Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Ceola Spicher
SABETHA -- Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Popkess Mortuary in Sabetha for Ceola M. Spicher, 76, formerly of Sabetha. She died Dec. 29, 2000, in Vista, Calif.
She was born May 5, 1924, on a farm south of Sabetha, the daughter of Earl Hull and Lela Bertella Brim Ewing. She attended high school in Sabetha and Wetmore, and she graduated from Wetmore High School in 1942. She was a stenographer for the Naval Department in Washington, D.C., during World War II, and she moved back to Sabetha in 1948. She later lived in Evergreen, Colo., before she moved to California in 1974.
She married Perry M. Spicher on Sept. 6, 1949, in Raton, N.M. He survives.
Other survivors include two daughters, Linda C. Fetzer, Phoenix, and Geneva Tom, Escondido, Calif.; a brother, Merlin Ewing, Topeka; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Burial will be in the Sabetha Cemetery. Visitation will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday at the mortuary.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor's choice and sent in care of the mortuary.
Kenneth Smith
WILLIAMSBURG -- Kenneth E. Smith, 86, Williamsburg, died Thursday, Jan. 4, 2001, at an Ottawa nursing home.
Mr. Smith was a grain dealer and had been a manager at Zook, Belpre, Freeport, Wichita, Hutchinson and Lyons. He was elevator manager for the Bushton Elevator for Bushton Grain and Supply for 26 years.
He was born Dec. 5, 1914, in Manhattan, the son of Albert and Mable C. Millard Smith. He attended school in Hutchinson and St. Johns and graduated from Colorado Springs High School in 1931. He lived for many years in Bushton before he moved to Hutchinson in 1978. He moved to Ottawa in 1997.
Mr. Smith was a member of the Moose Lodge in Hutchinson and the National Square and Round Dancers Association.
He married Helen Vaunetti Carpenter on Dec. 7, 1939, in Hutchinson. She died June 21, 1996.
Survivors include a sister, Dorothy Bunescu, New Hyde Park, N.Y.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Elliott Mortuary in Hutchinson. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Fairlawn Burial Park in Hutchinson. Mr. Smith will lie in state at Dengel and Son Mortuary in Ottawa until 9 p.m. Sunday.
Memorial contributions may be made to Midland Hospice and sent in care of the mortuary.
Webster Rausch
SABETHA -- Webster Kirk Rausch, 37, Sabetha, was killed in a construction accident in Auburn, Neb., Thursday, Jan. 4, 2001. Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the First Congregational Church in Sabetha.
Mr. Rausch worked for Clarkson Plowerflow for 12 years and then in construction in the Kansas City area for about 18 months. He was employed with AHRS Construction Co. in Bern at the time if his death.
He was born Dec. 4, 1963, in Kansas City, Mo., the son of Dean and Vernice Delp Rausch. He was raised in Kansas City, Mo., and graduated from Park Hill High School in 1981. He moved to Sabetha about five years ago.
He married Janet Harrell on April 7, 1984, in Grandview, Mo. She survives.
Other survivors include five sons, Jacob Rausch, Jonathan Rausch, Scott Rausch, Steve Rausch and Eric Rausch, all at home; his father, Dean Rausch, Kansas City, Mo.; and six brothers, Terry Rausch, Greg Rausch, Brad Rausch, Kent Rausch, Wes Rausch and Chris Rausch, all in Kansas City, Mo.
Contributions may be made to the Webster Rausch Memorial Fund and sent in care of the Morrill State Bank, 21 Main, Sabetha, 66534 or sent in care of Popkess Mortuary in Sabetha.
Laura Pitts
COUNCIL GROVE -- Laura "Edith" Pitts, 70, Council Grove, died Thursday, Jan. 4, 2001, at a Salina hospital.
She was born July 20, 1930, the daughter of Charles and Alice Peterson Bacon. She had lived in Herington since August 1999.
She married Junior Earl Pitts on May 14, 1950, in Wichita. He died Aug. 31, 1999. Mrs. Pitts also was preceded in death by a son, Earl Ray Pitts.
