Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Laura L. Curry
BELOIT — Laura L. Curry, 90, Beloit, died Monday, Aug. 15, 2005.
Mrs. Curry was born Laura L. Patterson on June 12, 1915, in Republic County. She was a beautician.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, Floyd Clintsman, Owen Moore and Raymond Curry.
Survivors include a son, Dean Clintsman of Hurst, Texas; a daughter, Barbara Thompson of Glen Elder; five grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Beloit United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Downs Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the church or Long Term Care Memorial Garden.
Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at McDonald Funeral Home, 910 N. Campbell, Beloit 67420, where the family will receive friends from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
Lawrence Ray “Pete” Divel
JEWELL — Lawrence Ray “Pete” Divel, 86, Jewell, died Monday, Aug. 15, 2005.
Mr. Divel was born April 13, 1919, in rural Jewell County. He was a custom harvester and farmer.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara of the home; a son, Larry of Abilene; three stepsons, John Crumrine of Beatrice, Neb., Robert Crumrine of Artesia, N.M., and Tom Crumrine of Burlington; two daughters, Ann Daley of Derby and Carol Krier of Beloit; a sister, Marjorie Hartsel of Jewell; two granddaughters; 17 stepgrandchildren; and 13 stepgreat-grandchildren.
The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. today at Trinity United Methodist Church, Jewell.
Memorials may be made to the church or Jewell Public Library.
Kleppinger Funeral Home, 409 Broadway, Jewell 66949, is handling arrangements.
Carl E. Heck
WICHITA — Carl E. Heck, 89, Wichita, formerly of Minneapolis, died Monday, Aug. 15, 2005.
Shields Funeral Home, Minneapolis, is handling arrangements.
Theresa Jefferies
WaKEENEY — Theresa Jefferies, 94, WaKeeney, died Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2005.
Mrs. Jefferies was born Theresa Karst on April 3, 1911, in Russell. She was a retail clerk for Garrett’s IGA and Duckwall’s, retiring in 1977.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, Edwin F. Margheim in 1976 and Gerald Jefferies in 1999; a son, Edwin E. Margheim; and a grandson.
Survivors include a daughter, Shirley Kelm of Sacramento, Calif.; a stepsister, Bertha Karst Solze of Ness City; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
A graveside service will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday in Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery, Trego Center.
Memorials may be made to Zion Lutheran Church, in care of Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 N. 12th, WaKeeney, KS 67672.
There will be no visitation.
Letha B. Myers
RUSSELL — Letha B. Myers, 85, Russell, died Monday, Aug. 15, 2005.
Mrs. Myers was born Letha B. Sellens on June 15, 1920, in Russell. She was a homemaker and longtime bookkeeper for Myers Furniture, Russell.
Her husband, Charles S., died in 1992.
Survivors include two sons, Ronald of Omaha, Neb., and Martin of Russell; a daughter, Mary Myers of Denver; a foster daughter, Gatha Asbra of Greeley, Colo.; and a granddaughter.
The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Pohlman-Heise Memorial Chapel, 610 N. Maple, Russell 67665. Burial will be in Russell City Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Russell County Area Community Foundation, in care of the mortuary.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday at the mortuary.
Lod Polivka
McDONALD — Lod Polivka, 84, McDonald, died Monday, Aug. 15, 2005.
Williams Funeral Home, Atwood, is handling arrangements.
Dean Portenier
PHILLIPSBURG — Dean Portenier, 68, Phillipsburg, died Monday, Aug. 15, 2005.
Mr. Portenier was born Aug. 26, 1936, in Phillips County. He worked in the maintenance department of Tamko Roofing Products.
Survivors include his wife, Sandra of the home; a son, Kent of Kirwin; three daughters, Debra Cox of Palmyra, Neb., Di Rae Boyd of Speed and Jeanette Pakkebier of Densmore; a brother, Charles of Phillipsburg; a sister, Marjorie Jorgensen of Seward, Neb.; five grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, 1115 Second, Phillipsburg 67661. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, Phillipsburg.
