L. Delbert Touslee

Jun 28, 1934 — Sep 20, 2026

Colby, KS

Laurence Delbert Touslee. Photo courtesy of Baalmann Mortuary and Crematory

Laurence Delbert Touslee was born June 28, 1934, to Laurence Whitey Touslee and Hattie (Erwin) Touslee of Levant, Kansas and died at the age of 92, on September 20, 2026.

He lived in Levant and went to Levant Schools through the 7th grade. Milking cows and doing other farm animal work were his chores, including helping to butcher hogs with his dad. In the 8th grade, his parents moved the family house into Colby and Delbert attended Colby High School. Football was his high school thing…and classmate Barbara Joan Wolf. They both graduated in 1952.

After high school, he attended one semester at Kansas Wesleyan to play football. He then joined the US Army, spending 18 months in Germany between wars. That began his love for traveling. He had been on a ship through the English Channel, Italy, France, Holland, Denmark, Canada, Mexico, Peru, Australia, Papua New Guinea and 17 USA states. One unique event: near Rome, a riptide almost killed him while he was water skiing.

1956, he married his high school sweetheart Barbara in a simple ceremony at the preacher's house, SW corner of Riddle and 4th. He also put his Army work in Germany (climbing poles to extend electric lines) to use by seeking employment in Colby as a rural lineman at what is currently called Midwest Energy. He knew each household in the rural outskirts of Thomas County and worked many a blizzard to restore rural power asap. When he retired, he continued to farm wheat in and around Levant. Until a few years ago, he kept up with mowing and cooking bacon/toast for his wife's breakfast.

Delbert was a faithful provider, alongside Barbara, for their four children. Every summer, he led the kids on family vacations…usually to Trenton Lake in Nebraska or the Denver Colorado area. He also faithfully attended sporting events of his kids and passed on a love of hunting to his two boys. He and Barbara faithfully cared for their aging parents and were recognized at the local nursing home for having extended emotional care to others that were there (when their folks were) as well.

Delbert was preceded in death by his parents, his two siblings Darrell and Darlene, and wife Barbara.

Delbert is survived by his children, Darrell and family of Great Bend KS, Traci and family of Colby, Darcy and family of College Station TX, and Darren and family of Hays KS. Delbert had nine grandkids and tried to keep up with their events, especially sports. He even included the two oldest grands (and Darrell, Traci, Darren) on a handful of trips he made to Peru. The grand's names are Shane, Taranie, Chad, Hannah, Liz, Will, Ryan, Hattie, and Lesley. The great grands are Tristan, Cooper, Eloise and Aries.

Delbert loved extended-family reunions, High School reunions, and Cowboy Church of RFD-TV. He is known by many and is considered a Levant and Colby staple.

A Funeral Service will take place at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, September 26, 2026, at the Gathering Place, Colby, with burial in Beulah Cemetery, Colby. He requested memorials be made to Meals on Wheels and mailed in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or condolences visit baalmannmortuary.com