Althea (Mattix) Petersilie

Althea (Mattix) Petersilie, age 98, passed away Monday, July 4, 2011 at Golden Heights, Garnett, Kansas. She was born on May 31, 1913, in Burwell, Nebraska, the daughter of Andrew and Rose (Chalmers) Robertson. After her mother's death Althea's family moved to Kansas when she was 8. She graduated from Welda High School in 1930 at the age of 16. Althea was united in marriage to Robert Mattix on January 30, 1943. This union was blessed with two daughters: Deborah and Barbara (Bobbi). Robert preceded her in death in 1962. In 1964, she married Melvin Petersilie of Ness City, Kansas. He preceded her in death in 2000. She began her teaching career at the age of 18, by passing a county exam and earning a County Certificate. This allowed her to teach in some rural schools at that time. Althea earned her Bachelor's Degree in 1958 and her Master's Degree in 1961. Althea was an educator in Anderson County from 1950-1965, spending 13 years as the Principal of the Welda Elementary School. After moving to Western, Kansas in 1965 she taught at Ransom, and Ness City, Kansas. Throughout her teaching career Althea was affiliated with local, state and national teaching organizations, and was elected to offices at both the local and state levels. She was a life member of the National Education Association. In 1979 and 1980 Althea was named Master Teacher. In 1982 she was inducted into the Kansas Teacher's Hall of Fame at Dodge City. She was preceded in death by her parents, and one brother, Dick Robertson. Survivors include daughters Debbie Haskins and husband Bob of Olathe, Kansas; Barbara (Bobbi) Richards and husband Steve of Garnett, Kansas; three grandchildren; Tiffany Lickteig of Lenexa, Kansas; Trent Lickteig and wife Jenny of Cave Creek, Arizona; Kyle Richards of Washington, D.C.; one sister-in-law, Delores Robertson of Roseville, Minnesota; three nieces, Sheri Hanson of Arden Hills, Minnesota; Patsy Spillman of Kincaid, Kansas; Pam Holman of Welda, Kansas; one nephew, R.J. Robertson of Little Rock, Arkansas. A celebration of Althea's life will be hosted by her daughters, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 9, 2011 at the Welda Community Building in Welda, Kansas. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Welda United Methodist Church or to the Welda Community Building.