Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
BERNICE MATT SAYLOR KVASNICKA
Bernice Emma, the daughter of William and Elsie Riley Hinds, was born September 6, 1920 at Culver, Kansas. She passed away February 23, 2001 at her home in WaKeeney. She had reached the age of 80 years, five months and 17 days.
She was united in marriage to Walter W. Matt on June 26, 1938. They lived on a farm in Saline County until moving to Ottawa County in 1945, where they continued to farm south of Minneapolis. She received her nurses training at Cloud County Community College and practiced as a Licensed Practical Nurse at the Crestview Nursing Home near Bennington, Minneapolis Good Samaritan Center, Twilight Years Adult Care Home in Minneapolis and did private duty nursing for the Ottawa County Health Department until retiring in 1998. Her husband Walter passed away October l6, 1981. She married George B. Saylor in 1982 and they continued to make their home in Minneapolis. He preceded her in death August 31, 1994. She was united in marriage to Earl Kvasnicka October 25, 1999 and moved to WaKeeney.
Bernice was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and Golden Wheel Senior Center of Minneapolis, Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Tourist Club, Presbyterian Women and the Composting Committee of Trego County Extension Service, all of WaKeeney.
Survivors include two sons: John Matt and his wife Verneta of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Daniel Matt and his wife Kathy of Kansas City, Missouri; three daughters: Marjean and her husband Larry Moore of Marengo, Iowa; Marilyn and her husband Norm Bhend of Athens, Wisconsin and Margaret and her husband Larry Fuller of Culver; a sister Helen Harper, Salina, 14 grand-children and 15 great-grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by two sisters, Gladys Abbott and Marjorie Phillips and a granddaughter Sandra Fuller.
The funeral was February 26 at the First Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis. Rev. Barbara Patton officiated. Musicians were Kim Ballantyne and Margaret Pruitt. Casket bearers were Kieth Ballantyne, Jeff Brooks, Karl Matt, Brian Moore, Alan Moore and Taud Vosburg. Interment was in Highland Cemetery. Shields Funeral Home handled arrangements.
The family suggests memorials to the nursing home of the donor's choice.
BRENT PITTS
Brent Pitts, 39, of Chandler, Arizona, died February 21, 2001 at Los Angeles. He was born November 13, 1961 at Rock Island, Illinois.
Brent was a former resident of Salina. He was a business consultant and member of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Salina.
Survivors include his wife, Sandy of Chandler; his father Jim of Lindsborg; his stepmother, Elsie Pitts of Lindsborg; a brother, Jeff of Leawood; a sister Kim Schultz of Mission; three stepsisters, Coral Klitzke, Dighton, Mele Barber, Dallas and Angela Bechard, Bonner Springs; and grandparents, Ethel Pitts, Minneapolis and Carl and Ruth Engstrom, Salina. His mother, Gwen, preceded him in death, in 1980.
The funeral is today, March 1, at Arizona Community Church in Chandler. A memorial service will be held March 6 at 10:00 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Salina.
Memorials may be made to the Brent Pitts memorial at Salina Educational Fund %Salina South High School, PO Box 797, Salina, Ks 67401.
MELVIN BRINDLE
Melvin Brindle, 92, died April 16, 2001 at Salina Regional Health Center.
The funeral is Saturday, April 21, at 2 p.m. at the Community Bible Church in Minneapolis. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery. Shields Funeral Home is handling arrangements. A complete obituary will appear in next week's paper.
LUCILE IRENE WING
Lucile Irene Wing was born October 1, 1909 at Gorham, to Amos and Minnie Preston. She passed away April 16, 2001 at the Ottawa County Health Center in Minneapolis, having reached the age of 91 years 6 months and 15 days.
She graduated from Gorham High School and the Brown Mackie College at Salina. On May 1, 1932, she was united in marriage to Wayne Wing at Gorham. They lived at Salina and Kansas City before moving to the Minneapolis area in 1940. They farmed in the Lindsay community southeast of Minneapolis until Wayne retired and then helped Gary and Barbara as they continued the family farm.
She was a member of the Solomon Valley Sunflowers, Green Thumb Garden Club and Minneapolis Saddle Club. She was a very talented artist, craftswoman and gardener and many-time winner at the Ottawa County Fair for her floral arrangements. She was also well known for the feather eggs and the whimsical "Texas Mosquitoes" that were sold at the Rock City Gift Shop.
