Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Arlene Wiens
Arlene Wiens, 68, died on Tuesday, Nov. 23, at Bethesda Home in Goessel.
A private burial service was held on Nov. 23 at the Goessel Mennonite Church Cemetery.
A memorial service is planned for 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 27, at the church. Rev. Kevin Goertzen will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established with Bethesda Home and Central Homecare and Hospice in care of Miller Funeral Home of Goessel.
She was born on Feb. 19, 1936, to Gustav and Martha (Nickel) Klassen in Goessel. She attended Gorden Grade School and Goessel High School. She was baptized on May 17, 1950. On Sept. 15, 1955, she married
Stanley Ray Wiens at Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church.
She was a member of the Goessel Mennonite Church, where she taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, served as a youth group sponsor and played the piano for worship services. She taught a community handicapped Sunday school class for 20 years.
Jobs outside the home included baking at a restaurant and serving as receptionist at Bethesda Home. She enjoyed nature, spending time gardening and watching birds.
Survivors include her husband, of the home; two daughters, Donna Oswald of Olathe and Marla Wiens of Topeka; two sons, Dale of Goessel and James of Little River; a sister, Alice Jantz, of Hesston; and a brother, Harold Klassen, of Hesston. She had seven grandchildren and two step-grandchildren.
Two brothers, LeRoy and Dwane Klassen, preceded her in death.
Miller Funeral Home in Goessel is handling all the arrangements.
Alene R. (McCoy) Engel
d. March 3, 2013
Alene R. (McCoy) Engel, 93, died March 3, 2013 at Salem Home in Hillsboro. She was born January 31, 1920, to Frank and Laura (Rodes) Burdette rural Herington, Kansas. She married
Dale McCoy in 1940, he died in 1955. She than married
Charles A. Engel. She is a member of the Hillsboro United Methodist Church. Survivors include: son, Charles W. (Sue) Engel of rural Newton; 5 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husbands, parents, several sisters, and son,Thomas R. McCoy 2003. Graveside service will be held at WoodbineCemetery11:00 a.m. Friday, March 8, 2013, of Woodbine, Kansas. Memorials to Hillsboro United Methodist Church or Salem Home.
Martha Mae (Anderson) Overholt
(January 2, 1926 - March 11, 2012)
Martha Mae Anderson Overholt (86) was born on January 2, 1926 in her parent’s home on Ash Street in Newton. She lived her entire life in Newton and went to be with Jesus on March 11, 2012 from the home she shared with her beloved partner of 64 years, Willis Overholt. Martha was the ninth child of twelve born to Joy D. and Pearl (Jones) Anderson. She married
Willis and they were blessed with four children. Martha worked as a medical transcriptionist much of her life, but her main job was creating a home of generous love for her family. Martha is survived by her husband, Willis Overholt; her children, Sherry (Delbert) Hoelscher of Bushton; Willis (Miriam) of Wichita; Clif of Portland, Oregon; Joey of Park City; two grandchildren, Lauren and Daniel of Wichita; sister, Jennie (Norman) Beneke of Newbury Park, California, and brothers, Paul Anderson of McMinneville, Oregon, and Don (RaeAnn) Anderson of Newton. Preceding her in death were her brothers, Joy (Johnny) Anderson, Lynn Anderson, Eldo Anderson, Walter Anderson, William Anderson and Lyle Anderson; sisters, Eleanor McCall and Mary Anderson. Visitation was held Monday evening at Broadway Colonial Funeral Home. Graveside service will be Tuesday, March 13, 2012 at 10:00 A.M. at GreenwoodCemeterywith the Memorial Service to follow at 11:00 A.M. at Grace Community Church in the Fireside Room. Memorials may be made to Harry Hynes Hospice in care of the funeral home.
Reggie Bitner
d. April 10, 2015
Marion – Reggie Bitner, 53, died April 7, 2015 at Marion. He was born July 19, 1961 to Roger and Lucille (Mitchell) Bitner at Marion. He married
Barbara Wright May 31, 1983 at Miami, Oklahoma. Survivors include: spouse, Barbara Bitner of Marion; sons, Bobby Allen Vanderzanden of Park City, C.J. Vanderzanden of Marion; daughter, Sue Ann (Jack) Collins of Park City; brother, John (Rexann) Bitner of Whitewater; sister, Beth Louise (David) McGuire of Marion; parents, Roger and Lucille Bitner of Marion; 5 grandchildren. Celebration of Life Service will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 10, 2015 at Marion Christian Church in Marion with Pastor Carl Helm officiating. Memorials to Good Shepherd Hospice or Marion Christian Church in care of Jost Funeral Home P.O. Box 266 Hillsboro, KS 67063.
Dorel Jerome Neufeld, 83
Dorel Jerome Neufeld, 83, died March 11, 2015, following a short illness.
He was born on April 1, 1931 in Newton the son of Ferd and Clara Merk Neufeld.
