Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Donald Wright
Donald Francis "Speed" Wright, 85, Topeka, died Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2001, at a Topeka nursing home.
Mr. Wright was a representative for an automobile body paint supply company for many years. He also was a professional musician. He had played in the original Carl Johnson Band, which became the Kings of Swing, and he played for Marshall's Civic Band and other orchestras and combos. He served in the Army in the Pacific Theater during World War II.
He was born June 23, 1915, in Holton, the son of Francis B. and Myrtle Patton Wright. He graduated from Holton High School and attended Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia.
Mr. Wright was a member of the Topeka Jazz Workshop, American Legion, Philip Billard Post No. 1650 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Federation of Musicians Local No. 169.
He married Pauline D. Vandervelde on Nov. 15, 1940, in Topeka. She died Nov. 29, 1994.
Survivors include a niece and a nephew.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel. Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Mr. Wright will lie in state after noon today at the funeral home, where visitation will be from 6 to 7 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Helping Hands Humane Society, 2625 N.W. Rochester Road, Topeka, 66617.
Grace Dunn
SENECA -- Grace E. Dunn, 98, Seneca, died Thursday, Jan. 9, 2003, at a Seneca care home.
Mrs. Dunn taught school in Wyoming and in Marion County.
She was born Aug. 7, 1904, in Harrisonville, Mo., to Gustav and Augusta Massel Kottwitz. She moved with her family to Peabody as a child and graduated from Peabody High School in 1923. She graduated from Kansas State Agricultural College in Manhattan with a degree in home economics in 1933. She moved to Seneca in 1948.
Mrs. Dunn was a member of the United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women at the church and Seneca Garden Club.
She married Clarence Dunn in 1936. He died in 1991.
Survivors include three sons, Wayne Dunn, Grapevine, Texas, Donnell Dunn, Fargo, N.D., and Howard Dunn, Richardson, Texas; a daughter, Joyce Barrett, Colorado Springs, Colo.; 13 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Burial will be in Seneca City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Seneca Free Library, Seneca, 66538.
John Lane
CLAY CENTER -- John D. Lane, 79, Clay Center, died Friday, Jan. 10, 2003, at a Topeka hospital.
Mr. Lane was a retired teacher and coach. He began his career at Wakefield High School and then taught at Beloit High School for seven years. He was a teacher and coach at Clay Center Community High School from 1959 until retiring in 1988. He had coached football, basketball and track for more than 100 consecutive seasons.
He served in the Army in the Pacific theater during World War II.
He was born June 11, 1923, in Cincinnati to John William and Mary Frances Dinsmoor Lane. He graduated from Lincoln High School and attended Fort Hays State University. He graduated from Emporia State University in 1948.
Mr. Lane was a member of the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association and a life member of the National Education Association.
He married Allene Jones on Aug. 4, 1948. She survives.
Other survivors include three sons, Paul Lane and Mark Lane, both of Clay Center, and J.D. Lane, Haysville; three daughters, Mary Getto, Ozawkie, Nancy Warren, Arkansas City, and Suzanne Ahlberg, Oberlin; a brother, Thomas Lane, Platte City, Mo., a sister, Catherine Burrow, Flower Mound, Texas; 13 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Mr. Lane was preceded in death by two great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be at 3:30 p.m. Monday at the First Baptist Church in Clay Center. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Neill-Schwensen-Rook Funeral Home in Clay Center. Inurnment will be at a later date.
Contributions may be made to the John Lane Memorial Fund to be designated later and sent in care of the funeral home, 918 7th St., Clay Center, 67432.
Fannie Lewis
JUNCTION CITY -- Family graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Feb. 8 in Highland Cemetery in Highland for Fannie C. Lewis, 88, Junction City. She died Thursday, Jan. 9, 2003, at a Junction City care center.
Cremation is planned.
Memorial contributions may be the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 1653, Topeka, 66601-9865.
Johnson Funeral Home in Junction City is in charge of arrangements.
Gary McAmis
READING -- Gary Edward McAmis, 36, Reading, died Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2003, at his home.
Mr. McAmis worked in the maintenance department at Emporia State University. He also had worked with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local No. 226 in Topeka, and he was a firefighter with the Reading Volunteer Fire Department. He also had served on the Reading City Council.
He was born Dec. 26, 1966, in Kansas City, Kan., the son of David Victor McAmis and Georgia Lee Pike. He attended Dodge City Community College on a football scholarship and had lived in the Reading area since 1995.
Mr. McAmis was vice president of the Reading Elementary School PTA and was active in Reading Days. He also was active in bowling leagues.
He married Janice E. Smith on Oct. 19, 1994, in Manhattan. She survives.
