Laura Ausmus went to be with the Lord on May 6, 2022, surrounded by her family, at Pikes Peak Hospice. Laura Bell Overholt Ausmus was born on the family farm near McAllister, KS on March 11, 1936, to Otis and Elsie (Knox) Overholt. She was the youngest of 9 children.
Laura attended school in McAllister, Kansas through 4th grade and then attended school at Winona, Kansas. She graduated with the class of 1956.
When she was 14, she met the love of her life, Richard Ausmus. They married 2 years later on July 27th, 1952. They moved to Colorado Springs where Richard was stationed in the Army and had their first child, Barbara Diane, Dec. 23rd, 1953. Barbara passed away ten days later from meningitis. After Richard was released from the Army they moved to Garden City, KS where they lived 5 years. In May of 1960, they moved back to Colorado Springs. Throughout this time Laura was a housewife and mother to four other children.
Laura worked at Van Briggle Pottery and then Ampex for 10 years. Richard and Laura opened a feed store called Richard Ausmus Hay. They ran this successful business for 22 years.
They enjoyed 28 years of retirement together. Laura enjoyed watching her grandchildren and sharing in her husband’s love of antique trucks. They traveled together to many truck shows. They also enjoyed traveling south for the winter to visit family, friends and relax.
Laura was a member of the Church on the Ranch, the Aristocrats Red Hat Club and the Butterfield Trail Association.
Laura will be remembered for many wonderful attributes. Among those were her love for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and her willingness to help them whenever she could. She will also be remembered for her wonderful breakfasts, home-made syrup, chocolate sheet cake and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. She was also known for being very resourceful. She never threw anything away that could be of use. Rewashing Ziplocs bags for future use and saving banana peels for her fertilizer in her garden are just a few examples.
The last few years of her life, she resided at Prairie Senior Living Complex in Colby, KS.
Survivors include 4 children: Brad (Elaine) Ausmus, Colorado Springs, CO; Rod (Linda) Ausmus, Colorado Springs, CO; Marilyn (Gary) Ochs, Russell Springs, KS; Rick (Beckie) Ausmus, Payton, CO; 16 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren with two on the way; sister-in-law, Marge Ausmus and many nieces and nephews.
Laura was preceded in death by her parents; husband; infant daughter, Barbara Diane; 5 brothers: Arno, Cecil, Clyde, Homer and Vertis; 3 sisters: Wilda, Wilma and Donna; and one grandson, Eric Ochs.
Visitation will be held at Shrine of Remembrance on May 16th 5-7 pm. Services will be held at Church on the Ranch on May 17th, 2022, at 10:30 am.
In lieu of flowers, monetary donations may be made to Church on the Ranch, 3685 Jeannine Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80917 or Butterfield Trail Association, in care of Marilyn Ochs, 1506 K-25 HWY, Russell Springs, KS 67764.
COURTNEY KLINE
16 May 2022What a wonderful woman and mother. Sorry I didn’t get to know her. May she rest in peace after a long and fulfilling life.