Ellis -- Kathryn Billinger Pierce, 95, died Sept. 22 at Good Samaritan Center in Ellis.

She was born Aug. 23, 1910, at St. Peter, the daughter of Peter and Mary Schuvie Sauer.

She married Michael J. Billinger on Oct. 7, 1930, at St. Peter. He died Dec. 7, 1966. She married Orville Pierce on Aug. 25, 1973, at St. Peter. He died July 30, 1996.

She was a resident of Ellis, coming from St. Peter, Hill City, WaKeeney and Hays. She was a homemaker. Mrs. Pierce was a member of Christ the King Catholic Church and Altar Society, WaKeeney. Survivors include three sons, Gerald M. Billinger of Phoenix, Ariz., Richard Billinger of Kansas City and Stanley Billinger of Great Bend, Erlena Wheeler of Rose Hill; three brothers, Constantine Sauer and Laverne Sauer, both of Wichita, and Eugene Sauer of St. Peter; three sisters, Lillian Lang of Atwood, Dolorine Riedel of Salina, and Ann Williams of Wichita; 16 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by one son, Ronald Billinger; two daughters, Sophia and Carmelita Marie Billinger; seven brothers, Ernest, Paul, Alex, Peter, August, Bernard and Joseph Sauer; two sisters, Anna Marie Wasinger and Eleanor Eaton; and one granddaughter, Barbie Lynn Wheeler.

Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Anthony Catholic Church in St. Peter with the Rev. Basil Torrez officiating. Vigil and Parish Rosary service will be at 6:30 p.m. today at the church. Burial will be at the St. Anthony Catholic Cemetery in St. Peter.

Memorials are suggested to the Good Samaritan Center in care of Morell Funeral Home. Funeral arrangements provided by Morell Funeral Home, P.O. Box 124, Larned, KS 67550, 620-285-2177.

Great Bend Tribune, 9/25/2005