Other survivors include two daughters, Melissa McAmis and Jessica Cheek, both at home; his father, David Victor McAmis, Hutchinson; his stepfather, Raymond Ferguson, Hutchinson; two brothers, David Wayne McAmis, Douglass, and Phillip Eugene McAmis, Hutchinson; and a stepsister, Tammy Magner, Rock Springs, Wyo.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the First Baptist Church in Reading. Burial will be in Reading Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home in Emporia.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Melissa McAmis Education Fund and sent in care of the funeral home.
Esther Miller
EMPORIA -- Esther Lenora Miller, 90, Emporia, died Thursday, Jan. 9, 2002, at her home.
Mrs. Miller was a nurses' aide before she retired.
She was born Sept. 26, 1912, the daughter of Ole Pederson and Christina Olson. She lived in Albert Lea, Minn., for many years.
Mrs. Miller was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Albert Lea.
She married Ernest Herman Miller on Sept. 26, 1940, in Elsbrough, Minn. He preceded her in death. Mrs. Miller also was preceded in death by two grandsons, Kevin Miller and Jason Miller, and a great-grandson, Joseph Peres.
Survivors include two sons, Gaylerd Miller, Emporia, and Delwen Miller, Hartford; a daughter, Karen Flo, Grapevine, Texas; a brother, Omer Pederson, Granite Falls, Minn.; a sister, Josie Scheck, Albert Lea; nine grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and seven stepgrandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery in Albert Lea. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to service time Tuesday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hand in Hand Hospice and sent in care of Charter Funerals, 501 W. 6th Ave., Emporia, 66801.
Ralph Pugh
WAMEGO -- Ralph Pugh, 85, Wamego, died Friday, Jan. 10, 2003, at a Salina hospital.
Services will be announced by Stewart Funeral Home in Wamego.
Mary Rickard
MEDICINE LODGE -- Mary Jean Rickard, 80, Medicine Lodge, died Thursday, Jan. 9, 2003, at a Pratt hospital.
Mrs. Rickard had been a piano teacher, and she worked at Barber County Savings and Loan.
She was born Sept. 29, 1922, in Medicine Lodge, to Alan and Nellie Fay Glasier Hibbard. She was a lifelong resident of Medicine Lodge.
Mrs. Rickard was a member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Chapter DP of the PEO Sisterhood, the Monday Afternoon Club, St. Mark's Guild and the American Legion Auxiliary. She was an organist for St. Mark's Church for more than 50 years.
She married L. H. "Dub" Rickard on Nov. 4, 1945, in Medicine Lodge. He survives.
Other survivors include two daughters, Martha Bogner, Kiowa, and Georgia Small, Topeka; and six grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the United Methodist Church in Medicine Lodge. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery at Medicine Lodge. Mrs. Rickard will lie in state from 1 to 8 p.m. today and Sunday at Larrison-Forsyth Funeral Home in Medicine Lodge.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mark's Episcopal Church, to the PEO Scholarship Fund or to the Stockade Museum, all in Medicine Lodge, and sent in care of the funeral home, 120 E. Lincoln, Medicine Lodge, 67104.
Rodney Rogers
WHITE CITY -- Rodney LeRoy Rogers, 64, White City, died Thursday, Jan. 9, 2003, at a Junction City hospital.
Mr. Rogers was a shipping clerk for Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. in Lincoln, Neb., for 33 years before retiring in 1996.
He was born May 26, 1938, in Chadwick, Mo., to Virgil Raymond Rogers and Anna Lavern Hartley. He graduated from White City High School in 1957.
Mr. Rogers was a member of White City United Methodist Church and the Forresters. He also was an avid bowler and woodworker.
He married LouAnn Decker on Aug. 21, 1960, in Junction City. She survives.
Other survivors include two sons, Kevin Rogers, Lincoln, Neb., and Rodney L. Rogers Jr., San Diego; two sisters, Ella May Boyce, Council Grove, and Alice Parker, Circleville; three brothers, Wendell Rogers, Elizabeth, N.J., Wilmot Rogers, Wellington, and Ralph Rogers, Girard; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at White City United Methodist Church. Burial will be in White City Cemetery. Mr. Rogers will lie in state after noon Sunday at Memorial Chapel of the Flint Hills in Council Grove, where visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association and sent in care of the funeral chapel.
Barbara Evans
Barbara Bloomer Cott Evans, 57, Topeka, died Thursday, Jan. 9, 2003, at her home.
Ms. Evans was employed with Bill's Chuck Burger in Topeka.
She was born Aug. 15, 1945, in Peabody, to Henry and Caroline Petterson Bloomer. She had lived most of her life in Topeka.
