Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Chester A. Hockensmith
LIBERAL - Chester A. Hockensmith, 98, died Aug. 31, 2004, at Satanta District Long Term Care, Satanta.
He was born Sept. 15, 1905, at St. John, the son of Eddie S. and Hattie H. Ives Hockensmith. He graduated from Radium High School. A longtime resident of Liberal, formerly of Leoti, he was a farmer in Stevens and Seward counties. He also owned and operated a restaurant at the air base and later at the bowling alley. He was an auto salesman for many years at Leoti. He was a flight instructor for four years at Liberal Air Base and also gave local residents flying lessons.
He belonged to First United Methodist Church, Leoti.
On May 23, 1926, he married
Viola M. Pinkston. She died April 3, 2003.
Survivors include: a son, Gary Rodger, Abilene; two daughters, Jerri Waters, North Richland Hills, Texas, and June Brooks, Kismet; 12 grandchildren; and 35 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two sons; a brother; two sisters; and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at United Methodist Church, Satanta, with the Rev. Jeff Miller presiding. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Miller Mortuary, Liberal. Graveside service will be at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Point View Cemetery, Radium.
Memorials may be sent to Satanta Hospital Long Term Care in care of the mortuary, 908 North Lincoln, Liberal, KS 67905.
Laurence Gerald 'Larry' Oakes
DODGE CITY - Laurence Gerald "Larry" Oakes, 82, died Sept. 1, 2004, at Medicalodge, Kinsley.
He was born Oct. 24, 1921, at Dodge City, the son of Charles Glenn and Gertrude Robertson Oakes. He was raised on a farm near Ensign. A resident of Dodge City, he was owner and operator of Oakes Termite Control, which later became A & A Exterminating. He was also employed in construction, at a restaurant business and at Magouirk Chevrolet for 12 years.
He was a lifetime member of Howard Gotschall Post No. 1714 Veteran of Foreign Wars, Dodge City. He was a U.S. Army Air Corp veteran of World War II, flying 50 missions as a ball turret gunner over southern Europe and was shot down three times. He received the EAME ribbon with five bronze stars, air medal with four oak leave clusters, overseas bar and distinguished unit badge.
Survivors include: a daughter, Vicky Armstrong, Dodge City; a sister, Charliss Kiser, Tucson, Ariz.; seven grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two sons, Greg and Steve; a stepdaughter, Bobbi Schawe; a brother, Richard; and a grandson.
There will be no public services held. Memorials may be sent to the Dodge City Church of the Nazarene or the charity of the donor's choice, both in care of Swaim Funeral Home, Dodge City.
Betty Jane Fertig
GREAT BEND - Betty Jane Fertig, 79, died Sept. 2, 2004, at Alterra Sterling House, Great Bend.
She was born March 26, 1925, at Dodge City, the daughter of Robert Delano and Effa G. Thompson Brown. A resident of Great Bend since 1985, moving from rural Larned, she was a homemaker and an interior designer for Roy Peak.
She belonged to First United Methodist Church, Great Bend, B-29 Memorial Committee, Veteran of Foreign Wars Auxiliary and American Legion Auxiliary.
On Dec. 23, 1945, she married
Earl V. Fertig at Larned. He died Dec. 28, 1990.
Survivors include: two sons, Jim, Seward, and Jeff, Garfield; a sister, Virginia Nero, Kittyhawk, N.C.; four grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Sarah Jane Fertig; and a brother, Gilbert L. Brown.
Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church, Great Bend, with the Rev. Gary Brooks presiding. Visitation will be from noon to 9 p.m. Friday, 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday, both at Bryant Funeral Home, Great Bend, and from 11:30 a.m. until service time Saturday at the church. Interment will be in Larned Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to the church or Golden Belt Home Health at Hospice, both in care of the funeral home, 1425 Patton Road, Great Bend, KS 67530.
Joanna Irene Dawson
NEWTON - Joanna Irene Dawson, 79, died Sept. 2, 2004, at Newton Medical Center.
She was born July 21, 1925, at Wichita, the daughter of Joseph LeRoy and Leah Irene Bahr Keeling. She was a former hostess at South High School, Salina, for 10 years and was a homemaker.
She belonged to First Christian Church and R.S.V.P. of Harvey County and assisted in the founding of the Kansas Christian Home Auxiliary, all at Newton.
On Sept. 9, 1948, she married
Robert Eugene Dawson Sr. at Salina. He survives.
Other survivors include: two sons, Robert E. Jr., Winfield, and Ron, Salina; three brothers, Roland, Davenport, Iowa, Gailen, Salem, Ore., and Jay Roy Keeling, Wichita; and a granddaughter.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Bill Keeling.
Memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at First Christian Church, with the Rev. Gary Bell presiding. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m., with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m., Monday at Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, Newton. Interment will take place at a later date in Restlawn Garden of Memories, Newton.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Kansas Christian Home Auxiliary, in care of the funeral home.
