Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Thelma Bailey
1918 - 2006
ABILENE - Thelma Bailey, 87, died Jan. 23 at the Holiday Resort in Salina. She was born Sept. 29, 1918, in Dickinson County, the daughter of Harry and Phoebe Hoover Dayhoff. She married
Robert D. 'Bob' Bailey on Oct. 2, 1964. He died Oct. 22, 2002. They had owned and operated the Red Carpet Restaurant in Hutchinson, Bob and Thelma's Steak House in Great Bend and the Elmore Cinnamon Shop in Salina. Survivors include two sons, Gene Downs of Salem, Ore., and Stan Downs of Trillomock, Ore.; one daughter, Carolyn Englebach, Jamestown; five step-sons, Jim Bailey and Dennis Bailey, both of Wichita, Allen Bailey of Arco, Idaho, Robert Bailey of McPherson, and Richard Bailey of Puerto Rico; one step-daughter, Jan Srack of Salina; 36 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Ray E. Downs. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Bethel cemetery north of Detroit. Memorials are suggested to the Hospice of Salina, in care of Danner Funeral Home in Abilene. Funeral arrangements provided by Danner Funeral Home P.O. Box 758 Abilene, KS 67410
Lillian E. Miller
1911 - 2006
LYONS - Lillian E. Miller, 94, died Jan .23 at Hospice House in Hutchinson. She was born March 21, 1911, at Fort Supply, Okla., the daughter of Bert and Elizabeth Willinger Rice. She married
Alex Miller on Sept. 14, 1929, at St. Pauls Lutheran Church in Natoma. He died Jan. 31, 1975. She was a homemaker and a resident of Lyons since 1971, formerly of St. John. Mrs. Miller was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Lyons. Survivors include three sons, Larry Miller of Kingman, Ariz., Al Miller and wife Karon of Lyons, and Russell Miller and wife Ella of Billings, Mont.; two daughters, Norma Beitler and husband Arlo of Pretty Prairie, and Marjorie Littlejjohn and husband Robert of Richland, Wash.; one brother, Albert Rice of Ellinwood; 25 grandchildren; 42 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one son, Dwayne Miller and his wife Cynthia; one daughterin-law, Marina Miller; two brothers, Leonard and George Rice; one sister, Ruth Krentzel; and two grandsons, Andy Miller and Lynn Miller. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Grace Lutheran Church in Lyons with Pastor Mike Herzberg officiating. Burial will be at Lakin-Commanche cemetery in Elliwnood. Visitation will be today from 2 to 7 p.m. at Sillin Funeral Home in Lyons. Memorials are suggested to the Andy Miller Scholarship Fund at Lyons High School, the Hutchinson Good Samaritan Village, the Hospice House of Hutchinson, or Grace Lutheran Church, all in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Sillin Funeral Home 214 West Ave. South Lyons, KS 67554
Eugene Rubin Keil
1938 - 2006
Eugene Rubin Keil, 68, died Jan. 23 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. He was born Jan. 1, 1938, at Russell, the son of Rubin and Alvina Miller Keil. He was a retired truck driver for Big A Auto and a Great Bend resident for the last 40 years. Keil was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Great Bend. He was a U.S. Army veteran. Survivors include three sons, Thomas E. Keil and wife Laura of Phenix, Ala., L. David Keil and wife Donna of Great Bend, and Steven A. Keil of Pflugerville, Texas; one brother, Gary Keil of Salina; two sisters, Alvina Nicholson of Gothenburg, Neb., and Mary Ann Keil of Salina; and five grandchildren, Emily Keil, Jordan Keil, Michael Keil, Justin Keil, and Sam Keil. He was preceded in death by two brothers. Funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Great Bend with the Rev. Garry Dassow officiating. Interment will be at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Great Bend with military honors conducted by Fort Riley Honor Guard. Visitation will be today from 1 to 9 p.m., with family receiving friends from 7 to 8 p.m., and Thursday from 9 to 11 a.m., all at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Memorials are suggested to Our Savior Lutheran Church or American Heart Association, both in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Rd. Great Bend, KS 67530
Michael Dean Gustus
1958 - 2006
GENESEO - Michael Dean Gustus, 47, died Jan. 23 at Hospice House in Hutchinson. He was born March 24, 1958, in Sterling, the son of Dean and Jane Kindle Gustus. He graduated from Geneseo High School in 1976. A lifetime resident of Geneseo, he was the owner of Gustus Backhoe & Tank Service. Gustus was baptised in the Presbyterian Church and attended United Methodist Church in Geneseo. He was a member and former chief of the Geneseo Fire Department. Survivors include two daughters, Callie Gustus and Haddie Gustus, both of Geneseo; his parents, of Geneseo; two sisters, Patricia 'Patty' Beagley and Carolyn Gustus, both of Geneseo. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Cyril and Olive Gustus, and Cliff and Mary Alice Kindle. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Sillin Funeral Home in Lyons with Davis Laughlin officiating. Burial will be at the Geneseo cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 2 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Education Fund for Callie and Haddie Gustus or Hutchinson Hospice House of Reno County. Funeral arrangements provided by Sillin Funeral Home 214 West Ave. South Lyons, KS 67554
Lane E. Turner, M.D.
