Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Helen J. Morton 1922-2001
WICHITA - Helen J. Morton, 78, died May 21 in Wichita. She was born May 24, 1922, in Odin, the daughter of Joseph and Mary Steiner. She married
Charles G. Morton. A resident of Wichita, she was a homemaker. Survivors include her husband of the home; three sons, John E. Krier, Larry G. Krier and Danny L. Krier, all of Wichita; three sisters, Ann Minko of Wichita, Gertrude Hitschmann of Abilene and Tillie Stadelman of Hays; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Rosary will be at 7 tonight at Cochran Mortuary in Wichita. Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Friday at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Wichita with the Rev. Jerome A. Beat officiating. Graveside service will be at 3:30 p.m. Friday at Maud cemetery in Cunningham. There will be no visitation and no memorials are suggested.
Gertrude Lucene Fermin 1922-2001
HOISINGTON - Gertrude Lucene Fermin, 78, died May 22. A resident of Hoisington, she was a homemaker. Survivors include three sons, Donald Fermin and Elvin Fermin, both of Wichita, and Lewis Garber of Denver, Colo.; two daughters, Nancy Carter of Hoisington and Norma Hurley of Harrah, Okla.; one sister, Sally Chappee of Hastings, Minn.; eight grandchildren; and nine great grandchildren. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at DeVorss Flanagan-Hunt Mortuary in Wichita. There will be no visitation and no memorials are suggested.
Betty Arlene Littrell 1929-2001
HOISINGTON - Betty Arlene Littrell, 71, died May 22 at Hutchinson Hospital. She was born Dec. 23, 1929, in Eureka Township, the daughter of Frank and Mary Laudick Durand. She married
Bob Littrell June 20, 1950, in Hoisington. A lifelong resident of Hoisington, she was a homemaker and special education bus aid for the Hoisington School District. Mrs. Littrell was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Altar Society and Veteran of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, all of Hoisington. Survivors include her husband of the home; one son, Mike Littrell of Hoisington; four daughters, Christa Beck of Claflin, Debbie Davis, Sandy Ray and Marte Littrell, all of Hoisington; one brother, JaDean Durand of Great Bend; three sisters, Marguerite "Peg" Milanovits of St. Louis, Mo., Nola Brack of Raymondville, Texas, and Barbara Purdy of Manitou Springs, Colo.; 13 grandchildren; and seven great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one sister, Wilma Kelly. Vigil followed by Altar Society Rosary will be at 7 tonight at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the church with the Revs. Pascal Klein and Bob Schremmer officiating. Burial will be at St. John cemetery in Hoisington. Friends may call until 9 tonight at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the church or Barton County Relay for Life, both in care of the funeral home.
Verna B. Haynes 1904-2001
Verna B. Haynes, 97, of Great Bend, died May 24 at Cherry Village Nursing Home in Great Bend. She was born March 21, 1904, in Hudson, the daughter of Ernest and Inez Clark Piper. A resident of Great Bend, coming from Mesa, Ariz., she was owner of a dress shop. Survivors include four cousins, John Drew of Great Bend, Fannie Watkins of Larned, Pearl Mettscher of Hutchinson and Dr. Laurence Clark of Wamego. She was preceded in death by one son, Rayfield Abrahamson. There will be no service or visitation. No memorials are suggested. Cremation has taken place. Inurnment will take place at a later date at Desert Lawn Memorial Park in Yuma, Ariz. Arrangements were handled by Bryant-Christians Funeral Home in Great Bend.
June Lorraine Ecke 1916-2001
June Lorraine Ecke, 84, of Great Bend, died May 24 at Integrated Health Services in Great Bend. She was born June 21, 1916, in Eau Claire, Wis., the daughter of Matthias and Elesse Kausrud Haugen. She married
Al J. Ecke in Nashua, Iowa, Jan. 13, 1940. He died in June 1996. A resident of Great Bend, coming from Eau Claire, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Ecke was a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church and American Legion Auxiliary, both of Eau Claire. Survivors include one son, Dr. Dennis G. Ecke of Great Bend; and one daughter, Judith S. House of St. Paul, Minn.; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. There will be no services or visitation. Inurnment will be at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the American Legion of Eau Claire, Wis., in care of Great Bend Family Mortuary and Crematory in Great Bend.
