Esther V. Welty, 93, died March 1, 2011, at Wesley Towers Thorne Care Center, Hutchinson.

She was born Aug. 17, 1917, in Beaver County, Okla., to Abraham and Margaretha Becher Dirks.

She worked at the former Broadacres Nursing Home and at the Wiley Tea Room. She was a member of South Hutchinson United Methodist Church, Hutchinson Garden Club, Delos Smith Senior Center and E.H.U.

On Aug. 5, 1946, she married Lloyd E. "Dutch" Welty in Colorado Springs, Colo. He died March 11, 1979.

Survivors include: grandsons, Don and Sharon Barton, Hays, Dick and Joy Barton, Scott City, and Steve and Phoebe Welty, Hutchinson; a granddaughter, Connie and Bob Carmen, Thousand Oaks, Calif.; a brother, Darrel Dirks, Whitney, Texas; numerous great-grandchildren; and a nephew, Keith Dirks and his wife Della, Buhler.

She was preceded in death by brothers, Alvin and Elmer Dirks; a sister, Mildred Shipman; two grandsons, Bruce and Kenneth Barton; and Dutch's two children, Bob Welty and Dorothy Barton.

Memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Monday, March 7, 2011, at South Hutchinson United Methodist Church, with Rev. Tim Ault-Duell officiating. Graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Monday, March 7, 2011, at Penwell-Gabel Cemetery and Mausoleum, Hutchinson. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson. The family will receive friends from 4 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Elliott Chapel.

Memorials may be sent to South Hutchinson United Methodist Church, in care of the mortuary.

To leave a condolence for her family, visit www.elliottmortuary.com.