Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Willard L. Christensen
RUSKIN, Neb. -- Willard L. Christensen, 72, Ruskin, died Friday, Dec. 5, 2003.
Mr. Christensen was born Oct. 20, 1931, near Ruskin. He was a farmer.
He was preceded in death by a grandchild.
Survivors include his wife, Elaine of Ruskin; a daughter, Patricia File of Courtland, Kan.; two sons, Bruce of Hardy and Mark of Lincoln, Neb.; a brother, Donald of Riceville, Iowa; and seven grandchildren.
The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Bethany Lutheran Church, Ruskin. Burial will be in Spring Creek Cemetery, Ruskin, with military rites.
Memorials may be made to the church.
Visitation will be from noon to 9 p.m. today at Megrue-Price Funeral Home, 750 N. Commercial, Superior, NE 68978.
Lucille S. Conyers
FLORENCE -- Lucille S. Conyers, 94, Florence, died Friday, Dec. 5, 2003.
Mrs. Conyers was born Lucille Harder on Oct. 30, 1909, in Wayne, Neb. She was a homemaker and bookkeeper for her husband's service station business.
Her husband, Ray, died in 1995.
Survivors include a brother, Lavern Harder of Wayne; and two sisters, Dorothy Johnson of Wayne and Lillie Heithold of Brighton, Mo.
The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Florence United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery, Florence.
Memorials may be made to the church, in care of Zeiner Funeral Home, 104 W. Fifth, Florence 66851.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the service Monday at the church.
Charlotte Rae Cross
BUNKER HILL -- Charlotte Rae Cross, 63, Bunker Hill, died Friday, Dec. 5, 2003.
Mrs. Cross was born Charlotte Burns on July 11, 1940, in Russell. She was a homemaker and farm wife.
She was preceded in death by an infant son, Dwight Edward, in 1967.
Survivors include her husband, Lytle G.; a son, Lyle D. of Bunker Hill; her stepfather, Ervin DeWald of Russell; two sisters, Myrtle Fegley of Muleshoe, Texas, and Mabel Flora Wood of Waleeka, Okla.; and a grandchild.
The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Pohlman-Heise Memorial Chapel, 610 N. Maple, Russell 67665. Burial will be at Bunker Hill Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Bunker Hill Fireman's Fund, in care of the mortuary.
Visitation will be from noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the mortuary, where the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Virgil Wilbur Detwiler
HUTCHINSON -- Virgil Wilbur Detwiler, 82, Hutchinson, died Friday, Dec. 5, 2003.
Mr. Detwiler was born Sept. 7, 1921, in Follett, Texas. He had worked as a baker and deli truck driver for Dillons for 22 years and in seismograph service for an oil company for 15 years.
Survivors include his wife, Pat; a son, Michael Douglas of Los Angeles; four daughters, Virginia Christine Gordon of Baltimore, Patricia Irene VanDalsem of Emporia, Terri Denise Pritchett of Holdrege, Neb., and Sharla Kay Meisenheimer of Hutchinson; a brother, Ralph of Dallas; a sister, Nina Robinson of Worchester, Mass.; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Bethany Nazarene Church, Hutchinson. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Forest Park Cemetery, Anthony, with military rites by Fort Riley.
A Masonic service will be at 7:30 p.m. today at the mortuary.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Reno County, Cal Farley's Boys Ranch, Amarillo, Texas, or the World War II Monument, Washington D.C., in care of Buhler Mortuary, 120 N. Main, Buhler 67522.
Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. today at the mortuary, where the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today.
Orpha Dirks
GOESSEL -- Orpha Dirks, 91, Goessel, died Friday, Dec. 5, 2003.
Mrs. Dirks was born Orpha Unruh on Jan. 13, 1912, in rural Marion County, to Henry P. and Amelia (Schmidt) Unruh. She was a homemaker and a farm wife.
She married Emil Dirks on March 13, 1934, in rural Durham.
She was a member of the Friedenstal Mennonite Church and Central Heights Mennonite Church.
Her hobbies were gardening, reading and spending time with family.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Emil; a son, Stanley; two grandchildren; three brothers; and five sisters.
Survivors include two sons, DeWayne Dirks and wife Elvera of Berryton and Dennis Unruh and wife Cindy of Gypsum; two daughters, Kathleen Wilson of Spokane, Wash., and Gloria Rediger and husband Gary of Newton; two brothers, Wesley Unruh of Hillsboro and Ralph Unruh of Missoula, Mont.; seven grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and four stepgreat-grandchildren.
The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Central Heights Mennonite Church, rural Durham. Burial will be in Peace Valley Cemetery, rural Durham.
