Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Ashley Danielle Ruder 1984 - 2006
LAWRENCE - Ashley Danielle Ruder, 21, died Nov. 6 at Via Christi Regional Medical Center in Wichita. She was born Nov. 19, 1984, in Oakley, the daughter of Steven J. Ruder and Eileen M. Armstrong Ruder. A resident of Lawrence for one year, coming from Oakley, she was a full-time student at Johnson County Community College and a sales clerk at Beauty Brands. Ashley was a member of the Heritage Baptist Church in Lawrence and a former member of Sunrise Baptist Church in Oakley. Survivors include her parents; three brothers, Jason Keller of Jersey City, N.J., Nathan Keller of Phoenix, Ariz., and Seth Ruder of Lawrence; and grandfather Bill Armstrong of Quinter. She was preceded in death by a sister, Lisa Ann Ruder; grandparents Arthur Ottken, Martha Ottken and Dorothy Armstrong; and great-grandparents Irene Ruder and August (Gus) Ruder. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Sunrise Baptist Church in Oakley with the Rev. Robert Phillips and the Rev. Randy Kuhn officiating. Burial will be in the Oakley cemetery. Friends may visit from 2 to 9 p.m. Friday at Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home in Oakley. The casket will remain closed. Memorials are suggested to Ashley Ruder Memorial Fund in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home 217 Freeman P.O. Box 221 Oakley, KS 67748
Sylvia May McMahan
1909 - 2006
Sylvia May McMahan, 97, died Nov. 7 at Cherry Village Nursing Home, Great Bend. She was born July 19, 1909, in Stafford County, the daughter of James C. and Harriett Todd Brown. She married
Hubert R. McMahan on Aug. 10, 1930, at Great Bend. He died Nov. 2, 1993. She was a lifetime resident of Great Bend, and was a deputy at Barton County District Court for 18 years, retiring in 1980. Mrs. McMahan was a member of Central Baptist Church, AARP and RSVP and was a volunteer for the Red Cross Bloodmobile. Survivors include two sons, James D. McMahan of Great Bend and Jack Lee McMahan of San Jose, Calif.; a brother, Leon Brown, of Shawnee Mission; a sister, Helen Tittel, of Manhattan; seven grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. She was preceded in death by one son, Jerry McMahan, two brothers, Earl Brown and Chet Brown, and two sisters, Tressa McDonald and Patricia Barlow. Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the church in Great Bend, with the Rev. David Hill officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday at Bryant Funeral Home, Great Bend, with the family to receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Donations to memorial funds for Central Baptist Church or Cherry Village Nursing Home may be made in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
John Wilson Dipman
1914 - 2006
LARNED - John Wilson Dipman, 92, died Nov. 5 at St. Joseph Memorial Hospital in Larned. He was born March 1, 1914, in Pawnee County, the son of George E. and Sadie Hogue Dipman. He graduated from high school in 1932. He married
Eldred E. Sanders on Feb. 7, 1942, in Wichita. A resident of Pawnee County all of his life, he was a farmer and stockman for more than 50 years of his life, living in the house his grandfather built when he moved from Ohio to Kansas in 1878. John was a member of the Methodist Church and the Ash Valley Grange, and in 1971 he received a Soil Conservation Bankers Award. Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Eldred; two sons, Danny Dipman and his wife Vicki of Larned, and David Dipman of Casper, Wyo.; two daughters, Dedria Ashworth and husband Robert of Arlington and Cindy Wallace of WaKeeney; six grandchildren, Dari Hilbert and her husband Tom of Topeka, Darin Ashworth of Haven, Brett and Shane Wallace of Manhattan, Candi Parker and her husband Randy of Larned and Sandi Bates and her husband Jeff of Larned; four great-grandchildren, Keeli and Kelbi Parker of Larned and Maurice and Abraham Hilbert of Topeka. He was preceded in death by four brothers, Russell, Charles, Ralph and Raymond; and four sisters, Clara Byrum, Florence Smith, Alma Bradford and Helen Seeman. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. today at Beckwith Mortuary with the Rev. Tim Ault-Duell and the Rev. Ken Walker presiding. Burial will be in the Larned cemetery. Memorials may be sent to the Pawnee County Humane Society in Larned, in care of the mortuary. Funeral arrangements provided by Beckwith Mortuary P.O. Box 477 Larned, KS 67550
