Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Rita A. Fernandez
DODGE CITY - Rita Alice Blea Fernandez, 73, died Jan. 12, 2005, at Western Plains Medical Complex, Dodge City.
She was born May 22, 1931, at Dodge City, the daughter of Henry S. and Lila Salas Blea. She was a lifetime resident of Dodge City, attending Dodge City schools. She worked at St. Anthony Hospital, Trinity Hospital and Western Plains Medical Complex before retiring in 1996.
She belonged to Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dodge City.
On April 15, 1948, she married
Raul Leonard Fernandez at Dodge City. He survives.
Other survivors include: six sons, Leonard, Roger, William, Charles, Freddie and James, all of Dodge City; three daughters, Victoria Vasquez and Patricia Duran, both of Dodge City, and Sylvia Danler, Howard, Wis.; three brothers, Joe and Jim Blea, both of Sacramento, Calif., and Edward Blea, Hutchinson; four sisters, Stella Martinez, Helen Perez, Esther Espinosa and Joann Sanchez, all of Dodge City; 24 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
Funeral Mass will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe with the Rev. Ted Skalsky presiding. Memorial service will take place during the Mass for her brother, Henry V. Blea. Vigil service will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the church with the Rev. Ted Skalsky presiding. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday at Swaim Funeral Home. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Dodge City.
Memorials may be sent to the University of Kansas Memorial Scholarship Fund, in care of the funeral home.
Flossie M. Howell
NEWTON - Flossie Mae Howell, 67, died Jan. 11, 2005, at Newton Medical Center.
She was born on Aug. 23, 1937, in Ark., the daughter of James and Luella Young. A longtime resident of Hutchinson, moving to Newton in 2003, she ran the clothing room at the Hutchinson Christian Soup Ministry. She loved fishing.
Survivors include: a son, Willie Graham and wife Mildred, Texas; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; five brothers, Jerry, Bernard, Isaiah and Robert Young, all of Calif., and David Young, Ark.; two sisters, Tina Tardy and Alfreda Tolbert, both of Kan.; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Heritage Funeral Home Chapel, Hutchinson, with Elder Phillip Kratzer presiding. Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Fairlawn Burial Park.
Phillip W. Williams
CANTON - Phillip Wayne Williams, 61, died Jan. 12, 2005, at Mercy Hospital, Moundridge.
He was born Nov. 8, 1943, at San Diego, the son of Walter Wayne and Georgia Stevenson Williams. He graduated from Helix High School, La Mesa, Calif., and the Police Academy, Los Angeles. A Canton resident for about 25 years, moving from California, he was an employee of Chaparral Manufacturing Inc., Moundridge. He was a police officer for 30 years and former chief of police of Canton for more than 10 years, and was a former McPherson County Sheriff's Reserve officer.
He belonged to Midian Shrine, Wichita.
Survivors include: foster mother, Bertha Ann Donegan, El Cajon, Calif.; two sons, Staff Sgt. Patrick Williams and Sgt. Brent Williams, both of Savannah, Ga.; a daughter, Erin Schmidt, Canton; a brother, Charles, Seattle, Wash.; a sister, Kay Anderson, La Mesa, Calif.; and three grandchildren.
Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at First Baptist Church, Canton. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Olson's Mortuary, Canton. Burial will be in Canton Township Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to the Phillip W. Williams Family Memorial Fund, in care of the mortuary.
Erwin F. Schwerdtfeger
ELLSWORTH - Erwin F. Schwerdtfeger, 80, died Jan. 12, 2005, at Salina Regional Health Center.
He was born Sept. 1, 1924, in Ellsworth County, the son of Frank and Bertha Grosnick Schwerdtfeger. A lifetime resident of Ellsworth County, he was a retired farmer and stockman.
He belonged to St. Paul's Lutheran Church, rural Ellsworth.
On Jan. 30, 1949, he married
Melva Rose Munson at rural Ellsworth. She survives.
