Connie Bumstead

Constance “Connie” Jo Bumstead, 88, passed away on April 10, 2025, surrounded by family, at Allen County Regional Hospital in Iola.

Connie was born Dec. 20, 1936, in Pontiac, Michigan, to William McKinley and Rachel (Deal) McKinley.

Connie married the Rev. Ronald Bumstead on July 2, 1955, and they were blessed with three children before moving from Pontiac to Viola, Kansas, to follow Ronald’s calling to ministry. After moving to Kansas, the couple was blessed with two more children. The couple served the United Methodist Church for over four decades, including appointments at Viola, Roxbury, Coyville, High Prairie, Buffalo, Frankfort, Blue Mound, Mound City, Big Creek, Humboldt, Randolph, Leonardville, Severy, Howard, Prescott, Pleasanton, Hepler, Stark, Walnut, Bronson and Moran.

Connie was extremely active in every church community they were a part of. She started the Mother-Daughter Salad Supper at Humboldt, and was quick to volunteer when there was a sewing project that needed done. Together, Connie and her family hosted an annual open house around Christmas time at the parsonage, where she would bake cookies, breads, and divinity for all who attended.

Connie loved her family, and especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She often took trips to visit long-distance relatives, and spent many hours on the phone with her sister, Brenda.

Connie was preceded in death by her parents; husband; four siblings; and children, Ronald, Jr. and Kimberly “Kim”.

She is survived by her sister, Brenda (Clay) Jackson of Waterford, Mich.; children, Kevin (Sue) Bumstead of Warsaw, Mo., Jonathan (Lynn) Bumstead of Overland Park, and Beth Ann Cave (Kevin Rains) of Joplin, Mo.; daughters-in-law, Marilyn Bumstead of Humboldt, and Pam Bumstead of Fredericksburg, Va.; 12 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.

A memorial service for Connie will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, April 25, at Humboldt United Methodist Church, 806 N. Ninth St. Burial will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery. The family will greet friends at a visitation prior to the service from 12:30  to 1:30 p.m. at the church. Memorials are suggested to Humboldt United Methodist Church or Camp Chippewa, and may be left in the care of Feuerborn Family Funeral Service, Iola.