Theodore 'Ted' Bitter
1911 - 2006
HOISINGTON - Theodore 'Ted' Bitter, 95, died Nov. 5 at Central Kansas Medical Center, Great Bend. He was born Oct. 19, 1911, in Barton County, the son of Henry Bitter, Jr. and Mary Gehringer Bitter. He married
Mollie Schweitzer Jan. 25, 1931, at Susank. She died July 26, 2003. A lifetime resident of Hoisington and northern Barton County, he was a retired farmer. Bitter was a member of Concordia Lutheran Church in Hoisington. Survivors include two sons, Elmer Bitter and wife Aleen of Great Bend, and the Rev. Glen Ray Bitter and wife Denise of Topeka; four grandchildren, Rhonda Bitter and husband Tom of Norman, Okla., Mark Bitter and wife Chris of Great Bend, David Bitter and wife Amy of Topeka and Renea Davidson and husband Willie of Lawrence; five great-grandchildren, Jeremy Brewer of Norman, Okla., Cori Burroughs and husband David of Ellinwood, Lacey Bonine and husband David of Manhattan, Klint Bitter and wife Lindsay of Olathe and Meghan Bitter of Topeka. He was preceded in death by eight sisters and three brothers. Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Concordia Lutheran Church with Pastor John Sharp officiating. Burial will be at the Hoisington cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington and 9:30 a.m. to service time Wednesday at the church. Memorials are suggested to Concordia Lutheran Church or Bitter Endowment Fund (Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind.) in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home 415 N. Main P.O. Box 146 Hoisington, KS 67544
Jerry Lee Scheuerman
1957 - 2006
Jerry Lee Scheuerman, 48, of Kansas City, Mo., passed away Aug. 30. Memorial graveside service was held Sept. 2 at Mt. Moriah cemetery, Kansas City, Mo. Jerry was born in Stafford on Sept 15, 1957, and was raised in Great Bend by his loving mother, Vivian. He was a 1975 graduate of Great Bend High School. He was a 1979 graduate of Bethany College in Lindsborg with a bachelor of science degree in economics. While a student at Bethany he was also the captain of the football team and a two-time All American. He was employed as an Operations Team manager with Honeywell Manufacturing and Technologies for 27 years. His greatest joy in life was spending time with his family. From grade school through college, Jerry never missed a soccer or football practice or game for his sons, Kristian and Nicholas. He was their biggest fan. He was active as a Scout leader and a member of the Tribe of Mic-O-Say and the Order of the Arrow. The past several years were spent sharing his daughter Megan's passion for horses. Jerry went to the barn each day to watch her ride and worked as a jump crew member or gatekeeper at many horse shows. He was thrilled to deliver Megan a little more than a week before his death to William Woods University so she could pursue a degree in equestrian science. Jerry had a gift for working with wood and loved to make custom-designed pieces. He dreamed of retiring, moving to his farm, making furniture and breeding horses with his wife of 29 years, Julie. Jerry's family will remember him as a kind, caring man who gave more than 100 percent to whatever he did. Jerry was preceded in death by his mother and his brother, Perry. Besides his wife, Julie, and children, Kristian, Nicholas and Megan, Jerry is survived by his brother, Terry L. Scheuerman and wife Nancy of Topeka. The family suggests contributions to a college fund for his daughter, Megan. Contributions can be sent to Megan E. Scheuerman Education Fund, c/o Mazuma Credit Union, 9300 Troost Ave., Kansas City, MO 64131. Arrangements were by Mt. Moriah & Freeman Chapel, Kansas City, Mo.