Other survivors include: two daughters, Connie Newkirk, Emporia, and Virginia Hughes, Salina; five sisters, Elda Haase, Ellsworth, Diana Magana and Bertha Rojas, both of Kanopolis, Ruth Warttig, Springfield, Mo., and Viola Ferguson, Cheyenne, Wyo.; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Lucina Egelston.
Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church with Pastor Philip Hoppe presiding. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. Friday at Parsons Funeral Home, Ellsworth, and from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the church, in care of the funeral home.
Donald R. Austin
Donald Ray Austin, 78, died Jan. 13, 2005, at his home.
He was born Aug. 13, 1926, in Osborne County, the son of Ray L. and Bernice M. Boultinghouse Austin. He graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1943 and attended Sterling College. A longtime Hutchinson resident, he was a sales executive for Earl Kirk Chrysler-Plymouth.
He was a U.S. Army and Navy veteran.
He belonged to Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and American Legion Lysle Rishel Post No. 68 and was past commander of the American Legion and past Chef De Gare 40, et8 and Voiture 324.
On May 11, 1983, he married
Janet Yust at Hollywood, Fla. She survives.
Other survivors include: a son, Bradley R., Phoenix, Ariz.; a daughter, Vicki R. Miller, Wichita; two sisters, Frances Brandt, Phoenix, and Archlee Colby, Hutchinson; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Elliott Chapel with Bishop William Bower presiding. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Elliott Mortuary, with the family receiving friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday. Burial will be in Memorial ParkCemeterywith military honors by Fort Riley Honor Guard.
Memorials may be sent to the American Cancer Society, in care of the mortuary.
Lewis D. Webster
JETMORE - Lewis D. Webster, 79, died Jan. 25, 2005, at Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, St. Francis Hospital, Wichita.
He was born July 12, 1925, at Arnold, the son of Ray and Mary Agnes Burrell Webster. A resident of Jetmore, he was a farmer and an elevator manager.
He belonged to United Methodist Church and the American Legion and was a former county commissioner and city council member and Hodgeman County Silver Haired Legislator, all at Jetmore. He also was a charter member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Ransom.
On March 2, 1947, he married
Elizabeth Hubbell at Jetmore. She survives.
Other survivors include: a son, Jack, Wichita; two daughters, Jill Webster, Dallas, and Barbara Haynes, Wichita; a brother, Don, Ness City; and two sisters, Thelma Holmes, Hutchinson, and Betty Wick, Dighton.
Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at United Methodist Church, Jetmore, with the Rev. Mitch Reece presiding. Visitation will be at 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday at Beckwith Funeral Home, Jetmore. Burial with military graveside rites will be in Fairmount Cemetery, Jetmore.
Memorials may be sent to the American Legion or to Hodgeman County Health Center, Jetmore, both in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 663 Jetmore, KS 67857
Betty L. King
SALINA - Betty Lou King, 68, died Jan. 26, 2005, at CLC Salina.
She was the sister of Marjorie A. Eveland, Hutchinson.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Carlson-Ford-Geisendorf Funeral Home and Crematory, Salina.
Emma Walter
NESS CITY - Emma Walter, 91, died Jan. 27, 2005, at Ness County Long Term Care, Ness City.
She was born Feb. 18, 1913, at Bazine the daughter of Philip Sr. and Dorothea Schwab Schwartz. She was a homemaker and worked the farm with her husband. She spent 52 years on the farm north of Ness City, then moved to a home in Bazine, for 17 years and finally to Wheatview Apartments, Ness City, for 31/2 years before going to long- term care.
On Jan. 29, 1931, she married
Adam Walter at Bazine. He died April 24, 1979.
Survivors include: a daughter, Enid June Foos, Ness City; two granddaughters; four great-grandchildren; and a great-great-granddaughter.
She was preceded in death by three brothers, Philip, Dave and Jake Schwartz; and two sisters, Molly Margheim and Clara Schoenhals.
Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Congregational Church, Bazine, with the Rev. Carroll Schoenhals presiding. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, all at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City, and from 9 a.m. to service time Monday at the church. Burial will be in Ness City Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to Congregational Church or to Basic Cancer Research, Kansas State University, both in care of the funeral home.
