Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Robert A. Bennett
GREAT BEND - Robert A. Bennett, 92, died Feb. 15, 2005, at his residence.
He was born Sept. 5, 1912, at Lansing, Mich., the son of Harry D. and Zoa Haner Bennett. He was a resident of Great Bend since 1976 coming from Canoga Park, Calif.
Bob was a solid rock of his family, never critical, but always helpful. He was always there for you. Many think that Bob's steadfast organization and support gave his wife, Toby her freedom to be a friend to many. Family members knew that he loved and cared deeply for them. He had a keen interest for reading and learning. His home was always full of interesting books in which he was often absorbed. A hero in World War II, he survived the Kamikaze bombing of his ship, "The Nashville" and narrowly escaped mortal injury when the suicide plane hit the ship bridge.
His career included casualty insurance underwriting which later made him a most valuable employee of his companies and the only one to be transferred to a new parent company when a merger occurred. This took him from Michigan to Wall Street in New York and later to Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, Calif.
Upon retiring from the insurance industry, he was trained by Russell Stimson, owner of Superior Optical Company to a new career as an optician and then moved to Great Bend where he served as first optician and then later bookkeeper and business counsel for Donald E. Beahm, M.D. In this capacity he met many people in the Great Bend area and cultivated many friendships.
Bob loved people and cemented strong relationships with others in this area primarily through his work in the Kiwanis Club and Presbyterian Church in Great Bend. As he grew older his vision faded, but that did not deter him from either doing his work or his reading. He quickly adapted low-vision aids and audio books in order to continue his tasks of learning. He enjoyed his children and grandchildren and always wanted to know what they were doing and how they were succeeding in life.
Bob was the classic American man as depicted in the Norman Rockwell painting. He was steadfast, honest, religious and followed good ethics and was dependable. He was well loved by all and will be missed. In our mind's eye, we can see him patiently standing, playing with his keys in his pocket and waiting for his wife, Toby, to finish whatever she was doing. He was a master of the large city, but also very comfortable in the rural town setting. His later years he expressed his appreciation for deep friendships that he had throughout his life.
He belonged to First Presbyterian Church and Kiwanis Club.
On May 21, 1938, he married
Claudia "Toby" Robertson at Lansing, Mich. She died Nov. 1, 2003.
Survivors include: a son, Richard R., D.V.M. and wife Debra, Hudsonville, Mich.; two daughters, Barbara Beahm and husband Donald E. Beahm M.D., Great Bend, and Jane A. Hight and husband Lyle, Abilene; eight grandchildren, Matthew Bennett, Andrew Bennett, Zachary Bennett, Audra Bennett, Robert Beahm and wife Laura, David Beahm and wife Mindi, Scott Beahm and wife Megan and Kate Carlson-Hight.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, William and Richard; and a sister, Bettie Patterson.
Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Bryant Funeral Home, Great Bend, with the Rev. Shawn Winters presiding. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. with family receiving friends from 8 to 9 p.m. Friday, and from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday all at the funeral home. Burial will be in Great Bend Cemetery, Great Bend.
Memorials may be sent to First Presbyterian Church or Central Kansas Library System - Talking Books Service, or to the Abilene Public Library, all in care of the funeral home.
Rose Marie Hall
McPHERSON - Rose Marie Hall, 79, died Feb. 15, 2005, at Memorial Hospital, McPherson.
She was born Nov. 17, 1925, at Chicago, the daughter of Leo Joseph and Edith Emily Darling Thiers. A resident of McPherson since 1995, moving from Waldron, Ark., she was employed as a bank teller for Bank of America in California for 32 years.
Survivors include: a daughter, Barbara Patton, McPherson; two sisters, Estella Craig, Yelm, Wash., and Arlene Kahler, Montesano, Wash.; and a granddaughter.
A private family graveside service will be in McPherson Cemetery. Friends are invited to call from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Glidden-Ediger Funeral Home, McPherson.
Memorials may be sent to Billy Graham Ministries, in care of the funeral home, 222 West Euclid McPherson, KS 67460.
