Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Dorothy Ryan
Dorothy Ellen Hillensbeck Ryan, 81, mother and mother-in-law of Everett and Coleen Ryan of Valley Center, died Nov. 22, 2004. Service was Nov. 27 at Valley Center Christian Church. Graveside service was Nov. 29 at Fayetteville National cemetery, Fayetteville, Ark.
She was born Jan. 2, 1923, in Malvern, Iowa, the daughter of Vera Elizabeth Parker and Otis J. Hillensbeck. She married
Delbert Ryan in New Orleans, La. He preceded her in death, as did her parents; a brother, Harry Hillensbeck; and a sister, Mary Armand.
Other survivors include her daughters, Patricia Hastings of Scottsdale, Ariz., Linda Schmedemann of Medford, Ore., Cindy Hirsch of Pineville, Mo.; sisters, Helen Gorman of Chalmette, La., Virginia Ellis of Woodville, Texas; and six grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with Sedgwick Health Care Center, 712 Monroe, Sedgwick 67135. Baker Funeral Home had charge.
Enda "Linda" Orr
Enda Marie “Linda” Rose Orr, 90, of Valley Center, homemaker, died Nov. 15, 2004. Service is at 1 p.m. today (Thursday) at Baker Funeral Home. Burial is at Kechi Township cemetery.
She was born Aug. 16, 1914, in Alco, Ark., the daughter of Francis Rose and Emily Gilbert. She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Euel Rose; and sisters, Niene Copeland, Lonniey, Vinnie Barnes and Effie Franks.
Survivors include her daughters, Betty Patry of Valley Center, Etha Rose Nafranovich of Kechi, Linda Ancsin, Jamie Catney, both of Wichita, Billie Kersey, Sherry Reel, both of Oklahoma City; 18 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 S. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38105, or www.stjude.org/donate.
Clifford Ray Scrivner
Clifford Ray Scrivner, 91, of rural Lawrence, father of Lois Hinds of Valley Center and Joyce Leonard of Park City, died Nov. 11, 2004. Service was Nov. 15 at High Pointe cemetery, Stoutland, Mo.
He was born June 24, 1913, in LaClede County, Mo., the son of William Scrivner and Maggie Partlow. He graduated from Lebanon High School in 1929. He also attended the University of Missouri. He was a superintendent for Pillsbury Mills in WIchita, and later managed the Farmer’s Co-op in Valley Center. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Valley Center. He enjoyed woodworking and working on vehicles. He married
Pauline Davis on April 16, 1933, in Stoutland. She survives. He was preceded in death by a son, Bobbie Dean Scrivner; granddaughter, Janet Walters; sons-in-law, Vonley Hinds and Bob Kolts; a brother and a sister.
Other survivors include his son, Raymond Scrivner of Plano, Texas; daughters, Margaret Goldsmith of Poughkeepsie, N.Y.; Karen Kolts-Retter of Lawrence; sister, Lena Franklin of Andover; 14 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with the Clifford Scrivner Memorial Fund in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W 13th St., Lawrence 66044-3402.
Elveta Myer
Elveta Myer, 70, of Wichita, mother of Tonya Stephenson of Valley Center, died Nov. 4, 2004. Service was Nov. 8 at West Side Church of God, Wichita.
She was born May 25, 1934, in Missouri, the daughter of Rev. Jimmy and Ruby Cooper. She graduated from Wichita North High School and married
C.J. Stephenson in May 1952. The couple had five children. Their marriage ended in 1977. She married
L. Donald Myer in July 1980. He preceded her in death. After his retirement, they enjoyed traveling, visiting family and spending time at the lake. They lived for a time in Mission, Texas, returning to Wichita in the summer of 2003 due to health concerns.
Other survivors include her children and their spouses, Gary and Jan Stephenson, David and Patrice Stephenson, Joel and Cheryl Myer, Katie and Buz Lukens, all of Wichita, Dan and Sheryl Redding of Lyons, Colo., Debbi Stephenson of Shawnee, John and Debby Myers of Atlanta, Ga., Jeff and Pat Myer of Milwaukee, Wis.; brothers and sisters-in-laws, Leslie and Phyllis Cooper of Spokane, Wash., Jimmie and Nancy Cooper of Oro Valley, Ariz.; 19 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with the church.
