Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
David Deweese
WAMEGO -- Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at R.J. Evans Mortuary in Wamego for David Deweese, 89, Wamego, who died Friday, Jan. 5, 2001, at a Wamego care center.
He was born Sept. 14, 1911, in Wamego, to John Terry and Eunice Weybrew Deweese, and attended schools in Wamego. He was a farmer and worked for the Kansas Highway Department. He moved to Colorado, where he was a fireman for Union Pacific Railroad and worked for an asphalt plant. He lived in southern California before he returned to Wamego more than 20 years ago.
He married Cleta Tanner on Dec. 31, 1932, in Wamego. She died Oct. 15, 1991.
Survivors include four sons, Don Deweese and Jerry Deweese, both in Templeton, Calif., Terry Deweese, Camarillo, Calif., and Tim Deweese, Irving, Texas; a daughter, Barbara Ford, Longmont, Colo.; 12 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
Burial will be in Wamego City Cemetery. Mr. Deweese will lie in state from 1 to 8 p.m. today at the mortuary, where relatives and friends will meet from 6 to 7 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to Valley Vista Good Samaritan Center in Wamego, 66547.
Lillie Dickerson
COLONY -- Lillie J. Dickerson, 87, Colony, died Monday, Jan. 8, 2001, at an Iola hospital.
She was born March 18, 1913, near Neosho Falls, to Joe and Edith Byfield Gilliland. She attended Colony High School and spent most of her life in the Colony community.
She married Ralph Dickerson on Jan. 25, 1933, in Iola. He survives. A grandson and a great-grandson preceded her in death.
Survivors include a son, Eugene Dickerson, Colony; a daughter, Dolores Crabtree, Colony; five brothers, Earl Gilliland and Bob Gilliland, both in Colony, Lawrence Gilliland, Lone Elm, Lee Gilliland, Shawnee Mission, and Roy Gilliland, Iola; a sister, Helen Anderson, Dearborn, Mo.; eight grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Geneva Cemetery in the Geneva community east of Neosho Falls. The casket will remain closed.
Memorial contributions may be made to Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. Farris-Feurborn Memorial Chapel funeral home in Colony is in charge of arrangements.
Ellen Earl
SILVER LAKE -- Services will be at 9:30 a.m. today at Newcomer Family Funeral Home in Topeka for Ellen Lorraine Earl, 78, Silver Lake, who died Friday, Jan. 5, 2001, at a Topeka hospital.
She was born Sept. 23, 1922, in Elsmore in Allen County, to Warren Henry and Ora Lorena Johnston Dennison. She graduated from Jane C. Stormont School of Nursing in Topeka and was a registered nurse. She worked at the former Memorial Hospital in Topeka for 10 years before she retired.
She was a member of Third Christian Church in Topeka. She had been a volunteer at the former Parkdale Elementary School in Topeka.
She married Chester G. Earl on Feb. 16, 1938, in Westmoreland. He survives.
Other survivors include a son, Terry D. Earl, Silver Lake; a daughter, Jacqueline K. Miller, Topeka; a sister, Doris Keplinger, Topeka; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery in Topeka. Mrs. Earl will lie in state after 8:30 a.m. today at the funeral home.
Mary Mitchell
LAWRENCE -- Mary Aldene Mitchell, 73, Lawrence, died Monday, Jan. 8, 2001, at a Lawrence hospital.
Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence is in charge of arrangements.
Nancy Newsome
OTTAWA -- Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Dengel & Son Mortuary in Ottawa for Nancy L. Allen Newsome, 43, formerly of Pomona and Williamsburg, who died Thursday, Jan. 4, 2001, at her home in Fort Mill, S.C. She had cancer.
She was born Nov. 23, 1957, in Ottawa, to Ralph and Peggy Cook Allen. She graduated from Williamsburg High School in 1975. She spent most of her life in the Pomona and Williamsburg communities before she moved to Fort Mill, S.C., in 1998. She was a stocker for Wal-Mart for several years.
She married Leonard Baskett in February 1977 in Ottawa. They divorced. She married Hunter Warren. They divorced. She married Donnie Newsome in 1998. He survives.
