Bil l ie Louise Bie l , 94, passed away on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, at Wichita County Hospital, Leoti, KS.
She was born on November 16, 1929, in Ponca City, Oklahoma, to Hazel May Russell Macku and Paul Macku.
Billie grew up in Kansas City, Kansas, and graduated from Rosedale High School in 1947. After attending Kansas City Kansas Community College for one year, she began teaching in the Wichita County Schools in 1948. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English in 1972, at St. Mary of the Plains College, Dodge City, KS, where she became a member of the Order of the Carillon and Alpha Chi American Collegiate Honor Society. At Ft. Hays State University, she received a Master of Science Degree in Education, with an emphasis on Library Science, and became a member of Phi Delta Kappa, an international educational fraternity.
Billie taught full-time, part-time, and as a substitute teacher for over 45 years, retiring in 2005.
She was a member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Leoti, KS, and was a religion school teacher, a member of Parish Council, a eucharistic minister and lector. B i l l ie was a member of the VFW Auxiliary, The American Legion Auxiliary, American As s o c i a t ion o f University Women, and the Patchwork Quilt Guild. Survivors include her husband, Eugene Biel, whom she married in 1951; and children, Geri Anne Appel, Wichita KS; Jeannine Ross, Leoti, KS; Rebecca Carter, Webster, NY; and Paul Biel (Anita), Hutchinson, KS; thirteen grandchildren, fifteen great-grandc hildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.
Billie was preceded in death by sons, Dennis Biel and Dale Biel; daughter, Tina Swift; son-in-law, Kenneth Lerman; daughter-in-law, Carol Biel; and grandson, Justin Wilkerson.
Memorials may be made, in lieu of flowers, to St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Leoti EMS, or Wichita County Library, through Price and Sons Funeral Home.
Vigil and rosary will be held at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Leoti, KS, at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, with Father Bernard Felix Presiding.
The funeral will be held at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Leoti, KS, at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, with Fr. Bernard Felix presiding. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Marienthal, KS.