Shirley Kling
Shirley L. Downs Kling, 57, of Wichita, wife of Dale Kling of Valley Center, died Sept. 27, 2004. She was a homemaker. Service was Oct. 1 at Lakeview Funeral Home. Private family burial was at Lakeview Memorial Gardens.
She was born July 15, 1947, in Wichita, the daughter of Alfred Downs and Ruth Daffron. She married
Dale A. Kling on March 10, 1967.
Other survivors include her daughter, Sherrie Kling; adoptive daughter, Kesha Nolen; brothers and sister-in-law, Rick and Catherine Downs, Dick Downs, all of Wichita; and her pets, Remmie and Shadow.
In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established with the Kansas Humane Society and the National Kidney Foundation Midwest Transplant Network.
Pamela Stevens
Pamela L. “Pam” Stevens, 57, of Kechi, restaurant equipment specialist, died Oct. 1, 2004. Service was Oct. 5 at Kechi United Methodist Church, Kechi.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Burt and Lula Miller, and a sister, Dana Lynne.
Survivors include her husband, Craig of the home; son and daughter-in-law, Kevin and Jennifer Rutledge of Bel Aire; daughter, Rhonda Rutledge of Grayslake, Ill.; stepsons, Keith Stevens of Ponca City, Okla., Josh Stevens of Rockwall, Texas; brother, Ted Miller of Winfield; sister, Darlene Galloway of Kechi; three grandchildren, Makenzie, Alex, Morgan; and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials have been etablished with the church and the Kansas State University Center for Basic Cancer Research. Cochran Mortuary had charge.
Nicholas Orth III
Nicholas A. Orth III, 39, brother and brother-in-law of Kim and Jason Gish of Bel Aire, died Sept. 17, 2004. He was a technical writer for World Airlines of Atlanta, Ga. Service was Sept. 23 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church with Fr. Daryl Befort officiating. Burial was at St. Joseph Cathlic cemetery, Andale.
He was born Sept. 22, 1964, the son of Erma and Nick Orth Jr. of Andale. His father preceded him in death. He was a graduate of Andale High School and attended Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, Okla. He married
Camie Harlson on Dec. 31, 1997. She survives.
Other survivors include his daughter, Olivia; mother and stepfather, Erma and Dean Schuster of Wichita; brothers and sisters-in-law, Dan and Virginia Orth of Andale, Dave Orth of Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., Charles and Paige Orth of Dallas, Carl and Diane Orth of Burnsville, Minn.; sisters and brothers-in-law, Deb and Greg Wetta of Wichita, Cindy and Kevin Seiler of Colwich, Jeannie and Dave Preisser of Keller, Texas; stepbrothers and spouse, John Schuster of Topeka, Joel and Chris Schuster of Memphis, Tenn.; stepsisters and spouses, Jacque and Steve Carpenter of Cleveland, Mo., Jolynne and Dan Beutler of Olathe; and 27 nieces and nephews.
A memorial has been etablished with the Olivia Orth College Fund, in care of Delta Employee Credit Union, Box 20541, Atlanta, Ga. 30320, or The Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Emily Spangler
Emily “Jean” Spangler, 79, of Wichita, stepmother of Bill Spangler of Valley Center, died Oct. 2, 2004. She was a registered nurse. Private family service.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles Baylor and Lillian McCormick, and her husband, Earl Spangler.
Other survivors include her stepchildren, Sharon Ferguson of Wichita, Patty Resa of Austin, Texas; eight stepgrandchildren and 12 stepgreat-grandchildren.
Baker Funeral Home had charge.
David Harris
David D. Harris, 52, of Wichita, son of Bill and Yvonne Harris of Bel Aire, died Oct. 2, 2004. He was retired from the U.S. Air Force. Service is at 2 p.m. today (Thursday) at Kechi United Methodist Church, Kechi.
Other survivors include his wife, Susan of Wichita; sons and families, Brad and Tonya of Wichita, Brian and Becky of Maize; brother, Jon of San Francisco; sister and family, Melinda and Steve Pore of Cheney; grandchildren, Haylee Harris, Peyten Harris; stepgrandchildren, Cody Sellers, Christian Hudlin, Destiny Hudlin; and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial has been established with the American Lung Association, 4300 S.W. Drury Lane, Topeka 66604-2419. Old Mission Mortuary has charge.
