Naomi I. Rhodes, 82, Blue Mound, died Monday, May 31, 2010, while residing at the home of her daughter, Nancy Hodges, in Parsons.

She was born Feb. 29, 1928, at the family home in Faulkner, to LeRoy and Ella Bascue Best. Since Naomi was a leap year baby, she always declared March 1 as her birthday.

She and William G. Rhodes were married Dec. 20, 1948, in Miami, Okla. The family lived on farms near Welch, Oklahoma, Bartlett, Kansas, and following retirement in Blue Mound. Through the years, she assisted her husband with their farming operation and, for a brief time, worked at the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant in Parsons.

She enjoyed writing poetry, working word-find puzzles and reading. Naomi was a wonderful wife, a loving mother to her children, and adoring grandmother to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Survivors include one son, Dan W. Rhodes and wife, Irene, Blue Mound; two daughters, Nancy F. Hodges and husband, Don, Parsons, Betsy A. Kyser and husband, Greg, Topeka; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; one cousin, Nadine Larson. Columbus.

She was preceded in death by four brothers, three sisters, and husband, William G. Rhodes, on Feb. 5, 1997.

Graveside service will be 2 p.m. today, June 3, at Lake Creek Cemetery near Bartlett. Friends may call at the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons to sign the register.

Memorials are suggested to the Faith Bible Church in Chanute or Southern Care Hospice in Pittsburg, and may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.