Edna Lena Capstick was born July 13, 1919, on the family farm six miles south of Logan, Kansas. The first child of George and Leva Ray. She passed away October 14, 2013, at Sunshine Meadows Retirement Community, Buhler, Kansas at the age of 94 years, three months and one day.


Edna attended Cross Roads School, a one-room rural school house for grades 1st through 8th and graduated from Logan High School with the Class of 1937. She successfully completed the requirements to teach school but found she couldn't be hired, as she wasn't 18 years of age. Not to be held back she enrolled in the Steward Beauty School in Salina, Kansas and graduated in February 1938. She moved to Norton and began working at the Palmer Beauty Shop and shared an apartment with life long friend Faye Schneider.


She met Dale Capstick, quite by accident, at the Norton Roller Skating Rink the summer of 1938. Edna's brother Wayne told Dale to "stay away from the little brunette because she's my older sister". Older sister by 2 years and 6 days. Dale, being ornery and wanted to ruffle Wayne's feathers a little, introduced himself to Edna and asked her out. She accepted and the rest is history. They were married in Courtland, Kansas, November 19, 1939.


During their 18 months of dating, one Sunday noon Dale introduced her to part of his family by taking her to dinner at his sister's farm home south west of Prairie View. Dale's sister Nina was married to Nick Stutterheim. Earl, another brother of Dale's and his wife Florence were also in attendance. During the chicken dinner Nick would distract Edna and while she looked at him Dale would pile his chicken bones next to her plate. Then Dale would ask her a question and while answering, Nick would pile his chicken bones next to her plate. After going back and forth several times Earl questioned Edna how she could stay so slim when she could eat so much chicken. She then really looked beside her plate and blushed from head to toe and couldn't think of a thing to say. Everyone at the table was in on the joke and had a great laugh. Dale had five brothers and sisters so Edna got a lot of ribbing over the years.


They moved to the Capstick family farm three miles north west of Prairie View and there their two children, Pam and David, were born. In 1945 they moved to a farm north of Agra and then in 1946 moved to Norton, purchased a home and lived in that home for 54 years.


Edna opened Edna's Beauty Shop in 1952 and it quickly became known at the best shop in town and the surrounding area. She usually had two to three additional operators working in the shop and trained many of the future beauticians in the Norton area.


In addition to her beautician work, Edna was very active in the Rebecca Lodge in Norton. Serving over the years in all local as well as State Offices of the Rebeccas. For many years during the 1950s, she sponsored and bowled on the Edna's Beauty Shop bowling team.


Family vacations were always a priority over the years with trips to Washington State to visit her brother Wayne and his family, and to visit her younger sister Fayetta Moline and her family. Trips to the Black Hills, Yellowstone and Colorado were always great times. Living just five hours east of Denver and the Rocky Mountains, long three-day weekends were spent in several different locations in the mountains. Cooler days and much cooler nights were often a blessing from the heat of western Kansas.


In 1983 Dale and Edna journeyed to Europe and visited gardens in France, Switzerland, Germany and Holland where the tulips were blooming and the countryside was beautiful.


They purchased a Class A motor home and toured the east coast in the fall and traveled south from Nova Scotia to Washington DC following the turning of the colorful leaves. While in Nova Scotia they visited the little village of Capstick Nova Scotia, located at the very top of the Cape Breton Island of Nova Scotia. Evelyn Capstick was the postmistress but they couldn't connect to be related in any fashion.


Many summers were spent in the motor home parked north of Woodland Park, Colorado where the trout fishing was good and the weather was typical high country cool. Many evenings were spent playing Pitch or Pinochle with each winning their fair share of games. Monopoly sometimes went for days.


Edna and Dale sold their home in Norton and moved to Hutchinson, Kansas in 2000. Edna really didn't want to move, as she loved her home and friends in Norton. Dale wanted to be closer to their two grown kids and what he considered better medical facilities. In 2008 they moved into Sunshine Meadows Retirement Community in Buhler, Kansas.


Survivors include daughter, Pam & Leland Rush of Salina, KS, David & Patricia Capstick of Hutchinson, sister, Fayetta Moline of Lincoln, NE, Four grandchildren, six great grandchildren and two step great grandchildren.

Her parents, a brother and her husband preceded her in death.

Edna and Dale loved their two children, four grand children and six great grand children.


She comes back home today to be laid beside her husband of 69 years and will remain in the hearts of her family and friends forever.

Funeral services will be at the First United Methodist Church, Norton, KS. at 1:30pm, October 23rd.

Guests and Friends may sign the Register Book Tuesday afternoon from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and again Wednesday from 10:oo a.m. until service time at the First United Methodist Church in Norton. Burial will follow in the Norton Cemetery.

Memorials contributions may be made to Sunshine Meadows Retirement Community or the Norton United Methodist Church.