Archive By Section - Obituaries
Denise Lee Hayden 1957 - 2011
SOUTH HUTCHINSON - Denise Lee Hayden, 53, died Jan. 25 at the Mennonite Friendship Manor. She was born June 14, 1957, in Great Bend, the daughter of Leo L. and Bertie Lou (Siefkes) Hayden. She worked seven years as a management analyst for the federal government in Frankfort, Germany, and also worked for the city of Hutchinson. She was a 1975 graduate of St. John High School, and received her bachelor's and master's degrees from KSU.
Carl F. Fry 1956 - 2011
Carl F. Fry, 54, died Jan. 22 at Great Bend Regional Hospital. Born Aug. 26, 1956, he was the son of Max Eugene Fry Sr. and Esther Mae (Johnson) Fry. A lifelong resident of Great Bend, he graduated from Great Bend High School. In the 1990s Carl worked at the Brit Spaugh Zoo. He enjoyed animals and bird watching.
Rachel Skidmore 1913 - 2011
Rachel Skidmore, 98, died Jan. 25 at Great Bend Regional Hospital. Born Jan. 1, 1913, in Bison, she was the daughter of John C. and Kathryn E. (Steitz) Scheuerman. A resident of Great Bend since 1938, she was a homemaker. She completed nine years of school in Rush County. On Oct. 1, 1939, she married William F. Skidmore in Otis. He died in January 1996.
Joseph J. Rziha 1916 - 2011
HOISINGTON - Joseph J. Rziha, 94, died Jan. 23 at Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington. Born Feb. 2, 1916, in Odin, he was the son of Frank and Mary (Koester) Rziha. A lifetime resident of rural Odin, he was a farmer/rancher. On Oct. 28, 1972, he married Ida Ann Huschka Wendal in Hoisington. She died Oct. 12, 2002.
Bernie Beydler 1936 - 2011
WAKEENEY - Bernie Beydler, 74, died Jan. 24 at the Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital. Born July 30, 1936, in Delta, Colo., he was the son of Bernard Beydler and Louise Welsch Beydler. On Nov. 23, 1954, he married Twila Bartley in the First Christian Church in Oceanside, Calif. He was employed by a trucking company in WaKeeney for many years.
Bill Slous 1930 - 2011
SPRINGFIELD, MO. - Bill Slous, 80, died Jan. 24 at Springfield, Mo. Born May 15, 1930 in Greenup County, Ky., he was the son of John and Mary (Smith) Slous. A resident of Springfiled, Mo., coming form Hoisington, he worked in the Kansas oilfields and for 25 years at Marlette Mobile Homes in Great Bend. On Oct. 1, 1952, he married Rita Hochanadel in Hoisington. She survives.
Marie E. Brown 1920 — 2011
HOXIE - Marie E. Brown, 90, of Hoxie, died Jan. 23 at the Sheridan County Long Term Care in Hoxie. She was born Sept. 19, 1920, to Peter J. and Emma (Sitz) Schneider at WaKeeney. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Hoxie.
Zola Farris Fischer 1922 - 2011
HUTCHINSON - Zola Farris Fischer, 88, died Jan. 24 at Promise Regional Medical Center, Hutchinson. Born Nov. 17, 1922, in rural Stafford County, she was the daughter of Abraham and Kadisa Farris. On May 26, 1941, she married Sam Salem. She then married Merlin Fischer on June 10, 1967. She worked as a secretary at Hudson school, and at First National Bank of Hutchinson and Frontier Hybrids.
M. Earl McBride 1915 - 2011
LARNED - M. Earl McBride, 95, died Jan. 22 at the Pawnee Valley Community Hospital in Larned. Born Sept. 2, 1915, at Kinsley, he was the son of Edgar and Elsie Miller McBride. On April 30, 1937, he married Fern Myers in Fellsburg. He was a farmer.
Landry Michael Robben
VICTORIA - Landry Michael Robben, infant son of Jason and Nicole (Watts) Robben, died Jan. 21 at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. He was born Jan. 5, 2011, in Kansas City, Mo.
Robert Zane "Pete" Wilson 1932 - 2011
Robert Zane "Pete" Wilson, 78, died Jan. 23 at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center. He was born Feb. 21, 1932, at Glade, the son of Edward and Zela (Elliott) Wilson. He married Imogene Barnes on Jan. 2, 1953. They were later divorced. He was a carpenter for Albert Lumber Yard and later worked as a self-employed carpenter. He had been a Great Bend resident since 1998, coming from Ellinwood and Albert.
Joseph J. Rziha
HOISINGTON - Joseph J. Rziha, 94, died Jan. 23 at Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington. Arrangements will be announced by Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, Hoisington.
Florine E. Arend 1932 — 2011
ROCK VALLEY, Iowa - Florine Elizabeth (Nuss) Arend, 78, died Jan. 17 at Hegg Memorial Hospital. She was born April 27, 1932 in Galatia. Services were held last Thursday in Rock Valley.
Leon Marie Hammer 1922-2011
HUTCHINSON - Leona Marie Hammer, 88, died Jan. 21 at Elm Grove Estates in Hutchinson. She was born Jan. 31, 1922 at Dodge City the daughter of Roy and Goldie (Smith) Rankin.
Ronald D. Beary 1949 — 2011
HOISINGTON - Ronald Dean Beary, 61, died Jan. 21 at his home in Hoisington. He was born NOv. 19, 1949 at Kansas City, Mo. the son of Jack and Majorie (Young) Beary.
Articles by Section - Obituaries
Lenora Marie Ochs 1916 - 2014
Lenora Marie Ochs, 97, died Feb. 25 at Great Bend Regional Hospital. Born July 21, 1916, in rural Otis, she was the daughter of Fred and Julia (Schlegel) Stieben. On Oct. 6, 1935 she married Clarence Everett Ochs in Otis. He died on May 7, 1994. A Great Bend resident since 1978, coming from Otis, she was a part-owner, bookkeeper and parts lady at Ochs, Inc., until retirement.
Ellen Nadine Bittner 1932 - 2014
LARNED - Ellen Nadine Bittner, 81, died Feb. 23, 2014 at Great Bend Regional Hospital. She was born Oct. 22, 1932, at Alton, Missouri, the daughter of Claude and Esther Barton Strain. A resident of the Great Bend formerly of Larned, she was a retired nurses aide at Gleason Hospital in Larned. She was of the Christian faith.
