Sister Jean Befort died July 23, 2025, at Nazareth Motherhouse in Concordia, KS.
She was 85 years old and a Sister of St. Joseph for 66 years. She was born in Hays, KS on July 23, 1940 to William and Leona Marie Pfannenstiel Befort, the oldest of five children, and was baptized Mary Rose. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph, Concordia, Kansas on September 8, 1958. On August 18, 1959, Jean received the habit of the Sisters of St. Joseph and was given the name Sister Margaret Jean. She pronounced first vows on March 19, 1960 and final vows on March 19, 1963.
Sister Jean received a BS from Marymount College in 1968 in Psychology; a masters in Religious Education in 1975 from the University of St. Thomas, Houston, TX and a MA from Creighton University, Omaha, NE, in 1992 in Spirituality. For 21 years, in the Salina Diocese, Jean served in 10 parishes working with the religious education programs in the rural areas. In the years following, she served a four year term on the Community Leadership Team, served as staff member at Manna House of Prayer, and then began the Neighbor to Neighbor ministry beginning in 2009. She retired from this ministry in 2020 and moved to the Motherhouse.
Sister Jean was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Theresa Gottschalk. She is survived by one sister, Margaret Ann Hines; and two brothers, Donald and William. A Bible Vigil Service will be held August 4, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. in the Nazareth Motherhouse Chapel with Sister Marilyn Wall as the eulogist.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be August 5, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. in the Motherhouse Chapel with Father Barry Brinkman presiding.
The burial will be in the Nazareth Motherhouse Cemetery. Chaput-Buoy Mortuary, 325 W. 6th St., Concordia, KS is in charge of arrangements. Memorials for Sister Jean Befort may be given to the Sisters of St. Joseph Health Care/ Retirement Fund or the Apostolic Works of the Sisters; P.O Box 279, Concordia, KS 66901.
For online condolences, please visit www.chaputbuoy.com.