Memorials may be made to Hospice Services or KSU Cancer Research.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and until the service Thursday at the chapel.
Terry M. Shaffer
Terry M. Shaffer, 56, Salina, died Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2005.
Ryan Mortuary, Salina, is handling arrangements.
Elton R. Smith
TOPEKA — Elton R. Smith, 81, Topeka, formerly of Stockton, died Monday, Aug. 15, 2005.
Mr. Smith was born Nov. 27, 1923, in Vliets. He was a retired funeral director with Smith Funeral Home of Stockton.
Survivors include his wife, Marcella of the home; two daughters, Linda Taylor of Topeka and Jeannie Wark of Lawrence; four grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, 800 W. Sixth, Topeka 66603. A graveside service will be at 4 p.m. Saturday in Stockton Cemetery, with military honors by VFW Post 8873.
Memorials may be made to Shriner’s Hospital for Crippled Children, in care of the Arab Shrine, 1305 S. Kansas, Topeka, KS 66612, or to Midland Hospice Care, 200 S.W. Frazier Circle, Topeka, KS 66606.
Visitation will be after 2 p.m. Friday at the funeral home, where the family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Rex Strait Sr
CONCORDIA — Rex Strait Sr., 83, Concordia, died Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2005.
Nutter Mortuary, Concordia, is handling arrangements.
Riley Dean Sweany
LaHARPE — Riley Dean Sweany, 70, rural LaHarpe, died Monday, Aug. 15, 2005.
Mr. Sweany was born May 8, 1935, in LaHarpe. He worked for Pet Milk Co. for nine years and was a farmer and cattleman.
Survivors include his wife, Linda of the home; four sons, Mike D. of Sand Springs, Okla., Jack of Great Bend, David of Abilene and Gary of Spotsylvania, Va.; a brother, Ray of Mayfield, Ky.; and 10 grandchildren.
The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel, 16 N. Buckeye, Iola 66749. Burial will be in LaHarpe Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to LaHarpe High School Alumni Scholarship Fund or Moran Christian Church.
Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. today at the chapel.
Evelyn L. Crowell
Evelyn L. Crowell, 75, Salina, died Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2005.
Mrs. Crowell was born Evelyn Lucille Larson on Jan. 8, 1930, in rural Republic County. She was a secretary.
Survivors include a son, Perry of Salina; a daughter, Jeana Minen of Manvel, Texas; a sister, Elner Langston of Courtland; and three grandchildren.
A memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Salina. An additional memorial service will be at 2:30 p.m. Monday at Ada Lutheran Church, Courtland. Inurnment will be in Ada Lutheran Church Cemetery, Courtland.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Salina, the church or American Cancer Society.
There will be no visitation. The body was cremated.
Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. Eighth, Salina, is handling arrangements.
Adolph R. Cumro
Washington — Adolph R. Cumro, 93, Washington, died Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2005.
Mr. Cumro was born Aug. 7, 1912, in Jefferson County, Neb. He was a farmer.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Gertrude; a stepdaughter, Kathleen Marlowe; and three stepsons, Darrell Marlowe, Lowell Marlowe and John D. Marlowe.
Survivors include two brothers, Maurice of Fairbury, Neb., and Louis of Odell, Neb.; a sister, Catharine Nutsch of Fairbury, Neb.; a stepdaughter, Joselyn Kearn of Washington; two stepdaughters, Darlene Scott of Fort Morgan, Colo., and Melinda Scroggie of Bedford, Iowa; several grandchildren; and several stepgrandchildren.
The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Augustine Catholic Church, Washington. Burial will be in St. Johns Catholic Cemetery, Hanover.
A vigil will be at 7 p.m. today at the church.
Memorials have been established.
Visitation will be from 6 to 7 p.m. today at the church.
Ward Funeral Home, 115 W. Second St., Washington 66968, is handling arrangements.