Marguerite Peel
1911 - 2006
HOISINGTON - Marguerite Peel, 86, died Nov. 6 at the Hoisington Homestead in Hoisington. She was born Feb. 24, 1920, in Great Bend, the daughter of Herman and Amy (Hiss) Bollenbacher. She married
Wendell C. Peel in Tucumcari, N.M. He preceded her in death. She was a longtime resident of Hoisington and a homemaker. Mrs. Peel was a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ of Great Bend, Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Post 7428 and a local bridge club member in Hoisington. Survivors include one son, Larry Peel of Tomball, Texas; one daughter, Karla Berry of Russell; one brother, Arnold Bollenbacher of Bluffton, S.C.; and two grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a son, Vance Peel. Funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington with the Rev. Diana Coberly officiating. Burial will be at the Hoisington cemetery. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, with the family receiving friends from 7 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Clara Barton Foundation in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home 415 N. Main P.O. Box 146 Hoisington, KS 67544
Jacob Lynn Clawson
BENTLEY - Jacob Lynn Clawson, newborn son of Byron Clawson and Karla Keenan, was born and died Nov. 5, 2006, at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. He is survived by his parents, of the home in Bentley; grandmother Vivian Raab, Kinsley; three brothers, Benjamin Clawson, Trenton Clawson and Matthew Keenan, and a sister, Jamie Keenan, all of the home. He was preceded in death by grandparents Lawrence and Shirley Keenan and Bill Raab. Graveside service will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Great Bend cemetery, with the Rev. Reginald A. Urban officiating. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Memorials are suggested to the Jacob Lynn Clawson Memorial Fund, in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Michael Wayne Foley
1948 - 2006
LARNED - Michael Wayne Foley, 58, died Oct. 20 at Southwind Hospice House in Pratt. He was born June 21, 1948, in Peoria, Ill., the son of Delmar and Wilma 'Billie' Hayes Foley. A resident of Larned for five years, moving from Winfield, he was a psychologist with the Department of Corrections. On May 6, 1978, he married
Judy Remmert in Hays. She survives. Survivors also include two daughters, Kathryn Stafford and her husband Jason, and Elizabeth Lewis and her husband Justin, all of Lawrence; one sister, Patty Hayes and her husband Darrell of Washington state; and a granddaughter, Layla Lewis of Lawrence. Memorial services will be held at a later date. Memorials may be sent to the Southwind Hospice House of Pratt in care of Beckwith Mortuary, Inc., in Larned. This notice can be viewed and condolences left at www.beckwithmortuary.com. Funeral arrangements provided by Beckwith Mortuary P.O. Box 477 Larned, KS 67550
Mary Florence Lang
1920 - 2006
Mary Florence Lang, 86, of Great Bend, died Nov. 1 at Lakewood Senior Living Center in Pratt. She was born July 28, 1920 in Chickasha, Okla., the daughter of George Thomas and Bessie Grace Bartlett Rider. She married
Otto William Lang, Jr. on July 28, 1943, in Washington, D.C. He died Aug. 4, 2002. A resident of Great Bend since 1945, coming from Brooklyn, N.Y., she was a homemaker. Mrs. Lang was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene. Survivors include two sons, Donald E. Lang of Great Bend and Alvin W. Lang of Wichita; one daughter, Mary Beth Bolyard of Pratt; one sister, Lavelle Hummon of Shawnee Mission; eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by three brothers, Paul Rider, Ray Rider and Odous Rider; and one sister, Fern Eckhardt. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday at Bryant Funeral Home with the Rev. Wayne Flanders officiating. Burial will be at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Enid cemetery in Enid, Okla. Friends may call today from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the American Lung Association. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Ralph H. Witte
1929 - 2006