Survivors include two sons, Ralph E. Pitts, Clay Center, and Charles W. Pitts, Niceville, Fla.; a daughter, Alice Howley, Rockford, Ill.; eight grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Kendall Funeral Chapel in Council Grove. Burial will be in the Comiskey Cemetery. Visitation will be from noon to service time Tuesday at the funeral chapel. The casket will remain closed.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Lutheran Home in Herington and sent in care of the funeral chapel.
Elizabeth Perkins
MANHATTAN -- Elizabeth W. "Betty" Perkins, 99, Manhattan, died Dec. 13, 2000, at a Manhattan retirement community.
She was born March 16, 1901, in Germantown, Pa., the daughter of William C. and Caroline Carter Warren. She graduated from high school in Westtown, Pa., and from Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Mass., in 1924. She moved to Manhattan in 1925.
Mrs. Perkins was a member of First Congregational Church in Manhattan, the American Association of University Women, the League of Women Voters, Manhattan Country Club and Domestic Science Club. She also worked with the Kaw Valley Girl Scout Council for many years and was instrumental in the development of Camp Daisy Hindman.
She married Alfred Thomas Perkins on July 25, 1925, in Gwynedd, Pa. He died in 1964.
Survivors include three daughters, Caroline Clinger, Rochester, Ind., Elizabeth Burns, Topeka, and Mary de la Garza, Houston; 10 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Perkins was cremated. Memorial services will be in March.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Congregational Church and sent in care of Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home in Manhattan.
Virginia Nesmith
BELLEVILLE -- Virginia C. Nesmith, 85, Belleville, died Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2001, at a Belleville hospital.
She was born May 15, 1915, in Wayne, the daughter of Hugh and Ada Cousins Cory. Mrs. Nesmith was a retired nurse and a longtime Belleville resident.
Mrs. Nesmith was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Belleville and the Beta Delphian Club.
She married Harold G. Nesmith on Aug. 29, 1934. He died May 10, 1982.
No immediate family members survive.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Bachelor-Faulkner-Dart-Surber Funeral Chapel in Belleville. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery in Belleville. Mrs. Nesmith will lie in state from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and Sunday at the funeral chapel.
Wayne Meyer
HIAWATHA -- Wayne A. Meyer, 73, Hiawatha, died Friday, Jan. 5, 2001, at a Topeka hospital.
Mr. Meyer farmed in Brown County for many years. He was the grain inspector for Brown County ASCS from 1954 to 1972, and later was compliance review specialist for ASCS from 1979 to 1982. He served with the Kansas National Guard in the 1940s. He had recently retired from farming. He received the Kansas Bankers Association Soil Conservation Award for outstanding conservation practices on three occasions. He operated a dairy in Fairview from 1950 to 1955.
He was born Dec. 9, 1927, near Fairview, the son of Lynn and Irma Jones Meyer. He graduated from Hamlin High School in 1946 and was a lifelong Brown County resident.
Mr. Meyer was a member of First Baptist Church in Hiawatha and Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks Lodge No. 1741.
He married Mary Margaret Larson on Feb. 26, 1950, in Hamlin. She survives.
Other survivors include a daughter, Carol Mercurio, Salina; two sons, Russell Meyer and Roger Meyer, both in Hiawatha; two sisters, Marylynn Powell, Lecompton, and Harriet Oldweiler, Reading; and three grandchildren.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Hiawatha. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery in Hiawatha. Mr. Meyer will lie in state after 10 a.m. today at the funeral home, where visitation will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Contributions may be made to the Wayne Meyer Memorial Fund to be designated later and sent in care of the funeral home.
Thomas McDonough
HIAWATHA -- Thomas Joseph McDonough, 92, Hiawatha, died Thursday, Jan. 4, 2001, at a Hiawatha hospital.
Mr. McDonough worked in the laundry department of the Hiawatha Hospital before he retired.
He was born Aug. 2, 1908, at Crossville, Ark., the son of Morton and Isabel McDonough.
Mr. McDonough was a member of the First Christian Church in Hiawatha.
He married Geneva Brown in August 1964 in Hiawatha. She survives.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Framke-Casselman-Meek Funeral Home in Hiawatha. Burial in Hiawatha Cemetery will be private. Mr. McDonough will lie in state after noon Sunday at the funeral home.
Contributions may be made to the Thomas J. McDonough Memorial Fund and sent in care of the funeral home.