1967 - 2006
AMES, Iowa - Lane E. Turner, M.D., of Ames, Iowa, ended his life on Jan. 20 in rural Boone County, Iowa. Dr. Turner was born Nov. 18, 1967, in Great Bend, the son of Dr. Terry and Judy (Krug) Turner. He married
Amy Taylor on June 20, 1992, in Hutchinson. He graduated from Kansas State University School of Medicine and completed his ENT residency at the University of Missouri in Columbia. Dr. Turner joined the McFarland Clinic in 1999 and was recently elected to the Board of Directors. He attended Collegiate United Methodist Church and was an Alumnus of Delta Upsilon Fraternity. Lane adored his family. Woodworking and nature were important to him. He was dedicated to the care of his patients, and regarded his colleagues as a second family. He is survived by his wife Amy and four children: Jill, Brian and infant twins, Kelly and Eric, all of the home; parents, Dr. Terry and Judy Turner of Great Bend; brother, Tracy Turner of Dallas, Texas; sister and her husband, Libby and Eric Hartter of Dallas, Texas; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Elwyn (ET) and Lucille Taylor of Ames, Iowa, formerly of Hutchinson; two brothers-in-law and their wives, Jeff and Susie Taylor of England, and Mike and Holly Taylor of Wichita; and many nieces and nephews. Memorial services will be at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, at the Collegiate United Methodist Church in Ames, Iowa. Education was very important to Dr. Turner. In lieu of flowers, a fund has been established for the education of his children. Donations may be made to the Turner Memorial Education Fund, First American Bank, 520 Grand Avenue, Ames, Iowa 50010. The Bacon Funeral Home and Crematory assisted with arrangements. Funeral arrangements provided by Bacon Funeral Homes, Inc. 1418 Fawcett Parkway Nevada, IA 50201
Allen Lee Parks
1933 - 2006
ELLINWOOD - Allen Lee Parks, 72, died Jan. 21 at his residence in Ellinwood. He was born Feb. 25, 1933, at Macksville, the son of Frank and Lois Harmon Parks. He married
Dona Sue Jones on May 19, 1959, in Batesville, Ark. She died Jan. 31, 1972. He was a self-employed carpenter and farmer and was employed as a salesman for Rainbow Bread Company. He was a resident of Ellinwood for 14 years, coming from Larned. Parks was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. Survivors include two sons, Danny Parks of Batesville and Jim Parks of Evening Shade, Ark.; five daughters, Ann Rutledge and Deb Driggs, both of Indianapolis, Ind., Anita Link of Great Bend, Tina Velz of Ponca City, Okla., and Becky Page of Wichita; three brothers, Lyle Parks of Salina, Lowell Parks of Haysville, and Edward Parks of Macksville; two sisters, Twila Huckaby of Oklahoma City, Okla., and Lila DeGarmo of Meade; 23 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one sister, Wilma Faye and twin grandchildren, Jarrod and Jordon Link. Funeral will be at 1 p.m. on Wednesday at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend with the Rev. Don Paden officiating. Burial will be at 3 p.m. at Ellsworth Memorial cemetery with military honors conducted by Fort Riley Honor Guard. Friends may call today from noon to 9 p.m. and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to service time at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Allen Parks Memorial Fund. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Rd. Great Bend, KS 67530
Glen D. Lynn
1961 - 2006
HOISINGTON - Glen D. Lynn, 44, died Jan. 18 at his home in Hoisington. He was born May 22, 1961, in Dodge City, the son of LeRoy and Ada Mae Johnson Lynn. He married
Jonni Lynn Thompson Lynn on Dec. 31, 2001, in Hoisington. A resident of Hoisington since 1996, coming from Enid, Okla., he was a laborer for General Contractors. Survivors include his wife of the home; two daughters, Glenda Denise Lynn of Oklahoma, and Amanda Lynn of Dodge City; two step-sons, Matthew Yohn of Larned, and Jamie Yohn of Great Bend; one step-daughter, Christina White of Great Bend; his father; his step-father, George H. Rhoades of Hutchinson; eight brothers, James Keigley of Alva, Okla., Bobby Walsh of Modesto, Calif., Barney Lynn of California, Richard Rhoades, David Rhoades and George Rhoades, all of Kinsley, Ronnie McKitrick of Kiowa, and James Rhoades of Hardtner; six sisters, Penny Foster of Tulsa, Okla., Ann Lee of Cherokee, Okla., Carolyn Simon of Enid, Okla., Mary Culbreath of Kinsley, Kathy Ratzlaff of Garfield, and Charlene Farabaugh of Indianapolis, Ind.; and one grandchild. He was preceded in death by one son, Kenneth Dale; and one brother, Dennis Lynn. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. on Friday at the Beckwith Mortuary Chapel in Larned with the Rev. Aaron 'Butch' Kirkwood officiating. Burial will be at the Hoisington cemetery. Friends may call on Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday until service time, all at the mortuary. Memorials are suggested to the Glen Lynn Memorial Fund in care of the mortuary. Funeral arrangements provided by Beckwith Mortuary P.O. BOx 477 Larned, KS 67550