Clement Conradt
Clement Joseph Conradt, 73, of Valley Center, died Aug. 28, 2004. Service was Aug. 30 at Baker Funeral Home with Rev. Michael Leichner officiating. Burial was Aug. 31 at Oak Hill cemetery, Plattsmouth, Neb.
He was born April 7, 1931, in Steinauer, Neb., the son of Paul Joseph Conradt and Martha Adeline Kamen. He married
Wanda Shrader on Nov. 3, 1951, at St. John’s Church in Plattsmouth, Cass County, Neb. He was a farmer, built Butler steel buildings, installed glass, and managed sale barns, a restaurant, mobile home parks, storage units and Ryder truck rentals. He was preceded in death by an infant son, Gregory Dean Conradt; his parents; a brother, Adrian Conradt; and two sisters, Loyola Kroll and Marie Sears.
Survivors include his wife, Wanda; son and daughter-in-law, Ray and Paula Conradt of Keller, Texas; daughters and sons-in-law, Rhonda Dowty of Valley Center, Ruth “Dee” and Rev. Mike Leichner of Wichita, Audrey and Jack Hefling of Mt. Hope; sisters, Evelyn Oehm of Steinauer, Neb., Josephine Pepperl of Burchard, Neb., Clara Grof of Tecumseh, Neb.; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Memorials have been established with The Ark Church, 5501 N. Maize Road, Maize 67101, and Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice.
Arthur Gerber
Arthur L. “Bud” Gerber, 83, of Danville, father of John Gerber of Valley Center, died Jan. 25, 2003. He was a farmer. Rosary was Jan. 28 and service was Jan. 29, both at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Danville, of the St. Joan of Arc Parish Community.
Other survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Gene and Pat Gerber of Newton; daughter and son-in-law, Kathleen and Michael Wenger of Redmond, Ore.; grandchildren, Jeffrey Wenger, James Wenger, Anne Marie Wenger, Douglas Gerber, Joseph Gerber, Katrina Gerber Boschmann; great-grandchildren, Jacob Gerber, Nicole Gerber, Braden Gerber, Karenna Gerber; brothers, Leo of Conway Springs, Dan of Collinsville, Okla.; sisters, Joan Wedman Williams of Danville, Esther Huslig of Lee’s Summit, Mo., Irene Metzinger of Caldwell, Estella Olivier of Everett, Wash., Pauline Hand of Woodland, Colo.
Elliott Funeral Home, Harper, had charge.
Glennis Jacobs
Glennis E. Jacobs, 62, of Milan, mother of Teresa Keck of Park City, died Jan. 21, 2003. She was a former Santa Fe Railroad dormitory dispatcher. Service was Jan. 25 at Wesleyan Church, Argonia.
Other survivors include her husband, Paul; sons, Scott Jacobs of Winfield, Darrell Jacobs of Burden, Steven Jacobs of Wellington, David Jacobs of Milan; daughters, Fon Stangl of Milan, Marcia Dickinson, Phyllis Brown, both of Wellington; brother, Richard Vinroe of Wichita; sister, Fran Henderson of Derby; 24 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with The Station Argonia Teen Center. Ebersole Mortuary, Conway Springs, had charge.
Grover Gilmore
Grover Nickles Gilmore, 86, of Wichita, father of Patricia Conway of Park City, died Jan. 24, 2003. He was a retired Coleman Co. machinist. Service was Jan. 27 at Greenwood cemetery.
Other survivors include his sons, Brad, Greg, both of Wichita; 10 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Baker Funeral Home had charge.
Hideko Sanborn
Hideko Takatsuka Sanborn, 70, of Valley Center, New Horizons nurse aide, died Jan. 26, 2003. Service is at 11 a.m. today (Thursday) at Baker Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be at a later date at Fairview cemetery, Owasso, Okla.
She was born March 23, 1932, in Osaka, Japan, the daughter of Rikizo and Asa Takatsuka. She married
Donald M. Sanborn on April 18, 1958, in Yokoma, Japan. He preceded her in death, as did her parents and a brother.
