Walter & Marie's Story

Church, family, and responsibility. This was the foundation on which Walter Dechant built his life. Born on April 13, 1926, in Antonino, Kansas, Walter spent his upbringing tending to his family’s farm, located south of Hays in Ellis County. In 1945, he met his wife, Marie. Shortly after, the couple married and welcomed their four children, Steven, Debra, Judith, and Glori. To provide for his growing family, Walter devoted much of his life to working as an oil well pumper, a field in which he was highly regarded and respected. Along with working in the oil wells, Walter worked hard to ensure he kept up his family’s farm, which he inherited.

Walter and Marie’s daughter, Debra Rippe, says her parents’ work ethic was something she admired from a young age. “If my father said he was going to be somewhere, he would be there,” Debra said. “Similarly, whatever my mother did, she did to perfection. She believed that if you committed to something, you stay committed.”

Along with hard work, Walter and Marie taught their children the importance of faith. “My father was Catholic all the way through,” Debra said. “My parents instilled in us from a small age to always pray the Rosary and attend Mass.”

Throughout their lives, Walter and Marie gave their time, talent, and treasure to organizations and causes they deeply cared about. Walter was an esteemed member of the Schoenchen Third Degree Knights of Columbus Council #4166 and the Bishop Cunningham Fourth Degree Assembly #282. Marie was a lifetime member of the Daughters of Isabella and a CCD teacher at Our Lady Help of Christians Parish in Antonio.

At the end of their lives, Walter and Marie knew they wanted to leave a lasting impact. They carefully selected a handful of organizations to be the beneficiaries of their estate. Catholic Charities of Northern Kansas was among the organizations they chose. The couple’s son, Steven Dechant, says his parents’ legacy giving is indicative of the values they lived their lives by.

“The causes they cared about indicated their priorities,” Steven said. “Throughout their lives, my parents donated to the churches and Catholic schools throughout Hays. This legacy gift was a shared mission by Mom and Dad. They jointly decided to pass this legacy on, so that it could be used by others.”

Learn how you can change lives through estate giving at www.ccnks.org/legacy.