Winchester- Cleona "Ione" Botkin, 99,  formerly of Valley Falls, passed away January 14, 2022 at F.W. Huston Assisted Healthcare in Winchester, Kansas. She was born October 8, 1922 in Imperial, NE, the daughter of Robert S. and Gladys Adelia (Wonderly) Malcolm.

Ione's grandfather Malcolm came from Scotland and homestead in Nebraska. The family lived on that land until she was 10 or 12 years old. After that they moved to town where the Chase County High School was.

She had four sisters; Cleo, LaVone, Catherine, Wilda; one brother, Dean.

Ione started school at an early age, so she graduated in 1939 at age 16. Back then someone who graduated from High School could teach school for three years before they had to have a teaching certificate. Ione taught three years, she would rent a room in someone's house in town close to school, as she would usually walk to school.

On June 1, 1942 she married Ray H. Botkin. They celebrated over 41 years of marriage before his passing on September 1, 1983.

In August of 1942 Ray was drafted into the US Army. Ione stayed with her parents where she had her first daughter, Gayle Lynn. When Gayle was a few months old, Ione took her on a bus to the West Coast where Ray was in training. They lived there for several months sharing an apartment with another couple, as it was hard to find living places.

Ione's sister, Cleo and husband Clarence who was Ray's brother, were living in Valley Falls, KS. So Ione and Gayle went to stay with them. Cleo cared for her two sons Ray & Lee as well as Gayle, while Ione worked in Valley at a place that made tents for the military. She sewed tents there for about 18 months. Most days she walked the 4 or 5 miles from home to town where she worked.

Ray served in the Pacific Theater. He was in the Philippines and Okinawa. He was discharged in 1945, and he joined Ione in Valley Falls where they made their home and raised two daughters Gayle Lynn, and Dee Rayone.

Ione was a farm wife for many years. After her girls were away from home, she worked at various jobs around Valley Falls. At about 50 years old she received her typing certificate, and went to work at the State Office Building in Topeka where she retired in 1988.

Ione was preceded in death by her parents, Robert S. & Gladys A. Malcom; four sisters, Wilda Eileen, Cletus LaVonne, Catherine Leona, and Cleo Maxine; a brother, Robert Dean; an infant grandson, and a granddaughter Donna Jo.

She is survived by her two daughters; Gayle Klose (Richard) of Laurel Montana, and Dee Hilbish of Emporia, KS; 5 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 22, 2022 at Mercer Funeral Home Valley Falls, KS. Burial will follow at the Valley Falls Cemetery.  The family will greet friends from 1:00 p.m. until service time. Memorial contributions may be made to the Valley Falls United Methodist Church or Jefferson County Hospice c/o Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 6, Valley Falls, KS 66088.