Naomi Windell

Naomi (Mangus) Windell, 90, resident of Kanorado, passed away Monday, January 22, 2018, at the Goodland Regional Medical Center in Goodland, KS.  She was born on November 18, 1927 to Mamie Day Mangus and George Washington Mangus, in the home built by her father in Kanorado, KS.

She completed 12 years of schooling in Kanorado, graduating in 1945.  After graduation she attended Fort Hays State University and earned her teaching certificate.  She became a member of the Kanorado Methodist Church in her teens, was an active member of the Youth Group and as President for several years.

She met Lester Windell in March of 1945.  It was love at first sight and she was overjoyed when he asked her on their first date.  They became engaged in December of 1945.  On October 5, 1946, they decided to elope.  No one else knew that they went to Goodland and found the Justice of the Peace to marry them.

Naomi had taught elementary school at Prairie View country school for 2 years before her marriage.  She had to complete summer school each year to keep her teaching certificate.  After she was married, she decided she was not going to teach anymore, so she did not attend summer school.  The school board begged her to teach another year.  They didn’t care if she completed schooling or not, they just wanted her to teach.  She agreed and 1947 was her last year of teaching.

Les and Naomi spent their lives in Kanorado on the farm built by her father.  They farmed and raised livestock.  Les also worked drilling irrigation wells.  They were blessed with 3 sons, Rickie, Michael and Robert.  They worked hard, but they also made time to spend together as a family.  They took camping and fishing trips to Lake Superior, the Badlands and the Black Hills of South Dakota.  They were also blessed with many grandchildren, and loved spending time with and spoiling them.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Les Windell, 11 half-brothers, 3 half-sisters; 1 sister Della Nagel; 2 grandchildren Billy Jacobs and Brad Figgins; and 2 great grandchildren Faith Figgins and Raphael Windell.

She is survived by her son Rickie (Victoria) Windell of Kanorado, KS, son Michael (Kelly) Windell of Goodland, KS; son Robert (Diane) Windell of Kanorado, KS; 9 grandchildren, Leanna Windell, Shaina Jacobs of Westminster, CO; Brandie (Lee) Ihrig of Goodland, KS; Tomi (Chance) Price of LeVeta, CO; Spencer (Cassie Murray) Windell of Goodland, KS; Brian Windell of Kanorado, KS; Denny (Delci) Windell of Kanorado, KS; Mathew Windell of Kanorado, KS; Andy (Ellie Dinkle) Windell of Sharon Springs, KS; 16 great grandchildren; Garrett (Rachel) Figgins of Norwalk, OH; Kaitlyn Figgins of Westminster, CO; Sydney, Rylie and Zachary Jacobs; Bryson, Logan Emmitt and Lydia Ihrig; Truit and Sawyer Price; Jayden, Brinley, Presley and Emberly Windell; and Adalyne Windell; and 2 great-great grandchildren; Gwyneth and Evelyn Figgins.