Regina Dechant, 89, Hays, died Friday, July 6, 2012, at Brookside Retirement Community, Overbrook. She was born Dec. 12, 1922, in Victoria to Frank M. and Rosa (Hertel) Dinkel.

She married Richard Dechant Sr. on May 10, 1948, in Victoria. He preceded her in death Dec. 15, 2003.

She was a homemaker and participated in farming with her husband for 39 years. She was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, the IHM funeral ministry committee, Hays Medical Center Auxiliary, all of Hays, and a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Plainville.

Survivors include a son, Richard Dechant Jr. and wife, Melinda, Baldwin City; two brothers, George Dinkel and Father Harvey Dinkel O.F.M. Cap., both of Victoria; six sisters, Sister Francis Rose Dinkel C.S.A., Fon du Lac, Wis., Melinda Griebel, Mary Younger and Sister Paul Ann Dinkel C.S.A., all of Hays, Irene Scruggs, Manhattan, and Viola Richmeier, Grinnell; and two grandchildren, Richard Cody Dechant and Aubrey Sophia Dechant.

She was preceded in death by her parents; an infant daughter, Renee Joan Dechant; three brothers, Hilarius, Clarence and Edward Dinkel; and three sisters, Julitta Dechant, Bertha Prewo and Rita Rohr.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 18th and Vine, Hays; graveside services will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Plainville. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday and from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. Friday, both at Cline's Mortuary of Hays, 1919 E. 22nd, Hays, KS 67601. A Hays Daughters of Isabella rosary will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, followed by a vigil at 7 p.m., both at the mortuary.

Memorials are suggested to Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church Building Fund in care of the mortuary.

Hays Daily News, 7/11/2012