ELKHART – Phil Yoder, 87, died Thursday, April 12, 2012, at Morton County Care Center in Elkhart.

He was born Dec. 11, 1924, to Daniel and Eva (Zimmerman) Yoder in Jett, Okla.

He married Betty Minor March 26, 1948, in Elkhart. She survives.

He graduated from Harper High School.

He worked for the Santa Fe Railroad. He was drafted into the United States Army.  He served from 1943 – 1946 in the European Theatre as an infantry soldier during World War II. In 1949, he began farming.

He was a member of the Kansas and American Polled Hereford Associations, former USD 218 school board member, a supporter and leader of 4-H for many years, a lifetime member of VFW Post No. 3162 of Elkhart, a member of the American Legion, and a member of the United Methodist Church of Elkhart.

He is also survived by his son, Terry Yoder and wife, Jennifer, Liberal; one daughter, Lori Hanna and husband, Scott, Richfield; two brothers, Ronald Yoder and wife, Lola, Wichita, and Robert Yoder and wife, Donna, Goddard; three sisters, Alma York, Enid, Okla., Doris Selley, BellaVista, Ark., and Joan Freeman and husband, Albert, Liberal; and five grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and three sisters, Odena Miller, Evelyn Holmes and Donita Parson.

o Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Monday  at the United Methodist Church of Elkhart, with Pastor Bruce Ferguson presiding.

Burial will follow at the Elkhart Cemetery with military rites conducted by the VFW Post No. 3162.

Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m.  Sunday at Garnand Funeral Home in Elkhart,with family present from 6 to 8 p.m.

Memorials are suggested to the Morton County Fair Association or the United Methodist Church in care of Garnand Funeral Home, P.O. Box 854, Elkhart, KS 67950.