas City and was raised by her aunt Bessie Grinter Stock. Katherine, a sister of Wanda Weeks, was proud of her Delaware heritage. She is pictured with her daughters Kathy Jones and Mary Beneux, and her grandson George Grinter III.



Owen Zeigler

Owen Paul Zeigler, 50, died Jan. 14, 2016, in Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington. Owen earned his bachelor's degree from Pittsburg State University and was commissioned as an officer in U.S. Army in 1989. Owen served tours in Kosovol, Afghanistan and Iraq. He was retired from the Army in 2010 after earning numerous military medals including two Purple Hearts and two Bronze Stars.



Alfred Hoofnagle

Alfred “Little Butch” Hoofnagle passed away on Sept. 5, 2016, in Tacoma, Washington. Alfred spent the majority of his life in the Yakima area. He played the tuba in his high school honor band and later played for Doc Severinsen, Johnny Carson’s band leader. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and an avid country western dancer.



Raymond Satterwhite

Raymond “Gib” Satterwhite, 84, passed away December 8, 2016, in Amarillo, Texas. Gib was an air traffic controller until retirement and was active as a community leader in the Civil Air Patrol, Boy Scouts, FFA and Meals on Wheels. He will be fondly remembered for his love of Studebakers, dancing, airplanes and country music. Gib loved playing cards and swapping tales with family and friends.



Betsy Hahn

Betsy Hahn died on May 14, 2017, in Chestertown, Md. She was the daughter of Tom and Elizabeth Hahn. Betsy received a Master of Science degree from Hood College in Frederick, Md., and worked as an environmental biologist for the U.S. Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. She loved to travel, touring England on a canal boat during her high school years, traveling by train from Budapest to Stockholm, roaming the English countryside in her vintage VW camper. Betsy was known for her irrepressible spirit and boundless energy. She was an avid gardener and landscaper, and is survived by her wife and partner of 27 years, Lisa Sasser of Rock Hall, Md.



Mark Hoover

Mark Swegman Hoover, 74, of Middleton, Wisconsin, passed away April 7, 2017. Mark was an honor graduate of the University of Wisconsin School of Business and worked for 34 years for the State of Wisconsin. He was dedicated to public service, public policy reform and social justice. Mark took pride in his Native American heritage as a member of the Kansas Delaware Tribe. He and his wife Kathleen lived an active lifestyle with participation in triathlons in their younger years, and long nature walks later in life. They loved cooking vegetarian meals for their friends and family.



Charlotte Jean Bagby-Shockey

Charlotte Bagby-Shockey passed away on May 26, 2017 in Olathe, Kansas. She was born in Eudora, Kansas, on August 14, 1929, and was the daughter of Raymond Bagby, Sr., and Florence Marguerite Ziegler. Charlotte married Lloyd Shockey in March 1944 and together they had six children. Charlotte was a grandmother and a great-grandmother. She loved to cook, crochet, shop, explore garage sales and visit with her many relatives. Charlotte lived most of her life in Kansas and was proud of her Kansas Delaware heritage.



Chris Hahn

Christopher F. Hahn, 66, died on April 17, 2018, at his home in Bowie, Maryland. He was born August 29, 1951, in Bethesda, Maryland, to Elizabeth and Thomas Swiftwater Hahn. For 38 years Chris was a computer specialist for the Department of Defense, working as a civilian for the Navy. He enjoyed hiking, exploring state parks, tracking storms, and sipping a cold one while sitting by the bay marina on a sunny day.



Jerry Webb

Jerry Webb, 66, passed away at the Olathe Hospice House on September 23, 2018. He leaves Kansas Delaware sisters Linda Graff (Chief), Sharon Schmidt (Treasurer) and Susan Webb, as well as a large and loving family of nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. Jerry was an avid golfer and resided at Linn Valley Lakes, Kansas. He worked for the Blue Valley School District for 18 years. He was an organ donor and his donations will benefit over 50 people. Jerry was a descendent of Anna Marshall Grinter and had recently participated in a historical Kansas Delaware presentation at Grinter Fest.



Betty Jane Ryan

Betty Jane Ryan, 96, passed away September 9, 2019, in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Betty travelled extensively during her long, distinguished nursing career. In 1981 she helped open a hospital in Saudi Arabia and served as director of nursing. Betty had a master's degree in nursing from the University of Iowa, and taught nursing in Sangamon State University in Springfield, Illinois. She wrote and published numerous articles for the Journal of Nursing Administration. Betty had a large extended family and will be missed by her children, her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.



Howard Leroy “Chris” Christianson

Chris Christianson joined his Creator at 100 years old September 12, 2019. Like his father and grandfather, Chris was a heavy construction carpenter, having joined the Carpenter Union Apprenticeship program in 1936 while still in high school in Springfield, Illinois. During WWII Chris joined the U.S. Navy Construction Battalion and served as a Seabee in the Marshall Islands, Guam and Pearl Harbor. After the war Chris worked as a master carpenter and trained many an apprentice in the trade. He was the oldest member of his Carpenter Union and was truly one of the last of the “Greatest Generation.”



Wilbur Clay Kirby

Wilbur Clay Kirby passed away February 22, 2020, at his home in the Park Meadows Assisted Living Community in Overland Park, Kansas. He was 95 years old. Wilbur was born and raised in the historic Grinter House in Kansas City, Kansas. He was the great-grandson of the settler Moses Grinter and his wife Anna Marshall, one of the original Kansas Delaware. Upon graduating from high school in 1943, Wilbur was drafted into the army. During WWII, he served in the 41st Armored Division under General Patton at the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded a Bronze Star for bravery in ground operations against the enemy, as well as receiving numerous other military honors. Wilbur served in the National Guard and Army Reserves until 1980, retiring with the rank of Colonel. After his military career, Wilbur worked in management for Dean Machinery/Caterpillar. Wilbur was known for his kind nature, his outstanding work ethic and his dedication to family and country.



Martin Weeks

Martin “Marty” Weeks passed away on March 24, 2020. He was the son of Clarence and Wanda Weeks, and grew up and lived in Oklahoma. Marty was known for his wit and dry humor, as well as his lifelong pursuit of knowledge. He earned Bachelor of Science degrees in both math and mechanical engineering, followed by a Master's degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Oklahoma. Later, he studied law and earned a Juris Doctor degree. Marty was a member of the bar in Oklahoma, Texas and Illinois. He practiced law in both state and federal courts, the District and Appellate Courts in Washington, DC, and the Supreme Court of the United States. In 2014 he earned a Master of Laws degree from George Mason University, which was an asset in his employment for the U.S. Patent Office. Marty was quite a family man and loved spending time with his many nieces and nephews. He was an avid photographer and historian for his family. He kept extensive records of their Delaware Indian heritage. Marty was tribal attorney for the Kansas Delaware tribe. He was admired by all and will be greatly missed.