Minnie Belle Gorden, 89, Oskaloosa, formerly of Winchester, died Friday, Oct. 28, 2016, at her home.

She was born Nov. 25, 1926, at Winchester, the daughter of Albert J. and Irene McMurtry White. She graduated from Winchester High School in 1944.

Minnie Belle taught in Jefferson County Rural Schools from 1944-1956. She had received her Teacher Certification through the University of Kansas. She had worked at the Office of the Registrar at KU. She and her husband, Don, had farmed south of Boyle. When she retired, she had been working at Sedlak Insurance and Real Estate in Winchester.

Minnie Belle was a life-long member of the Winchester Reformed Presbyterian Church. She was a member of the Women’s Missionary Fellowship at the church and the Winchester YWCA.

She married Donald Bruce Gorden, May 18, 1956, at Winchester, and this year they celebrated 60 years of marriage.

She was preceded in death by three brothers, Boyd, Gene and Royden White; and two sisters, Hazel Sass and Ruth Bussell.

Survivors include her husband, Don, of the home; her son, David (Lisa) Gorden, Winchester; her daughter, Beth (George) Ricketts, Ozawkie; six grandchildren, Debbie Sparks, Jacob and Elyssa Gorden, and Caleb, Dalton, and Trever Ricketts; and three great-grandchildren, Keegan and Kamryn Sparks, and Aaiden Ricketts.

The funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016,  at the Winchester Reformed Presbyterian Church. Burial will follow at the Reformed Presbyterian Cemetery at Winchester. Visitation will be at the church from 9:30 a.m. until service time.

Memorial contributions may be to the Winchester Reformed Presbyterian Church or Jefferson County Friends of Hospice, and sent c/o Mercer Funeral Home, PO Box 6, Valley Falls, KS 66088. Online condolences are welcome at www.mercerfuneralhomes.com.