Alberta Mae Byer, 87, of Hiawatha died on Tuesday December 22, 2020 at Maple Heights Nursing and Rehab Center in Hiawatha.
She was born July 25, 1933 at Hiawatha, Kansas the daughter of Ewald Otto and Edith F. (Martinson) Lange. Alberta attended Hiawatha schools and graduated from Hiawatha High School in 1951.
Alberta married Donald C. Byer on August 30, 1953 in Hamlin, Kansas. They had one son Roger. She wrote she has many fond and happy memories of her 7 ½ years of married life. I enjoyed spending time at our home with my husband and son, and together we taught our son what he needed to know in his first 5 years of life. We let him know how very much we loved him.
She worked as an advertising manager of the Hiawatha Daily World, the Everest World, and the Stockyard Journal from 1961-1965. She managed the Dew Drop Inn for 10 years before purchasing it in 1975 and was still managing it after 53 years. In 1961 Alberta bought her home at 709 N. 2nd Street here in Hiawatha. We lived there while Roger went to kindergarten through 12th grade. It was a good feeling being there for Roger during those years. It was very rewarding watching him graduate from high school. Alberta loved to play pool, do garden work, watch TV and cook.
Her fondest memories were watching her son’s many accomplishments in school, his Cub Scout awards and earning his Boy Scout badges including his Eagle Scout award. Roger received many awards while serving his years in the Air Force before his retirement as a Master Sergeant.
Alberta was a member of the VFW Auxiliary, and the American Legion Auxiliary she was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church which is now called the Zion Lutheran Church here in Hiawatha.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 1961, her parents E.D. and Edith Lange, a brother Richard and a niece Tonya Humble, many aunts, uncles, and many friends.
She is survived by her son Roger and his wife Karen of Papillion, Nebraska, a brother Jimmy Lange and wife Julia of Topeka. Aslo surviving are a niece Terri and a nephew Tim.
Services will be Saturday December 26, 2020 at 1:30 pm, at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Hiawatha. Pastor Mike Dunaway will officiate. Interment will follow at the Mount Hope Cemetery, Hiawatha.
Memorial Fund suggested to Hope Brown County and may be sent in care of the funeral home 124 S. 7th Street Hiawatha, Kansas 66434.
Please remember the families during this critical time with a card or a special note to www.chapeloaksfuneralhome.com
