Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Flara Ronningen
Dated: October 19, 2001
Flara Gean Brown Ronningen, 63, of Andover, St. Joseph hospital environmental services employee, died Oct. 13, 2001, at Rose Hill. Service was Oct. 16 at Valley Center Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with Bro. Darren Baron officiating. Burial was at Fairview Cemetery, Hutchinson.
She was born Sept. 17, 1938, in Tuscaloosa, Ala., the daughter of James Howard Brown and Della Mae Winters. She married Robert Allen Ronningen on Aug. 3, 1974, in Wichita. He died Aug. 20, 1997. She also was preceded in death by her parents.
Other survivors include her son, Darrell Sooter Jr. of Rose Hill; daughters, Teresa Haney of Benton, Kelly Sooter of El Dorado, Robin Perkins of Sioux City, Iowa, Kimberly Ronningen of Andover; stepson, Matthew Ronningen of Wichita; stepdaughter, Roberta Bogguess of Wichita; brother, John H. Brown of Birmingham, Ala.; sisters, Nan Reed of Mobile, Ala., Lee Livingston of Carbon Hill, Ala., Kathryn Lovelace of Coaling, Ala., Juanita McFarland of Minneapolis, Minn., Joyce O’Bryant, Mary Sue McCormack, Jewell Booth, all of Tuscaloosa, Margaret Tyner of Magnolia, Texas, and 13 grandchildren.
Baker Funeral Home had charge.
Mabel Webster
Dated: October 19, 2001
Mabel C. Webster, 90, of Wellington, mother of Clifford Webster of Park City, died Oct. 9, 2001. She was a homemaker. Service was Oct. 12 at First Baptist Church.
Other survivors include her sons, Clarence of Amarillo, Texas, Willard of Corbin, Calvin of Fredericksburg, Texas, Joseph of Wellington; daughter, Shirley Heasty of Deer Park, Texas; brothers, H.B. Stewart of Abilene, Texas, Robert Stewart of Wellington; sister, Mary Lee Craven of Wellington; 24 grandchildren; 47 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with Wellington Public Library. Frank Funeral Home had charge.
Robert Phillips
Dated: October 19, 2001
Robert Ralph Phillips, 87, of Wichita, father and father-in-law of Trudy and Tom Strunk of Valley Center, died Oct. 16, 2001.
He was a retired U.S. Department of Agriculture federal meat inspector and farmer. Service is at 11 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church.
He was born Dec. 11, 1913, at Wyaconda, Mo., the son of George W. Phillips and Beatrice Foust. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Sidney Phillips and George B. Phillips.
Other survivors include his wife, Donna Phillips; daughters and sons-in-law, Karen and Gary Nye, Nancy and Clarence Rose, Roberta “Robbie” and Chuck Thomas, all of Wichita, Connie and Scott Jaynes of Tulsa; brother, Maurice Phillips of Carthage, Ill.; sister, Hazel Toben of Bensenville, Ill., and 10 grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with the church. Cochran Mortuary has charge.
Virginia Haggart
Dated: October 19, 2001
Virginia K. Haggart, 89, of Russell, aunt of Martha Smith Eby of Valley Center, died Oct. 10, 2001. She was a retired Washburn College librarian. Memorial service was Oct. 12 at Pohlman’s Mortuary.
Other survivors include her sister, Betty Smith of Russell and five great-nieces.
A.D. Easley
Dated: December 11, 2001
A.D. Easley, 87, of Wichita, father of Nancy Lindsay of Bel Aire, died Nov. 28, 2001. He was a retired Boeing Wichita machinist. Service was Dec. 3 at Lakeview Funeral home.
Other survivors include his wife, Neva; brothers, Richard Lee of Del Rio, Texas, Bobby Claud of Crisfield, Md.; two grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Frank Bretches
Dated: December 11, 2001
Frank Stanley Bretches, 70, of Wichita, master builder and Cook-Bretches Inc. owner, died Nov. 28, 2001. Service was Dec. 1 at Kechi United Methodist Church.
He was a member of Town and Country Breakfast Club.
Survivors include his wife, Marilyn; son, Mark; daughter, Lisa Van der Bloemen, both of Wichita; brothers, Roy of Greenwood, Mo., Charles of Granview, Mo.; grandchildren, Leslie and Matt Bretches, Katie and Kirsten Riley, Shelby and Whitney Van der Bloemen, all of Wichita.
Memorials have been established with American Cancer Society and KPTS Channel 8. Cochran Mortuary had charge.