Linda R. Martinez
GARDEN CITY - Linda R. Martinez, 57, died Feb. 14, 2005, at Via Christi Regional Medical Center, St. Francis Campus, Wichita.
She was born Dec. 3, 1947, at Lakin, the daughter of Victor F. and Florence Ruth Krider Rieter. A lifetime Garden City resident, she attended Garden City schools. She worked for 11 years at IBP before going to work for USD 457, first as bus driver and later as a para, retiring in March 2001.
On July 3, 1976, she married
J.D. Martinez at Raton, N.M. He survives.
Other survivors include: four sons, Merlin Fry, Dodge City, Ron Fry and Ronnie Martinez, both of Garden City, and Donny Martinez, Eldorado; three daughters, LaVonda Fry and Louise Favela, both of Garden City, and Victoria Garcia, Lawrence; two brothers, Mick Morgan, Deerfield, and Dick Morgan, Sacramento, Calif.; a sister, Marlena Galliart, Hutchinson; 23 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Joe Martinez; and a grandson.
Funeral will be at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Fellowship Baptist Church, Garden City, with Pastor Michael McVey presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and from 9 a.m. to noon Friday, all at Garnand Funeral Home, Garden City. Burial will be in Valley View Cemetery, Garden City.
Memorials may be sent to the American Heart Association or to the American Diabetes Association, both in care of the funeral home.
Ruby E. Lawson
PRATT - Ruby E. Lawson, 72, died Feb. 14, 2005, at her home, Pratt.
She was born April 12, 1932, at Russellville, Ark., the daughter of George and Goldie Barnes Linker Martin. A resident of Pratt, she was a homemaker.
She belonged to Church of Christ, Pratt.
On June 17, 2000, she married
Raymond Leroy Lawson at Corsicana, Texas. He survives.
Other survivors include: two daughters, Sue Burny, Cape Coral, Fla., and Rosalind Donatille, Melrose Park, Ill.; two stepdaughters, Avis Bishop, Winfield, and Annette Rambin, Medford, Okla.; a brother, Harley Linker, Harrison, Ark.; a sister, Inez Sweet, Gig Harbor, Wash.; 10 grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, James and Eugene Linker; and two sisters, Winnie Tucker and Frances Lawson.
Memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Church of Christ, Pratt, with Pastor Steve Triplett presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and from 8 to 10 a.m. Thursday, both at Larrison Mortuary, Pratt.
Memorials may be sent to South Wind Hospice or to Pratt Church of Christ, both in care of the mortuary, 300 Country Club Road, Pratt, KS 67124.
Gertrude Van Cleave
LARNED - Gertrude Van Cleave, 92, died Feb. 14, 2005, at Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, Wichita.
She was born Feb. 16, 1912, at rural Pawnee Rock, the daughter of Benjamin H. and Anna Schmidt Unruh. A lifetime Pawnee County resident, she was a homemaker. She was canteen supervisor for the Red Cross Blood Mobile for 25 years.
She belonged to First United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, CIC Extension Unit, Fort Larned Lions Club, and Ash Valley Grange, all at Larned.
On July 15, 1934, she married
John Van Cleave at Larned. He survives.
Other survivors include: a son, Ron and wife Alice, Larned; a daughter, Janet Guthrie and husband Robert, Wichita; three brothers, Elmer Unruh, Enterprise, Ben E. Unruh, Woodward, Okla., and Albert "Buck" Unruh, Great Bend; six grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by four brothers, Alvin, Sylvester, Victor and Paul; and three sisters, Ruth Lehmbecker, Augusta Unruh and Frieda Collins.
Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church, Larned, with the Rev. Tim Ault-Duel presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel, Larned. Burial will be in Larned Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to Fort Larned Lions Memorial Scholarship or First United Methodist Church Scholarship Fund, both in care of the mortuary, P.O. Box 477, Larned, KS 67550.
Art Fuller
DIGHTON - Art Fuller, 88, died Feb. 14, 2005, at Lane County Hospital, Dighton.
