Laura M. Nilges, age 87, of Richmond, Kansas, died on Tuesday, May 20, 2008, at Richmond Healthcare Center in Richmond, Kansas. Laura was born September 1, 1920, in Chanute, Kansas, the daughter of Ralph and Nancy May (Bickel) Waldrip. She graduated from Chanute High School in 1938. She attended Chanute Junior College before graduating from Kansas State Teachers College at Pittsburg in 1943, with a bachelors degree in education and a lifetime teaching certificate. She taught school in Cambridge, Richmond, Richmond R#10 and U.S.D. #288 for twenty-five years. On June 10, 1947 she married Alfred G. Tillie Nilges at St. Therese Catholic Church, Richmond, Kansas. This union was blessed with four children. She was president of Richmond Library Board and was a volunteer for many years. She served on the Richmond Election Board for twenty years. She was a member of the St. Therese Catholic Church and Richmond Senior Ladies. Laura enjoyed sewing, handcrafts, baking and her family. Laura was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Nancy Waldrip; a sister, Georgianna Keply; a brother, William Waldrip; and an infant son. She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Alfred G. Nilges, a son, Lynn Nilges and his wife, Alice of Ottawa, Kansas; two daughters, Deb Catron and her husband, Darrel of Gas, Kansas; Becky Nilges of Iola, Kansas; two brothers, Warren Dee Waldrip and wife Haydee of Tucson, Arizona; Ralph Eugene Waldrip of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana; sister-in-law Patricia Waldrip of Lamar, Colorado; four grandchildren three step grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, May 24, 2008 at St. Therese Catholic Church, Richmond. Interment will follow in the St. Boniface Cemetery, Scipio. The family will greet friends following a 7:00 PM Rosary at the funeral home Friday evening. Memorial contributions may be given to Pennies For Heaven or Pancreatic Cancer Research.