Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Ben Fritzemeyer
STAFFORD - Ben Fritzemeyer, 96, died March 29, 2000, at Stafford District Hospital, Stafford.
He was born Oct. 17, 1903, at Stafford, the son of Henry and Mary Priess Fritzemeyer. He was a 1928 graduate of Emporia State Teachers College. A lifetime Stafford resident, he was an accountant and farmer.
He belonged to Calvary Baptist Church, Stafford.
In April 1933, he married
Gertrude Shaft at Hutchinson. She survives.
Other survivors include: two sons, Joe, Stafford, and Ray, Wichita; a daughter, Irma Ethridge, Glasco; six grandchildren; two step grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and five step great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by five sisters.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Calvary Baptist Church, Stafford. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Minnis Chapel, Stafford. Burial will be in Stafford Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to the church, in care of the chapel.
Calvin L. Toot
LIBERAL - Calvin L. Toot, 75, died March 29, 2000, at Baptist St. Anthony Hospital, Amarillo, Texas.
He was born Oct. 19, 1924, at St. John, the son of Joseph Lee and Elsie Ruth Aves Toot. He graduated from Trousdale High School and was a Liberal resident for 40 years. In 1986, he retired as supervisor of service and shipping departments at Trade Winds Industry.
He was a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Lane Day Post No. 3166, Liberal, and was a Gunner's Mate First Class for the U.S. Navy during World War II.
On Aug. 2, 1945, he married
Betty L. Montgomery at San Francisco. She survives.
Other survivors include: two sons, David, London, England, and Colin, Comfort, Texas; two daughters, Linda Morlan, Overland Park, and Judy Connelly, Amarillo, Texas; 15 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Ronald.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Belpre Cemetery, Belpre, with military honors by Fort Riley and Naval Reserve Center. A register book will be available to sign from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at Kitch Funeral Home, Liberal. The casket will remain closed.
Memorials may be sent to the American Heart Association or to the American Diabetes Association, both in care of the funeral home.
Pauline Maxine Herbers
WINFIELD - Pauline Maxine Herbers, 78, died March 28, 2000, at Cumbernauld Village, Winfield.
She was born Nov. 4, 1921, at Wann, Okla., the daughter of Anthony and Gertrude Moon Frischenmeyer. She graduated from St. Mary's Cathedral High School, Wichita. She moved to a farm southeast of Winfield in 1951 from Wichita, formerly of Mulvane. She worked at Snyder Clinic, Dr. W. Barr, D.D.S., and retired from Winfield State Hospital in 1989.
She belonged to Holy Name Catholic Church and Altar Society, Winfield.
On Oct. 8, 1940, she married
Sylvester Beda Herbers at Wichita. He died Dec. 10, 1985.
Survivors include: four sons, Larry Herbers, Topeka, Don Herbers, Leoti, Tom Herbers, Scott City, and Chuck Herbers, Winfield; 12 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son, Robert Michael; and three brothers, Frank, Anthony and Carl Frischenmeyer.
Rosary will be at 7:30 p.m. today at Miles Funeral Service, Winfield. Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Holy Name Catholic Church, Winfield. Friends may call from noon to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Winfield.
J.A. Giles Jr.
TYRONE, Okla. - J.A. Giles Jr., 64, died March 28, 2000, at Beaver County Nursing Home, Beaver, Okla.
He was born April 30, 1935, the son of Julius A. and Velma Antnett Greg Giles. A resident of Tyrone, Okla, formerly of Satanta, he was a manager of a service station.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army.
Survivors include: a son, Steven, Fair Grove, Mo.; two daughters, Brenda Warren, Tyrone, Okla., and Karen Tharp, Springfield, Mo.; two brothers, Orval "Bud", Fort Worth, Texas, and Clyde, Satanta; four sisters, Margerie Hagerman, Ulysses, Mary V. Day, Liberal, Roberta Lewis, Montezuma, and Anita Brown, Sublette; and five grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Aubra; and a sister, Jettie Lea Giles.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Dudley Township Cemetery, Satanta. Friends may call from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at Haskell County Funeral Home, Sublette.
Memorials may be sent for the family, in care of the funeral home.
Junior Ellefson
BURRTON - Junior Ellefson, 59, died March 28, 2000, at his home in Burrton.
He was born Aug 1, 1940, at Anoka, Minn., the son of Lucille Ackerman. A Florida resident for most of his life, he had been a Burrton resident since 1990. He was an over-the-road driver for M. Bruenger.
He was a member of Masonic Lodge No. 324 of Florida, and a U. S. Navy veteran of the Vietnam War.
On March 27, 1982, he married
Helen Castellano at Inglis, Fla. She survives.
