Oreta Burnham

Oreta Faye (Hinshaw) Burnham, 89, passed away Wednesday, January 7, 2026 in Rose Hill, Kansas.

She was born May 30, 1936, in a farm house near Rose Hill, the daughter of Lowell and Hazel “Dollie” (Dagel) Hinshaw.

Oreta attended all of her school years in Rose Hill, Kansas. Her best friend in school was Jerene (Showalter) McCune. In her high school years she played basketball and softball, lettering all four years. She participated in band, playing saxophone as well singing with the girls’ glee club.

Growing up, Oreta attended Rose Hill Friends Church with her family. It was there she learned about the Lord Jesus Christ, who willingly gave His life to redeem hers. She trusted in Jesus’ finished work for her and was born into the family of God.

After high school, she enrolled in Wesley School of Nursing, in Wichita, Kansas where she graduated as a registered nurse in June of 1957. After graduating, she continued to work at Wesley Hospital for almost a year. During her years at Wesley, she, along with some of her classmates, attended Wichita Bible Church.

In September 1957, she was engaged to Paul Burnham, who was serving in the US Army. They were married March 29, 1958, and Oreta joined Paul in North Carolina where he was stationed. They got a puppy while they were there and named her Ginger. 

After Paul finished his time in army, they moved back to Kansas and started their family. Martin was their firstborn, followed by Doug, Cheryl and Brian.

While living in Wichita, they faithfully attended Wichita Bible Church. There they grew in their spiritual walk and served the body of believers, under the leadership of Pastor Jack Middleton. They were also active in the Navigators ministry. During this time, both Oreta and Paul were challenged by the need to take the gospel to unreached people around the globe and felt God leading them to pursue full time service with New Tribes Mission.

After a few years of missionary training and raising financial support, the family arrived in the Philippines in June 1970. Oreta and Paul served in the Philippines for 34 years. They planted churches and discipled believers among the Ibaloy people who live in northern Luzon. They were always willing to help where they were needed, including building a school for missionary children at the Aritao flight center. They served as dorm parents at the same school, as well as filling roles of field leadership.

Oreta found that God had prepared her for a medical ministry with the Ibaloy, who had no access to doctors, clinics and hospitals. It was her ability to provide medical help that granted acceptance in their village. Her knowledge and experience as a nurse was valued by other missionaries who reached out to her via 2-way radio when they needed advice. She traveled to other villages to vaccinate against a measles epidemic where many were dying. Her practical demonstrations of love, opened many hearts to desire to know a loving God. Many put their trust in God’s Son, Jesus Christ, the healer from spiritual death and giver of eternal life. Only eternity will reveal the far-reaching impact of Oreta’s ministry.

In addition to her medical work, she taught literacy classes, typed an Ibaloy-English dictionary (on a typewriter with carbon paper), and taught Bible lessons to children and ladies in various locations.

During their years in the Philippines, God blessed Oreta and Paul with their fifth child, Felicia.

In 2004, Oreta and Paul returned to the United States. Their hearts remained in the Philippines with the Ibaloy churches and many missionary coworkers they worked with over the decades. They were active in a remote way, both through words of encouragement and financial support, to see the completion of the Old Testament translation into the Ibaloy language and revision to the New Testament. In February 2025, the whole Bible was printed in Ibaloy.

Living in the United States did not slow Oreta’s passion for ministry. Both she and Paul faithfully volunteered at Rose Hill Bible Church. Oreta worked with the children in the AWANA program, actively participated in the Ladies Missionary Fellowship, and served behind the scenes in many capacities.

Oreta made her home a source of ministry to her own family and friends. She loved to host guests and prepare meals for company. She always wanted to be sure she had plenty of her famous chocolate chip cookies. Her family could never turn down her roast beef dinners, with potatoes and carrots. She enjoyed various handiwork projects, including sewing clothes (on a treadle sewing machine) for her children as they were growing up, cross-stitch projects, and making hand-sewn quilts for each of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. (That’s a lot of quilts and a lot of stitches!)

In the last few years of her life, Oreta’s body declined rapidly. She was diagnosed with advanced stage liver disease. Even though she knew her life was soon coming to an end she didn’t stop concerning herself with the needs of those around her. She missed caring for and serving those she loved. She desired to finish strong and live out her days in the home that she and Paul built on the homestead property where she grew up.

On Wednesday, January 7, just after 2:00 am, Oreta departed this earthly home. Her husband, Paul, and daughters, Cheryl and Felicia, were by her bedside. She arrived at her true home, to be met by her Heavenly Father, her Savior, Jesus Christ, and many of her loved ones who had passed on before.

She is preceded in death by her parents Lowell and Dollie; son, Martin Burnham; sister, Venetia Nellis; brother, Melvin Hinshaw.

Oreta is survived by her husband, Paul Burnham; sons, Doug Burnham of Wichita; Brian Burnham (Arlita) of Papua New Guinea; daughters, Cheryl Spicer (Walt) of Manila, Philippines, Felicia Reschke (Clint) of Emporia, Kansas; daughter-in-law, Gracia Burnham; brother, Galen Hinshaw of Rose Hill; brother-in-law, Howard Nellis of Kansas City; 23 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren.

Visitation: 6 to 8 pm, Thursday, January 15, 2026 at Smith Mortuary-Derby, 1415 N. Rock Road, Derby, Kansas 67037.

Celebration of Life: 11 am, Friday, January 16, 2026 at Rose Hill Bible Church, 1410 N. Main, Rose Hill, Kansas 67133. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Rose Hill Bible Church, PO Box 186, Rose Hill, Kansas 67133 or to Martin Burnham Foundation, PO Box 10, Rose Hill, Kansas 67133.