Dr. Kenneth Layton Ritchie (1912-1957)

RITCHIE, LAYTON, SATHER, BUSCHHAUS

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 4/20/2021 at 20:27:07

From Nevada Evening Journal January 22, 1958 (page 4)

DR. KENNETH RITCHIE

WEST UNION--Kenneth Layton Ritchie, only son of Fred J. and Mary Layton Ritchie, was born Feb. 7, 1912 in Pilot Township, Cherokee, Iowa

When he was eight years old, the family move to Marcus Township. He attended the Marcus, Iowa, public schools and was graduated from Marcus High School in 1929. The following fall he entered Iowa State College at Ames and was graduated from the College of Veterinary Medicine in 1933. During the summer of 1933 he worked as a veterinarian at Kingsley, Iowa. In the fall of 1933 he returned to Iowa State College to teach in the anatomy department of the Veterinary College.

He again entered private practice at Cleghorn, Iowa in the summer of 1934. In 1935 he commenced work with the United States Department of Agriculture at Cleghorn. In February of 1934 he was transferred to Idaho and was stationed at Driggs, Idaho Falls and Blackfoot, Idaho. He was then transferred to West Union, Iowa on June 6, 1939, where he continued to live and to work until his death.

He held many positions during his period of service with the Agriculture Department. At the time of his death he was Veterinary Livestock Inspector of the Animal Disease Eradication Division of The United States Department of Agriculture. During the past year he had been in Washington, D. C., on a special assignment as technical advisor of a film on the eradication of brucellosis. In addition he also wrote the script for the film.

On Sept. 29, 1934 he was united in marriage to Esther Marie Sather at Roland, Iowa. To them were born three children, Janet Marie, now Mrs. Rolf Buschhaus, Frederic Jon and Karen Kay.

He united with the Methodist church at Marcus, Iowa, while in high school and transferred his membership in the First Methodist church of West Union, Iowa, when he moved to West Union.

He was very active in the civic affairs of West Union, having served on the board of directors of the West Union Citizens Club; has sung in the presentation of the Messiah each year since its organization, he was treasurer of the Methodist church for many years; he was a member of several veterinary organizations, both state and national; he was a very active member of the choir of the Methodist church; he was a member and Past Master of West Union Lodge No. 69, A. F. & A. M.; he was also a member and Past Patron of Union Chapter No. 110 of Order of the Easter Star.

Dr. Ritchie went to Rochester, Minn. for a checkup on Dec. 6, 1957, and on Dec. 13 he submitted to surgery. Several hours after the operation he suddenly died.

He is survived by his wife, Esther, a daughter, Janet Buschhaus, now of West Union, Iowa; a son, Frederic Jon of Keesler Field, Miss., a daughter, Karen Kay, also of West Union; a son-in-law, Rolf D. Buschhaus, temporarily in Karlsruhe, Germany; and a sister, Lois D. Ritchie of Dixon, Ill. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Among those from Roland who attended the funeral services were Mr. and Mrs. George Sather, Mr. and Mrs. Chester J. Sather, and Mr. and Mrs. Everett Sather.

Others attending were Mr. and Mrs. O. E. Holland of Minneapolis, Minn., Miss Lois Ritchie of Dixon, Ill., Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Sather and sons, Ronald and David of Marshalltown, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Sather of Ellsworth, Miss Mabel Sather and Mrs. Charles Rutter of Ames and Mr. and Mrs. Carl Lura, Zearing.