Dorothy Irene (Kraus) Bemis

Dorothy Irene Bemis, 93, while battling pneumonia, passed quietly in her sleep April 9th, 2016 at the Sunny Vista Living Center in Colorado Springs. The third child of six, and only daughter of Carl and Sadie Kraus, she was born in the northwest bedroom on the first floor of the family home July 27, 1922, She grew up during the Dust Bowl and Great Depression on the family farm located southwest of Hays on Yocemento Road. In 1940 she entered Fort Hays College as a journalism major. The next fall she transferred to Kansas State University and joined the college newspaper. That spring she found herself writing many obituaries of the alumni who perished at Pearl Harbor.

In June 1942 she married Ralph Bemis, Jr. who lived on a farm seven miles west of Hays. Both families were members of the Hays First United Methodist Church. Ralph Jr. had volunteered for the Army Air Force Cadet program to become a pilot. Shortly after arriving in England, his plane crashed due to maintenance issues. He is buried in a group plot at Zachary Taylor Memorial Cemetery, Louisville, Ky.

Dorothy returned to Kansas State University, changing to become a nutrition major. As a part of her training, she interned for a year at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. After the war, she worked as a dietitian at Fort Logan, a VA hospital in Denver.

The VA sent Dorothy to the Harvard School of Public Health for further training. The plan was for her to become the supervising dietitian at a new VA hospital in California. But Robert “Guy” Bemis, the younger brother of Ralph Jr., had other plans. In December 1949 they were the second couple married in the newly completed sanctuary of the Hays First United Methodist Church and soon bought a small farm near Oberlin, Ks. Three of their five children were born there. In 1957 they returned to Hays after they bought his parents' farm. Dorothy was pregnant with their fourth child when the whole family fled to the safety of the farmhouse garage roof during the Flood of the Century.

Dorothy took an active interest in her children’s activities. In the 1960’s she helped teenage 4-Hers make decorative ceramics to sell at Sidewalk Bazaar to finance their summer trips. In the 1970’s she oversaw the many fundraising projects for the Hays High School Orchestra’s European trip.

When the kids were grown, she renewed her dietitian’s license in order to consult area small hospitals with their meal service for several years.

Over the years she was also active in Chapter BQ, P.E.O., Prairie Garden Club, the Sorosis Club, and Kansas CowBelles (currently Kansas CattleWomen - the women’s half of the Kansas Livestock Association). She served as President of most of these organizations. She was also an avid quilter.

At the unexpected death of her husband in 1985, she maintained his business interests which included Ellis County Feeders, Black Gold Oil, 1st National Bank, and cattle and farming interests, in order to sell them.

Four years ago she moved to Colorado Springs near a daughter to enter assisted living. While Dorothy enjoyed the view of Pikes Peak from her apartment, she always missed Kansas.

Dorothy is survived by three brothers, Kenneth Kraus and wife Dottie of Hays, Warren Kraus and wife Rosemary of Ellis, and Harold Kraus and wife Virginia of Hays, and three of her children. They are son, Taylor Bemis and his wife Sheryl of Hays, grandchildren Dustin Bemis and wife Anne of Hays and Kristi Koch and husband Larry of Clyde, Kansas, great-grandchildren Tee, Trextin and Brodin, Kara and Gavin; daughter Faye and husband Scott Palmer of Colorado Springs, Colorado, grandchildren Ray Palmer and wife Melanie of Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Carl Palmer of Wichita, great-grandchild Elise; and daughter Amy and husband Bill Stricker of Rochester Hills, Michigan.

She is preceded in death by her older brothers, Eldon and John Kraus, first husband Ralph Bemis Jr., second husband Robert “Guy” Bemis, and two daughters, Sue Malinda (1951-1954) and Sally Kay (1964-1973).

Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm on Saturday, April 16, 2016 at the First United Methodist Church, 305 W. 7th Street, Hays.  Burial will follow in the Fort Hays Memorial Gardens Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 5:00 until 7:00 pm on Friday at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street, and from 1:00 pm until service time on Saturday at the church.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the First United Methodist Church, in care of the funeral home.  Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com