He resided with his parents and sister, Virginia Neufeld, in Moundridge before moving north of Halstead to a farm next to the Little Arkansas River where he loved to hunt, trap, and farm with his father.
Dorel graduated from Hesston Academy and after serving in the army during the Korean War, he later returned to complete an education degree from Bethel College in North Newton.
This is where he met and later married
his beloved wife, Phyllis Ann Epp Neufeld, on Feb. 27, 1956. They recently celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary.
For 30 years Dorel split his career between farming and teaching at Halstead High School before retiring.
Teaching history and government for so many years spurred his interest in politics and he served as mayor of Halstead for eight years
He was an active member of the First Mennonite Church in Halstead, serving in many leadership positions through the years.
Survivors include; wife Phyllis; son David Neufeld and wife Marda of Silver Lake; daughters Kathy Wray and husband Kevin of Newton, and Carol Raleigh and husband Greg of Hesston; sister Virginia Neufeld of Newton; and 10 grandchildren, Michael Neufeld, Anna Bolan, Alex Neufeld, Andrew Wray, Matthew Wray, Jacob Wray, Morgan Simmering, Lauren Roulhac, Taylor Unruh, and Grant Raleigh; and 15 great-grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents.
A private family burial was held Tuesday morning, March 17 at HalsteadCemeteryfollowed by a public memorial celebration at the First Mennonite Church in Halstead.
A memorial fund has been established with Hesston College for the Northlawn/Entry Campaign, of which Dorel and Phyllis were currently part of the steering committee.
Muriel Christiansen
d. April 16, 2014
Durham - Muriel Christiansen, 96, died April 16, 2014 at Parkside Home in Hillsboro. She was born November 20, 1917 to Thomas and Cora Elizabeth (Logan) West in Norcatur, Kansas. She married
Irvin Christiansen May 25, 1940 in Durham. Survivors include: sons, H. Robert (Evelyn) of Washington D.C., Gordon (Pat) of rural Durham, Dale (Renee) of McPherson; daughters, Mona (Don) Herbers of Leoti, KS, Jan Skiles of Hillsboro; 14 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. Predeceased by her husband in 2013. Celebration of Life Service will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, April 21, 2014 at First Baptist Church of Durham. Interment will be 10:00 a.m. Monday at Canton Township cemetery. Family will receive guests from 4 to 6 Saturday at Jost Funeral Home in Hillsboro. Memorials to Good Shepherd Hospice or the Church in care of Jost Funeral Home P.O. Box 266 Hillsboro, Kansas 67063.
Hilda Ediger Voth
Hilda Ediger Voth, 94, died Nov. 24 at Schowalter Villa in Hesston.
Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Miller Funeral Home in Goessel, with family greeting friends from 7 to 9 p.m.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Alexanderwhol Mennonite Church near Goessel.
Memorial funds have been established with Bethel College or Schowalter Villa in Hesston in care of Miller Funeral Home in Goessel.
She was born on Aug. 4, 1910, to Jacob Bernhard Harder Ediger and Agatha Regier Ediger at the family home near Clinton, Okla. She had three older brothers, one sister and three younger brothers.
Her father served as a missionary for the Cheyenne Indian Church near Clinton. Hilda spent her childhood in Oklahoma. She grew up speaking English, German and Cheyenne. She attended Oklahoma Bible Academy in Meno and Clinton High School. She earned an associate’s degree from Bethel College.
On Aug. 25, 1938, she married
Reinhard David Voth at her parents’ home. The settled in Goessel.
She was a teacher for many schools, working at Hochfeld Rural School, Clinton Junior High School in Oklahoma, Good Hope School and Goessel High School, Gordon Grade School in Goessel, and Moundridge junior and high schools.
She retired at 70 years old. Then, she did volunteer work at Bethel College full-time for 10 years. One of her tasks was to translate German documents into English.
She was a member of Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church for 65 years, where she taught Sunday school.
Survivors include two daughters and their spouses, David and Judy Voth Regehr of Manhattan, Kan., and Mike and Kathy Voth Cullen of Atlanta, Ga.; and a brother, Donald Ediger and his wife Lois; three grandchildren; and a step-grandchild.
