Herbert Ralph Leatherman

Herbert Ralph Leatherman, age 79, of Walker, passed away on Saturday, April 19, 2008, at St. John's Regional Medical Center, in Joplin, following a short illness. He was born on Dec. 4, 1928, in River Stix, Ohio, to Noah H. and Ida E. Leatherman. On Aug. 3, 1952, he was married to Violet Mae Wenger and to this union his seven children were born. Violet preceded Herbert in heath on Nov. 8, 1965. On April 17, 1966, he was married to Tena Schmidt and she survives of the home.

Herbert moved to Hillsboro, Kan., at a young age and was raised there. Herbert spent 20 year of his life doing mission work in Mexico and the Dominican Republic. He was ordained into the ministry of the Church of God In Christ Mennonite and had served in the Living Faith Mennonite Church, in Walker, since 1967. Herbert farmed, operated a dairy, and raised cattle most of his life.

In addition to his wife Tena, he is survived by his children; Raquel Schmidt and her husband Steve, of Walker, Paul Leatherman and his wife Carolyn, of Walker, Tim Leatherman and his wife Kendra, of Rich Hill, Marjorie Decker and her husband Rodney, of Nevada, Arlene Koehn and her husband Steve, of Harwood, Hope Hauder and her husband Lynn, of Versailles, Mo., Leatha Koehn and her husband Marshall, of Walker; 30 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; one brother, Robert Leatherman and his wife Esther, of Walker; one sister Ruth Koehn, of Walker; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Tuesday, April 22, 2008, at the Living Faith Mennonite Church, in Walker, with Ron Koehn and Robert Smith officiating. Interment will follow in the Living Faith Cemetery. Friends may call from 12 p.m., on Sunday, until 5 p.m., on Monday, at the funeral home.

Those who wish may contribute in his memory to the Living Faith Mennonite Church to help foreign ministry projects.

View obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.