The funeral for Leona Topliff was Wednesday at 11 a.m., from
the Megrue-Price Funeral Home Chapel. She died Sunday in Brodstone Memorial Nuckolls County Hospital.
Leona Agnes Birdsell, the daughter of Oscar Cooper and
Mary Elizabeth Coffield Birdsell, was born March 11, 1902.
She attended Mayview schools through the eighth grade.
She left school to keep house for her father and brothers
following the death of her mother in 1912.
Nov. 7,1923, she was united in marriage to Henry N. Topliff at Mayview parsonage, near Jewell, Kan. Four children,
Ruth Elizabeth, Lewis Henry, Mary Lou and Donna Marie,
were born to this union.
The early years of their married life were on a farm west of Jewell.
In 1929 they purchased a farm west of Lovewell where they
operated a dairy farm for the next 48 years.
Mrs. Topliff lived in Courtland a short time and made her
home with Ray and Donna Clark before moving to Superior.
Mrs. Topliff entered the Good Samaritan Center in January, 1979. She was diagnosed as having Alzheimer's disease in 1981. In October, 1984, she suffered a broken hip from which she never fully recovered. She entered the hospital May 27, her last illness.
She was a 4-H leader for many years, and was a member of
Lovewell United Methodist Church, was active in W.S.C.S.,
the Needlecraft Club and the Lovewell Community Service Club.
Preceding her in death were her husband, Henry; parents;
infant sister, two brothers, Roscoe and Dick; and one
grandson, Chris Swanson.
Survivors are her children, Mrs. Emery Hobelman (Ruth)
of Waterloo, Neb., Lewis Topliff of Las Cruces, N.M., Mrs.
Charles Swanson (Mary Lou) of Courtland and Mrs. Ray Clark
(Donna), Hardy; one brother, Glen Birdsell, Spirit Lake, Iowa; 22 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews; and many other relatives.
Pastor Kenneth Fairbrother officiated at the services and
burial was in the Fairview Cemetery near Lovewell.
Superior Express August 13, 1987.