Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Francis C. “Chic” Rottinghaus
Francis C. “Chic” Rottinghaus, 65, of St. Benedict, Kansas, died suddenly Friday afternoon, September 19, 2008 at Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca.
Francis was born in Seneca, on July 8, 1943, the son of John I. and Ethel Wietharn Rottinghaus. He attended grade school in St. Benedict and graduated from St. Benedict High School in 1961. He then attended Benedictine College in Atchison for a year, before returning home to the family farm. He was a farmer and stockman his entire life.
Francis was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Benedict, where he was on the church council. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus Council #1769 in Seneca.
Francis will be remembered for his sense of humor, smile and warmth. He enjoyed farming, family, bowling, gardening, playing cards, and had a knack for mechanical repairs. He was an avid photographer who loved to take pictures of farm landscapes and his family, especially his nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.
He is survived by his mother Ethel Rottinghaus of St. Benedict; three brothers, John H. (Gladys) Rottinghaus of St. Benedict, Leroy (Grace) Rottinghaus of Lee's Summit, Missouri, and Eugene (Karen) Rottinghaus of Plano, Texas; and three sisters, Mary Jane (Leo) Hammes of Seneca, Rita (Bob) Buessing of Baileyville, and Joann Rottinghaus of Olathe.
Francis was preceded in death by his father; his sister, Janice Heiman on July 13, 2008, and two infant sisters, Mary and RoseAnn.
Rosaries were prayed on Monday, September 22, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Tuesday, September 23, by nephew Fr. Greg Hammes and concelebrated by Fr. Felix Molumeli at St. Mary’s Church in St. Benedict. Music was provided by the church choir and soloist Cyril Steinlage. The pall was placed over the casket by his sisters, Mary Jane Hammes, Rita Buessing and Joann Rottinghaus. Servers were Dylan and Cody Rethman and Nicholas Hammes. The lectors were nieces, Cindy Hammes and Mary Buessing, the petitions were read by nephew Michael Rottinghaus, and the gift bearers were brothers, John, Leroy, and Eugene Rottinghaus. Eucharistic ministers were Leo and Mary Jane Hammes.
The burial was in St. Mary’sCemeteryin St. Benedict. Pallbearers were nieces and nephews: Ron, Dan, Steve, Michael, Kevin, Lindsey, and Becky Rottinghaus; John, Bruce, Mary and Alex Buessing; Julie Boeding; Dave, Gary and Cindy Hammes; Deb Rethman; Kent Heiman; and Shelly Frohardt.
Memorials may be given in Francis’ memory for St. Mary’s Church, and sent in care of the family.
John I. Rottinghaus
John I. Rottinghaus, 54, prominent farmer of the St. Benedict community, died Monday, October 30, 1961 at the Seneca Hospital, from a stroke. He had suffered a stroke in February, and had put up a strong battle before the effects overcame him.
John was born on August 10, 1907, in Seneca, Kansas, the son of Herman “Henry” and Mary Anna Sudbeck Rottinghaus.
He married
Ethel Wietharn on April 24, 1935 at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca.
John was a highly respected man, a good farmer, and took an active part in the community. He had served on the St. Benedict School Board and the Nemaha Township Board. He was a member of St. Mary’s Church in St. Benedict, the St. Joseph Society, and the Knights of Columbus.
His strong interests in life were farming, home, family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and two infant daughters, Mary and Rose Ann.
He is survived by his wife Ethel and children, John Jr., Mary Jane, Leroy, Francis, Rita, Eugene, Janice and Joann, all of Seneca; three brothers, Anthony (Tony) Rottinghaus of Seneca, Benedict of Seneca, and Ignatius of Baileyville; and a sister, Minnie Renneger of Seneca.
Mass of Christian Burial was offered Thursday morning, November 2, at St. Mary's Church in St. Benedict, with Fr. Leander, Fr. Joseph and Fr. Cyprain presiding. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Emmett Rottinghaus, Adrain Rottinghaus, Edward Rottinghaus, Gerald Wietharn, John R. Waller and Roy Heiman. Honorary pallbearers were neighbors Linus Sudbeck, Francis Sudbeck, Adrain Strathman, John Rilinger, Clarence Haug and Ivan Wissler.
Rita M. Rowland
Rita M. Rowland, 52, Seneca, KS, died Wednesday, September 17, 2003, at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca. She had pulmonary hypertension for several years and had been in failing health the past two years.
She was born May 5, 1951, at Falls City, NE, the daughter of Henry and Nellie Ann Malone Rowland. She grew up and attended school at Salem, NE. For several years Rita was employed in the Hiawatha, Pawnee City, and in Greeley, CO area as a Certified Nurse’s Aide. She was married
to Dennis Horner in Tecumseh, NE, in 1969. They lived there and in Dillard, NE, before they were divorced in 1985. In 1988 she married
Bernie Gifford at McMinnville, OR, where they lived. After their divorce in 1991, she lived in Smith Center, KS, before moving to Seneca to live with her son, Daniel, three years ago.
She was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Marysville, KS.
Survivors are a son, Daniel Horner, Seneca; two daughters, Brenda Merz, Horton, KS and Tracie Tontoyan, North Platte, NE; two brothers Rodney Rowland and Randy Rowland both of Smith Center, KS; three sisters, Lois Scott, Loveland, CO, Shirley Rowland, Falls City, NE, her twin sister, Rosie Gifford, Huntsville, AK; and six grandchildren.