Joe Rexroat
Dated: December 11, 2001
Joe E. Rexroat, 75, of Valley Center, retired Groendyke Transport terminal manager and businessman, died Nov. 29, 2001, while visiting relatives in Sterling, Colo. Services were Dec. 5 at First United Methodist Church, Valley Center.
He was born New Year’s Day 1926 in Dobie Springs, Okla., the son of Amy Ewing and James E. Rexroat. He grew up in Guymon, Okla., where he was a high school athlete for the Guymon Tigers. He played football with the University of Tulsa’s Golden Hurricanes, and played in the Orange Bowl against Georgia Tech in 1945. He transferred to Western State College in Gunnison, Colo., where he continued his football career and met Philomena Rinaldo. They were married June 27, 1948. She survives.
After living in Tonkawa, Okla., for a few years while working with his brother Ivan, he moved to Dalhart, Texas, where he worked for the Rural Electric Association and pitched in the Texas League with the XIT Rangers.
In 1953, he joined Ivan at Groendyke Transport terminal on Market Street in north Wichita, moving his family to Valley Center. Joe and Ivan purchased acreage on Old 81 Highway, north of 77th North, and built a new Groendyke terminal in 1956. Joe and his wife built their family home in 1957.
He was a lifelong sports enthusiast. In 1995, he participated in the Orange Bowl’s 50th anniversary reunion of the Tulsa and Georgia Tech teams as part of a weeklong celebration in Miami. In partnership with his brother, he developed a number of business interests over the years. His real interests were his family, a wide circle of friends and his family of animals. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Ivan.
Other survivors include his son, Barney of Wichita; daughter, Sandra Rexroat of Kingsville, Texas; sisters and brother-in-law, Wilma Edwards of Wichita, Barbara and Delmar Gumper of Alamosa, Colo., and a granddaughter, Amy O’Neill of Kingsville, Texas.
Baker Funeral Home had charge.
Charles Roth
Dated: December 21, 2001
Charles A. Roth, 84, of Gridley, father of Larry Roth of Valley Center, died Dec. 16, 2001. He was a retired Kansas Highway Department employee. Service was Wednesday at United Methodist Church, Gridley.
Other survivors include his wife, Louise; daughters, Charlene Danford of Gridley, Lois Nelson of Raleigh, N.C.; sister, Adelia Germann of Emporia; seven grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with Shriners Children’s Hospital, St. Louis.
Darlene Scholler
Dated: December 21, 2001
Darlene Scholler, 66, of Haysville, mother of James Pinkston of Valley Center, died Dec. 11, 2001. She was a retired TG&Y manager. Memorial service was Monday at West Haysville Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Una Opal Huff; father, Manley Dewey Huff, and brothers, Earl Elwin Huff, William Manley Huff.
Survivors include her husband, Wallace; sons, Greg Pinkston of the home, Ronald Pinkston of Lyndon, Gary Pinkston of Sherman Oaks, Calif., Russell Pinkston of Berryville, Ark.; stepchildren, Michael Scholler of Denver, Debbie Sina of Kent, Wash., JR Scholler of Butte, Mont., Vickie Russell of Thousand Oaks, Calif., Patrick Scholler of Weaverville, Calif., Jesse Scholler of Turlock, Calif.; sister, Julia Luann Hart of Wichita; three grandchildren; 22 stepgrandchildren, and five stepgreat-grandchildren.
Memorials have been established with SCCS Hospice and the church. Smith Mortuary had charge.
Franklin Spillman
Dated: December 21, 2001
Franklin “Udell” Spillman, 73, of Valley Center, Fleming Corp. warehouse employee, died Dec. 16, 2001. Service was Dec. 19 at Calvary Baptist Church. Burial was at Greenwood Cemetery, Oatville.
He was born Nov. 6, 1928, in Selden, the son of Glen R. Spillman and Myrtle Fern Aumiller. He married Carol Oakes on June 30, 1962, at Mulvane. She survives. He was preceded in death by his parents, a stepson, Stephen Lawrence, and a sister, Cora Rude.
Other survivors include his sons, Donald Spillman Sr. of Park City, Michael Spillman of Big Sandy, Texas, Derrin Spillman of Okinawa, Japan, Tracy Spillman of Valley Center; brothers, Norman Spillman of Topeka, Ronald Spillman, Boyd Spillman, both of Hutchinson; sisters, Ardith Marcum, Carolyn Miller, both of Hutchinson; 19 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
Memorials have been established with the church and Hospice Inc. Baker Funeral Home had charge.
Otho Means
Dated: December 21, 2001
Otho Wayne Means, 95, of Valley Center, died Dec. 16, 2001. Service was Dec. 19 at First United Methodist Church, Valley Center.