Other survivors include: four sons, Steve Ellefson, Snoqualmie, Wash., and Joseph, Roger and Bruce Cox, all of Florida; two daughters, Angela Kogler, Burrton, and Barbara Davis, Homosassa, Fla.; three sisters, Mary Lou Young, of Missouri, and Lucy Hanson and Lorretta Curtin, both of Minnesota; and seven grandchildren.
Funeral will be at graveside on Saturday, in Forrest Hills Cemetery, Anoka, Minn. There will be no guest book and no local services.
Memorials may be sent to the American Cancer Society in care of Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson.
Regina R. Wheeler
NEWTON - Regina R. Wheeler died March 29, 2000, at Newton.
She was born at Walton, the daughter of Jacob and Augusta Voth Tieszen. She graduated from Walton High School and Airline Hostess Training School for Trans World Airlines in Kansas City, Mo., in Dec. 1956. She was employed at Anderson Book Store, Newton, and Boeing Aircraft, Wichita, and was an airline stewardess for three years out of Kansas City and a homemaker.
She was past president of the Lady Elks and the Ladies Golf Association of the former Newton Country Club, was a member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, was selected as Young Republican National Committee Woman and Young GOP Representative to Kansas Women's Republican Club, was a page to the National Republican Convention in Chicago, and served as docent at Kauffman Museum at Bethel College, North Newton.
On Oct. 4, 1959, she married
David W. Wheeler at Newton. He survives.
Other survivors include: three brothers, Charles and Milton, both of North Newton, and Walter, Haysville; three sisters, Vernelle Wedel, Moundridge, Helen Sanders, Eugene, Ore., and Darlene Gilchrist, Hays; and numerous nephews and nieces.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Lewis.
Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Broadway Colonial Funeral Home Chapel, Newton, with the Rev. Donna Friesen presiding. Friends may sign the book from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. There will be a private family burial.
Memorials may be sent to United Methodist Youthville, Newton, or to the Rescue Mission, Wichita, both in care of the funeral home.
Jason Leroy Creamer
DODGE CITY - Jason Leroy Creamer, 19, died March 28, 2000, at Via Christi Regional Medical Center, St. Francis Campus, Wichita.
He was born Aug. 7, 1980, at Dodge City, the son of Michael and Jane Dome Creamer. A lifetime resident of Dodge City, he was a 1999 graduate of Dodge City High School.
He belonged to Sacred Heart Cathedral, Dodge City.
Survivors include: his parents, of Dodge City; a brother, Michael Thomas Jr., of the home; paternal grandparents, Tom and Pat Creamer, Dodge City; maternal grandparents, LeRoy and Regina Dome, Dodge City; and great-grandmother, Irene McCune, Fort. Dodge.
Vigil service will be at 7 p.m. Friday at Swaim Funeral Home, Dodge City. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Dodge City, with the Rev. John R. Strasser presiding. Friends may call from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Dodge City.
Memorials may be sent to the MDA or the Dodge City Humane Society, both in care of the funeral home.
Russell Shellenberger
BELOIT - Russell Shellenberger, 94, died March 28, 2000, at Hilltop Lodge, Beloit.
He was born Sept. 11, 1905, at Boulder, Colo. A resident of Beloit since 1996, moving from Ransom, he was an independent insurance agent.
He belonged to Ransom United Methodist Church, the Lions Club, the Grissell Memorial Hospital Board, the Ness City Masonic Lodge, Kappa Sigma Fraternity at Kansas State University, and the Kansas Association of Independent Insurance Agents.
Survivors include: a daughter, Shari McKinnie, Glen Elder; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Fern; and a son, Charles "Shelly."
Funeral will be at 3 p.m. Friday at Glen Elder Christian Church, with Pastor Ryan Johnson presiding. Visitation will be at McDonald Funeral Home, Beloit. Burial will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in Ransom Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to the church or Shellenberger Scholarship Fund, both in care of the funeral home.
Donald E. Ratzlaff
BURRTON - Donald E. Ratzlaff, 68, died March 28, 2000, at Halstead Hospital.
He was born Feb. 4, 1932, at Burrton, the son of Abraham G. and Della Luginbill Ratzlaff. He was retired from the military, having served in the U. S. Army for 20 years. He was also a retired Burrton Township and city of Burrton employee.
He belonged to American Legion Post No. 369, at Burrton, and Loyal Order of the Moose No. 982, at Hutchinson. He was a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
On Jan. 7, 1956, he married
Virginia Ruth Martin at Halstead. She survives.
Other survivors include: two sons, Larry, Norristown, Pa., and David, Burrton; a daughter, Kasandra Morrison, South Hutchinson; a sister, Delite Regier, Buhler; and five grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Richard and Charles.
Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Friday in the Burrton Cemetery, with the Rev. Robert Walter presiding. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. today at Kaufman Funeral Home, Halstead, with the family present to greet friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Memorials may be sent to the American Heart Association, in care of the funeral home.