A private inurnment will be held at a later date in the Colorado Springs area.
Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca is in charge of arrangements.
Nicholas A. Roybal
Nicholas Alexander Roybal, 36, of Horton, Kansas died at his home on Saturday, June 7, 2014.
He was born on September 12, 1977 in Wheat Ridge, Colorado to Orlando Ralph Roybal and Mary Register. He attended grade school in Golden, Colorado and graduated from Santa Fe, New Mexico High School. While in high school he played football, a sport he excelled at and loved.
Nicholas began helping install flooring at the age of 16 and he continued to the family trade; at the time of his death owned a flooring business with his wife.
On March 23, 2007 he married
Debbie D. Romero in Hiawatha, Kansas.
Nicholas loved life. He enjoyed riding a motorcycle; an experience that always made him feel “free.” He was a dedicated son, husband and father.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents Juan and Laura Rose Roybal; step-father, Rich Massieon; and a cousin, Tony Trujillo.
He will be missed by his wife Debbie of Horton; their daughters, Dawnica Unique and De`Anna Nichole; his mother, Mary Massieon of Seneca; his father Orlando Roybal of Santa Fe, New Mexico; his sister, Angelina Rosina-Marie Roybal of Albuquerque, New Mexico; a nephew, Ivan Romero Roybal of Albuquerque, New Mexico; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and extended family.
Services are pending at Rosario Catholic Church in Santa Fe, New Mexico and at Lauer Funeral Home.
Memorials are for Dawnica and De`Anna’s Education Fund.
Donald H. Rusche
Donald H. Rusche, 49, of Baileyville, Kansas, died late Friday, April 6, 2001, shortly after arrival at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca, Kansas. His death was due to an apparent heart attack.
He was born at the Axtell Hospital at Axtell, Kansas, on November 8, 1951, the son of Ben F. and Eileen D. Koch Rusche. He grew up on the family farm northeast of Baileyville and graduated from B&B; High School in Baileyville in 1970. He worked for the Nemaha County Co-op at Seneca and at Baileyville where he worked at the Co-op Elevator until 1986. He worked for the Hamm Quarries of Perry, Kansas at several locations in Kansas as a truck driver and a rock crusher operator until November of 2000, when he had a heart attack. Don also raised cattle on his farm but did not farm.
On July 20, 1974, he married
Joyce Nolte at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. They lived on the family farm northeast of Baileyville. She survives of the home.
He was a member of Sacred Heart Church and the St. Joseph Society at the church at Baileyville.
Survivors besides his wife are four sons, Dale Rusche and Brian Rusche both of Baileyville, Michael Rusche of Lawrence, Kansas, and Robert Rusche of the home; a daughter, Amy Rusche of the home.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Eileen Rusche on February 24, 1982, and his father, Ben Rusche on December 23, 1996.
The mass of Christian burial will be 11 A.M. Tuesday, April 10, at Sacred Heart Church at Baileyville. The burial will be in the church cemetery. The rosary will be prayed at 2 P.M. and at 7 P.M. Monday at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca where he will lie in state after 4 P.M. Sunday.
Memorials may be given for the Heart Association or for Sacred Heart Church and sent in care of the family.
Marguerite E. Russ
Marguerite E. Russ, 96, of Seneca, KS, died Sunday, May 22, 2011 at Life Care Center in Seneca.
She was born on January 9, 1915, on a farm east of St. Bridget, KS, the fifth of nine children of Fred L. and Merle Moser Robison. The family later moved to a farm along the Kansas-Nebraska state line and then to a farm north of Baileyville, before settling on a farm southeast of Pawnee City, NE in 1927.
Marguerite graduated from Pawnee City High School in 1931. After taking a teacher's training course, she qualified to teach in rural schools. She taught at Greendale and Frog Pond rural schools and the 2nd grade in Pawnee City. During her summers, she attended Peru State College. After completing her B.S. from Peru State in 1940, she taught at Hamburg, IA and in Syracuse, Beatrice and Grand Island, NE.
She received her Master’s Degree from the University of Colorado in 1947, and began teaching English at the University of Maryland. Then 1952, she taught English at North High School in Omaha, NE for a year before returning to Maryland four years. From 1958 to 1960 she taught at Central College in McPherson, KS and then at Bethel College in North Newton, KS. She lived in Mound Valley and Manhattan, KS, and then Lincoln, NE, before moving to Seneca in 1996. While in Manhattan, she enjoyed time with her quilting group.
She was married
to Oliver G. Russ on June 16, 1957, in rural Nemaha County; he survives.
She is also survived by two step-daughters, Deborah (James) Farwell of Lincoln, NE and Deanne Russ of the French West Indies; four step-grandchildren; one step-great-grandchild; a brother, James Robison of Lincoln, NE; and nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by three sisters, Ruth Russ, Gladys Werner, Virginia Clinton; and two brothers, Freddie and Arthur Robison.
No services were held by her request. Inurnment was in the Pawnee CityCemeteryin Pawnee City, NE.
Memorials may be given for Basic Cancer Research at Kansas State University.
Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca, KS was in charge of arrangements.