Other survivors include a son, Leonard Baskett Jr., Ottawa; a daughter, Mandy Baskett-Miller, Ottawa; her mother, Mary M. Allen, Warsaw, Mo.; a brother, Charles Clark, DeSoto; nine sisters, Debbie Eissler, Melvern, Robin Allen, Olathe, Judy Hancock, Ottawa, Sandy Allen, Osage City, Bobbi Coffelt, Edwardsville, Linda Davis, Vancouver, Wash., Mickie Emery and Debbie Horner, both in Warsaw, Mo., and Connie Tucker, Pomona; and two grandchildren.
Burial will be in Central Cemetery near Pomona. Mrs. Newsome will lie in state after 5 p.m. today at the mortuary, where relatives and friends will meet from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Nancy Newsome Grandchildren's Education Fund and sent in care of the mortuary.
Barbara Parker
RILEY -- Barbara J. Parker, 76, Simi Valley, Calif., formerly of Riley, died Friday, Jan. 5, 2001, at a Simi Valley hospital. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Holmes-Pfeifley Funeral Home in Riley.
She was born June 30, 1924, in Riley, to Lewis and Josephine Webber Buseman, and spent her early life in Riley.
She was a member of the auxiliary to Riley Post No. 168 of the American Legion.
She married Lester Parker on Feb. 27, 1944. He died Feb. 28, 1992.
Survivors include two sons, Victor Parker, Torrance, Calif., and Jack Parker, Simi Valley, Calif.; and two brothers, Marvin Buseman, Manhattan, and Darrell Buseman, Riley.
Cremation will follow services. Relatives and friends will meet from 7 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home in Riley.
Memorial contributions may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Richard Rice Sr.
EMPORIA -- Arrangements for memorial services are pending for Richard Lee Rice Sr., 43, Cascade, Idaho, formerly of Emporia, who died Dec. 30, 2000, at a Boise, Idaho, hospital, where he had been a patient about a month. He had cancer.
He was born Aug. 17, 1957, in Honolulu, and moved to Emporia from New Jersey in 1971. He attended Lowther Junior High School in Emporia and graduated from Emporia High School in 1975. He served in the Marine Corps for 20 years. He retired in August 1995. He was a veteran of the Persian Gulf War.
He moved to Boise, Idaho, in 1991 and to Cascade, Idaho, in 2000. He was employed by Martinez Insulation Co., in Boise.
He married Valerie Stewart on Nov. 27, 2000. She survives.
Other survivors include two sons, Richard Lee Rice Jr., and Cameron A. Rice, both in Kuna, Idaho; a daughter, Tiffany Stewart, at home; his parents, Richard L. and Loretta A. Spiker Rice, Emporia; two sisters, Patricia A. Ebner, Laytonsville, Md., and Karen S. Flood, Emporia; and a grandfather, William H. Spiker Sr., Horton.
Mr. Rice was cremated.
Contributions may be made to the Richard L. Rice Memorial Fund yet to be designated and sent in care of Capitol Federal Savings, 602 Commercial, Emporia, 66801.
Harold Roebke
CLAY CENTER -- Harold Roebke, 98, Marquette, formerly of Clay Center, died Monday, Jan. 8, 2001, at a Marquette care center.
He was born Dec. 4, 1902, in Clifton, to Christian and Emma Normandin Roebke. He graduated from Clifton High School in 1922 and from Kansas State Agricultural College in Manhattan in 1926. He was a farmer and lived in the Clifton, Concordia and Idana communities. He retired in 1970 and moved to Clay Center. He moved to Lindsborg in 1994.
He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Idana.
He married Lois Fay Burk on Nov. 16, 1938. She died Dec. 16, 2000.
Survivors include a son, Craig Roebke, Lindsborg; a granddaughter; and three foster grandchildren.
Private burial will be in Rusco Cemetery near Clifton. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at First Presbyterian Church in Idana. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Neill-Schwensen-Rook Funeral Home in Clay Center.
Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church in Idana.
Raymond Streit
SENECA -- Raymond Streit, 87, Seneca, died Sunday, Jan. 7, 2001, at a Seneca hospital.
He was born March 9, 1913, in Bern, to Jacob and Salome Meyer Streit. He attended school near Bern. He was a dairy farmer and lived east of Seneca for many years.
He married Mildred Heaton on July 15, 1950, in Wichita. She survives. A son, Dennis Streit, died in 1977. Another son, Richard Streit, died in 1990.
