Wilden Lee Collins

Cimarron-Wilden Lee Collins, 89, went to be with his Lord on November 25, 2015 in Blue Springs, Missouri. He was born on November 18, 1926 to Claude Wilden and Vera Gladys (Hodges) Collins in Medford, Oklahoma. He married Mona Ruth Irons on August 25, 1946. To this union were born three children; Wildena Ruth, Wilden Lee, Jr. and Marlin Kent. Lee was very much involved with the Gideon organization and served as fill in pastor for several congregations. He had always been involved in the agricultural field in some way. He worked for Burtis & Nunn in Garden City selling Ford tractors. Then he moved his family to Ulysses and worked on a farm and began his own trucking company. During the winters, he ran cattle and sheep from Ulysses to Lakin. He sold Case tractors and equipment in Lamar, CO, Liberal and Garden City. In the 1980’s he had a business selling sunflower seeds called Circle C in Dodge City. In his later years he drove truck for National Carriers of Liberal. He drove a run in Garden City for Randy Burns for several years. He also ran a swather and baler and helped in harvest for several area farmers. After his diabetes and heart problems became too much for him to manage alone he moved to live with his daughter in Blue Springs, Missouri. He is survived by his daughter, Wildena and Gene Ritchhart of Blue Springs, Missouri; son, JR and Eileen Collins of Cimarron, Kansas. Nine Grandchildren: Kevin (Tandy) Ritchhart, Logan (Kimberly) Ritchhart, Channon (Kris) Gregg, Trenda Deaver, Shawn (Aftan) Ritchhart, Julie (Zach) Crotts, Heather (Zach) Robertson, Laci Collins, Gentri Collins. Twelve Great-grandchildren: Tad and Ashton Ritchhart, Joshua, Kristian, Matthew, Timothy, Elizabeth and Sarah Gregg, Krista Ritchhart, Colby and Andrew Deaver, Isaac Robertson. Two Great-great-grandchildren: Ayden and Colton Gregg. He is preceded in death by his wife, Mona; parents, Claude and Vera Collins; stepmother, Alda Loftis; son, Marlin; daughter in law, Kellie Collins; sister and brother in law, Melba and Melvin Garey. Memorial services will be held at First Church of God, Dodge City, Kansas on Monday, November 30, 2015 at 10:00 am. Burial will follow in Valley View Cemetery, Garden City, Kansas. Visitation will be at the church Sunday, November 29 from 5- 7pm. Memorials are suggested to Gray County Over 50 Center, Cimarron, in care of Fleener Funeral Home, 514 S. Main St., Greensburg, Kansas, 67054.