On July 10, 2023, Marie C. (Richter) Senter ended her 85-year adventure on Earth. Born to Matthew J. and Mildred M. (Luchtel) Richter on May 21, 1938, at the family home in Milford, Marie grew up loving the outdoors, people, stories, and animals. Before Rails to Trials, Marie often adventured through Dickinson County on foot or horseback, when not working for Dr. J.J. Buchanan as an office girl. She was a baseball player of note, a hunting buddy with her brothers Emil and Herman, and a horsewoman with her younger sister, Corinne. In her later years, tales from these times found their way into her published short stories and the book series, Trestle Over No Name Creek.
Marie graduated from St. Joseph’s Catholic School and Milford High School. Encouraged by Dr. Buchanan and fascinated by the work she did for him, Marie pursued her first nursing degree at Creighton University in Omaha. After graduating from Augustana in Sioux Falls, Marie was instrumental in establishing high-level, on-site medical care for IBP facilities throughout Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota. Her expertise in fast-moving medical environments, along with a growing list of academic credentials, led to a 33-year career at Audie Murphy VA Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.
Marie always encouraged family and friends to expand even the smallest God-given talent as they found their place in life. She was a summer church camp nurse in the Texas hill country for almost 20 years and a Lifetime member of the Lions Club. An avid photographer, she sculpted amazing reflections of God in everyday and Western living. Growing up with her parents’ band, The Jim Luchtel Trio, she loved dancing and learned to play piano. Marie was a member of the First Baptist Church of San Antonio choir for almost 30 years. Her storytelling was channeled into several pieces in the Chicken Soup… series, Guideposts, and other Christian publications.
Marie joins her parents, her older sister Georgia (Sheley), and her youngest brother James Richter in the next chapter. Her first husband, the Reverend Elliot Means, and her second husband, Jack Senter, will no doubt be trying to keep up with Marie’s never-ending itinerary in the next life. Marie’s ashes will be spread in her beloved hill country north of San Antonio in a private service. She leaves brothers Emil (Sue) Richter and Herman (Paula) Richter of Milford, and sister Corinne (Richter) Hummel of Panora with vivid memories. Her nine nieces and nephews, 11 great-nieces and nephews, and the hundreds of patients and teenagers she cared for will always remember her as the energetic, caring, nurse-friend-aunt-neighbor lady who hated cold weather as fiercely as she loved Texas and the Lord.
