Gloria Ann (Vail) Fruechting, 72, passed away at her home, Thursday, June 19, 2008, after a four year battle with cancer. She was born September 16, 1935, in Alva, OK, to Russell William Vail and Ruth Elizabeth Novinger Vail Behnke. Her growing up years were divided between Plains and Bushton, KS, where she graduated in 1953. She spent some time at Friends University, Southwestern College and graduated from the Kate Estella Koch Practical Nurse School in Pittsburg, PA. Gloria met Duane through his twin brother, Dwight, at Camp Horizon. Gloria twisted her ankle and was paired up with Duane after everyone else had paired off. They were married on May 27, 1956, at the Plains United Methodist church. Gloria and Duane were blessed with three children, Vail Dwight, Ann Elizabeth and Julee Estelle.

After Duane's graduation from K-State in 1959, Gloria, Duane and little Vail moved to Plains onto Gloria's grandparents, Homer and Clara Vail's, homestead. Gloria worked as a nurse at the Meade District Hospital and in Dr. W. W. Orrison's office along with raising 3 children. She became a full time wife, mom, cook and farm hand, driving the grain trucks and delivering meals to Duane and numerous hired men.

Gloria's community involvement included being a member of EHU and volunteering her time as a piano accompanist for the young people in the Plains school system. She enjoyed the community theatre performances. Her church involvement included being a member of the Plains United Methodist church, UMW, WCTU and serving on numerous church committees. Gloria served the Lord as the organist for nearly 50 years at PUMC. Her love of music was evident in her own playing of the organ and piano, but also as an encourager to others to play the piano, tuba, clarinet, saxophone…. She is responsible for getting many of us back on the piano.

Mom and Dad hosted Brazilian farm trainees, Chilean political refugees, a foreign exchange student, and a Vietnamese refugee family. Her home was open to friends and family who happened to drop by. She seemed to always have something baking in the oven. Mom loved trying new recipes out on unsuspecting people (think rattlesnake!). Mom loved having our out- of-town cousins and friends come to the farm in the summertime.

Gloria's greatest pleasure/accomplishment was raising her children in a Christian home. She took great pride in watching Vail, Ann and Julee's music performances, band concerts, ballgames, church Christmas plays, school programs/plays, Vacation Bible School programs…. The number of recitals, plays, programs, concerts, contests and ballgames that Gloria attended over the years was staggering! In more recent years, this also included performances by her grandchildren, Jeremy, Kendra, Austin, Kyle, Michael, Daniel, Caleb and Sumner. Even with her own children and grandchildren having moved away, Mom still attended many of the Plains Elementary School and Southwestern Heights performances.

Mom practiced the lost art of letter writing. She kept in touch with her many friends from grade school, high school and college. Mom never missed sending a
birthday, anniversary or graduation card to her family members. It was always
fun to see whom she got to sign our cards! Then came the computer age and Mom was resistant! She finally got the hang of it enough to send and check her emails.

Mom loved to travel. She and Dad went on Farm Bureau, Co-op and Farmland trips, as well as trips with family and friends to Mexico, Hawaii, Chili, Canada and too many states to list them all. Mom continued to take these trips even after Dad's passing. She made many trips to Manhattan, Topeka, Lynden, WA, Pratt and Wichita to attend her grandchildren's events and cheer them on. Many of these trips included her two best travel buddies, Bobbie and Faye. Mom also enjoyed a good card game--Pitch, Golf, Upsie Downsies, Bridge, Kings in the Corner…. She taught all of us the game of Pitch and we soon learned that there were the rules and then there were the "Gloria rules!"

Last year we celebrated Mom's 72nd birthday with 92 family and friends attending. Mom was honored with so many who had traveled great and not so great distances to spend time with her. God blessed her with an abundance of endurance to be able to enjoy that wonderful day. Our families thank each of you for making her birthday so meaningful and special.

Mom devoted her life to Christ as a young lady. She shared her time, love of music and energy to serving God. Even into the last months and days of her life, Mom continued to praise God by playing the organ and encouraging others to keep up with their music. Our family has been so blessed to have received all the cards, letters and emails from family and friends. It is amazing to us as to the number of lives that Mom had touched. The rainbow we saw the morning of Mom's great HOMEGOING will always be a reminder for us of her love for God and the promise of His many blessing for all of us.

Gloria is survived by her three children and their families: Vail and Pam Fruechting, Wichita, KS, and their three children Jeremy and wife Rebecca, St. Joseph, MO, and their three children, Vivian, Vail and Hudson; Kendra and husband Rick Neill, Wichita, KS, and their two children, Calvin and Fallyn; and Austin and wife Ashley Fruechting, Lansing, KS; Ann and husband Jack Metzger, Berryton, KS, sons Kyle, Little Rock, AR, and Michael, also of Berryton; Julee and husband Gary Schmidt, sons Daniel, Caleb and Sumner, all of Lynden, WA. Vail is a marketing representative for ONEOK Energy in Wichita. Ann teaches special education children in Topeka. Julee and Gary own and operate ACE Clean in Lynden, WA.

Joyce Knott, sister, Plains; Russell O. Vail, brother, White Lake, MI; Don Behnke, step-brother, Bedford, TX; and Karen Behnke, step-sister, Oxnard, CA, also survive. She leaves behind numerous cousins, nephews and nieces. Her loving husband, Duane, and parents, Russell W. Vail and Ruth E. Behnke and stepfather, LaVerne Behnke, preceded Gloria in death.