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Donald and Merna Holkum
Donald and Merna Holkum
Donald and Merna Holkum

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. —  Donald Gene Holkum was born on March 22, 1934 to Dewey Sr. and Florence Holkum. Merna B Holkum was born on July 10, 1938 to Emil and Ruth Dietz. Merna passed away on May 14, 2023 and was joined shortly after by her loving husband, Donald on May 17, 2023.


Merna was raised in the flat lands on a farm in Russell, KS. She milked cows and collected eggs from chickens. While her mother did the cooking, things like bierocks and noodles that cannot be recreated, Merna washed the dishes as her mother passed them through the dining room in the old farmhouse. Merna loved to drive. This included driving the wheat truck as well as a Mercury that she often spent time drag racing.


Donald lettered in all sports in high school and played guitar almost daily throughout his entire life. He never failed to complete a crossword – even the tough ones on Sundays! He loved horses and used to break them. He also enjoyed playing dominoes with friends and family. He considered it great fun and was very competitive.


Merna and Donald met on a date in Gorham, KS. Donald would drive out to Russell and pick Merna up. They got married on April 15, 1956 in Hays, KS. They were married 67 years.


They are preceded in death by Donald’s parents, Dewey Holkum Sr, and Florence Holkum; Merna’s parents, Emil and Ruth Dietz; daughter-in-law, Michelle Holkum; Donald’s brother, Dewey Holkum Jr.; Donald’s sister, Francie Rose; Merna’s brother, Eugene H. Dietz; brother-in-law, JD Mahon; nephews, Jimmy Dietz and Rusty Richter; and niece, Connie Ring.


Donald and Merna’s lives were celebrated with funeral services on Saturday, May 20, 2023 at Resthaven Funeral Home in Oklahoma City, OK. Interment followed at Arlington Memory Gardens.


Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, May 27, 2023

Gordon ‘Gordy’ Lloyd Halter 1937 - 2025
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Gordon ‘Gordy’ Lloyd Halter

EL DORADO — Gordon “Gordy” Lloyd Halter, of El Dorado, Kan., passed away on March 18th, 2025, at the age of 87. 

Gordy was born on Nov. 5th, 1937, to John Halter and Emma (Flemmer), in Dodge, North Dakota. He worked for Koch Industries in North Dakota before transferring to El Dorado for several years. Koch Industries sold to Shell and eventually to Magellan Pipeline Company, which he proudly retired from in 2014. He married his wife, Patricia (Fellend) Halter on May 12th, 1962. She preceded him in passing on Oct. 14th, 2005.

Gordy honorably served in the United States Army. While serving in the military, he played the accordion in a band. He had a deep love for riding horses and dancing and never met a stranger. “He was the friendliest person you’d ever meet,” said his daughter, April. Most of all, Gordy cherished time spent with his family. He will be deeply missed by all who were blessed to know him.

Gordy is survived by his daughter, April Seivley (Cody Berdahl) of El Dorado; his grandchildren, McKale (Monika) Seivley and McKenzie (Anden Straw) Seivley, of Benton; his great-grandchild, McKai Seivley; his siblings, Vic (Gail) Halter, of Las Vegas, Nev., Shirley (Vic) Huber, of Mandan, N.D., Phyllis (Don) Schlaht, of Ellinwood, Kan., Allan (Jeanne) Halter, of Dickinson, N.D., Verlyn (Floyd) Kolmer, of Seattle, Wash., Ralph (Mariann) Halter, of Bismark, N.D.; and sister-in-law, Marcia Halter; and many nieces and nephews. Gordy was preceded in passing by his parents; his wife Patricia Halter; his girlfriend Loraine Culkins; his brothers Matt Halter and Roy Halter; and his sister Stella Spain.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 5th, 2025, at 10 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in El Dorado, Kan. A graveside service with military honors will be held immediately following at Sunset Lawns Cemetery in El Dorado. Please sign his online guest book and leave a memory at www.carlsonkirbymorris.com.


Funeral arrangements provided by

Carlson & Kirby-Morris Funeral Homes

200 S. Star 

El Dorado, KS, 67042

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, April 3, 2025