Survivors include her son Gary and his wife Barbara of Minneapolis and grandsons Scott and Mitchell; two great-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren; and a sister Velma Burroughs of Denver, Colorado. She was preceded in death by her husband Wayne in 1986, one brother and three sisters.
The funeral is today, April 19 at Shields Funeral Home at 10 a.m. with Rev. David Heikes officiating.
The family suggests memorials to the Ottawa County Emergency Medical Service.
RICHARD DeWITT
Richard DeWitt, 60, passed away April 11, 2001 at the Hilltop Lodge in Beloit. He was born in Concordia on July 13, 1940 the son of Charles A. and Agnes I Feight DeWitt.
He married Betty Alcorn in Concordia in 1961. In his working years, he was a meat cutter working for American Stores, in Lincoln, Nebraska and at Boogaarts in Concordia. He was a Boy Scout troop leader in Concordia and a member of the First United Methodist Church.
Survivors include three sons Steve DeWitt and wife Barbara of Minneapolis, John DeWitt and Dennis DeWitt of Salina; his father, Charles DeWitt, San Marcos, Texas; a stepbrother Don DeWitt, Slidell, Louisiana and three grandchildren. His mother preceded him in death.
A graveside service was held April 16 at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Concordia. Rev. Dean Frazier officiated.
Memorials are to Hilltop Lodge, Beloit, or to the family.
LEONARD SNAVELY
Leonard F. Snavely, 79, of rural Miltonvale died April 16, 2001 at Twilight Years in Minneapolis. He was born December 17, 1921 at Ames.
He was a lifetime resident of Cloud and Ottawa counties. He was a retired grader operator for Ottawa County.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Neva Marie, in 1984, a grandson and a great-granddaughter.
Survivors include three sons, Larman of Lee's Summit, Missouri, Larry of Minneapolis and LeRoy of Sumter, South Carolina; two daughters, Nadine Koch of North Little Rock, Arkansas and Norma Jean Babcock of Haysville; a brother, Floyd of Concordia; 15 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
The funeral is today, April 19 at 10:30 a.m. at Phelps Funeral Home in Miltonvale. Rev. Myron Comfort will officiate. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, Minneapolis.
Memorials are to the Ottawa County Health Center.
MARY NETTIE HALEY
Mabel Nettie Haley was born February 3, 1913 on a farm in the hills southwest of the Bohemian Hall to Nult and Nettie Kimmerling Marler. She was raised and parented by Ern and Ethel Sidener from the age of two years through adulthood. She passed away July 23, 2001 at the Ottawa County Health Center in Minneapolis, at the age of 88 years, five months, and 20 days.
Mabel graduated from Delphos High School and taught in the Bernard District No. 45 and Prairie Point District No. 83 in Cloud County. On February 3, 1934 she was united in marriage to Dale Haley at Clay Center. They resided in Ottawa County all their married life. They farmed and operated Haley's Food Market in Delphos until retiring in 1977. Her husband preceded her in death February 11, 1980. She was a member of the Delphos United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women, the Rebekah Lodge and the Delphos Senior Citizens.
Survivors include two sons, Dwight D. Haley and his wife Helen of Monahans, Texas and Paul L. Haley and his wife Barb of Delphos; a foster daughter, Pat Hinson of Great Bend; two brothers, Claude Marler of Simpson and Clem Marler of Delphos; five grandchildren, Debra Linder, Shelly Kelly, Nathan Haley, Rodney Haley and Steven Haley; 3 foster grandchildren Greg Hinson, Tony Hinson and Tammy Hinson; four great-grandchildren and five foster great-grandchildren. A brother Clyde Marler and a half-sister Alice Lucas also preceded her in death.
The funeral is today, July 26, at 10 a.m. the Delphos United Methodist Church with Rev. Kelly Sipes officiating. Musicians are Nathan Haley, Tanya Wollenberg and Verna Davidson. Casket bearers are Rodney Haley, Steven Haley, Nathan Haley, Tom Linder, Greg Hinson and Tony Hinson. Interment is in the Delphos Cemetery. Shields Funeral Home, Minneapolis, handled the arrangements.
The family suggests memorials to the Delphos United Methodist Church.
MARY LEE BAILEY
Mary Lee Bailey, the daughter of Lloyd and Lila Mauk Smith, was born September 29, 1931 at Delphos. She passed away July 22, 2001 at the Ottawa County Health Center, Minneapolis, at the age of 69 years, nine months, and 23 days.
