Luetta Suzanne (Howard) Maley Hanchett, 90, passed away March 28th, 2018, at the Prairie Wind Villa in Phillipsburg, Ks. Luetta was born to Alexander and Minnie (Behringer) Howard on August 26, 1927. She was the youngest of four siblings, the only one allowed to leave the farm to attend high school. She graduated from Phillipsburg High School with the Class of 1945. She worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company as a switchboard operator and later as a receptionist in the office.
She married Vern Maley on September 22, 1947, and on December 1st, 1948, they welcomed a daughter, Brenda Lou, into the world.
She was never far from a phone. The home Vern built on Evergreen Lane had a phone installed in every room, even the bathroom. The extension in the garage ensured she would never miss a call while digging weeds in the yard, which she loved to do. She was honored to be asked to record the message instructing callers to dial all 7 digits when the phone system switched from rotary to pushbutton dialing. She remained the "phone authority" long after retirement, helping others use new features as they were introduced. Luetta's time with Southwestern Bell was an important part of her life. She could still recall phone numbers of many people from her switchboard days.
Luetta accepted an early retirement. She spent winters with Vern in their Arizona home. After Vern's passing in 1985, she returned to the workforce as relief office help. She volunteered at the hospital, at blood drives, worked election boards and was a census taker several times. Luetta was a member of the First Lutheran Church, serving on the Ladies Guild, and helped with The Orphan Grain Train.
In 1990, Luetta married Wayne Hanchett. In 2010, she lost her daughter, Brenda, and in 2011 she lost Wayne. Luetta was a strong, independent woman, determined to remain in her home. In 2015, a house fire forced her to move to Westview Homes until an apartment at Prairie Wind Villa became available. She spent her final years at the Villa, being looked after closely by her loving niece, Diane Smetana.
Luetta was preceded in death by her parents, Alexander and Minnie Howard; her husband, Vernon E. Maley; her siblings, Edward, Arthur, and Wilma Brenzikofer; her daughter, Brenda Stecklein; and her second husband, Wayne.
She is survived by her granddaughter, Lace (Searight) and Corey David and their children, Jessamin Bair and Erikson and Violet David of Sharon Springs, Ks; her grandson, Jaxon Searight and his children, Javon and Leia Searight, of Hays, Ks; her son-in-law, Robert Stecklein, of Hays, Ks and many nieces & nephews

Funeral services will be held Monday, April 2 at 10:30 a.m. in the First Lutheran Church, Phillipsburg, with Pastor Joel Hiesterman officiating. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery.

Visitation will be from noon to 9:00 Saturday and 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the church