Ernest Albert Schlatter, 83 of Lebanon, died March 3, 2023, at the Smith County Memorial Hospital in Smith Center, Kansas. Ernie was born Feb. 20, 1940, at the family home south of Lebanon. He was one of three children of Albert (Curly) and Ruth (Pletcher) Schlatter. He attended the Chalk Mound one room school house until 8th grade and then attended Lebanon High School, where he graduated in 1958. Ernie was active in football, basketball, track and FFA. In his high school yearbook, Ernie prophesied that he wanted to be the biggest farmer south of Highway 36. He received FFA’s highest honor, the American Farmer Degree in 1960. After high school, Ernie joined his brother, Jim, to pursue his dream of farming. On the farm, they raised hogs, cattle and crops. He enjoyed hunting, trapping and softball.

Ernie married Barbara Allen on May 10, 1964, at the Oak Creek Christian Church south of Lebanon. To this union were born a son, Walter Frederick, on March 17, 1965, and a daughter, Sheila Marie on March 24, 1968. Ernie joined the National Guard in August of 1961, and received a medical discharge in 1966 at the rank of Sergeant E-5. He told stories of summer camp and serving at Fort Knox during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He talked about how cold it was during the winter and how the Cubans being trained there would not leave their barracks.

He was a member of the Oak Creek Christian Church and served as a deacon for many years. Ernie served on many boards in the area including Kansas Star Base, Kansas Wheat Commission, Midway Co-op, Smith County Extension and Smith County Soil Conservation for 30 years. Over the years, Ernie was active in K-State Extension activities and hosted many crop plots. One year, he helped his granddaughter, Ashley, with a wheat plot as a 4-H project. Ernie and Barbara were awarded the 2006 Kansas Master Farmer and Master Homemaker awards. Ernie won many crop yield contests over the years through the extension program. In 2017, he won the Kansas State Soybean Yield contest on a no-till dryland division with 95.95 bushels per acre.

Ernie was excited that his son received the American Farmer Degree in 1985, which was 25 years after he had received his degree. Ernie was proud to see his granddaughter receive her American Farmer Degree in 2013 at the Louisville, Kentucky FFA convention. While at the convention, he saw his cousin, Tony Small, who worked for the National FFA organization. Barbara played a pivotal role in the family farm operation and fought a long battle of lung disease and died on Oct. 16, 2012. Ernie married Carla (Badger) Naasz on July 24, 2015, at the American Lutheran Church in Smith Center. Carla assisted with the farm operation and as Ernie’s health declined, she kept the farm going by running the day-to-day operations.

Ernie was a big fan of WWII history and read many books on the subject. Part of the fascination was because his uncle, Walter F. Schlatter, served in WWII and passed on the stories from family members of Walter visiting home before being shipped off to England and later being killed in battle. In later years, Ernie took a trip to see his uncle’s grave in France and had a picture taken at his graveside marker.

Ernie is survived by his wife, Carla (Naasz) Schlatter of the home; son, Walter (Kim) Schlatter of Bates City, Missouri, daughter Sheila (Dwayne) Lorence of Lebanon, Brock (Sheri) Naasz, Ami Naasz (Marshall Kohman), Brandon (Shelby) Naasz all of Downs, Kansas; grandchildren, Dustin (Deborah) Schlatter of Tucson, Arizona, Clinton and Dylan Schlatter of Bates City, Missouri, Ashley (Jarrod) Blackburn of Marshfield, Wisconsin, Aubrey and Gavin Naasz, Keegan and Korbin Kohl, Avery, Ryder, and Ryp Naasz al of Downs, Kansas; one great-grandson (2 months) Tayson Dean Blackburn of Marshfield, Wisconsin; one sister, Sharlyn Long of Smith Center; sister-in-law, Marianne Schlatter of Smith Center; brothers-in-law, Roger (Janice) Allen of Lebanon, Gayle (Lois) Allen of Courtland, Kansas, and sister-in-law, Velma (Ernie) Befort of Clay Center, Kansas; and many nieces and nephews.

Ernie was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara (Allen) Schlatter; his parents, Albert and Ruth Schlatter; brother, Jim Schlatter; brother-in-law, Warren Long; and in-laws, Clarence and Julia Allen.

His funeral will be held Saturday, March 11, 2023 at the Christian Church in Lebanon. Burial will follow in Price Cemetery, Lebanon.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to the Smith Center FFA, Smith Center Fair Board or the Smith County Memorial Hospital and can be sent in care of the mortuary. To leave an online condolence visit http://www.rfmortuaries.com

Arrangements are entrusted to Rentschler Family Mortuaries, Simmons-Rentschler Chapel, Smith Center, Kansas.