Nelda Bernice Rhoads, age 79, of Elkhart, Kansas died January 21, 2013 at Morton County Hospital in Elkhart, Kansas. She was born October 10, 1933 in Hooker, Oklahoma the daughter of Glenn T. and Minnie Martha (Honeman) Smith.

Nelda was a clerk for K-Mart for 15 years. She was also a cook at Morton County Hospital for over four years. She married James Francis Rhoads on February 4, 1951 in Clayton, New Mexico. Nelda was a member of the Hillcrest Bible Baptist Church in Elkhart.

Survivors include her husband, James, of the home; daughter, Bonnie Bernice Fraser and husband James of Elkhart, Kansas; sisters, Vernadean Christiensen and husband Vernon of Buhler, Kansas, Velma Welch of Arizona, Glenda Mae Dickey of Santa Fe, New Mexico; four grandchildren, Tessa, Samantha, Melissa, Dena; four great-grandchildren, with another on the way; and one great-great-grandchild.

Nelda is preceded in death by her son, Eugene Lynn Rhoads; parents, Glenn and Martha Smith; brother, Harold Smith; and granddaughter, Barbara Jean Fraser.

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, January 24, 2013 at Garnand Funeral Home Chapel in Elkhart, Kansas with Pastor Terrell Giddens officiating. Interment will follow at the Elkhart Cemetery in Elkhart, Kansas. Friends may call Wednesday, January 23, 2013 from 2:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Garnand Funeral Home in Elkhart, Kansas. The family requests memorials be given to the Whistle Stop Park in care of Garnand Funeral Home, PO Box 854, Elkhart, KS 67950.