Alden Lincoln Slusser was born April 28, 1920, in Cleveland, Okla., to Wallace Harrison and Grace (Moore) Slusser. He graduated from primary school in Valero, Texas, in 1933. He graduated from Winfield High School in 1939. He lived in Oklahoma, Illinois, Texas, and Kansas, but most of his life was spent in Marion.
Alden picked cotton in Texas and ran the Conoco in Winfield during his high school years. He enlisted in the Army on Feb. 18, 1942. He was a member of the 752AAA Gun Battalion and served with the Western Pacific Ground Combat in Iwo Jima, Saipan, and Pearl Harbor. He was discharged Nov. 21, 1945. Alden was a member of James William Miesse American Legion Post #22 for more than 55 years. Serving his country was one of his proudest accomplishments.
He met the love of his life, Betty Jo-Ann Knackstedt, outside the Marion post office. They were married Dec. 8, 1946, in Wichita. He went to work in the family oil business, Slusser Drilling Company, which was started in the summer of 1940. Alden spent 45 years in the oil business, drilling wells in central Kansas.
Eastmoor United Methodist Church was developed in 1961. In May of 1961, Alden and Betty donated the land the church now sets on. Betty was on the church music board and she and Alden traveled all over the state to find a new organ for the church.
Alden and Betty were blessed with two children, Wallace Frederick and Pamela Jean.
After retirement, Alden and Betty traveled throughout the U.S. including Alaska, California, and the Ozarks.
With Betty by his side, Alden could handle anything. She nursed him through polio and a series of heart attacks. When she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s their roles became reversed and Alden cared for her for many years until a fall required a move to Meadowlark Adult Care Home in Wichita so Betty could get the 24-hour care she required. Alden was content to be by Betty’s side in Wichita but by that time, he had been diagnosed with dementia.
Alden and Betty were married for 63 years until her death in 2010. After losing his true love, Alden lost interest in just about everything. Holidays were “not the same” without Betty and it was difficult to keep him interested in life. A bout with pneumonia in November hospitalized him for a week and upon his return to Meadowlark, his health continued to decline.
Alden passed away Jan. 27, 2011, surrounded by his family at Meadowlark Adult Care Home in Wichita.
Alden was preceded in death by his parents, Grace and Wallace Slusser, and his brothers, Blaine Slusser and Billy Slusser.
He is survived by his children, son Wally and wife Elle of Topeka; daughter Pam Kassner and husband Harry of Wichita; grandsons Micah and fiancé Angie Walker of Topeka and Jordan and wife Rachel of Lawrence; and great-grandsons Nolan and Noah Slusser of Topeka.
Visitation was 1 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, with the family present 4 to 6 p.m., at Zeiner Funeral Home in Marion.
Services will be held at 2 p.m., today at Eastmoor United Methodist Church, Marion. The Rev. Michael Eurit will officiate.
Interment will be in Marion Cemetery with military honors provided by Fort Riley Color Guard.
Memorial funds have been established with Eastmoor United Methodist Church and the Alzheimer’s Association in care of Zeiner Funeral Home, 205 Elm St, Marion KS, 66861.