Wanda Belle Ricker Bollman was born October 9, 1931 to Ponder and Ethel Thomas Ricker at Gibbon, Oklahoma and passed away peacefully in Wakita, Ok on October 4th, 2024. She was blessed with the joy of experiencing the love of family and friends over the preceding days prior to her passing.

Wanda attended first grade at Valley School which was a one room schoolhouse. The Ricker family soon moved to Anthony, Ks. during the depression and the Dirty Thirties. Wanda graduated from Anthony HS in 1950.

Wanda married Harold Bollman November 16, 1951 and they were married for 59 years. Harold and Wanda lived in Anthony for six months then moved to the farm west of Wakita, OK where they raised their three children.

Wanda was a talented homemaker and seamstress and made all her children's clothes. She worked alongside Harold on the farm by driving a wheat truck, tractor, helping plant wheat, and made sure there were hot meals on the table. Wanda could be found in the garden before going to the field to help out, or was canning the fresh produce from her garden.

Wanda learned cake decorating and began to make and decorate beautiful wedding, anniversary and birthday cakes for area residents. Her decorating skills were featured in the Enid News and Eagle the fall of 1975.

Her love of cooking and baking was evident by all her entries at the Grant County Fairs. She also enjoyed judging at area county fairs. Her baking skills were loved by all her children and grandchildren. When they began to cook and bake, they would ask her for recipes and advice. She worked with the county 4-H teaching the students how to bake cakes, bread and how to make a pie crust. Wanda belonged to the Good Will Extension Group for 65 years and cherished the friendships she gained from the organization where she held local and county offices for the group. Wanda learned how to quilt at a young age and enjoyed the art of quilting so joined the Quilt Guild of Ponca City where she made beautiful quilts for her family to enjoy for years to come.

Wanda also found time to work at the election board for 25 years at the Manchester precinct. As she became more homebound Wanda began to be an avid football and basketball fan of the OSU Cowboys.

Wanda and Harold were beloved by their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her grandchildren spent many summers helping on the farm. She avidly kept up with all of their activities (and great-grandkids) and was proud of each one of them.

Wanda made the most important decision of her life when she gave her life to the Lord at the young age of 11 at Central Baptist Church in Anthony where she taught Sunday school for 60 years and served on many committees.

Wanda was preceded in death by her husband Harold who passed away in December of 2010; parents, Ponder and Ethel Ricker; brothers: Bill, Stanley and Frances Ricker; granddaughter-in-law, Emily Murphy; and sister-in-law, Joyce Bollman.

Wanda is survived by her three children: Cindy Bollman Murphy (Kenny), Cathy Bollman Graham (Terry) and Jeffrey Bollman (Ann); seven grandchildren: Kenna Murphy Mosley (Jeremiah), Scott Murphy, Kelly Graham, Kara Graham Trick (Joe), Jeffrey Bollman II (Dana), Jared Bollman (Brooke) and Jacob Bollman (Erin); great-grandchildren: Madelyn, Oliver, and London Mosley, Paden and Sage Murphy, Rye, Cort and Breck Bollman, Brenlee, Baylor, Eleanor and Ponder Bollman, and Winston and Audrina Trick; sisters, Donna Hamma, Rita Foss, Joyce Knutson (Neil); brothers, Gary Ricker (Peggy), Johnny Ricker (Shondra), Larry Ricker (Candi);  sisters-in-law, Edna Bollman Smith and Elsie Bollman Derrick.

Funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 8, 2024 at the Bethel Hawley Baptist Church in Hawley, Oklahoma.  Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery, west of Wakita.

Visitation with the family present will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday at Prairie Rose Funeral Home in Anthony.

Memorials in memory of Wanda may be made to the Fairview Cemetery, Bethel Hawley Baptist Church, or the Hawley Fire Department, and can be sent in care of Prairie Rose Funeral Home, 602 E. Main St., Anthony, KS 67003.