DODGE CITY- Josephine “Peppa” Rojas Olmstead, 82, died Monday, June 13, 2022 at St. Catherine Hospital of Dodge City.
She was born on February 25, 1940 at Pratt, Kansas the daughter of Pedro and Josephine (Blea) Duran. She moved to Dodge City in 1974 from Pratt, Kansas. She was a member of the VFW Auxiliary and the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe both in Dodge City. Peppa enjoyed watching the gameshow network, the Kansas City Chiefs and KU basketball as well as cooking for her family, going to the casino, and going to the VFW for beers and KENO where she was known as the “dancing queen”. She worked as a beautician at Fern’s in Dodge City and later worked with her sister at cowboy supply and then Wal-Mart.
In 1957 she married Benny L. Rojas at Enid, Oklahoma. He preceded her in death on June 27, 1991. On June 18, 2004 she married Robert “Bob” Olmstead in Dodge City, he also preceded her in death on September 26, 2020.
She is survived by; her son, Daniel L. Rojas and companion, Claudia Salas, Dodge City; daughter, Maria Rojas, Dodge City; daughter-in-law, Lisa Rojas, Wichita; 4 brothers, Jerry Duran, Garden City, Pete Duran and wife Corrine, Sandusky, Michigan, Richard Duran and wife Geri, Las Cruses, New Mexico, and Gene Duran and wife Patty, Dodge City; sister, Caroline “Nina” Flores, Dodge City; 5 grandchildren, Daniel C. Rojas, Audry McFeeters and husband Zack, Haley Rojas, Dawson Hampton and Xander Rojas; 4 great grandchildren, Sydney, Sladen, Sage and Skylar McFeeters. She was known to everyone as “mom”, several adopted children whom she accepted as her own.
She was also preceded in death by her parents, and son, Benny Rojas.
Vigil service will be at 7:00 pm Thursday, June 16, 2022 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dodge City. Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 am Friday, June 17, 2022 at the church with Fr. Rudin Din presiding. Burial will follow in Maple Grove Cemetery, Dodge City. Visitation will be Thursday from noon to 4:00 pm at Ziegler Funeral Chapel, Dodge City.
The family suggests memorials to St. Jude Children’s Hospital in care of Ziegler Funeral Chapel, 1901 N. 14th Ave., Dodge City, Kansas 67801. Condolences may be sent to www.zieglerfuneralchapel.com.
