Gloria Nan Hostetler, 84, died July 24, 2020, in Anthony, Kan. She was born April 24, 1936, the oldest child of Emery and Bernice (Miller) Bontrager, in Hutchinson.
They lived near Yoder, where she attended the Daisy School with many Amish children. In 1948 the family moved to a farm in Scott County, where she graduated from Shallow Water High School as salutatorian while in the lower two-thirds of her class of three. She enjoyed playing the piano and giving lessons to many children. She attended Hesston College, graduating with an associate of arts degree in 1956. At Hesston she met Dwight (Spike) Hostetler from Harper, whom she married after graduation.
They raised three sons and one daughter, Doug, Mike, Rod and Lisa. When they left the farm she did the bookkeeping for their Otasco retail business.
When she moved to Harper she was not allowed to join the church because she was wearing wedding rings. She was told to remove the rings, join the church and then put the rings on. She replied, “I am not a hypocrite,” and eventually convinced the church leaders to allow jewelry. She served as treasurer of South Central Mennonite Conference for more than 20 years. During this time she also served terms on the Hesston College Board of Directors and on the General Board of Mennonite Church USA. She spent many weeks volunteering at Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp. After her husband retired they volunteered at the camp, spending several weeks there each summer for 13 years.
She was diagnosed with Parkinson’s and Lewey Body Dementia at the age of 76. In 2017 she moved to Country Living Assisted Living in Anthony with her husband.
A memorial service and cremation burial was held at Pleasant Valley Mennonite Church and cemetery at Harper. A complete obituary may be seen at prairierosefuneralhomes.com and video of the memorial service at facebook.com/prairierosefuneralhomes.