Other survivors include three sons, Michael Streit, Sabetha, and Donald Streit and Kenneth Streit, both in Seneca; a daughter, Janet Linden, Seneca; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Popkess Mortuary in Seneca. Burial will be in Seneca City Cemetery. Mr. Streit will lie in state after noon today at the mortuary, where visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the United Methodist Church in Seneca, 66538.
Karen Williams
EMPORIA -- Karen Jeanette Williams, 63, Emporia, died Monday, Jan. 8, 2001, at an Emporia care center.
She was born March 11, 1937, in Geneseo in Rice County, to Dwight A. and Neva E. Hunter Alexander. She was a librarian at William Allen White Library at Emporia State University for 10 years and worked for the Word Processing Service in Emporia for 24 years.
She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Emporia and was church organist until a year ago.
She married Edwin Lee Williams on May 19, 1957. He died Feb. 28, 1986.
Survivors include a son, Kevin Williams, Phoenix; a daughter, Peggy Williams, Emporia; two brothers, Arden Alexander, Geneseo, and Vance Alexander, New Sharon, Iowa; and three grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Emporia. Burial will be in Haworth Cemetery southwest of Emporia.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hand In Hand Hospice in Emporia, 66801. Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home in Emporia is in charge of arrangements.
Bertha Bridson
Bertha Agnes Bridson, 82, Topeka, died Monday, Jan. 8, 2001, at home.
She was born Sept. 23, 1918, in the Sandy Hook community southeast of St. Marys, to Joseph S. and Agnes McEnroe Heim.
She was a member of Christ the King Catholic Church and Daughters of Isabella Little Flower Circle No. 503.
She married Clarence W. "Pick" Bridson on Feb. 8, 1943, in Topeka. He died Dec. 8, 1985.
Survivors include two sons, Thomas H. Bridson, Burlingame, and James A. Bridson, Olathe; a sister, Agnes E. Heim, Victoria; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Christ the King Catholic Church. Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery. Mrs. Bridson will lie in state after 2 p.m. today at Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, where rosaries will be recited by Daughters of Isabella Little Flower Circle No. 503 at 5 p.m. and by the parish at 7 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to Christ the King Catholic Church, 5973 S.W. 25th, 66614.
Margaret Conus
Margaret Frances Conus, 77, Topeka, died Monday, Jan. 8, 2001, at a Topeka care center.
She was born Nov. 18, 1923, in Osage County, to George Leslie and Sophia Bane Plackett. She graduated from Osage City High School and lived in Topeka since 1949. She was a pioneer employee of the Volume Shoe Corporation, where she worked for 21 years. She was manager of the accounts payable and receivable department before she retired in 1986.
She was a past president of the homeowners association at Lakeside Village in Jefferson County. She was a member of the auxiliaries to Billard Post No. 1650 of Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Police Reserve, both in Topeka.
She married Joseph Conus on May 31, 1941, in Topeka. He survives.
Other survivors include four sons, Thom E. Conus, Monet, Mo., Howard D. Conus, Springfield, Mo., and Terry L. Conus and Robert J. Conus, both in Topeka; a daughter, Mary Ann Conus, Pittsburgh, Pa.; a brother, Harold Plackett, Lake of the Ozarks, Mo.; 13 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Mrs. Conus will lie in state after noon Wednesday at Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Funeral Home, where relatives and friends will meet from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Topeka Chapter of the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association, P.O. Box 1427, 66601.
Leona Cunningham
Leona E. Cunningham, 93, Topeka, formerly of Russell, died Saturday, Jan. 6, 2001, at a Topeka retirement home.
She was born May 19, 1907, in the Kackley community northwest of Concordia, to Leonard and Ellen Lundblade Nelson. She spent her early life in Kackley. She attended The University of Kansas and received a bachelor's degree in education at Fort Hays State Teachers College. She taught in elementary schools in Bunker Hill and Russell.
She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Russell, Hope Circle at the church, Delta Kappa Gamma teachers' sorority and the Russell Retired Teachers Association.
She married Wayne Cunningham on Aug. 18, 1929, in Kackley. He died Nov. 16, 1993. A son, Richard Cunningham, and a granddaughter, Tracy Cunningham, also preceded her in death.
Survivors include a daughter, Carol Fowler, Topeka; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Trinity United Methodist Church in Russell. Burial will be in Russell City Cemetery. Mrs. Cunningham will lie in state after 10 a.m. today at Pohlman's Mortuary in Russell.
Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church in Russell, 67665.
