Zola Katherine Riley

Zola Katherine (Hinde) Riley passed away peacefully on March 15, 2018 in Haxtun at the age of 96.  She had been residing at the Haxtun Extended Care Unit for the last few years.

Zola was born on June 9, 1921 in the farm home southwest of Haxtun to Harold and Katherine (Wilhelmi) Hinde.  She was the second born of seven children.  Her older brother, Wayne, was born in Iowa in 1920, but the family moved back to Haxtun before Zola came along.  Her other siblings soon followed, which included Elaine, Elsie, Harold (Jim), William (Bill) and Richard (Dick).  Zola grew up on the family farm and attended Sunbeam, a country school three miles south of Haxtun until she was in the fifth grade--with the exception of a three month period when she briefly lived with her Grandma Stella Hinde and attended school in Seney, Iowa. The family then moved to a farm southeast of Daily, where she finished her schooling and graduated from Daily High School in 1939.

After graduating from high school, Zola had the desire to attend college, but family finances wouldn’t allow for that at the time.  Therefore, she went to work as a housekeeper and companion for a family from Sterling.  With this position, she was able to spend time in Allen’s Park and travel to California.  The pay wasn’t all that great, but she did have a lot of interesting experiences.  After this job ended, Zola returned to Haxtun to work for her mom and aunt in the restaurant business. 

While working at the restaurant as a waitress, Zola met her future husband, Lorin Riley, who was a truck driver for Scotty’s Produce in Haxtun.  After a short courtship, they were married on February 16, 1942 in Ogallala, NE.  Zola and Lorin had four children born to this union, Hughie Lee, Larry Wayne, Joyce Lyn and Jeanette Kay.  Zola remained at home to raise her family until she returned to the workforce in 1959, when she once again worked at a restaurant as a waitress.  She worked in this position for six years, then took a job as a clerk at the local drugstore.  In the spring of 1974, Zola quit this job to stay at home with her husband Lorin, who was suffering from cancer.  He passed away in August of 1974.

Lorin and Zola purchased one of the oldest homes in the Haxtun area, which was built in 1906.  It was originally a farm house, with a large barn and several other buildings surrounding it.  It was known as the Plainview Farm, now located at 130 North Washington.  Zola lived at this residence until 1995, when she sold it and moved to the northwest part of Haxtun to a smaller house. 

In 1977, Zola went into business with her sister and opened the “Home Cafe.”  They sold this business in April of 1983, with intentions to retire—celebrating with a trip to Hawaii.  Retirement was short-lived, however, because in April 1984, Zola became the Executive Director of the Housing Authority.  She also spent some time traveling during this time of her life--a cruise to Alaska, and a trip to Georgia to name a couple.

Zola was a member of the Haxtun Church of the Brethren, the Women’s Fellowship and the American Legion Auxiliary, Fred C. Lewman Unit 137.  In these organizations, she held multiple offices and served on several committees.  She also taught Sunday School for a number of years, worked with the Senior Citizen program, and was a volunteer at the Haxtun Hospital District.  Zola was an avid quilter and enjoyed crocheting in her later years, making beautiful handmade items for her children and grandchildren.  She loved her family dearly, and kept up with all their activities on a regular basis.  Haxtun was Zola’s beloved hometown; there was no other place she would have rather lived.

Zola is survived by her children Hugh and wife Mava Riley, Conroe, TX, Larry and wife Vida Riley, Longmont, CO, Joyce and husband Dave Fetzer, Haxtun, CO, and Jeanette Williams, Fruita, CO; grandchildren Dan and wife Christine Fetzer—Brittany and Kendrick, Anita (Fetzer) and husband Dave Poss—Dustin, Derrick, Nadalyn, Caleb and Shayan, Damon and wife Sarah Fetzer—Kaylin, Trinity, and Sidney, Trevor and wife Jessica Williams—Nate, Maggie, Myra and Emma, Brad and wife Deb Williams—Spencer, Connor, Sienna, and Chase; several step grandchildren and step great-grandchildren; Brothers Jim and wife Dottie Hinde, Richard and wife Pearl Hinde; Sister-in-laws Marion Hinde and Dixie Riley; Aunt Esther Hinde; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.  

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Lorin, brothers Wayne Hinde and Bill Hinde, sisters Elaine Wilderman and Elsie Hinde.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, on Thursday, March 22, at the Haxtun Church of the Brethren with Pastor Ken Frantz and Pastor Jeri Soens officiating. Burial will be at the Haxtun Cemetery at a later date. Baucke Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Zola Katherine Riley, please visit our floral store.