Prentice Dwaine Waite, 86, of Winfield, Kansas, passed away Saturday afternoon, June 22, 2024, at Winfield Senior Living.

He was born September 22, 1937, to Otis Boyd and Delores Waite.  He attended Red Top School in rural Cowley County and went to Winfield High School, graduating in 1955.  As a youth, he was active in the Walnut Valley 4-H Club, serving as officer and chairman of various committees.  His major projects were beef, leadership, and swine.  He participated in 4-H Days, model meetings, project talks, square dancing, leadership talks, livestock judging and the 4-H Achievement Fair, the Cowley County Fair, and the The Kansas State Fair.  He was a member of the top livestock judging team for Kansas earning a trip to the National Western Stock Show in 1958 where he placed fourth in beef judging.  In 1958, he won a trip to Chicago for the national 4-H Congress.

While in high school, he was very active in FFA, earning the Chapter, State, and American Farmer Degrees.  His father and uncle had each also received the American Farmer Degree.  He participated in various activities and projects, and was an avid supporter of promoting FFA to young people.  In later years, Dwaine was active in the FFA Alumni.

Following his school days, he farmed with his brother Larry.  Later, he was a part of a family operation engaged in farming and breeding registered Hereford cattle, known as The Walnut Valley Hereford Ranch.  The farming operation raised wheat, sorghum, corn, soybeans, alfalfa, and prairie hay.  They grazed cattle on home pastures and in the flint hills during the summer months.  The ranch hosted Kansas Junior Hereford Days, Kansas and county Hereford tours, an annual cattle sale, judging schools, and other events.  Dwaine served as the first president of the Kansas Junior Hereford Association, which was the first junior organization in the nation for young Hereford cattle enthusiasts.  Later he served as an advisor for the organization going to the American Royal and national convention every fall for many years.  Hereford cattle are a part of his heritage and he has continued to have some cattle all his life.  In 2000, he was named Honorary Member of the Kansas Hereford Association.  In 2007, he and his wife Theresa were named Breeder of the Year by the Kansas Hereford Association.  Dwaine was recognized at the American Hereford Association for the Waite family having raised Hereford cattle for 100 years, a heritage he was very proud of.  He and Theresa traveled to many national Hereford events, American Royals, National Western Cattle shows and attended many Hereford tours in various states.  He always enjoyed visiting the various ranches and seeing their cattle.  During the years of the operation of the ranch, he and Theresa drove the old grain truck with stock racks in the middle of the night to central Oklahoma to meet a semi-truck loaded with hereford sale cattle from Oregon.  The ranch had purchased a new herd bull from a ranch in Eugene, Oregon.  This was before the stock trailers of today.

Dwaine was an active member of the Holy Name Catholic Church.  He served as treasurer of the Men's Club, years back; served as a member of the committee planning and building the current rectory, helped with bingo games, welcoming committee, church choir, stewardship committee and other activities.  He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council, working on their projects (especially making bierocks). Dwaine was a member of the Winfield Jaycees.  He served as chairman one year hosting the state Outstanding Farmer contest for the Kansas Jaycees.  Also, he was on various projects for the organization while a member, including concession stands, during the motorcycle racing events, county fairs, etc.

He served as 4-H project leader; superintendent at the county fair, assisted with county livestock judging contests.  He took a group of 4Hers to various livestock judging contest and field days.  One time, coming home with 4Hers winning a ham, bacon, and a small pig from a swine/cattle judging event.  He was always interested in helping young people.

Dwaine served the Cowley County Farm Bureau as an officer and committee chairman.  He was recognized by the Kansas Farm Bureau for his work as a membership chairman for the fourth district winning a trip to Nashville, Tennessee.  He represented Cowley County at many state conventions ats a voting delegate.  As president, he traveled to Washington D.C. for a state trip.  He worked recruiting new members locally for many years.

Other activities included serving as Republican committeeman for Fairview Township for many years, in turn serving on the county Republican Committee.  He completed the Dale Carnegie Course.  He was a member of many of his high school alumni reunions.

His hobbies included working with his Hereford cattle, raising tomatoes, and collecting old coins.  He raised tomatoes for many years, sharing them with the neighbors and church friends and maybe selling some.  He was very proud of his tomatoes and the work involved in raising a bumper crop.  Theresa made many jars of salsa and pasta sauce and canned whole tomatoes.  He made many cattle rope halters for use on the ranch and himself.  He also would give some to various 4Hers for their beef projects.  His main love in life was his wife, Theresa Jo, and his Hereford cattle.  In fact, he cared for his Herefords until the day he had his stroke in 2022.  He loved life and enjoyed people.

His family includes his wife Theresa Waite of Winfield; a sister Maxine Rusk of Kearney, NE; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Dwaine was preceded in death by his brother Larry Waite.

The Rosary will be prayed on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at 6:00 P.M. at Holy Name Catholic Church.  The family will greet visitors immediately following the Rosary.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday morning, June 27, 2024, at 10:00 A.M. at the church under the direction of Miles Funeral Service.  Interment will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery.

Memorials have been established in Dwaine's name for Holy Name Catholic School and for Harry Hynes Hospice.  Contributions may be made through the funeral home.