Lena Kindschi

Lena Christine Kindschi, 92, passed away Monday, February 27, 2023, in Perry, Oklahoma.  She was born in the family farmhouse in Mulhall, Oklahoma on December 6, 1930, to Ralph W. and Lena Alvina (Schafer) Rayson.  Christine was the baby of the family and was adored by her three older sisters, one older brother, and the family fox terrier, Midge.  Midge kept a close watch on her and would bark to let her parents know when they needed to tend to her.  She was a daddy’s girl, and he would spend lots of time singing to and rocking her.  Her mother had an organ and she remembered her playing it often.   When she was four, the family moved to town and bought a filling station and garage on the south end of Mulhall.  As they were moving from the farm, her mother passed away.  By the time Christine was 11, her sisters started moving away from home.  The war was starting a year later, and her father went to Wichita, KS to work at Boeing.  Before he could move the family there, he had a heart attack and passed away.  She and her brother moved to Orlando to live with their sister, Mary.  There, they faithfully attended the Methodist Church multiple times a week.

It was there at church where she met the love of her life, Gordon E. Kindschi.  She graduated from Orlando High School in the spring of 1947, and she and Gordon were married on August 8, 1948.  They were very much in love, but living and working on a farm was very new to her.  Canning food and taking care of chickens and cows could be hard work, but she enjoyed farm life.  As the years passed, they had four boys; Henry, Kenny, Terry, and Larry.  This kept her very busy, as boys find ways to get hurt on a farm and they had many trips to the doctor for stitches.  After Henry and Kenny were grown, Gordon was offered a job as an insurance agent in Alva, Oklahoma.  They moved with the younger two boys.  Two kids in school and Gordon working all day left Christine a lot of time on her hands.  She wanted to work, but dreamed of having her own business.  After a lot of hard work, her dream came true, and she owned and operated a clothing retail store.  Years later, Gordon was offered a job of running the insurance agency in Perry.  Since that was closer to the family farm, they jumped at the opportunity to move back.  While she loved her dress shop, she knew moving back was best for Gordon and the family.

They eventually moved back to the farm and ran cattle full time.  Gordon always jokingly said that if he lived with her for 50 years, he would marry her.  So, for their 50th anniversary, they renewed their vows at the Orlando Methodist Church and celebrated with all their children and grandchildren.  After some years, Gordon’s health started to decline, and they moved back to Perry to make it easier on Christine.  They lived there happily for several years, but sadly in 2008, Gordon passed away.  Christine had lost the love of her life, and nothing would ever replace that.  Sure, there were hard times, but Gordon was with her for over 50 years and their love for each other was greater than anything life threw at them.  She still had her children, grandchildren and even great grandchildren that came by and always spent holidays with her.  And of course, she had her little boys to keep her company; two dogs named Scooter and Chaney.  She enjoyed spending time in her garden and with her dogs, spoiling the grandkids, and making the house look magical for Christmas.

She leaves behind to mourn her loss son Henry and his wife Norma Kindschi of Stillwater, son Kenny and his wife Brenda Kindschi of Orlando, son Terry Kindschi of Perry, son Larry and his wife Joanne Kindschi of Morrison, grandchildren: Katrina Oller and her husband Mike, Justin Kindschi, Shelbi Duke and her husband Stephen, Crystal Kindschi, Melanie McGuire and her husband Matt, Austin Kindschi, Nathan Thompson, great grandchildren: Chandler Kindschi, Abigail Kindschi, Gavin Duke, Kenya Kindschi, Mason Duke, Isabella Oller, Maggie McGuire, Macie McGuire, Anabelle Kindschi, and Marshall McGuire.

Christine was preceded in death by her parents Ralph and Lena Rayson, husband Gordon Kindschi, grandson Jeff Kindschi, sisters Minnie Davidson, Vera Vandermark, and Mary Lawler, and brother Ralph Rayson.