Archive By Section - Obituaries
Virgil L. Smith
SURPRISE, Ariz. - Virgil L. Smith of Surprise, Ariz., left this life March 13, after 85 adventurous and happy years. He was well known in the Pawnee Rock area as a rural mail carrier and, also, served as postmaster, insurance agent, and tax preparer. He was married to his wife, Joan, for 62 years. He was an avid traveler, gardener, stamp collector and Phoenix Suns fan. Survivors include his wife, Joan; three sons, Larry (Cora), ...
Robert Ballard
HOISINGTON -- Robert Ballard, 83, died March 30 at Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington. Services are pending with Nichsolson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington.
Timothy William Funk 1955 - 2013
OTIS - Timothy William Funk, 57, died March 29 at Clara Barton Hospital, Hoisington. He was born June 2, 1955, at Hoisington, the son of Leonard and Mary Ann (Younger) Funk. He was a graduate of Hoisington High School. He worked at Galatia Coop, for LaVern Becker, American Trailers, and Essex, but his greatest love was being a farmer and cattleman his entire life. He married Glenda S. Boxberger Aug. 26, 1978, at United Emmanuel ...
Mary Jane (Weigel) Miller 1927 - 2013
VICTORIA - Mary Jane (Weigel) Miller, 85, died March 29 at her home in Victoria. She was born April 1, 1927, in Victoria, to Joseph C. and Catherine (Paul) Weigel. She married Gilbert J. Miller on Feb. 1, 1949, in Victoria. He died April 15, 2006. She was a food prep for Hadley Hospital and Fort Hays State College for a number of years. She worked at Travenol for 10 years and retired in 1986. ...
Mary Jane Dickens 1926- 2013
Mary Jane Dickens, 86, died March 28 at Cherry Village Nursing Home in Great Bend. Born Oct. 29, 1926, in Ozark, Mo., she was the daughter of Luther Alexander and Ruby Mildred (Nix) Young. On Oct. 12, 1946, she married Preston Maynard Dickens Jr. in Pratt. He died on Jan. 29, 2002. A Great Bend resident since 1953, coming from Pratt and Ozark, Mo., she owned and operated Mary Jane's Sewing Center for 30 years, ...
LaVernne Johnson 1936 - 2013
GORHAM - LaVernne Johnson, 76, died March 27 at the Golden Living Center in Wilson. Born on Nov. 21, 1936, in Rooks County, she was the daughter of Vernon and Leah (Mayo) Matheson. She grew up in the Natoma area and graduated from Natoma High School in 1954. On June 23, 1954 she married to Chester Webster. Later she was married to Carl Johnson. Both Chester and Carl preceded her in death. She worked as a cook at Irene's Café in Russell.
Gerald LeClair Phillips 1936 - 2013
LARNED – Gerald LeClair Phillips, 77, died March 27 at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, Larned. Born January 15, 1936, at Salt Lake City, Utah, he was the son of Blain Henry and Meriba June (Meik) Phillips. A lifetime area resident, he was a Special Education Teacher for Tri County Services for 20 years.
Jennifer Ann Riedl 1974 - 2013
Jennifer Ann Riedl, 38, left the sufferings on Earth to be with her heavenly Father on March 27 at her residence in Great Bend. Born May 11, 1974, in Great Bend, she was the daughter of John and Darlene (Booth) Riedl. A lifetime resident of Great Bend and Hoisington, she did secretarial work. She enjoyed computers.
John Gilbert Nolte
HUDSON - John Gilbert Nolte, 78, died March 26, 2013 at Hospice House of Reno County in Hutchinson. Services are pending with Bryant Funeral Home.
Mara Ellen Gillespie 1988 - 2013
CHASE - Mara Ellen Gillespie, 24, died March 24 at her residence in Chase. Born Sept. 15, 1988 in Great Bend she was the daughter of Geneil Ellen Gillespie. In 2007, she graduated from Chase Rural High School. She graduated from Barton Community College with a CNA degree. A lifelong resident of Chase she was a CNA and CMA and a restaurant cook.
Deborah A. Herrman 1953 - 2013
ELLINWOOD - Deborah A. Herrman, 59, died March 25 at Via Christi St. Francis, Wichita. Born May 5, 1953 at Ellinwood, she was the daughter of Edwin L. Corbett, Jr. and Ruth (Hekele) Corbett.
Lucille K. Fox 1917-2013
LARNED – Lucille K. Fox, 96, died March 24, at the Edwards County Hospital, Kinsley. Born March 18, 1917 at Ellinwood she was the daughter of Henry and Gertrude (Blasiar) Hermes.
Randal Jack “Randy” Neal 1949 - 2013
RUSSELL - Randal Jack "Randy" Neal, 64, of Russell died March 23 at his home. Born March 7, 1949 in Lyons, he was the son of Jack B. and Wilda J. (Jean) Neal. He grew up in Chase, attended Chase High School and graduated from Elkhart High School. On May 21, 1983 he married Bonnie K. Garrett in Russell. He was employed in the oil patch as a truck driver for Koch Industries, which later ...
Ralph A. Fink 1929 - 2013
Ralph A. Fink, 83, died March 24 at Hays Medical Center. Born Sept. 22, 1929 in Codell, he was the son of Ezekiel and Ethel (Stout) Fink. On May 29, 1955 he married Lillian L. Allen in Stafford. She died on Nov. 24, 2000. A resident of Great Bend since 2010, coming from Larned, he was employed as an aide at Larned State Hospital, previously working on a section gang for the railroad and in the oilfield.
Terry Lee Serpan 1952-2013
SEDGWICK - Terry Lee Serpan, 60, died March 22. Born October 3, 1952, in La Crosse, he was the son of Gene and Delores (Talbott) Serpan.