Thaddious “Thad Jacob Douthit Jr
ST. FRANCIS — Thaddious “Thad” Jacob Douthit Jr., 61, St. Francis, died Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2005.
Mr. Douthit was born Aug. 11, 1944, in St. Francis. He was a rancher.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Lou Douthit, of St. Francis; a son, T.J. of Golden, Colo.; two daughters, Tammy Grice of St. Francis and Trish Paulson of Littleton, Colo.; three sisters, Jane Cook of Lyons and Joyce Faulkender and Becky McAtee, both of St. Francis; his mother, Hazel A. Douthit; and four grandchildren.
The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at United Methodist Church, St. Francis. Burial will be in St. Francis Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Cheyenne County Hospital, the church or Kids Hunter Safety Course, all of St. Francis.
Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. today at Knodel Funeral Home, 202 S. Benton, St. Francis 67756-0606.
Loren V. Florell
SCANDIA — Loren V. Florell, 94, Scandia, died Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2005.
Mr. Florell was born Dec. 15, 1910, in Courtland. He was a retired farmer and school custodian for Pike Valley School District.
His wife, Maxine, died in 1975.
Survivors include two daughters, Janice McCaulley of Ellsworth and Vicki Nylund of Scandia; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Bachelor-Faulkner-Dart-Surber Funeral Home, 324 Kansas, Scandia 66966. Burial will be in Courtland Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Scandia Museum or Republic County Long Term Care.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Marie Violet Foster
POULSBO, Wash. — Marie Violet Foster, 80, Poulsbo, died Thursday, Aug. 11, 2005.
Mrs. Foster was born Marie Violet Kolsky on July 15, 1925, in Jennings, Kan. She was a homemaker.
Survivors include her husband, Flavius, of Poulsbo; three sons, Thomas, Maurice and Douglas, all of Poulsbo; a daughter, Linda Killinger of Moses Lake; three brothers, Dallas Kolsky of Sedalia, Mo., and Gerald Kolsky and Ira Kolsky, both of Oberlin, Kan.; two sisters, Goldie Stapp of Oberlin and Bettie Janning of Storm Lake, Iowa; 14 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild.
A graveside service will be at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Dresden Cemetery, Dresden, Kan.
Memorials may be made to a recipient of the donor’s choice.
Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at Pauls Funeral Home, 121 N. Penn, Oberlin, KS 67749.
Joan M. Heller
CONCORDIA — Joan M. Heller, 75, Concordia, died Monday, Aug. 15, 2005.
Mrs. Heller was born Joan M. Earley on June 14, 1930, in Concordia. She was a waitress and homemaker.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Parmer C. Jr., in 1978; and two sons, Mickey and Barry.
Survivors include four daughters, Vicki Simpson and Sue Ramsey, both of Concordia, Penny DeWitt of Niles and Kathy Heller of Kansas City, Mo.; a son, Clayton of Sacramento, Calif.; a brother, Dick Earley of Pryor, Okla.; 11 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Victory Faith Assembly of God, Concordia. Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Concordia.
Memorials may be made to Joan M. Heller Memorial Fund.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home, 325 W. Sixth, Box 606, Concordia 66901.
Lod E. Polivka
McDONALD — Lod E. Polivka, 84, McDonald, died Monday, Aug. 15, 2005.
Mr. Polivka was born Feb. 21, 1921, in Brainard, Neb. He was the retired owner of a service station, tavern and catering business.
His wife, Marie Agnes, died in 1997.
Survivors include two sons, Donald Leroy of San Diego and Billy Dean of Lakewood, Colo.; a daughter, Bonnie K. Wyly of McDonald; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be at 10 a.m. today at Williams Funeral Home Chapel, 109 N. Second, Atwood 67730. Burial will be in St. John’s Cemetery, rural Atwood.
Memorials may be made to McDonald Senior Center or a charity of the donor’s choice.
Visitation will be this morning until service time at the chapel.