He was born Oct. 26, 1906, in Fullerton, Neb., the son of Oren Delos Means and Jennie Williams. He married Blanche Evelyn Mecham on June 8, 1929, at Grand Island, Neb. She preceded him in death, as did his parents.
Survivors include his son, Wayne D. Means of Black Diamond, Wash.; daughters, Sondra D. Mills of Bedford, Texas, Linda K. Sonneveldt of Valley Center; 10 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with the church. Baker Funeral Home had charge.
Arlene Wagner
Dated: January 18, 2002
Arlene Ann Wagner, 59, of Valley Center, died Jan. 13, 2002. Service is at 10:30 a.m. today (Thursday) at Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Stuttgart, Kan.
Survivors include her husband, Milton; children, Mickey Wagner of Sandy, Utah, Shelley Tullio of Krum, Texas; father, Edward Zillinger of Logan; mother, Irene Zillinger of Phillipsburg; sister, JoAnn Johnson of Phillipsburg, and three grandchildren.
Memorials have been established with Holy Cross Lutheran Church and UNMC Organ Transplant-Liver Foundation. Oliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, has charge.
Calvin Bahr
Dated: January 18, 2002
Calvin H. Bahr, 73, of Valley Center, died Jan. 10, 2002, of injuries sustained in a car crash on I-135. He was a security guard for The Hayes Company. Service was Jan. 14 at Zion Lutheran Church, Newton, with Rev. Ronald Glow officiating. Burial was in Sunnydale-Park Cemetery.
He was born Dec. 6, 1928, in Ayre, Neb., the son of Rev. William V. Carl Bahr and Emma Boettcher. He married Esther Allene Fichtner on Aug. 18, 1957, in White, Neb. She survives. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Luther Bahr, and a sister, Vivian Bahr. He worked for Valley Center Farmer’s Elevator for 27 years before “attempting to retire.” He then mowed lawns and drove a courtesy van for Davis-Moore of Wichita. He was an avid supporter of Valley Center Hornet football and rarely missed a home game. He also enjoyed Nebraska Cornhusker football and any sporting events involving his grandchildren. He was involved throughout his life in 4-H and Zion Lutheran Church. He and his wife recently attended the 115th celebration of the St. John Church in White, Neb., where they were married. Last summer he visited his brothers and sisters and their families in St. Louis. He valued his family, friends and faith.
Other survivors include his sons and daughters-in-law, Bill and Jody Bahr of Mims, Fla., Calvin Jr. and Janell Bahr of Valley Center; daughters and sons-in-law, Debbie and Emmett Johnson of Kechi, Cindy and Gary Miller of McPherson, Ruth and Terry Deffenbaugh of Wichita; brothers, Albert Bahr of Maryland Heights, Mo., Virgil Bahr of Arnold, Mo., Bill Bahr of St. Louis, Mo.; sisters, Virginia Bahr of Redbud, Ill., Angie Welge of Chester, Ill., Arlene Leenarts of St. Louis, Mo., Grace Schneider of Hurst, Texas, and nine grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established with the church Zion 2000 building program. Baker Funeral Home had charge.
Douglas Jones
Dated: January 18, 2002
Douglas A. Jones, 50, of Valley Center, died Jan. 8, 2002. He was a truck driver for Robert Cooper Trucking, Hutchinson. Service was Jan. 12 at Kaufman Funeral Home, Halstead, with Rev. Dallas Curts officiating. Cremation followed the service.
He was born May 17, 1951, at Little Rock, Ark., the son of William F. Jones and Clara M. Barnes. They survive of El Monte, Calif. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, serving in Vietnam.
Other survivors include his son, Travis David Jones of Virginia; daughters, Tracey Ann Simmons of Hutchinson, Caroline Mae Jones of Dadeville, Calif.; brothers, William F. Jones Jr. of Eugene, Ore., Mike Jones of Alaska, and three grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with the American Lung Association, in care of the funeral home.
Ethel Smith
Dated: January 18, 2002
Ethel E. Smith, 90, of Hutchinson, mother of Gary Smith of Valley Center, died Jan. 14, 2002. She was a homemaker and seamstress. Funeral mass is at 10 a.m. today (Thursday) at Holy Cross Catholic Church.
Other survivors include her son, L. Earle of Hutchinson; sisters, Irene McGaughey, Ruth McGaughey, both of Hutchinson; eight grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with the church. Johnson and Sons Funeral Home had charge.
Frances Beitler
Dated: January 18, 2002
Frances Ann Beitler, 82, of St. John, mother of Laurel Keeley of Valley Center, died Jan. 7, 2002. She was a homemaker. Service was Jan. 12 at Minnis Chapel.