Articles by Section - Obituaries
Edna I. (Craig) Logan Francis, 1913-2013
Edna I. (Craig) Logan Francis, 99, formerly of Claflin, died Friday, May 17 at Woodhaven Care Center in Ellinwood. Born Nov. 5, 1913 near Caldwell, she was the daughter of Homer Francis and Katie Elmira (Siebenthaler) Craig.
Dorothy Mae Carver 1937-2013
TOPEKA - Dorothy Mae Carver, 75, Topeka, passed away May 17 at Midland Hospice House.
Dorothy Mae Carver 1937-2013
TOPEKA -- Dorothy Mae Carver, 75, Topeka, passed away May 17, 2013 at Midland Hospice House.
Dorothy D. Fox 1924 - 2013
LARNED - Dorothy D. Fox, 88, died May 16 at the Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice in Wichita. Born Oct. 12, 1924, in Muskegon, Mich., she was the daughter of Ernest W. Goldsmith. On Dec. 15, 1946, she married Walter Mac Fox in Wichita. A longtime area resident of Larned, she was a farmer's wife, a Rosie Riveter for Boeing during World War II and worked in the Dietary Department at Larned State Hospital.
Mathias 'Matt' Boor 1918-2013
ODIN - Mathias "Matt" Boor, 94, died May 15, 2013 at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center.
Ralph Marion Winkelman 1919-2013
ROCKPORT, Texas - Ralph Marion Winkelman, 94, died on May 9. He was born on Feb. 27, 1919. In 1938, he graduated from Chase High School. He entered the United States Army during World War II and served with the 13th Airborne Division in France, Belgium, Ireland and Scotland. After the war he worked for Kaw Pipeline in Kansas and in 1963, transferred to Houston and worked for the pipeline division of Texaco.
William “Bill” Berryman 1944-2013
William "Bill" Berryman, 68, died May 12 at his home in Great Bend. Born Oct. 31, 1944, he was the son of William Golden "Bo" and Molly Nelvina (Hill) Berryman. On March 9, 1965, he married Victoria Kay Shoemaker at Newton,
James E. “Jim” Giebler 1927 - 2013
HAYS - James E. "Jim" Giebler, 85, died May 10, at home with family present in Hays. Born June 26, 1927 in Severin, he was the son of James F. and Virginia (Koerner) Giebler. On Sept. 4, 1950, he married Theresa Marie Dinkel in Emmeram.
Christine M. Suchy 1920 - 2013
WICHITA - Christine M. Suchy, 93, died May 9th. A former resident of Great Bend, she was a retired Assistant Manager for Payless Shoes. Christine was an avid gardener and crafter. Her true love was Iris. In 2006 she had an Iris introduced in her honor. Her tenacity for getting through any struggle was her finest quality.
Nettie Alverna (Kittle) Ochs Deines Humburg 1920 - 2013
CALDWELL - Nettie Alverna (Kittle) Ochs Deines Humburg, 92, Caldwell, passed away May 11, at Anthony Community Care Center, after a brief battle with cancer. Born May 23, 1920, in rural Alexander, she was the daughter of John R. and Olive (Buzzard) Kittle. Alverna was a 1939 graduate of Alexander High School. On Sept. 1, 1940 she married Floyd Edward Ochs in Otis. They made their home northwest of Otis. He preceded her in death ...
Arthur Lewis Mostrom 1925 - 2013
BURDETT - Arthur Lewis Mostrom, 88, died May 8 at Larned Healthcare Center. Born March 16, 1925, in Spearville, he was the son of Clarence H. and Merion E. North Mostrom. On Aug. 17, 1952, he married Faye Schadel in Alexander. She survives. A longtime resident of Burdett, he was a retired mechanic and custodian.
Norma Lea Curry Shafer-Yancey 1928 - 2013
LAWRENCE - Surrounded by her four children at her home, Norma Lea Curry Shafer-Yancey, 84, peacefully passed away on May 4th. Born on Christmas Day in 1928, to Leslie and Glenda Curry in Burlington, Wash., Norma Lea Curry and her family moved to Great Bend, before her second birthday. Shortly after her graduation from high school, Norma met Ted Shafer at a picnic dance. They were married in 1948, and had four children. Shafer's position ...
Sylvia M. Wagner 1927 - 2013
LAWRENCE - Sylvia M. Wagner, 86, died on May 2, at Brandon Woods in Lawrence. Born Feb. 24, 1927, in Chicago, Ill., she was the daughter of John and Marie (Wollert) Schmidt. On Nov. 17, 1946, she married Duane Wagner in Ellinwood. He preceded her in death on Aug. 13, 1991. She was a housewife and bank teller. She was an avid reader and enjoyed needlepoint.
Charles L. Curtiss 1951 - 2013
LAWRENCE - Charles L. Curtiss, 61, concluded his battle with cancer May 6, at his home. Born on July 30, 1951, in Lawrence, he was the son of Earl and Oma Lee (Coleman) Curtiss. In 1983, he married Debra Nichols. They divorced in 1994. He was an employee of Hallmark Cards in Lawrence for 38 years, retiring in 2007. Charles was intensely interested in genealogy tracing his own family back hundreds of years and also ...
Robert (Bob) Raymond Ewald 1931 - 2013
BILLINGS, Mo. - Robert (Bob) Raymond Ewald, 81, passed away on May 2, in Billings, Mo. He was born on July 30, 1931 in Great Bend. On June 4, 1954, he married Shirley Joan Ewald (Wolfe) in Ellinwood. He worked at Blount Industries for 20 years.