Survivors include her daughters and son-in-law, Donna Sanborn and David Seifert, and Ashley Sanborn, all of Wichita; a brother and two sisters of Osaka, Japan.
Memorials have been established with the American Diabetes Association and the American Liver Foundation.
Lydia Palmer
Lydia Jennie Palmer, 94, of Newtown Square, Pa., mother of Gene Palmer of Valley Center, died Jan. 21, 2003. She was a musician and former welder, insurance agent and business owner and manager. Service was Jan. 25 at First Church of the Nazarene, Newton, with Pastor Bernie Dickson officiating. Burial was at Restlawn Gardens of Memory, Newton.
She was born Jan. 20, 1909, in Buhler, the daughter of Abraham S. Bergen and Elizabeth Riffel. She grew up in Buhler, Lyons and Newton, moving to Wichita in 1937. During World War II she was a welder at Cessna Aircraft, and then became an agent for Prudential Insurance. She married
Henry Alonzo “Steve” Palmer on Nov. 5, 1945, in Hutchinson. He preceded her in death on Feb. 19, 1989. In the early 1950s she moved to Mountain Grove, Mo., where she owned and operated a bowling alley and café. She managed a Dairy Queen after moving to Norman, Okla., in the early 1970s. In the late 1970s, she moved to Newton to manage the Quick Fill. In 2002 she moved to Newtown Square, Pa., to live with her granddaughter. She enjoyed gospel singing and playing the piano with the Four Generations music group that performed in area churches and nursing homes. She was a member of First Church of the Nazarene, Newton. She also was preceded in death by her parents; husband; daughter, Barbara Watson; stepson, Orville Palmer; brother, Eldo Bergen; and grandsons, Robert L. Palmer and David Watson.
Other survivors include her daughter, Doris Williams of Chickasha, Okla.; stepsons, Lonnie Palmer of Salinas, Calif., Sterling Palmer of Newton, Gary Palmer of Kingman, Ariz.; stepdaughters, Carol Jewell Palmer of Newton, Jacquelin Russell of Kingman, Ariz.; brothers, Harold Bergen of Henderson, Colo., Ernest Bergen of Illinois; sisters, Pauline Woolery of Tennessee, Edith Brown of Kansas City, Verna Frey of Mesa, Ariz.; 11 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; 18 great-great-grandchildren; 16 stepgrandchildren; 12 stepgreat-grandchildren; and 14 stepgreat-great-grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with the church music department. Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, Newton, had charge.
Jef Farmer
Jef (J.E.) Farmer, 83, of Wichita, grandfather of Tim and Yolanda Thomas of Valley Center, died Dec. 3, 2002. He was a business owner and professional fund developer. Service was Dec. 7 at Broadway Mortuary, Wichita. Graveside service was at Forest Park cemetery, Anthony.
He was born Feb. 25, 1919, in Pratt. He grew up in Anthony. He graduated from Pomona College, Claremont, Calif., where he majored in music and served as ROTC commander. He was a World War II veteran and achieved the rank of captain, specializing in intelligence with the military police. He owned W.E. Jetts Mercantile Co. of Anthony and was a professional fund developer for various churches, colleges and universities. He was a direct descendant of Mayflower passenger John Howland, among the first colonists to America.
Other survivors include his wife, Katharine, “Kay;” sons and daughters-in-law, Jeff and Ramona Farmer of Des Moines, Iowa, Dan and Lynne Farmer of Bangor, Mich.; grandchildren and spouses, Eileen and Douglas Neves of Junction City, Ore., Jeffrey and Katie Farmer of Tacoma, Wash., Jenny and Aaron Bugarske of Beverly Hills, Calif., Haley and B.J. Majernik of Shawnee, Jeanette Thomas of Chicago, Joshua Farmer of Detroit, Matthew Farmer of Bangor, Mich., Andrew Farmer of Des Moines; and great-grandchildren, Devorah and Zion Neves, Caden Bugarske.
A memorial has been established with J.E. Farmer Family Scholarship Fund, Eugene Bible College, 2155 Bailey Hill Road, Eugene, Ore. 97405.
