Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Billy J. Koelsch
ST. JOHN - Billy J. Koelsch, 79, died Sept. 8, 2004, at St. Francis Regional Medical Center, Wichita.
He was born Aug. 10, 1925, in Stafford County, the son of William Henry and Clara E. Henning Koelsch. A lifetime Stafford County resident, he was a farmer and stockman.
He belonged to Masonic Lodge No. 254, St. John.
On Sept. 7, 1944, he married
Velma D. Schneider at St. John. She survives.
Other survivors include: two sons, Bill Edward and Phillip, both of St. John; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Marie Leatherman and Vera Koelsch.
Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Minnis Chapel, St. John, with George Shelton presiding. Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. Friday at the chapel. Burial will be in Fairview Park Cemetery, St. John.
Memorials may be sent to Billy J. Koelsch Memorial Scholarship Fund, in care of the funeral chapel.
Dorothy R. Lebsack
KINSLEY - Dorothy R. Lebsack, 89, died Sept. 8, 2004, at Medicalodge, Kinsley.
She was born March 28, 1915, in Edwards County, the daughter of John and Jennie Mullikin Riisoe. A longtime Kinsley resident, she was a teacher.
She belonged to Congregational United Church of Christ, Kinsley, and Delta Kappa Gamma.
On June 2, 1938, she married
Ralph August Lebsack.
She is survived by a son, Kent Lebsack, Katy, Texas, and several cousins.
She was preceded in death by a son, Jon Michael; a brother, Roland Riisoe; and a grandson.
Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Hillside Cemetery, Kinsley, with the Rev. Sara Davis Blodgett presiding.
Memorials may be sent to the Kinsley Library, in care of McKillip Memorial Funeral Home, Kinsley.
Kenton E. Culver
HARPER - Kenton E. Culver, 62, died Sept. 9, 2004, at Pratt Regional Medical Center, Pratt.
He was born July 24, 1942, at Anthony, the son of George and Edith Raida Culver. A lifetime resident of Harper County, he was a farmer.
Survivors include: two brothers, Wayne W. and Bobby Mack, both of Harper; and a sister, Georganna Mason, Wichita.
Graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Harper Cemetery, Harper.
Memorials may be sent to the American Diabetes Association or to the Kansas Dialysis Association, both in care of Elliott Funeral Home, 1406 Ash, Harper, KS 67058.
Mildred Peak
HAYSVILLE - Mildred Peak, 83, died Sept. 6, 2004.
She was the mother of Gary Peak, Hutchinson, and Ronald Peak, Haven.
Memorials may be sent to Faith Home Health and Hospice, in care of Smith Mortuary, Haysville.
Gordon S. Russell
WICHITA - Gordon S. Russell, 84, died Sept. 8, 2004.
He was born April 4, 1920, at Plattsburg, Mo., the son of Pearl and Lyman Bretches Russell. He lived in New York City from 1951 to 1990, where he was employed by CBS Televisi
Sylvia Jo Sherfick
WAKEENEY - Sylvia Jo Sherfick, 60, died Sept. 2, 2004, at Trego Lemke Memorial Hospital, Long Term Care, WaKeeney.
She was born Nov. 4, 1943, at Salina, the daughter of Lawrence and Martha Jacobs Wellbrock. She attended Trego Community High School, WaKeeney. A resident of WaKeeney, she was a supervisor for Service Master. She retired in 2001.
She belonged to Christ the King Catholic Church, WaKeeney, and Church Altar Society and was a Past Trego County Fair Board member.
On Feb. 20, 1960, she married
Milton "Nick" Sherfick at WaKeeney. He died Nov. 14, 1999.
Survivors include: two sons, Terry, WaKeeney, and Jerry, Wichita; two daughters, Sherri Kuntz, WaKeeney, and Kerry Watson, Inman; a brother, Norman Wellbrock, Grinnell; a sister, Kathleen Richards, WaKeeney; and 11 grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Wake service will be at 7 p.m. Friday at Schmitt Funeral Home, WaKeeney. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with Pastor Wayne Lofton presiding. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Interment will be in WaKeeney City Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to Trego Lemke Memorial Hospital, American Cancer Society or Trego Community High School Scholarship Fund, all in care of the funeral home.
Arlene M. Brown
OFFERLE - Arlene M. Brown, 79, died Sept. 1, 2004, at Edwards County Hospital, Kinsley.
She was born July 23, 1925, at Kinsley, the daughter of Herman and Francis Lippoldt Feldman. A resident of Offerle, she was a homemaker.
She belonged to Zion Lutheran Church, Offerle, and was a charter member of Veteran of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary, Kinsley.
On May 17, 1942, she married
Harry Brown at Kinsley. He survives.
Other survivors include: two sons, Gerald, Kansas City, Mo., and Douglas, Offerle; two daughters, Bonnie Brown, Meriden, and Mary Brown-Nielsen, Alden; a brother, Harold Feldman, Great Bend; a sister, Evelyn Winkler, Kansas City, Mo.; 12 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son, Kenneth.
Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Zion Lutheran Church, Offerle, with the Rev. Andrew Becker presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at McKillip Memorial Funeral Home, Kinsley. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery, Kinsley.
Memorials may be sent to the church or American Heart Association, both in care of the funeral home.
Carroll Sargent
Carroll Sargent, 89, died Sept. 1, 2004, at Thorne Care Center, Wesley Towers.
He was born March 13, 1915, near Little River, the son of Oscar and Ruth Fine Sargent. He graduated from Little River High School in 1932 and attended Hutchinson Junior College. He taught school from 1934 to 1937 at Fairview District No. 6, near Burton. A Hutchinson resident since 1932, he was a Sales Operations Manager at Carey Salt Co. for 38 years, retiring in 1975.
He belonged to Trinity United Methodist Church. He was President of the Hutchinson Jaycees in 1944 and led the campaign to change the form of city government from the Mayor-Commissioner to the present form of City Manager-Council. He was a former member of the Hutchinson Planning Commission; a member and former director of the Hutchinson Chamber of Commerce; a member of the Hutchinson Rotary Club since 1975 and was a Paul Harris Fellow. He served two terms as a director of Prairie Dunes Country Club and the Hutchinson Town Club and also served on the board of Wesley Towers and the Reno County Museum.
In 1935, he married
Madge Day. She died in 1984. In 1986, he married
Tillie Toews. She died in 1989. On Nov. 28, 1992, he married
Gladys Heter at Sterling. She survives.
Other survivors include: two stepsons, Roger Heter, Sterling, and Richard Heter, Holden, Mo.; two stepdaughters, Louise White, Lee's Summit, Mo., and Sarah DiDio, Queensbury, N.Y.; a grandson, Brock Franklin; a granddaughter, Day Franklin-Connell; great-grandchildren, Jenna Franklin and Austin Connell, all of Wichita; five step-grandchildren; and a step-great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Merlin, and his daughter, Sally Sargent Franklin.
Memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Trinity United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Nick Warner presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson. The family will also be receiving friends following the memorial service at the church. Private family graveside service will be held in Penwell-Gabel Memorial Park Cemetery, Hutchinson.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the church, Reno County Food Bank or Sterling Food Bank, all in care of the mortuary.
Iris Virginia Allen Helms
ANTHONY - Iris Virginia Allen Helms, 86, died Aug. 30, 2004, at Harper Hospital.
She was born Nov. 6, 1917, the daughter of Leon and Lola Rogers Allen of Guymon, Okla. She graduated from Guymon High School. In 1951, she moved to Cherokee, Okla., where she owned and managed Ideal Hotel for many years. In 1985, she moved to Anthony.
She married
Stanley Brecheen of Guymon, Okla. Then, in 1953, she married
Ross Helms.
Survivors include: a daughter, Judi Brecheen Lewis; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a niece; and a nephew.
She was preceded in death by a son, Allen Helms; a brother, Robert "Bob" Allen; an uncle; and an aunt.
Cremation has taken place. There will be no local memorial service. A celebration of life and scattering of ashes will be by a gathering of family members at a later date at Cuchara, Colo. Elliott Mortuary, Anthony, is in charge of the arrangements.
Kenneth L. Fenton
DES MOINES, Iowa - Services for Kenneth L. Fenton, who died of Cancer on Sept. 1, 2004, will be at 7 p.m. Friday at Brooks Funeral Care, Tonini Chapel, Des Moines. Visitation will begin at 3 p.m. Friday.
He was born Aug. 26, 1941, at Dodge City.
He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He is survived by his wife, Karen; children, Jamie Blaylock, Ken Jr. and Shannon Wood; three grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; a brother, Denny; and many cousins and friends.
Ethel Marjorie Winfrey
LENEXA - Ethel Marjorie Winfrey, 91, died Aug. 23, 2004, at Lakeview Village Retirement Community, Lenexa.
She was born Aug. 26, 1912, at Brown Spur, Kingman County, the daughter of Josiah and Mabel Field Winfrey. A former resident of Garden City and Olathe, she was a homemaker and also worked at The Vogue Shop, Garden City Community College Bookstore, Patterson Jewelry and Regan Jewelers.
She belonged to St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Beta Sigma Phi and the Olathe Garden and Civic Club. She was president of the PTA, a leader in Girl Scouts and was active in the Red Cross during World War II.
On March 11, 1930, she married
Milo Melvin "Mike" Etrick at Kingman. He preceded her in death.
Survivors include: two sons, Paul Frederick, WaKeeney, and Joseph Field Etrick, Sacramento, Calif.; two daughters, Mary Patricia Hanneman, Garden City, and Susanne Etrick, Overland Park; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by four brothers, Chester "Chet", Glenn "Jack", Vern "Steve" and Albert "Bud" Winfrey; and four sisters, Beulah Roseberry, Gladys Bell, Mabel Hill and Allene Grannis.
Memorial service will be at 4 p.m. Saturday at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Garden City, with the Rev. Larry K. Steadman presiding. There will be no visitation as the body was donated to the KU Medical Center. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Dodge City, at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to "Marge Etrick Memorial", in care of St. Thomas Episcopal Church.