Laverne Marie Osbourn
LARNED - Laverne Marie Osbourn, 91, died Sept. 2, 2004, at Stormont Vail Hospital, Topeka.
She was born Sept. 12, 1912, at Rozel, the daughter of John and Emma Zwink Abendroth. A lifetime Larned resident, she was a former teller for 37 years with First National Bank, Larned.
She belonged to First Baptist Church and Fort Larned Historical Society, both at Larned.
On Aug. 3, 1952, she married
Spencer N. Osbourn. He died in 1965.
She is survived by many nephews and nieces.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Melvern Abendroth.
Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel, Larned, with the Rev. John Hester presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 9 a.m. until service time Tuesday, all at the mortuary. Burial will be in Larned Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to Golden Belt Hospice, in care of the mortuary.
John F. Amundson
HAYS - John F. Amundson, 66, died Sept. 1, 2004, at Hays Medical Center, Hays.
He was born Nov. 20, 1937, at Clifton, Texas, the son of Adolph George and Alvina Grim Amundson. A longtime resident of Hays, he was a self-employed painter.
He was a 16-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force, serving two missions in Vietnam.
On Oct. 22, 1982, he married
Evelyn Binder. She survives.
Other survivors include: a son, Tim, Port Oconnor, Texas; a daughter, Nancy Harverth, Port Oconnor, Texas; two stepsons, David Flinn, Troy, Mo., and Patrick Flinn, Springfield, Mo; three stepdaughters, Donna Bernard, Lyons, Ill., Diana Frogue, Mount Vernon, Mo., and Debbie Griffon, Springfield, Mo.; eight brothers; a sister; 11 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Cline's Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd, Hays, KS 67601. Military honors will be conducted by Hays Veteran of Foreign Wars. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday at the mortuary. A private burial will take place at a later date.
Florence May Hadley
HUGOTON - Florence May Hadley, 87, died Sept. 1, 2004, at Satanta District Hospital.
She was born May 6, 1917, at Coldwater, the daughter of Enos Thomas and Nellie May Leonard Hadley. She completed her schooling in Indiana. A resident of Satanta Long Term Care Unit, since 2003, formerly of Indiana, Coldwater, Belleville and Hugoton, she was a clerk at Duckwalls Variety Store and Grocery Store, Hugoton, for 25 years.
She belonged to Bethel Friends Church, Hugoton.
Survivors include: many nephews and nieces.
She was preceded in death by five brothers, Forrest, Seth C., Gloyd, Leonard and Thomas Hadley; three nephews; and a niece.
Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Bethel Friends Church, Hugoton, with ministers Eric Mason and Robert Storms presiding. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Paul's Funeral Home, Hugoton. Burial will be at 4 p.m. Saturday in Crown Hill Cemetery, Coldwater.
Memorials may be sent to the church or Satanta Long Term Care Unit, both in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 236, Hugoton, KS 67951.
Victor E. 'Vic' Larson
McPHERSON - Victor E. "Vic" Larson, 86, died Oct. 18, 2004, at his home in McPherson.
He was born Oct. 7, 1918, at rural McPherson, the son of John and Emma Carlson Larson. He attended Morningstar Country School and McPherson High School and was a lifelong resident of McPherson County. He was a farmer, stockman, realtor and auctioneer, all at McPherson.
He belonged to Church of Christ, McPherson, National Farmers Union, McPherson Senior Center and was a member of the McPherson Board of Realtors and Kansas Board of Realtors.
On April 25, 1942, he married
Marie Eleanor Sellberg at Marquette. She survives of the home.
Other survivors include: two sons, Jerry and Mark, both of McPherson; a daughter, LaVonna Peterson, McPherson; a sister, Myrtle Lundberg, McPherson; a brother, Johnnie Larson, McPherson; 10 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, Darwin Arthur, two brothers, George and Elmer, and two sisters, Martha Hultburg and Freda Falk.
Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Church of Christ, McPherson, with Glen Elliott presiding. Visitation is 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m., at Glidden Ediger Funeral Home, McPherson. Interment will be in New Gottland Lutheran Church Cemetery, rural McPherson.
Memorials may be sent to Church of Christ, McPherson, or Hospice Care of Kansas, both in care of the funeral home.
Leila Ralston
MINNEOLA - Leila Ralston, 97, died Oct. 19, 2004, at Minneola District Hospital.
She was born July 12, 1907, at Mountain Grove, Mo., the daughter of Floyd Eugene and Mary Jane Fry Clapsaddle. A Minneola resident since 1947, she was a retired bookkeeper for the Minneola Co-op.
She belonged to First Christian Church, Minneola.
In Oct. 1945, she married
Stanley "Shorty" Ralston at Missouri. He died July 15, 1968.
Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at First Christian Church, Minneola, with Randy Stafford presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Minnis Mortuary, Minneola. Burial will be in Appleton Township Cemetery, near Minneola.
Memorials may be sent to Minneola Hospital District, in care of the mortuary.
