Duane Clifton Hufford went to his eternal destiny on February 13, 2021.  He was born October 26, 1934 to Fred and Margaret (Metzen) Hufford.  He was the first baby born at the Bush Clinic on Main Street in Harper, Kansas.  In Duane's early years, they lived on the family farm near Rago, Kansas.  When he was in the fifth grade, the house burned down and they moved to Harper, where he resided for the remainder of his lifetime.

A 3-sport athlete and vice-president of his senior class, Duane graduated from Harper High School in 1952.  He attended Kansas State University from 1952–1954 before entering the Army, where he was stationed at a Nike missile base in Chicago, Illinois, on the shores of Lake Michigan.  After his service in the Army, Duane resumed his studies at Kansas State, graduating with a bachelor's degree in Agronomy.

Duane met his first wife, Dorothy JoAnn Sauer, and was married on June 26, 1957.  He was a fourth generation farmer and stockman with land in Harper and Kingman counties.  During his lifetime, he also had other jobs including the grocery store at the Sinclair filling station in Harper, school bus driver, trapper, and mowing lawns.  In 1994, Duane married his second wife, Rosemary Hibbs.

After retirement from active farming, Duane was instrumental in refurbishing the Jeff Long Post #104 American Legion building in Harper and resurrecting the weekly Saturday night bingo.  He was a member of the American Legion Post 295 in Cheney, Kansas, Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, and served as president of both the Harper Lions Club and Harper County Farm Bureau while he was an active member.

Duane is preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Margaret, first wife Dorothy, and grandson Jeremy.  He is survived by his wife Rosemary, five children: David (Sally) Hufford, Dana Vahsholtz, Denise (Mark) Dolan, Diane O'Donald and Dean (Joy) Hufford; two step-children; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and five step-grandchildren.

As with all good Kansas farmers, Duane loved the smell of the rich brown earth after plowing, the emerald sheen of the newly sprouted wheat in the fall, and the golden waves of ripe wheat before harvest in the early summer.  He was an honest man who was loved by his family and will be missed by those whose life he touched.

Viewing and registration is from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Recitation of the Rosary is 7:00 p.m. Friday, February 19, 2021 and Mass of Christian Burial is 10:00 a.m. Saturday, February 20, 2021, both at the St. Patrick Catholic Church, Harper, of the St. Joan of Arc Parish Community of Harper County, with Father Bob Pinninti officiating.  Please wear protective face covering if able to do so and practice social distancing.  Interment follows at the Harper Cemetery with honors provided by the United States Army Honor Guard and the American Legion.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Joan of Arc Parish or Heartland Hospice. Please make checks payable to the desired entity and they can be sent in care of the funeral home. Prairie Rose Funeral Homes, 613 W 14th St ~ Harper, Kansas 67058