Ola L. Weltmer 1912-2001
DODGE CITY - Ola L. Weltmer, 88, died May 23 at Manor of the Plains in Dodge City. She was born Nov. 6, 1912, in Hanston, the daughter of George and Sarah Abbott Salmans. She married
Norris S. Weltmer May 1, 1937, in Rozel. He died March 29, 1969. A resident of Dodge City, coming from Harper, she was a farmer. Mrs. Weltmer was a member of Chicaskia Baptist Church, 4-H board member and E.S.U., all of Harper. Survivors include one sister, Myrtle Phillip of Hanston; and one foster sister, Geneva Faurot of Sibley, Iowa. She was preceded in death by four brothers, Earl Salmans, Vern Salmans, Ora Salmans and Oscar Salmans; and two sisters, Lelia Salmans and Mina Salmans. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Beckwith Funeral Home in Jetmore with the Rev. Mark Durham officiating. Burial will be at Hanston cemetery. Friends may call until 8 tonight and from 9 a.m. until service time Saturday, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the church, Manor of the Plains or Harper County 4-H Board, all in care of the funeral home.
Florence M. Richards 1933-2001
Florence M. Richards, 68, of Great Bend, died May 24 at Central Kansas Medical Center, St. Rose Campus in Great Bend. She was born Feb. 2, 1933, in Great Bend, the daughter of Robert J. and Mary Ethel Davidson Herren. A resident of Great Bend, she was a homemaker. Survivors include two sons, Denver H. Richards of Great Bend and Cole L. Richards of St. Louis, Mo.; one daughter, Holly K. Regan of Great Bend; one sister, Dorothy M. Dawson of Great Bend; and four granddaughters. She was preceded in death by one brother, Robert L. Herren; and one sister, Mary Jane Herren. There will be no services or visitation. Cremation has taken place. Memorials are suggested to the Great Bend Humane Society, in care of Bryant-Christians Funeral Home in Great Bend.
Cecil M. 'Reedie' Phillips 1925-2001
Cecil M. "Reedie" Phillips, 76, of Great Bend, died May 24 at Central Kansas Medical Center, St. Rose Campus in Great Bend. She was born May 20, 1925, in Wichita, the daughter of William Cecil and Violet Marie Brown McCullough. She married
Herbert L. Phillips II in August 1944 in Wichita. A resident of Great Bend, coming from Augusta, she was a homemaker. Survivors include her husband of the home; two sons, Herbert L. Phillips III of Heizer and William Cecil Phillips of Derby; four grandchildren; and three step-grandchildren. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Bryant-Christians Funeral Home Chapel in Great Bend with the Rev. Dr. Gordon E. Rhodes officiating. Burial will be at 4 p.m. Saturday at El Paso cemetery in Derby. Friends may call until 9 tonight and from 9 a.m. until service time Saturday, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the donor's choice, in care of the funeral home.
Edith K. White 1910-2001
LARNED - Edith K. White, 91, died May 24 at Good Samaritan Center in Hays. She was born May 6, 1910, in Meade, the daughter of Howard W. and Ida Mae LeVan Fox. She married
Asher A. White Sept. 20, 1931, in Larned. He died Nov. 12, 1980. A longtime Larned resident, moving from Cunningham, she was a homemaker. Mrs. White was a member of First Christian Church of Larned. Survivors include two sons, Asher Bob White of Hays and Philip LeVan White of Bella Vista, Ark.; one brother Clyde L. Fox of Denver; eight grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Verda Lane and Dorothy Compton; and one brother, Howard W. Fox. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel in Larned, with the Rev. Daniel Lundgren officiating. Burial will be at Larned cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and from 9 a.m. until service time Tuesday, all at the mortuary. Memorials are suggested to donor's choice, in care of the mortuary.
Doris Jeffrey 1925-2001
SUN CITY WEST, ARIZ. - Doris Jeffrey, 76, former resident of Great Bend, died May 25, at her residence in Sun City West. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Camino Del Sol Funeral Home in Sun City West. Memorials are suggested to the Shriners Hospital for Children, in care of the funeral home.
Firman N. Davis 1919-2001
LUCAS - Firman N. Davis, 82, died May 21 at CLC Salina. He was born April 20, 1919, in Lincoln County. He married
Blanche Aksamit Sept. 3, 1938, at Ellsworth. She died Dec. 31, 1991. A resident of Lucas since 1977, coming from Ellinwood, he was a mechanic and farmer. Davis was a member of Lucas United Methodist Church and Lucas American Legion Post 267. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. Survivors include two sons, Leroy Davis of Luray and Michael Davis of Stanwood, Wash.; one daughter, Sandra Myers of Sacramento, Calif.; one brother, John Davis of Lincoln; 12 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. Funeral was Saturday at the church with the Rev. David Williams officiating. Burial was at Lucas cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Lucas Medical Foundation Ambulance Fund, in care of Rodrick & Minear Funeral Home in Lucas.
