Raymond Kalm

(From Cheney-Witt Funeral Chapel)

Raymond Henry Kalm, Sr., age 87, a resident of rural Garland, Kansas, passed away Saturday, August 31, 2024, in Overland Park, Kansas, surrounded by his family. He was born March 22, 1937, near Mulberry, Kansas, the son of Lewis Hurl Kalm and Nellie Louise Pence Kalm. 

Raymond graduated from Ft. Scott High School with the Class of 1955. He went on to further his education at K-State University. Raymond served with the Kansas Army National Guard from 1959 to 1965. 

In 1967, he was united in marriage to Bettie Garrens. They made their home in Kansas City where they raised their boys, Randy, Raymond, Ronnie and Tommy. Raymond worked as a freight conductor for the Frisco Railroad which later became Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. For thirty-six years, he rode the rails between Kansas City and Ft. Scott and maintained homes in both locations. In addition to working on the railroad, he also farmed and raised cattle all his life. 

Raymond took an active role in raising his boys. He helped with their Boy Scout troop and went on many camping and hiking trips. He was proud of the fact that three of his sons became Eagle Scouts. In later years, Raymond was active with the Pioneer Harvest Fiesta Committee, the American Legion and also served as treasurer of the Sheffield Cemetery Association. 

Above all, Raymond loved spending time with his family. He loved to plan and attend family gatherings for any occasion. He was a member of the Hannon Free Will Baptist Church near Liberal, Missouri. One of Raymond’s daily passions was to help someone else, and he was grateful that he was the beneficiary of assistance from many friends and neighbors.

Survivors include his children, Randy Kalm (Lynn) of North Kansas City, Missouri, Raymond Kalm, Jr. (Lori) of Stillwell, Kansas, Ronnie Kalm (Julie) of North Kansas City, Missouri and Tommy Kalm (Racquel) of Carl Junction, Missouri; six grandchildren, Randy Kalm, Jr., Tyler Kalm, Micah Heizer, Paige Kalm, Garrett Kalm, Katie Hudson; and four great-grandchildren, Blake, Sabrina, Angel and Christian. Raymond also affectionately includes Jazzy Robinson and Kloe Hamilton among his granddaughters. Also surviving are his stepchildren, Karla Tersiner (Jeff) of Hepler, Kansas, Mark Burr (Pat) of Centerview, Missouri and Rod Burr (Debbie) of Elkton, Maryland; a brother, Lewis Kalm of Frontenac, Kansas and a sister, Kathryn Doerfler of Ft. Scott, Kansas. 

Raymond was preceded in death by his parents Hurl and Nellie Kalm, his longtime special friend, Irene Thomas, his second wife, Kay Burr Kalm and his brother, Keith Kalm.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, September 5th at the Hannon Free Will Baptist Church in Liberal, Missouri. Burial will follow in the Sheffield Cemetery near Arcadia, Kansas. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Wednesday at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Hannon Free Will Baptist Church and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.