WICHITA - Ralph H. Witte, 77, retired regional manager for Gates Rubber Company, died Thursday, Nov. 2. Visitation with family will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, at Downing & Lahey West, Wichita. Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Monday, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. Graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Great Bend cemetery. Viewing times will be from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, and 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday. Ralph was born April 24, 1929, in Great Bend, to parents Edward D. and Ida (Nordman) Witte. After high school, he served four years in the Navy. After leaving the Navy, he attended K-State and graduated in 1960. During this time, he met Roberta McCarty, also of Great Bend, and they married
on June 7, 1958. In 1968, daughter Laura Ann came into their lives. Ralph's favorite hobby was antique cars. He fully restored a 1934 4-door Model A sedan and a 1967 Mustang convertible. 'Ralphie' was a longtime member of the antique auto club the 'Wichita A's, ' and more recently the Midian Shrine Antique Autos. He was also an active and involved member of his church. Ralph will be forever loved by Roberta, his wife of 48 years, as well as daughter, Laura, and son-in-law, Robert 'Nate' Lund. His pride and joy were his three grandchildren, Mallorie, 4, Mackenzie, 7, and Jared, 15. Other survivors include his brothers and sisters-in-law, Elmer and Dominica of Garden Grove, Calif., and Ed and Joyce of Houston, Texas; his nieces, nephews and other extended family. A memorial has been established with Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 1101 N. River Blvd., Wichita, KS 67203. Tributes may be sent to the family via www.downingandlahey.com. Downing and Lahey Mortuary 6555 E. Central Wichita, KS 67206
Vern Franklin Dunlap
1928 - 2006
Vern Franklin Dunlap, 78, of Great Bend, died Oct. 31 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. He was born April 15, 1928, at Blackwell, Okla., the son of Irven F. and Thelma Ilene Yager Dunlap. He married
Kathleen Martin in September 1955 in Michigan. She died April 20, 1980. A resident of Great Bend for 21 years, coming from Nickerson and Medicine Lodge, he was a tool pusher and driller for Sweetman Drilling. Dunlap was a member of the First Assembly of God church in Great Bend. He was an army veteran. Survivors include a son, Vernon Lee Dunlap and wife Helen of Claflin; daughter Beverly June Gray, of Colorado Springs, Colo.; brother Richard Dunlap and wife Ramona of Great Bend; and several grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one brother, Kenneth Wayne Dunlap, who was killed in the Korean War on Oct. 10, 1951, and by two grandchildren. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the First Assembly of God church in Great Bend, with the Rev. Dwight Dozier officiating. Burial will be at 2:30 p.m. at Highland cemetery in Medicine Lodge. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Memorials are suggested to the church in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Sylvia Mae Adams
1945 - 2006
Sylvia Mae Adams, 61, of Great Bend, died Dec. 28 at Hospice of Reno County, Hutchinson. She was born Nov. 19, 1945, at Iowa City, Iowa, the daughter of John A. Kahler Sr. and Bernice Wanita Reynolds Kahler. She married
Paul Marvin Adams on Jan. 11, 1964, at Moline, Ill. He died July 20, 1993. She was an assisted living care provider for Rosewood Services and a cook for the American Legion, both of Great Bend. She was a resident of Great Bend since 1981, coming from Oxford, Iowa. She was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church, Great Bend. Sylvia was always the caregiver, always smiling. She loved hunting and fishing with her husband, Paul, as well as gardening, being outdoors, traveling, sewing, canning, doing crafts and riding motorcycles. She was an all-around handy woman and most of all enjoyed family and friends. Rest in peace with our love! Survivors include her mother, Bernice Kahler, Oxford, Iowa; two sons, Andrew Paul Adams, Williamsburg, Iowa, and David John Adams, Great Bend; a daughter, Christine Marie Saindon, Great Bend; a brother, John L. Kahler, Jr., Tiffin, Iowa; two sisters, Naomi Nearad, Swisher, Iowa, and Arlene Gerard, North Liberty, Iowa; three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her father, a sister, Janet Prymek, a son-in-law, Loren Saindon, a daughter-in-law, Rocheal VanNatta; and numerous nephews and nieces. A memorial service will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Bryant Funeral Home, Great Bend, with the Rev. Don Paden officiating. There will be no visitation, as cremation has taken place. Memorial donations may be made to the family or to Central Kansas Medical Center Foundation for the benefit of Heartland Cancer Center, in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Vada Ford Gruber