Barbara Jean Foley Henderson
1934 - 2006
Barbara Jean Foley Henderson, 71, of Great Bend, died Jan. 23 at Central Kansas Medical Center after a long illness. She was born May 17, 1934, in Warren Camp, Ky. Barbara was the 12th child of Hugh and Amanda (Garland) Foley. She was raised in Artemus, Ky., and graduated from high school in 1952. She married
Bill Henderson in December of 1952. This union was blessed with four children. Barbara spent the next years of her life as a loving wife, a devoted mother and leader in various church, women's and Girl Scout activities. Upon her husband's retirement from the Air Force in 1970, the family moved to Great Bend. Although still busy in her roles as wife and mother, Barbara worked at Gibson's and Fuller Brush. She retired from Fuller Brush in 1991. She was preceded in death by her parents, five brothers and three sisters. She is survived by her children: Patti Caruthers and husband Dennis of San Antonio, Texas; Michael Henderson of Great Bend; Karen Byerly of Hays; and Billie Joe Henderson II of Great Bend. She is also survived by eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She is survived by two sisters, Billie Bays of Artemus, Ky., and Alma Carr of Arcadia, Fla., and two brothers, James Foley of Barbourville, Ky., and Hubert Foley of Las Cruces, N.M. She will be remembered by all for her quick wit, her poetry and her love of the Lord. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend with the Rev. Dr. Doyle Smith officiating. Interment will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Rickett cemetery in Little Poplar Creek, Ky. Visitation will be today from noon to 9 p.m. with the family receiving friends from 7 to 8 p.m., and Wednesday from 9 a.m. until service time at the funeral home. There will be a visitation from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday at Hampton Funeral Home in Barbourville, Ky. Memorials are suggested to Central Kansas Medical Center Foundation or American Diabetes Association, in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Rd. Great Bend, KS 67530
David Gerald Smith
1925 - 2006
NEW RICHLAND, Minn. - David Gerald Smith, 80, was born Aug. 23, 1925, in New Richland, Minn., the son of Vernon C. and Anna Mae (Dutton) Smith. He graduated from New Richland High School in 1944. He married
Nona Root on Sept. 15, 1946, in Wilton Township, Minn. He was a farmer for many years and carried on the family tradition of sheep shearing and wool buying. Smith was a member of the LeSueur River Lutheran Church, where he was active on the cemetery board, church council and ushering, and the New Richland American Legion. He served his country in the U.S. Navy from 1944 until 1946 during World War II. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and woodworking. His special delight was his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Survivors include his wife, Nona of the home; three sons, George and Patti Smith of Great Bend, Jeffrey and Deb Smith of Medford, Minn., and Robert and Dorine Smith of New Richland, Minn.; three daughters, Kathy and Tom Connelly of St. Thomas, Minn., Rebecca Smith of Coon Rapids, Minn., and Jana Lee and Gary Ebnet of Owatonna, Minn.; one sister, Verna Mae Dixon of Greensboro, N.C.; brothers-in-law Marvin Johnson of Owatonna, David (Nikki) Root of Denver, Colo.; sisters-in-law Anita (Bill) Jewison of Janesville, Barbara Tolzmann of Mankato, Thelma (Orville) Yess of Inver Grove Heights, Opal Hofius of Merrifield; 12 grandchildren, Tia Lilley, Tricia (Mark) Viegra, Michael, Kristin and Kara Smith, Denis and David Connelly, Kate and Toni Ebnet, Ayla and Ariana Fish, and Burch Smith; and four great-grandchildren, Tarrin and Mariah Viegra, and Ryan and James Lilley. He is also survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, granddaughter Tonia Smith, brother George Wayne Smith, sisters Helen Nelson, Margery Brown, Lois Poole and JoAnn Johnson; sister-in-law Iola Schroeder Borchart, brothers-in-law Vernon, Marvin, Bill, Donald, Orville and Gene Root, Bill Dixon, Vaughn Brown, Jim Poole, Glen Nelson, Duane Tolzmann and Charles Hofius. Funeral was Jan. 19, 2006, at the LeSueur River Lutheran Church with the Rev. Charles Espe officiating. Burial was at St. Peters cemetery in New Richland with military honors conducted by the New Richland Veterans Group. Friedrich Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Kelcy Louise Thompson
