Ted Dobler  --  1981

        Ted Dobler, son of one of the pioneer families of Kit Carson County, passed away July 30, 1981, after a lengthy illness.  he was born on the family homestead north of Bethune, on July 17, 1907, third son of John and Magdalena Stutz Dobler.  His childhood years were spent growing up on the homestead.  He attended school at the rural Prairie View School District north of Bethune.  Ted was also active, along with the rest of his family, in the Settlement Hope Congregational Church. 
        During the depression years of the thirties, Ted worked near Sterling, where he met and married Lydia Lebswack in February of 1934.  They continued farming there until they returned to Burlington in 1941, and re-established their farm northwest of Burlington, where they engaged in ranching and farming, as well as raising their family to young adulthood.  This home was blessed with four children:  Carol Jean, who died in infancy, and Bonnie, Stan, and Tom.  Ted enjoyed his family and saw his children become educated, married and establishing homes of their own; now being Dean and Bonnie Witzel and Tom and Rose Dobler of Burlington, and Stan and Joanne Dobler of Edmund, Okla.  Ten grandchildren added to the pleasures of his life.  The y are Doug and Donn Witzel and Chris, Will, Lynette and Jessica Dobler, all of Burlington; Dena Witzel of Fort Collins; and Brent, Brian and Barbara Dobler, of Edmond, Okla.
        Ted was active in church work for his Lord and Saviour all of his life and served Him in the capacity of elder for many years.  He was also a member of the board of directors of the Federal Land Bank Association for several terms. 
        One of Ted's special enjoyments in life was music.  In the 1920's he played a trumpet with the Burlington Municipal Band, under the direction of Curtis Bradshaw.  Ted also sang with numerous groups, such as church choirs and quartets.  Two of the more prominent groups were the Christian Business Men's Chorus of the 1950's, and the Harmonaires Quartet, which was well known around the area. 
        Besides his immediate family, survivors include four of his five brother:  John, Art, and Elmer, all of Burlington, and Walter of Kansas City, Mo., along with their families, and a host of nieces and nephews as well as friends.  His oldest brother, William, preceded him in death in 1974. 
        Funeral services were held at the First Christian Church in Burlington on Monday, Aug. 3, 1981.  Officiating was Bob Mazfield, close friend and former neighbor, presently of Welch, Okla.  Musical selections were provided by the men's choir of the Hope United Church of Christ of Bethune, accompanied at the piano by Beulah Lambert.  Dorothy Isaak was organist. 
        Casket bearers were Raymond Dobler, D.W. Dobler, Richard Lebsack, Kenneth Dobler, Gordon Schuppe, Loren Hettinger and Lyle Lebsack.  Honorary casket bearers were Virgil Unruh, John Schlichenmayer, Jack Rutter, Willard Stahlecker, Bill Fisher, Frank Witzel, Albert Strobel, Emil Knodel.  Interment was at Fairview Cemetery.