Kenneth LeRoy Herbster

Kenneth LeRoy Herbster, 86, of Morrill, Kansas, passed away on Monday, March 16, 2026, at the Apostolic Christian Home in Sabetha, Kansas.

Ken was born on May 23, 1939, in Morrill, Kansas, to George and Nellie (Wardlow) Herbster. He attended a one-room country school north of Morrill and then transferred to the Morrill Public Schools in the third grade. He graduated from Morrill High School in 1957. He then attended Kansas State University, where he was a member of the livestock judging team. He graduated from Kansas State in 1961 with a degree in animal science and returned to the family farm. As Cold War tensions escalated, in conjunction with the early days of the Vietnam conflict, he was drafted into the United States Army in the fall of 1961. After basic training at Fort Carson, Colorado, and MP training at Fort Gordon, Georgia, he was stationed in Germany. Following his honorable discharge from military service, he returned to the family farm in late 1963.

In 1972, Ken married the love of his life, Margaret “Mardy” Edwards, along with their three children, Jeff, Betsy, and David. In 1979, a fourth child, Judd, was added to this union. Ken will forever be remembered as a loving husband, father, and grandfather who was always there for his family. Until the final day of his life, Ken remained by Mardy’s side as she battled numerous health issues.

Ken and Mardy lived and raised their family on a farm north of Morrill. Ken farmed and raised livestock until his retirement. In 2017, Ken and Mardy moved to the Apostolic Christian Retirement Apartments in Sabetha. During his retirement, Ken continued to work delivering mail for the United States Postal Service. 

Ken lived a life of service to his community. He served on the Sabetha Unified School District Board of Education from 1982 to 1994, including a term as President, and was a member of the building committee that oversaw the planning and construction of the new Sabetha Middle School. He later served on the Prairie Hills USD 113 Foundation Board. Ken served multiple terms on the church council of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Falls City, Nebraska, where he was a lifelong member. He also served on numerous other boards, including the Northeast Kansas Rural Development Association, the Morrill Alumni Association, Morrill Township, and as a leader of the Morrill Tip-Top 4-H Club.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents; his granddaughter, Brenna Herbster; and his sister-in-law, Bonnie Edwards.

Ken is survived by his wife of 53 years, Mardy; his daughter, Betsy (Paul) Tedman; his three sons, Jeff (Vicky) Herbster, David (Connie) Herbster, and Judd (Kelly) Herbster; his nine grandchildren, Cody (Andie) Herbster, Maggie (Alex) Mueller, Matt (Michelle) Tedman, Meganne (Evan) Lamprecht, Madeline (Al) Burnes, Kevan Herbster, Lauren (Tanner) Baumgart, Tyler Herbster, and Blake Herbster; his 16 great-grandchildren, McKenzie, Michael, Mary, Matthias, Margaret and Malachi Tedman; Kellen, Landon, and Joelle Lamprecht; August Burnes; Rhett and Zade Herbster; Knox, Dax and Hux Mueller; and Taylor Baumgart; his brother, Robert (Mary) Herbster; his sister, Jan (Danny) Hay; his brother-in-law, Robert Edwards; and his sister-in-law, Mary Lou Gibbs; and his numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

The family extends a special note of gratitude to the staff at the Apostolic Christian Home, Sabetha Community Hospital, Sabetha EMS, and Nemaha County Home Health & Hospice for their exceptional kindness and care provided to their parents over the past few years.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Falls City, Nebraska. A visitation will be held on Friday, March 20, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Popkess Mortuary Chapel in Sabetha, Kansas. Interment will be made in the Morrill Cemetery in Morrill with military honors. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Sabetha EMS, Nemaha County Home Health & Hospice in Sabetha, and St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Falls City, Nebraska, sent in care of Popkess Mortuary, 823 Virginia Street, Sabetha, Kansas 66534.