Other survivors include her husband, Thelbert; son, Dennis of St. John; daughters, Alene Gunter of Yuma, Ariz., Martha Aaron of Goddard; brother, Charles Hooker of Plevna; sisters, Marie Castle, Ida Mae Gisick, both of Hutchinson; Fern Kerns of Wheeling, Ill.; 10 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with the American Cancer Society.
Frank Rowley Sr.
Dated: January 18, 2002
Frank Ferry Rowley Sr., 92, of Valley Center, farmer and retired Wichita Fire Department employee, died Jan. 12, 2002. Service was Jan. 16 at First United Methodist Church. Burial was in Sunnydale Park Cemetery.
He was born Aug. 1, 1909, on a ranch southwest of Medicine Lodge in rural Barber County, the son of Orrin F. Rowley and Frances Elizabeth Ogden. At age 9, his family moved to a farm east of Valley Center. He graduated from Valley Center High School in 1929, then attended Friends University. He played football at both schools. He became a Wichita Fire Department fireman in 1931. He married Thelma Rose Young on April 26, 1933, at Moscow. She survives of the home. They had a washing machine rental business until 1943, then purchased a farm north of Valley Center where they lived for the next 59 years. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Irene Rowley, and three infant siblings.
Other survivors include his sons and daughters-in-law, Frank Jr. and Marilyn Rowley, Larry and Margie Rowley, all of Valley Center; brother, Fred Rowley Sr. of Lebo.; nine grandchildren: Fran Wilson of Fort Gibson, Okla., Deborah Stephan of Indianapolis, Ind., Meredith Holdaway of Valley Center, Andrea Rowley of Lenexa, Ryan Rowley of Wichita, Lance Rowley of Wichita, Rhonda Leigh Rowley of Phoenix, Ariz., Rhonda Jean Henderson of Crescent, Okla., Rick Roles of Oklahoma City, Okla., and 18 great-grandchildren: Adam, Eric, Lydia and Luke Wilson; Christopher Pendergraft; Jonathan, Justin, Jessica and Cooper Holdaway; Ben and Derek Rowley; Ashley, Skylar and Taylor Rowley; Heather and Cody Weber; Brittany Singer, and Trystin Roles.
A memorial has been established with Wichita Firefighters in care of Frank Rowley Sr. Memorial Fund, Intrust Bank, Valley Center. Baker Funeral Home had charge.
Pauline McKibban-Woelk
Dated: January 18, 2002
Pauline McKibban-Woelk, 84, sister of Betty Whittington and Louise Slenker of Valley Center, died Jan. 13, 2002. Visitation was at Shepard Funeral Chapel in St. Louis, Mo. Visitation with family is from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. today (Thursday), and service is at 1 p.m., both at Baker Funeral Home Chapel, Valley Center. Burial will be in Sunnydale Park Cemetery.
She was born Aug. 12, 1917, the daughter of Chester and Lena Rhoades. She was a life member of Parkwood Christian Church, a past board member of Christian Women’s Benevolent Association and a volunteer for many years at the Christian Care Home. She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Opal Ford and Mable Nordstedt; daughter, Bonnie Woelk; and brothers, Harold Rhoades and Alvin “Dotter” Rhoades.
Other survivors include her sons and daughters-in-law, William K. and Colleen Woelk of Huber Heights, Ohio, Robert L. and Diane Woelk of Mulvane; daughters and sons-in-law, LaVerne and Peter DiPietro of Lynn, Mass., Helen and Delbert Grover of St. Ann, Mo.; stepsons, Tom McKibban of El Dorado, Bill McKibban of Clearwater; sister, Nellie David of Wewoka, Okla.; 11 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.
Verle Patchett
Dated: January 18, 2002
Verle Noble “Slim” Patchett, 52, of Valley Center, Drywall Systems Inc. manager, died Jan. 11, 2002. Service was Jan. 15 at Family Worship Center, Wichita, with Pastor Boone Baker officiating. Burial was at Hillside Cemetery, Sedgwick.
He was born April 29, 1949, in Wichita, the son of Noble Patchett and Harriet Ruth Bieler. They survive of Eureka. He married Peggy Colleen Coleman on May 11, 1978, in Wichita. She survives of the home. He was preceded in death by an infant brother, Leroy Patchett, and an infant sister, Vera Patchett.
Other survivors include his son, Eric Patchett, daughters, Michele Shields, Angela Pennington, Charity Rogers, all of Valley Center; brother, Marty Patchett, of Eureka, and seven grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice. Baker Funeral Home had charge.