1918 - 2006
Vada Ford Gruber, 88, of Great Bend, died Dec. 29 at her home. She was born Feb. 3, 1918, at Meade, the daughter of Fred Franklin and Sylvia Mae Keltner Ford. She married
Vernon J. Gruber on May 24, 1942, at Beaver, Okla. He died July 22, 1959. She was a cocktail waitress for many years. She was a resident of Great Bend since 1942, coming from Meade. She was a member of First United Methodist Church, Great Bend. Survivors include two sons, Vance Gruber and John Gruber, both of Great Bend; a brother, Clarence Ford, Meade; three sisters, Garnet Perkins of Hutchinson, Evelyn Ellis of Wichita and Ruby Collier of Tulsa, Okla.; nine grandchildren, Amanda Gruber, Brandy Gruber, Desirae Gruber, Skeeter Gruber, Vangela Gruber, Paula Gruber, Gabryal Milhon, Cory Glover and Vanity Gruber; and numerous great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a grandson, Scott Gruber. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Bryant Funeral Home, Great Bend, with the Rev. Gary Brooks officiating. Interment will be at Great Bend cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorial donations to the Barton County Relay for Life may be made in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Roberta 'Bert' Sanger
1927 - 2006
Roberta 'Bert' Sanger, 79, of Great Bend, died Dec. 28 at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center. The oldest child of Robert and Wanda Davis Duff, she was born April 10, 1927, near Gray in Beaver County, Okla. She attended schools in Beaver County including Bethany High School. She earned her GED and attended Barton County Community College in Great Bend. She trained as a nurse and worked at Central Kansas Medical Center and the Great Bend Manor for many years. She married
Henry Sanger on Dec. 3, 1947, in Perryton, Texas. He died Aug. 16, 1993. Over the years she resided in Beaver County, Okla., Sublette, Skellytown, Texas, Ashland and Great Bend. Mrs. Sanger was a charter member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Great Bend, United Methodist Women and various church circles and committees. She was a devoted wife and mother, and was well known for her delicate embroidery work which she generously shared with family and friends. She leaves to mourn a daughter, Carol Siefkes and husband David of Great Bend; grandchildren Darin and Angela Siefkes of Austin, Texas, and Craig Siefkes of Davenport, Iowa; a sister and family, Billie Jean and Joe Bass of San Angelo, Texas; and one great granddaughter, Samantha Siefkes of Austin, Texas. She was preceded in death by her husband; a son, James Sanger; a brother, Frankie Duff; and her parents. A memorial service will be held at a later date. There will be no visitation as cremation has taken place. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Great Bend Public Library in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Gordon Ray Smith
1946 - 2006
ALBERT - Gordon Ray Smith, 60, died Dec. 29 at Kansas Heart Hospital, Wichita. He was born May 22, 1946, at Great Bend, the son of Harold and Juanita Hager Smith. He married
Sheila Rowley June 5, 1971, in Albert. She survives. He was a past manager of several body shops. He was a lifetime area resident. Survivors, in addition to his wife, of the home, include three sons, Curtis Smith, Aaron Smith and Ryan Smith, all of the home; two daughters, DeNay Loucks and husband Mark, of Otis, and Tron Smith of Great Bend; his parents, of Arapahoe, Neb.; one brother, Keith Smith of Radium; and six grandchildren, Mercedes Smith, Tanner Loucks, Kailyn Loucks, Blake Flores, Reilly Smith and Calli Bradwell. He was preceded in death by an infant brother. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Bryant Funeral Home, Great Bend, with Pastor Brad Penner officiating. Inurnment will take place at a later date. There will be no visitation, as cremation has taken place. A memorial fund for the family has been established. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