Ivan 'I.G.' Grant Smith 1920-2001
HOISINGTON - Ivan "I.G." Grant Smith, 81, died May 25 at Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington. He was born Jan. 24, 1920, in Utica, the son of William A. and Elva Grace Smith. He married
Myra Ellen Carlisle March 15, 1943, in Hoisington. A resident of Hoisington since 1946, coming from Burbank, Calif., he was a retired conductor and brakeman for the Missouri Pacific Railroad. Smith was a member of First United Methodist Church, American Legion Post 286, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7428, all of Hoisington, and NARVE. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, serving as sergeant in Okinawa, Japan. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, Rodney W. Smith of Great Bend; one daughter, Janice Dyer of Hoisington; one brother, Harold F. Smith of Arapohoe, Neb.; one sister, Inez Guthrie of Hoisington; eight grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two daughters, infant Karen Janene Smith and Tacy Janene Smith; and one brother, Alvin R. Smith. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the church with the Rev. Wayne Flanders officiating. Burial will be at Hoisington cemetery with military graveside rites by VFW Post 7428 and American Legion Post 286. Friends may call from 1-9 p.m. today and Monday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington and from 9:30 a.m. until service time Tuesday at the church. Memorials are suggested to Sunflower Training Center, the church or donor's choice, all in care of the funeral home.
Ivan E. Partington 1916-2001
ALDEN - Ivan E. Partington, 85, died May 26 at Sterling Presbyterian Manor in Sterling. She was born Feb. 3, 1916, in Haskew, Okla., the daughter of William and Pearl Long Rinshaw. She married
Fay H. Partington June 15, 1941, in Sterling. A longtime resident of Alden, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Partington was a member and Sunday school teacher of First United Methodist Church of Sterling, United Methodist Women, Triumph Extension Homemakers Unit, Birthday Club, Rice County Extension Executive Board, Jolly Aldenites, Rice County Farm Bureau and Alden Community Pride. Survivors include her husband of the home; one son, Howard Partington of Great Bend; one daughter, Shirley Fair of Alden; five grandchildren; and three great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a twin sister, Iva Farney; and one grandson, Charles Norman Fair. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church with the Rev. James Graves officiating. Burial will be at Sterling Community cemetery in Sterling. Friends may call from 1-5 p.m. Tuesday at Sillin Funeral Home in Sterling. Memorials are suggested to the church, in care of the funeral home.
Eldon Lee Sanders Sr. 1932-2001
ST. JOHN -Eldon Lee Sanders Sr., 68, died May 26 at his home in St. John. He was born Nov. 8, 1932, in Macksville, the son of John Everett and Gladys Nellie Waters Sanders. He was a 1951 graduate of St. John High School. He married
Edith L. Rodarmel Dec. 23, 1956, in St. John. A lifelong resident of St. John, he was a postal worker, oil field worker and city employee, all of St. John. Sanders was a member of New Hope Church, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign War, former trustee of Odd Fellows Lodge, Rebekahs Lodge, Golden Belt Campers Club, Cardinal Campers Clubs, 20-yearvolunteer fireman and 19-year volunteer ambulance worker, all of St. John. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. Survivors include his wife of the home; three sons, Wade L. Sanders and Steven Sanders, both of St. John, and Lee Sanders of Lebanon, Mo.; one sister, Marlene Weddle of St. John, four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; three step grandchildren; and five step great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one step great-grandson. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Minnis Chapel in St. John with the Rev. Rodney Lyons officiating. Friends may call until 8 tonight at the chapel. Memorials are suggested to the church, in care of the chapel.
Elizabeth Jeanne Degner 1921-2001
Elizabeth Jeanne Degner, 79, of Great Bend, died May 26 at Central Kansas Medical Center, St. Rose Campus in Great Bend. She was born July 12, 1921, in Great Bend, the daughter of Elmer and Velma Cook Bortz. She married
Herman Degner November 1941 in Great Bend. He died April 9, 1989. A resident of Great Bend, she was an employee of JC Penney's for 30 years in Great Bend. Mrs. Degner was a member of First Christian Church, Christian Womens Fellowship Women's Joy Group and Class Reunion Club of 1939, all of Great Bend. Survivors include one son, Richard Degner of Rapid City, S.D.; two daughters, Jayma Graham and Velma Woody, both of Wichita; one brother, Don Baker of Great Bend; five grandchildren; and one great granddaughter. Funeral will be at1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the church with the Rev. William F. Johnson officiating. Friends may call until 9 tonight, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday and from 9-11 a.m. Wednesday, all at Bryant-Christians Funeral Home in Great Bend. Memorials are suggested to the church, in care of the funeral home.
