(1946-2026)

John Ralph Westerman was born on April 7, 1946, in Ellsworth, Kan., to Ralph and Neva Westerman. He passed away peacefully on July 24, 2026, with his wife Dorothy and daughter Julie at his side.

John was the oldest of his parents’ four children and grew up helping on his father’s farm. John started school in a one-room country schoolhouse before attending Ellsworth High School in town. John was a bit of a “daredevil” throughout his teen years — a trait he carried with him for the rest of his days. He attended Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan., where he began dating Dorothy Hokr, also of Ellsworth. They married in 1968 at St. Bernard Catholic Church, Ellsworth. John graduated in 1969 with a degree in business administration and a minor in fishing at “Tuttle Puddle” (the local nickname for Tuttle Creek Lake). John then attended law school at Washburn University in Topeka, Kan., graduating with his Juris Doctor in 1973.

After graduation, John and Dorothy moved to Farmington, N.M. — a place John always called “God’s Country.” He began practicing law in Farmington the same year. The “help thy neighbor” values instilled in John from growing up on the family farm led him to join multiple local volunteer organizations. Most notably, he was a 50-year member of the Farmington Noonday Civitans.

In 1978, John and Dorothy welcomed their daughter Julie. The family spent many days enjoying the lakes, mountains and canyons in the area, as well as summer vacations to the Westerman family farm in Kansas. John loved hunting, fishing, water skiing, four-wheeling, snowmobiling and snow skiing. He was also a devoted Kansas State football fan and attended as many regular season games and bowl games as possible.

John was preceded in death by his parents Ralph and Neva, his in-laws Frank and Mary Hokr and brother in-law Byron “Skip” Larson. He is survived by his wife of 58-years, Dorothy, Farmington, N.M.; daughter Julie, Fort Worth, Texas; siblings Marilyn (Orlen) Borell, Wilson, Kan.; Paul (Marlene), Ellsworth, Kan.; and Jeanette Larson, Dodge City, Kan.; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and many longtime friends who became family.

Services will be held at St. Bernard Catholic Church, 911 N. Kansas Ave., Ellsworth, Kan., on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, at 10 a.m., with reception to follow in the parish hall. There will be a private internment for immediate family at Ellsworth Memorial Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Parkinson’s Foundation in memory of John R. Westerman (https://www.parkinson.org) or to St. Bernard Catholic Church, 911 N. Kansas Ave., Ellsworth, KS 67439.