Ada M. Jantz
NEWTON - Ada M. Jantz, 81, died Jan. 27, 2005, at Wesley Medical Center, Wichita.
She was born May 29, 1923, at Galva, the daughter of Abraham J.C. and Lizzie Becker. A Newton resident for 28 years, she was a homemaker.
She attended First Missionary Church, Newton.
On April 9, 1941, she married
Henry Boese at McPherson. He died Dec. 28, 1974. On April 4, 1982, she married
Roy Unruh at Newton. He died Dec. 11, 1987. On Sept. 7, 1996, she married
Leslie Jantz at Newton. He died July 3, 2000.
Survivors include: five sons, Robert K. Boese, Whitesboro, Texas, Jimmy D. Boese, Lyons, Everett L. Boese, Moundridge, Paul R. Boese, Liberty, Mo., and Danny M. Boese, Garnett; three brothers, Allen Becker, Wichita, Herb Becker, Cheyenne, Wyo., and Melvin Becker, Moundridge; two sisters, Esther Schmidt, Moundridge, and Darlene Lundberg, McPherson; 11 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Judy K. Boese; two brothers, Louie and Ernie Becker; and a sister, Mildred Becker.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at First Missionary Church, Newton, with Pastor Ray Adams and Pastor Dan Quillin presiding. Visitation will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Moundridge Funeral Home, Moundridge. Burial will be in Moundridge Township Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to the church, in care of the funeral home.
Frances C. Shepard
BOISE CITY, Okla. - Frances Christine Marquez Aguilar Shepard, 62, died Jan. 22, 2005, at Elkhart.
She was born April 24, 1942, at Des Moines, N.M., the daughter of Pedro and Frances Duran Marquez. She attended school at Des Moines, then moved to Clayton, N.M. She lived in Boise City, for a number of years, moving to Oklahoma City in 1982. In 1999, she moved to Elkhart to be close to her family.
She married
Tomas Aguilar.
Survivors include: five daughters, Rose Marie Armas, Veronica Tracy Fernandez and Tammie Aguilar, all of Elkhart, and Rose Ann Hiner and Mary Louise Aguilar, both of Satanta; her mother, Frances Smythe, Oklahoma City; two brothers, Pete Marquez, Albuquerque, N.M., and David Marquez, Elkhart; three sisters, Beatrice Hall and Ruth Williams, both of Oklahoma City, and Cora Aguilar, Albuquerque; 13 grandchildren; a great-grandchild; and a host of other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her father; two sisters, Elsie Blan and Veronica Mae Salinas; and two grandchildren.
Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Boise City, with Mark and Gail Smith presiding. Interment will be in Boise City Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to the family to help with expenses, in care of the Cimarron Mortuary, P.O. Box 277, Boise City, OK 73933.
Floye E. Ellis
GARDEN CITY - Floye "Betty" Elizabeth Ellis, 82, died Jan. 26, 2005, at Garden Valley Retirement Village, Garden City.
She was born June 11, 1922, at Norton, the daughter of Fred and Flora Bryan Strohwig. She grew up at Selden, graduating from Seldon High School in 1939 and attending Fort Hays and the University of Kansas. A longtime Oberlin resident, moving to Garden City in 1990, she was a medical records secretary at Decatur County Hospital and a volunteer aide at Jenny Barker Elementary School.
She belonged to Presbyterian Church, Garden City, Eastern Star, Monday Evening Club and the American Legion Auxiliary.
On Oct. 20, 1946, she married
Frank Ellis at Oberlin. He died in 1971.
Survivors include: a son, Chuck, Scott City; a daughter, Nancy Woods, Garden City; and three grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Ruth Ann; and a brother, Frank Strohwig.
Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at United Church, Oberlin, with the Rev. Dave Sweley presiding. Visitation will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday at Paul's Funeral Home, Oberlin, and from 8 a.m. to service time Saturday at the church. Interment will be in Oberlin Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to Oberlin Library, in care of the funeral home.