Memorials may be made to Bethesda Home or Mennonite Central Committee, in care of Miller Funeral Home, 303 E. Main, Goessel 67053.
Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home, where the family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. today.
Joyce Dittmer
HEBRON, Neb. -- Joyce Dittmer, 79, Hebron, died Thursday, Dec. 4, 2003.
Mrs. Dittmer was born Twila Joyce Houser on Oct. 23, 1924, in Alexandria, Neb. She and her husband farmed near Bruning and Hebron, retiring in 1988.
Her husband, Clarence, died in 1992.
Survivors include a son, Dudley of Hebron; a daughter, Becky Higel of Belvidere; a sister, Marjorie Nystrom of Hebron; a brother, Jack Houser of Bruning; three grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Grace Lutheran Church, Hebron. Burial will be in Hebron City Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the family, in care of Price Funeral Home, 210 S. Third, Hebron, NE 68370.
Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Ruth L. Donmyer
Ruth L. Donmyer, 98, Salina, died Saturday, Dec. 6, 2003.
Ryan Mortuary, Salina, is handling arrangements.
Lester Ferguson
DIGHTON -- Lester Ferguson, 84, Dighton, died Friday, Dec. 5, 2003.
Mr. Ferguson was born March 13, 1919, in rural Lane County. He was the first Farm Bureau insurance agent in Lane County. Following his retirement, he owned and operated Les Ferguson Realty Agency and was a representative of Commercial Federal Bank.
Survivors include his wife, Dorothy; three daughters, JoAnn Dirks of Scott City, Susan Smith of Parsons and Sherry Smith of Olathe; a son, Terry of Salina; 12 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at First Christian Church, Dighton. Burial will be in Dighton Memorial Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the church, Park Lane Nursing Home of Santa Fe or Council of Boy Scouts, in care of Boomhower Funeral Home, 145 N. Wichita, Dighton 67839.
Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
John Fleming
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- John Fleming, 66, Springfield, died Saturday, Dec. 6, 2003.
Hall Funeral Home, Lincoln, is handling arrangements.
Frances "Fran" Forst
Frances "Fran" Forst, 61, Salina, died Saturday, Dec. 6, 2003.
Ryan Mortuary, Salina, is handling arrangements.
Donnie M. Gariepy
RUSSELL -- Donnie M. Gariepy, 86, Russell, died Thursday, Dec. 4, 2003.
Mrs. Gariepy was born Donnie Dunkel on May 8, 1917, in Russell. She was a homemaker and taught school for a short time in Bunker Hill.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles W., in 1983; a son, Richard; and a daughter, Charlene K. Gariepy.
Survivors include three sons, Thomas R. of Canal Winchester, Ohio, Jerrold T. of Wichita and Kirk D. of Fort Myers, Fla.; a brother, Loy Dunkel of Avinger, Texas; a sister, Marie Derrington of Kansas City, Mo.; 12 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
A graveside service will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday in Bunker Hill Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Russell Regional Hospital Building Fund, in care of Pohlman-Heise Mortuary, 610 N. Maple, Russell 67665.
Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. today at the mortuary, where the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today.
Charles Kenneth Helwick
Charles Kenneth Helwick, 84, Salina, died Saturday, Dec. 6, 2003.
Ryan Mortuary, Salina, is handling arrangements.
Margaret J. Hill
McPHERSON -- Margaret J. Hill, 86, McPherson, died Thursday, Dec. 4, 2003.
Mrs. Hill was born Margaret Baird on Nov. 26, 1917, in Beaver County, Okla. She was a retired store manager for Villager Clothing and Calhoun's, both of McPherson.
Survivors include her husband, Kenneth; two sons, Stanley K. Pemberton of Houston and Jim Pemberton of Corpus Christi, Texas; three sisters, Irene Stout of Hutchinson, Pauline Martin of Kansas City, Mo., and Goldie Hutchins of Fulton, Ky.; a grandchild; two great-grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; three stepgreat-grandchildren; and a stepgreat-great-grandchild.
A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 N. Chestnut, McPherson 67460.
Memorials may be made to Memorial Hospital of McPherson, Hospice Care of Kansas or a charity of the donor's choice, in care of the funeral home.
There will be no visitation. The body was cremated.
Alexander "Alex" Humbarger
HERINGTON -- Alexander "Alex" Humbarger, 93, Herington, died Saturday, Dec. 6, 2003.
Mr. Humbarger was born Oct. 27, 1910, in Herington. He was a retired railroad engineer for Rock Island Railroad.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Blanche L., in 2001; and three grandchildren.