He was born Aug. 23, 1916, in Rush County, the son of Joseph Warren and Julia Ellen Hickey Fuller. He was a lifelong farmerstockman in Lane County, moving there with his family in 1927.
He belonged to American Legion Post No. 190, Dighton. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, stationed mainly in Newfoundland, and was awarded the medal of valor.
On Feb. 7, 1960, he married
Toots Torson at Scott City. She died Nov. 18, 1986.
Survivors include: three step-daughters, Peggy Culver and Nancy Hayward, both of Fairbanks, Alaska, and Patsy Redburn, Dighton; eight grandchildren, including E.R. Redburn, of the farm, whom he raised; 20 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandson.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Joe and Lawrence; six sisters, Mary Biggs, Winnie Scott, Julia Coffin, Velma Bradstreet, Etta Meyer and infant sister, Ruth; two grandsons; and a great-great-grandson.
Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at First Christian Church, Dighton, with the Rev. Howard Bever presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Boomhower Funeral Home, Dighton. Interment will be in Dighton MemorialCemeterywith graveside rites by American Legion Post No. 190, Dighton.
Memorials may be sent to the Lane County Fair, Carnival Fund, in care of the funeral home.
Irene M. Larkin
MEDICINE LODGE - Irene M. Larkin, 93, died Feb. 14, 2005, at Medicine Lodge Memorial Hospital.
She was born Aug. 14, 1911, at Cleveland, the daughter of Louis and Suzannah Zarnosky Szabo. She attended Longwood High School, Cleveland. A resident of Medicine Lodge since 1939, she was a registered nurse.
She belonged to Holy Rosary Catholic Church and Community Club, both at Medicine Lodge.
On Aug. 9, 1939, she married
Fred Larkin at Pratt. He died April 10, 1972.
Survivors include: a son, Kenneth, Medicine Lodge; a brother, Louis Szabo, San Jose, Calif.; a sister, Gert Paisley, Lakewood, Ohio; seven grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Carole Jester; a sister, Margaret Tackus; and a great-granddaughter.
Vigil service will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Medicine Lodge. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the church, with the Rev. John Strasser presiding. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, both at Larrison Funeral Home, Medicine Lodge. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, Medicine Lodge.
Memorials may be sent to Holy Rosary Catholic Church or to the American Heart Association, both in care of the funeral home, 120 East Lincoln, Medicine Lodge, KS 67104.
Michael M. Hale
RUSSELL - Michael McRae Hale, 67, died Feb. 20, 2005, at Russell.
He was born May 23, 1937, at McPherson, the son of Aubrey C. and Isabel Christine Eskeldson Hale. He was disabled since birth.
He was a former member of First Congregational United Church of Christ, McPherson.
Survivors include: two sisters, Lucinda M. Reynolds, Mountain Home, Ark., and Melissa M. Spence, Arlington, Texas; and two nieces.
Private family graveside service was Feb. 23, 2005, in McPhersonCemeterywith Dr. Herb Smith presiding.
Memorials may be sent to Multi Community Diversified Services, McPherson, in care of Glidden-Ediger Funeral Home, 222 West Euclid, McPherson, KS 67460.
John W. Drosselmeyer
ANTHONY - John Waldon Drosselmeyer, 48, died Feb. 23, 2005, at Anthony.
He was born April 12, 1956, at Anthony, the son of Calvin and Kathleen Rump Drosselmeyer. A lifetime Anthony resident, he was a mechanic for Phil's Repair and farmed.
He belonged to United Methodist Church, Anthony.
On Aug. 26, 1978, he married
Lori Hughes. They divorced.
Survivors include: a daughter, Kasey Hebblethwaite, Anthony; mother, Kathleen Shaffer, Anthony; a brother, David, Oklahoma City; a sister, Kathy Ritter, Peoria, Ariz.; and two grandsons.
He was preceded in death by his father.
Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at United Methodist Church, Anthony, with the Rev. Nathan Stanton presiding. Interment will be in Singer Cemetery, Bluff City.
Memorials may be sent to the church, in care of Prairie Rose Funeral Home, Anthony.
