Lenora Compton

Leora ‘Lefty” Compton, age 92, of Hays, Kansas, passed away on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at the Good Samaritan Society Nursing Home in Hays. She was born August 6, 1933, on the family farm northwest of Atwood, Kansas, to Theodor C. and Anna M. (Focke) Domsch.

Leora was baptized into the Lutheran faith on August 14, 1933, in Blakeman and confirmed on March 30, 1947, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Ludell.

She married Dick Compton who was from Lake City, Kansas, in Atwood in April of 1961. They lived in Atwood until relocating to Hays in 1968. The couple had no children.

Leora was the fourth of six children. There were five boys. Her brothers tagged her with the nickname of “Lefty”, and she was affectionately known by that by all her friends and relatives throughout her life. She attended rural schools in Rawlins County, Kansas through the 8th grade and graduated from Atwood Community High School in 1951. Leora spent 14 years working for the United States Department of Agriculture prior to moving to Hays. In Hays, she worked for the Federal Land Bank until she retired in 1989.

Leora was an active member of Messiah Lutheran Church in Hays. In retirement, she enjoyed working with the church’s Ladies Guild members, tying quilts that were sent to underprivileged people overseas. She also enjoyed working in her yard and watching the birds.

She is survived by her sister-in-law, Nyla Domsch, of Colby, KS; her brother-in-law, Rusty Lake, of Lake City, KS; and many nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly.

Lefty was preceded in death by her parents, Theodor C. and Anna M. Domsch; her husband, Dick Compton; her brothers, Robert Domsch; Donald Domsch; Gene Domsch; James Domsch; and Theodore Domsch.

A Celebration of Life gathering will be from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Friday, September 5, 2025, with a Prayer Service at 7:00 P.M. Friday, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays. The memorial service will take place at 10:00 a.m. Monday, September 8, 2025, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Atwood. Inurnment will be in the Fairview Cemetery, Atwood, Kansas, followed by a lunch at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to: Grow Hays for (Community Center Project) or Humane Society of the High Plains.