Phyllis Ledbetter
BELLEVILLE -- Phyllis B. Ledbetter, 55, Belleville, died Thursday, Jan. 4, 2001, at a Belleville hospital.
She was born May 23, 1945, in Belleville, and was a lifelong Belleville resident.
Ms. Ledbetter was a member of the Wesleyan Church of Belleville.
Survivors include her mother, Lena Ledbetter, Belleville; and a sister, Annette Unden, Dalton, Ga.
Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Bachelor-Faulkner-Dart-Surber Funeral Chapel in Belleville. Burial will be in the Belleville Cemetery.
Clyde Howe Jr.
SHAWNEE -- Clyde A. Howe Jr., 78, Shawnee, died Thursday, Jan. 4, 2001, at an Overland Park hospital.
Mr. Howe was an electronics engineer for WIBW radio and television stations in Topeka and the chief engineer for Channel 19, KCPT-TV, which he helped build for the Kansas City, Mo., Board of Education. He worked at KCPT for 17 years before he took a job with the dental school at the University of Missouri at Kansas City. He also was a Navy veteran of World War II and the Korean War.
He was born Aug. 11, 1922, in Topeka. He graduated from Topeka High School, and received training in communications at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He moved to Shawnee 40 years ago.
Mr. Howe was an avid ham radio operator in his youth. He was a member of Shawnee Presbyterian Church, where he sang in the choir and served as an elder. He also served on the board of directors of the Shawnee Presbyterian Pre-School and Antioch Cemetery.
Mr. Howe was preceded in death by his first wife, Martha Howe, in 1982.
Survivors include his wife, Carol Howe, at home; two sons, Totton Clyde Howe, Topeka, and Gregory Arthur Howe, Westlake, Calif.; a daughter, Barbara Ann Vincent, Hartsburg, Mo.; a stepdaughter, Gina Wilkerson, Kansas City, Mo.; three stepsons, Brooke Meyers, Shawnee, Todd Meyers, Shawnee, and Matt Meyers, Overland Park; and 13 grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Shawnee Presbyterian Church. Burial will be in Antioch Cemetery in Merriam. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to service time Monday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to Shawnee Presbyterian Church, 6837 Nieman Road, Shawnee, 66203, or to the Salvation Army, 3637 Broadway, Kansas City, Mo., 64111.
Porter Funeral Home in Lenexa is in charge of arrangements.
Dorothy Hill
MANHATTAN -- Dorothy "Dot" Hill, 83, Manhattan, died Thursday, Jan. 4, 2001, at a Manhattan hospital.
She was born Aug. 26, 1917, in York, Neb., the daughter of Charles and Frances S. Sanford Nieman. She was a secretary for Boeing Aircraft in Wichita during World War II. She moved to Manhattan from Topeka in 1951.
Mrs. Hill was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Manhattan and Manhattan Country Club, and she was active in the Riley County Republican Women and a volunteer for the Encore Shop at St. Paul's Episcopal Church.
She married Richard Lewis Hill in Wichita. He died Dec. 5, 1958.
Survivors include a son, Richard Lewis Hill II, Towson, Md.; three daughters, Frances Kay Porter, Omaha, Neb., Joyce Lynne Leiker, Littleton, Colo., and Patricia Louise Elam, Overland Park; a sister, Ann Louise Crichton, Odessa, Texas; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. today at the First Presbyterian Church. Burial will be in Sunset Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Glaucoma Research, sent in care of Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home in Manhattan.
Merle Dixon
YATES CENTER -- Merle E. Dixon, 91, Yates Center, died Friday, Jan. 4, 2002, in Yates Center.
Mr. Dixon was a retired truck driver.
He was born Feb. 5, 1910, in Rose, the son of Harrow C. and Thelma Ollie Puckett Dixon. He was raised in Woodson County and attended Woodson County schools.
He married Edith Mason in Yates Center. She preceded him in death in 1977. He later married Helen Humble. She survives.
Other survivors include a daughter, Virgie McCormick, Yates Center; three sons, Gordon Dixon, Iola, Jack Dixon, Yates Center, and Gary Dixon, Wichita; 11 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.
Mr. Dixon was cremated. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the Campbell Funeral Home in Yates Center. Inurnment will be in Yates Center Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Legion War Memorial Fund or to the Yates Center Christmas Lighting Fund and sent in care of the funeral home.