Survivors include two sons, Frank Cott and Henry Cott, both of Topeka; three daughters, Carolyn Crump, Betty Cott and Trease Cott, all of Topeka; three brothers, Don Bloomer and John Bloomer, both of Peabody, and Leonard Bloomer, Topeka; seven sisters, April Deichen, Wichita, Dorothy Brown, Plainville, Karen Voth, Sharon Smith and Mary Russell, all of Newton, Shirley Solomon and Carol Piland, both of Peabody; 23 grandchildren; and 28 great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Prairie Lawn Cemetery in Peabody. Ms. Evans will lie in state after noon Monday at Davidson Funeral Home, where visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m.
Contributions may be made to the Barbara Evans Memorial Fund and sent in care of the funeral home, 1035 N. Kansas Ave., Topeka, 66608.
Ruth Fike
Ruth S. Fike, 81, formerly of Topeka, died Thursday, Jan. 9, 2003, at a Paola hospital.
Mrs. Fike was the head clerk in the federal bankruptcy court in Kansas City, Kan., for 21 years.
She was born April 11, 1921, in Kansas City, Mo., to George Gilman and Nellie Paul Stevens. She graduated from Kansas City, Mo., Teacher's College with a teaching certificate and lived most of her life in Kansas City, Mo. She lived in Topeka for eight years and moved to Louisburg six years ago.
Mrs. Fike was a member of John Knox Presbyterian Church in Topeka.
She married Charles Crane Fike on April 6, 1947, in Barry, Mo. He died Oct. 6, 1966.
Survivors include a son, Steven W. Fike, Louisburg; three daughters, Julia K. Smith, Topeka, Cynthia A. Schlink, Berryton, and Rebecca S. Moroney, Wharton, N.J.; 11 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery. Mrs. Fike will lie in state after 8 a.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Beulah Fromong
Beulah F. Fromong, 86, Topeka, died Friday, Jan. 10, 2003, at a Topeka care facility.
She was born Jan. 23, 1916, in Rozel, the daughter of Harry and Willa Ricks Bruntzel. She lived many years in Hutchinson before moving to Topeka.
Mrs. Fromong was a member of the Silver Leaf Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star in Hutchinson and Park Place Christian Church in Hutchinson.
She married August Fromong, who died Jan. 20, 1985.
Survivors include a son, Donald D. Fromong, Topeka; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday in Larned Cemetery in Larned.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association-Topeka Chapter, P.O. Box 1427, Topeka, 66601.
Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Raymond Keller
Raymond Keller, 77, Topeka, died Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2003, at a Topeka hospital.
Mr. Keller was a self-employed architect, and he had been an architect for the state of Kansas.
He was born July 31, 1925, in Hays, to Albert Keller and Adamine Schoenthaler. He graduated from Kansas Sate University.
He married Phyllis Lorraine Taylor. She survives.
Other survivors include two daughters, Linda Splichal, Dickinson, N.D., and Lois Area, Topeka; a son, Lyle Keller, Laramie, Wyo.; a sister, Esther Calk, Arlington, Texas; and five grandchildren.
Mr. Keller was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Janet Louise Keller.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday at First Lutheran Church. Burial will be at 3:30 p.m. Monday in Prairie Mound Cemetery at Solomon. Mr. Keller will lie in state from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.
Kathleen Larsen
Kathleen A. Larsen, 72, Topeka, died Thursday, Jan. 9, 2003, at a Topeka care facility.
She was born March 11, 1930, in Reading, Pa., to Thomas and Ethel Hartman Albert. She moved to Topeka in 1992.
Survivors include a son, Peter Larsen, Topeka; a daughter, Kim Larsen-Morkus, Grandview, Mo.; and two granddaughters.
Cremation is planned. Inurnment will be private.
Memorial contributions may be made to Heart of America Hospice, 3715 S.W. 29th, Suite 20, Topeka, 66614.
Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Marguerite Leupold
Services are pending at Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel for Marguerite L. Leupold, 95, Tecumseh. She died Friday, Jan. 10, 2003, at a Topeka retirement center.
Betty Bratton
WHEATRIDGE, Colo. -- Betty Louise Bratton, 75, Wheatridge, died Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2001, in Wheatridge.
Mrs. Bratton was an apartment manager for 14 years.
She was born Dec. 16, 1925, in Topeka.
Survivors include two daughters, Tanya Salts, Mayetta, Kan., and Bernie Mueller, Broomfield, Colo.; a son, Charles Bratton Jr., Morreston, N.J.; five grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
No services are scheduled.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Metro Denver, 2021 High St., Denver, Colo., 80218.