She and her husband Bill lived at Dodge City, Monte Vista, Colorado and Grand Island, Nebraska before returning to Delphos in 1990. She was a homemaker.
Survivors include her husband Bill D. Bailey of Delphos.
There will be no service. The body was cremated. Shields Funeral Home, Minneapolis, was in charge of arrangements.
VERA A. BOARDMAN
Vera A. Boardman died October 16, 2001 at the Ottawa County Health Center.
The funeral is October 19 at 10 a.m. at the Community Bible Church in Minneapolis. Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Concordia.
WILDA MAXINE LUTHI
Wilda Maxine Luthi, the daughter of Henry Lorten and Anna Wilson Files was born August 9, 1919 at Mill Shoals, Illinois. She passed away October 14, 2001 at her home in Minneapolis, having reached the age of 82 years, two months and 5 days.
The family moved to Quinter, in 1928, where she graduated from high school. Following teacher's training at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, she came to Ottawa County to teach elementary school. She was united in marriage to Earl R. "Dick" Luthi June 20, 1944 at Delphos. She taught at Delphos, Vine Creek and Ackley schools in Ottawa County. During the war years while her husband was in military service, she returned to Quinter and taught at Oakley. Following the war, they made their home on a farm north of Niles. Wilda taught at Talmage until 1979. She moved to Minneapolis following her husband's death September 3, 1992.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church and Atlantean Brown Club, both of Minneapolis and Coal Creek Neighbors of rural Niles. She taught Sunday School at the Talmage United Methodist Church. Sewing and genealogy were her favorite pastimes.
Survivors include two sons, Richard G. Luthi and his wife Nancy of McPherson and Jerry L. Luthi and his wife Kathy of Solomon; a sister Olive Davis of Ridgeway, Illinois; grandchildren Shannon, Brandon and Tenille Luthi, Kelli Williams and Morgan Luthi and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Amber Luthi.
The funeral is today, October 18 at 10 a.m. at the Minneapolis First United Methodist Church. Rev. Tim Harlan will officiate. Musicians are Linda Sloan and Sandy Cole. Casket bearers are Pat Donovan, Roger Luthi, Bill Luthi, Elvin Luthi, Robert Aylward and Cletus Davis. Interment will be in Greenville Cemetery, Niles. Shields Funeral Home handled arrangements.
The family suggests memorials to the First United Methodist Church or Hospice of Ottawa County.
ETHEL MARIE HUMPERT
Ethel Marie Humpert was born August 27, 1923 on a farm near Delphos, the daughter of Archie and Mamie Muller Tasker. She departed this life on October 13, 2001 at her home in Minneapolis. She had attained the age of 78 years, two months and 16 days.
On May 10, 1943 she was united in marriage to Bobbie L. Humpert. They farmed near Niles and lived at Bennington and later at Minneapolis for many years. Ethel was a homemaker and also worked with her husband in operating the Parker Hotel and the Shamrock Café in Minneapolis. She was a member of the Community Bible Church in Minneapolis.
Survivors include her husband Bobbie L. Humpert of the home; three daughters: Carol Weiss of New Cambria, Mona Perea of Salina and Robin Allen of Minneapolis; a sister Myrtle Rehberg of Glasco; seven grandchildren and 8 great- grandchildren.
The body was cremated. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Friday, October 19 at the Shields Funeral Home in Minneapolis with the Rev. Garlen H. Howington officiating. Musicians will be Denise Brown and Jeane Platt.
The family suggests memorials to Hospice of Ottawa County.
C. LORIS GRIEST
C. Loris Griest, the son of Walter and Georgianna Johns Griest, was born December 10, 1909 at Minneapolis. He passed away October 12, 2001 at the Minneapolis Good Samaritan Center, at the age of 91 years, ten months and two days.
Loris was united in marriage to Madge M. Reed on May 24, 1933 at Minneapolis, where they spent their entire married life. Loris was park superintendent at Markley Grove and later operated recreation parlors in Barnard and Minneapolis. He operated the Minneapolis Bakery. He later worked for the Kansas Department of Transportation in Minneapolis until retiring in 1974. His wife Madge preceded him in death March 25, 1991. He had been a member of the First United Methodist Church in Minneapolis since 1922.
Survivors include two sons: Reed Griest of Jewell and Dick Griest of Corpus Christi, Texas; six grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.
Loris donated his body to the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas. A memorial service will be scheduled later. Shields Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
The family suggests memorials to the First United Methodist Church or the Minneapolis Good Samaritan Center.
