Brenda Leigh Allen, age 54, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, Wednesday, December 31, 2014 at her parents’ home in Oneida, Kansas.

Brenda was born on April 7, 1960 in Seneca, the daughter of Max and Ethel (Halstead) Allen. She attended grade school at Seneca Elementary and graduated from Nemaha Valley High School in 1978. She enrolled at Kansas University in August 1978 and graduated in 1982 with a bachelor’s degree in education. Brenda began her teaching career in Seneca, where she taught from 1982 to 1984. She then moved to Topeka and taught from 1986 to 2012.

Her favorite pastime activities included working at the Prairie Lounge Restaurant in Seneca, scorekeeping for the Oneida men’s summer softball team, competing on bowling teams in Seneca and Topeka, leading Girls’ Club in Seneca, attending sporting and school events, and going to country music concerts. She especially enjoyed an Alabama concert where she was able to take her four-year-old brother, Brent, backstage to meet the band members. Brenda’s hobbies included crocheting Afghans for her family members, reading, and trying out new recipes.

She was preceded in death by her brother Terry, on December 22, 1984 and also her paternal and maternal grandparents.

She is survived by her parents, Max and Ethel Allen of Oneida; her brothers Darren (Amanda) Allen of Oneida, Jeff (Chandra) Allen of Emporia, Todd (Emily) Allen of Sabetha, and Brent Allen of Oneida; her sister Tracy (Brian) Rusche of Seneca. Brenda is also survived by her nieces and nephews Matthew, Josey and Kaylee Allen; Kayleb and Kenzee Allen; Taylor and Wyatt Rusche.

 Funeral service is Saturday, January 3, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at the Wesleyan Church in Sabetha. Visitation is Friday, January 2, 2015 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Popkess Mortuary in Sabetha. Memorial contributions can be made to Nemaha County Home Health and Hospice or Nemaha County Training Center, sent in care of the funeral home, 823 Virginia St, Sabetha, KS 66534.