1949 - 2006
PAHRUMP, Nev. - Kelcy Louise Thompson, 56, died Jan. 20 at Pahrump, Nev. She was born Nov. 22, 1949, at Great Bend, the daughter of Melvin D. and Carol L. Keenan Thompson. She received a master's degree in business administration. She was a resident of Pahrump, Nev., for six years, coming from Utah. She was college administrator for CCSN. She was a member of Our Lady of the Valley church; Phi Kappa Phi, Pahrump Chamber of Commerce, and numerous Nye County community organizations. Survivors include one daughter, Polly Neal Logan Sierra of Pahrump, Nev.; her parents, Melvin and Carol Thompson of Arlington; four brothers, Daniel Thompson and his wife Kay of Radium, Kim Thompson and his wife Joy of Topeka, Randall Thompson and his wife Rita of Kingman, and Kevin Thompson and his wife Claudia of Wichita; three sisters, Krystal Thompson and Kandi Smith, both of Fort Worth, Texas, and Karml and her husband Randy Blumanhourst of Lyons; and special friend, Monty Fisher of Nevada. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Tom and Martha Keenan, and Ed and Catherine (Kitch) Thompson; one nephew, Justin Thompson; one niece, Kara Hogan; and one brother-in-law, Michael K. Smith. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Francis Xavier Church in Seward. Burial will follow at the St. Francis cemetery in Seward. Memorials are suggested to the Logan S. Thompson Educational Fund in care of Lyons State Bank in Lyons. Funeral arrangements provided by Pahrump Family Mortuary 544 S. Vicki Ann Rd. Pahrump, NV 89048 775-727-4099
James W. Dykes
1980 -2006
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - James W. Dykes, 25, died Jan. 15 after battling Friedreich's Ataxia for several years. He was born Dec. 12, 1980, in McKinney, Texas, the son of Ron and Bettie Dykes. He graduated from Chanute Christian Academy, Chanute, in May 1999. He graduated from OTC in 2002 and achieved one of his lifelong goals of graduating from MSU in the spring of 2005. Following graduation, he remained active with Campus Crusade for Christ, and was a Bible study leader at the 'Potter's House.' He was actively involved with James River Assembly of God Church for over five years. He was employed by the 'Dixie Stampede Family' for five seasons, where he was honored as Cast Member of the Year in 2002. In the Fall of 2002, he was the recipient of the MDA Greater Ozarks Personal Achievement Award. Survivors include his parents, Ron and Bettie Dykes; one brother, Jason Dykes of Greenfield, Mo.; one sister, Shona Crays of Humboldt; one nephew, Devin of Humboldt; two nieces, Crystal and Rachel of Humboldt; grandparents, Everett and Margaret Dykes of Great Bend; and grandmother, Wilma Marsh Hutchings of Kansas City. He was preceded in death by one sister, Ronna; grandfather, Carl Marsh; and uncle, Randy Dykes. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at James River Assembly of God Church. Burial will be at 4 p.m. at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Kansas City. Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at Thieme-Shadel Funeral Service at Rivermonte in Springfield, Mo. Memorials are suggested to the James W. Dykes Scholarship Fund at MSU, in care of the funeral home.
Betty Jean Smith
1926 - 2006
GODDARD - Betty Jean Smith, 79, died Jan. 21 in Medical Lodge of Goddard in Goddard. She was born April 7, 1926, in Hutchinson, the daughter of Harry I. and Thelma Kite Brooks. She married
Loren Smith on June 3, 1950, in Hutchinson. He died Jan. 2, 1965. She had been a resident of Wichita for the last 54 years. Mrs. Smith was a member of the Presbyterian Church. Survivors include one brother, Kenneth Brooks of De Funiak Springs, Fla.; and one sister, Joyce Steiner of Hoisington. She was preceded in death by one brother, Harry Brooks. All services will be private. Burial will be at the Fairlawn cemetery. Funeral arrangements provided by Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home 300 E. 30th Hutchinson, KS 67502