Mary Loewen
Hillsboro – Mary Loewen, 91, died May 5, 2015 at Via Christi St. Francis in Wichita. She was born October 24, 1923 to Martin A. and Helena (Epp) Kroeker in Schoenau, Russia. She married
Waldo J. Loewen June 9, 1946 at Marion, South Dakota. Survivors include: sons, James (Joyce) Loewen of Rural Hillsboro, Harold (Darla) Loewen of Carpenter, South Dakota, Doug (Sharon) Loewen of Rural Hillsboro; daughters, Elaine (Mark) Goodwin of Aurora, Colorado, Helen (Mike) Bumpus of Bartelsville, Oklahoma, Christine (Dan) Smith of Florence, Kansas, Darlene (John) Rappazzo of Gilmer, Texas; brothers, Werner Kroeker of San Jose, California and Orlando Kroeker of Shawnee, Kansas; sister, Elvira Plett of Hillsboro; 24 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. Predeceased by her husband, Waldo J. Loewen in 1968 and a grandson, James Wohlgemuth. Celebration of Life Service Monday, May 11, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at Ebenfeld Mennonite Brethren Church rural Hillsboro officiated by Pastor Gaylord Goertzen and Pastor Dave Froese. Family receive guests from 5 to 7 Sunday at the Church. Interment at Ebenfeld ChurchCemeteryrural Hillsboro. Memorials to Mennonite Central Committee for Nepal Earthquake in care of Jost Funeral Home P.O. Box 266 Hillsboro, KS 67063.
Lois Ediger
d. February 9, 2013
Lois Ediger, age 86 of Hillsboro died on Saturday, February 9, 2013 at Salem Home in Hillsboro. Lois was born on October 17, 1926 in Bingham Lake, Minnesota to Jacob and Elizabeth (Klaassen) Voth. She married
Joel Ediger on December 23, 1946 in Hillsboro.
Lois is survived by her children, Larry J. (Nancy K.) of Olathe, Kansas, Gerald of Hillsboro, Lyle (Rhonda) of Hillsboro, Allen R. (Robin) of Hillsboro; 10 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren; one sister, Helen Vogel of Inman. She is preceded in death by her husband and parents.
Celebration of life will be at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, February 14, 2013, Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church of Hillsboro. Visitation will from 4 to 6 Wednesday with the family present at Jost Funeral Home. Private family interment at Hillsboro M.B. Church cemetery. Memorial suggested to Hillsboro M.B. Church Building Fund in care of the funeral home.
Rose Jost
(April 17, 1921 - March 8, 2012)
Rose Agnes Thiessen Jost was born on April 17, 1921 near Conway, Kansas to Jacob and Mary (Klaassen) Thiessen. She was the first of six children.
Mrs. Jost died Thursday (March 8, 2012) at Kidron Bethel Health Care in North Newton, Ks.
Rose grew up on a family farm during the Depression where she and her siblings learned a strong work ethic. She was nearly ten years old the first time she went to town. Rose attended Monitor Grade School for eight years. As an eighth grader, Rose was chosen to assist the teacher with the younger students. She then attended Zoar Academy for two years and Inman High School for two more years.
Rose accepted the Lord during a revival meeting. She was baptized by Reverend K. K. Willems in May, 1936. The special verses given to her were Matthew 11: 28-30.
“Come unto me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Rose was then received into the membership of Zoar Mennonite Brethren Church near Inman. Her favorite songs were “It’s Not an Easy Road” popularized by the White Sisters, “How Great Thou Art” and “Jesus Paid It All.” Her favorite psalm was Psalm 121.
On May 7, 1943 Rose married
Titus Jost when he was on furlough during his Civilian Public Service. Their honeymoon was spent on a train to Norristown, Pennsylvania State Hospital, where they continued in CPS for three years. During their time in Norristown, Rose cleaned houses and served as a guardian for the State Hospital patients. In 1946, they moved back to Conway, Kansas, and to live temporarily with Rose’s parents.
Their first son, Stanley, was born on August 30, 1946. After a series of moves near Conway and Inman, they settled southwest of Newton on a farmstead that was to become their home for over fifty years. Their second son, Gene, was born on November 13, 1949. Their third son, Jerry, was born on December 12, 1954. They operated a dairy farm known as Ti-Ro farm for Titus and Rose.
Rose joined the First Mennonite Church in Newton in 1949 and was a member of the congregation for the rest of her life. She taught Sunday School classes for preschoolers and enjoyed the All Day Sewing gatherings at the church. One of their service projects was recycling greeting cards into booklets to be used by Walstead missionaries in Kentucky. Rose and Titus also served as a contact couple for the Mennonite Central Committee Relief Sale.
Rose was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, and her husband, Titus.
She is survived by two brothers, Howard of Inman, Kansas, and Millerd of Florence, Colorado; by her sister, Lou Ella Scobie of Grand Island, Nebraska; and by her three sons, Stanley (and his wife, Marilyn) of Newton, Gene of Peabody, and Jerrold (and his wife, Deborah) of Lawrence. Survivors also include three grandchildren, Lynette, Phillip (and his wife, Penni), and Elijah, and one great grandchild, Ellianna.
Condolences may be sent to Stan Jost, 3821 SW 48th Road, Newton, Kansas 67114. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Mennonite Central Committee or First Mennonite Church Missions.
The family will hold a memorial service on Friday, March 23, 2012 at 11 A.M. at the First Mennonite Church, 429 East First Street in Newton, Kansas.
There will be no visitation as interment has been held.
Arrangements are by Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, Newton.