Survivors include a son, Phillip of Lemoore, Calif.; three daughters, Katherine Likeness of Langford, S.D., Anita Albrecht of Wichita and Beverly LeVasseur of Herington; a sister, Anna Marie Bridge of Ocean Springs, Miss.; 30 grandchildren; 46 great-grandchildren; and 20 great-great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home, 404 S. Broadway, Herington 67449. Burial will follow in Sunset Hill Cemetery, Herington.
Memorials may be made to Dickinson County Hospice, in care of the funeral home.
Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Naomi Jane Isom
SMITH CENTER -- Naomi Jane Isom, 51, Smith Center, died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003.
Mrs. Isom was born Naomi Irwin on July 13, 1952, in Winfield. She was a registered nurse.
Survivors include her husband, Jaime of Smith Center; a son, Cas Davis of Lincoln, Neb.; a stepson, Aaron Isom of Greeley, Colo.; a stepdaughter, Dana Overmiller of Smith Center; her parents, Paul and Zola Irwin of Fort Morgan, Colo.; a brother, Lloyd Irwin of Albuquerque, N.M.; three sisters, Agnes Fountain of Denver, Greta Howland of Jewell and Esther Irwin of New Zealand; and four stepgrandchildren.
A memorial service was Saturday at Simmons Mortuary, 116 W. First, Smith Center 66967.
Memorials may be made to the family, in care of the mortuary.
Francis William Johnson
ATWOOD -- Francis William Johnson, 90, Atwood, died Saturday, Dec. 6, 2003.
Williams Funeral Home, Atwood, is handling arrangements.
Dr. Arnold Laman
CONCORDIA -- Dr. Arnold Laman, 74, Concordia, died Friday, Dec. 5, 2003.
He was a retired family practice physician.
Survivors include two sons, Dr. Craig of Knoxville, Tenn., and Dr. Kirk of Ann Arbor, Mich.; a daughter, Kim Laman of Jackson, Miss.; a sister, Phyllus Kolb; and six grandchildren.
A graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday in Nelson-Rice Cemetery, rural Concordia.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday at Nutter Mortuary, 116 E. Sixth, Concordia 66901.
Mary Opal Rogers
Mary Opal Rogers, 88, Salina, died Thursday, Dec. 4, 2003.
Mrs. Rogers was born Mary Opal Crass on June 9, 1915, in Myrtle, Mo. She was a homemaker.
Her husband, George W., died in 2001.
Survivors include a son, Charles W. of Lee's Summit, Mo.; a daughter, Helen F. Rogers of Orlando, Fla.; three brothers, Lester Crass of Mesa, Ariz., Clinton Crass of Jamestown, Ala., and John Crass of Sonora, Calif.; three sisters, Lurine Bryan of West Plains, Mo., Irene Galvin of McAllen, Texas, and Margaret Brandon of Kansas City, Mo.; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Roselawn Heights Memorial Chapel, 1920 E. Crawford, Salina 67401. Burial will be in Roselawn Memorial Park, Salina.
A rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Monday at Roselawn Heights Memorial Chapel.
Memorials may be made to Hearthstone Adult Day Care, 808 S. 15th, Blue Springs, MO 64015.
Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. Monday at Roselawn Heights Memorial Chapel, where the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday.
Harold E. Scoville Jr.
Harold E. Scoville Jr., 52, Salina, died Saturday, Dec. 6, 2003.
Mr. Scoville was born June 10, 1951, in Corinth, N.Y. He was crew chief for Raytheon Co., Salina.
Survivors include his wife, Alice of Salina; a son, Antone J. of Salina; a stepson, Steve Hanzlik of North Platte, Neb.; a daughter, Misty Dawn Youngerberg of Salina; a stepdaughter, Tresa Bolin of Salina; a brother, Roy of Interlachen, Fla.; seven sisters, Viola Billington and Bert Duell, both of Queensburg, N.Y., Joan Cook of Braintree, Vt., Loretta Ramsey of Corinth, N.Y., Mary Wilson of Porters Corner, N.Y., Sherri Varnadoe of Palatka, Fla., and Doris Bordeaux of Glendale, Ariz.; and 11 grandchildren.
A memorial service will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. Eighth, Salina 67401. The body will be cremated.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Salina, in care of the mortuary.
There will be no visitation.
Katherine E. Staley
GLEN ELDER -- Katherine E. Staley, 88, Glen Elder, died Saturday, Dec. 6, 2003.
McDonald Funeral Home, Beloit, is handling arrangements.
Shirley J. Steller
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Shirley J. Steller, 77, Albuquerque, died Sunday, Nov. 28, 2003.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Stretch.
Survivors include a daughter, Kelly Steller Hrad of Plano, Texas.
The funeral was Thursday at French Mortuary, 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87125. Burial was in Santa Fe National Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Rolling Hills Wildlife Refuge, 625 N. Hedville Road, Salina 67401.
