Lita Mae Soderquist, 82, of Parsons died Tuesday, June 28, 2011, of natural causes at Via Christi St. Francis Hospital in Wichita. Death followed a month long illness.

She was born March 31, 1929, in Selma to Ruby Mae and Russell Coen. She grew up and attended schools in the Iola area.

On Nov. 11, 1948, she married Robert E. Soderquist. They lived in Chanute many years and operated the Silver Grill restaurant with his parents until 1968. In 1969 they moved to Earlton to raise dogs and operate a Kansas City Star paper route in Chanute. She also worked as a certified nurse aide at Colonial Acres Nursing Home in Chanute for several years. He preceded her in death on March 23, 1976. After his death she was a cook at the Tioga Hotel in Chanute and later worked as a maid at the Guest House Motel. In 1989 she retired and moved to Parsons to live with her daughter, Linda, and grandson, Kevin.

From July 1998 to December 2004 she co-owned and managed Thinking Slim in Parsons. In June 2005 she moved to Prairie Meadows apartments where she resided until her death.

Lita was an active member of the Senior Citizens Center in Parsons for many years. She was an avid bingo player, loved playing cards, doing handwork and liked to eat out. She also enjoyed crossword puzzles, reading, good movies, game shows and visiting with family and friends. She especially loved babysitting her great-grandchildren. She was a loving, fun outgoing person with a great sense of humor. She never knew a stranger and always had a good joke or story to tell. She is remembered by her family and friends for her love, her wonderful smile, her hearty laugh and her great love of life.

Survivors include daughters Linda M. Reed of Independence and Lisa Soderquist and her fiancé, Les Eicher, of Minneola, Texas; a son, Larry Soderquist of Gulf Port, Miss.; a grandson, Kevin Reed and his wife, Becky, and their daughter, Cadence, and son, Aiden, of Parsons; and a brother, Larry Wayne Coen of Salina.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Soderquist; parents, Ruby and Russell Coen; brothers, Dale Coen and Perry Coen; and sister, Rosemary Wright.

The service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Parsons. Burial will follow in the High Prairie Cemetery, located on U.S. 75 north of Altoona. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Memorials are suggested to Senior Citizens Center of Parsons or a charity of choice. They may be left at or sent to the funeral home at P.O. Box 942, Parsons, 67357.

Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.