Laura Mae (Trick) Atkinson was born July 12, 1929, in Anderson, IN to Mertie Juanita (Turner) and Homer F. Trick and left this earth on April 10, 2016. She was residing at Cedar View Assisted Living in Hays. She married Edwin Fay Bennett on November 30, 1947 in Alton, IL and to this marriage three children were born. She later married Clyde Atkinson on September 11, 1981 in Philipsburg, KS.
Laura was a lifelong learner. She graduated from De Soto High School, De Soto MO in 1947 and throughout her life took many college and seminar classes. Laura and Ed managed the Norton Airport from 1954-1962. During that time, Laura earned her pilot’s license on Mother’s Day, 1960. Laura then worked as the Norton County Deputy Registrar of Deeds until the fall of 1963 when she and Ed purchased the Jennings Journal and Seldon Advocate newspaper residing in Jennings. They published the newspaper until March of 1967 when the business was destroyed by fire.
They moved to Logan in June of 1967 after purchasing the Logan Republican. Laura remained as owner and publisher even after Ed’s declining health. Following her marriage to Clyde, he helped her with the newspaper and she helped him with “Clyde’s Café”. They moved to Hays following retirement.
A member of the Kansas Press Association, Laura received numerous editorial and other awards. She also belonged to Kansas Press Women’s Association, Logan and Hays Business and Professional Women’s Association, Palco Art Club and various other organizations. She served for many years on the Northwest Kansas Housing Board and on the Dream Inc. Board.
As a preacher’s daughter, Laura was raised to believe and have a strong faith in Jesus Christ. That lead her to have a conviction to help the poor and anyone in need throughout her life. Loving people was always second nature to her. She was a member of St. Michaels Episcopal Church in Hays and various Bible Study groups.
Laura leaves behind her three children – Carolyn (Bennett) and Dr. John Rule, Edwin and Chris Bennett and John Bennett; grandchildren – Michelle (Rule) and Jeb Brewster, Melissa (Rule) and David Laughlin, Matthew Rule, Amanda (Bennett) and Jake Swim, Dustin Byler, Andrew Bennett and Tiffany Bennett; and six great grandchildren.
Also surviving are her step-children – Sonja (Atkinson) Roberts, Richard and Lisa Atkinson, Craig and Deborah Atkinson, Charles (Chuck) Atkinson and Tony and Kelley Atkinson and several step-grandchildren. She leaves a sister, Mona LaShure; brother, Lee Trick and sister-in-law, Mildred (Midge) Trick.
She was pre-deceased by her parents, husbands, brothers, Homer Trick, Jr and Virgil Trick and step-granddaughter Mindy Atkinson.
Memorial services will be Saturday, May 7th at 11:00 am in St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, 2900 Canal Blvd in Hays.
Memorial contributions are suggested to St. Michael’s Church.
Arrangements in care of Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory, 2509 Vine, Hays, KS 67601.