Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Garland B. Goodrick
1920-2004
LARNED - Garland B. Goodrick, 83, died Jan. 6 at Larned Healthcare Center in Larned. He was born Jan. 8, 1920, at Eugene, Mo., the son of Victor Dau and Stella May Graham Goodrick. He married
Donna Elizabeth Jensen June 2, 1947, at Kansas City, Mo. She died Jan. 27, 1995. A resident of Larned since 1994, coming from Maud, Texas, he was a farmer and construction worker. Goodrick was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars in Maud. He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving in World War II. Survivors include four sons, Victor R. Goodrick of Independence, Mo., Benjamin G. Goodrick Jr. of Maud, Nathan A. Goodrick of Pawnee Rock and Myron H. Goodrick of Larned; one daughter, Ellen Mae Gerstner of Maud; one brother, James 'Jack' Goodrick of Maud; two sisters, Ilene Maxwell of Lee's Summit, Mo., and Marguerite Tuder of Pittsburg, Mo.; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one brother, John Goodrick; and one sister, Pauline Rogers. Funeral will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel in Larned, with the Rev. Ryan Webster officiating. Burial will be at Larned cemetery with military honors. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and Friday and from 9 a.m. to service time Saturday, all at the mortuary. Memorials are suggested to Garland B. Goodrick, in care of the mortuary.
John Peter Schmidt
1925-2004
John Peter Schmidt, 78, of Great Bend, died Jan. 7 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. He was born Aug. 23, 1925, at Catherine, the son of Frederick and Margaret Dinkel Schmidt. He married
Mary Hertel Nov. 17, 1948, at Hays. A resident of Great Bend since 1952, coming from Hays, he was a mechanic for Kansas Department of Transportation for 35 years, retiring in 1987. Schmidt was a member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Fraternal Order of Eagles and guest member of Veterans of Foreign Wars. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, Rick Schmidt of Shawnee, Okla.; two daughters, Sharon Smythe of Salina and Sheila Schmidt of San Antonio, Texas; three brothers, Leo Clarence Schmidt of Missoula, Mont., Hilary Schmidt and Marcellus Schmidt, both of Hays; four sisters, Ann Schmidt of Plainville, Tina Likiardopolus of Wichita, Marge Schmidt of Hays and Frances Jane Jacobs of Minneapolis, Minn.; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Joe Schmidt, Alexius Schmidt and Fidelis Schmidt; and two sisters, Catherine Quint and Mary Pelzel. Vigil will be at 7 p.m. today at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Funeral Mass will be at noon Friday at the church, with the Rev. Ted Stoecklein officiating. Burial will be at 4 p.m. Friday at St. Catherine cemetery in Catherine. Friends may call from noon to 9 p.m. today and from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Cystinosis Foundation, in care of the funeral home.
Levana Belle Blanke
1929-2004
RUSSELL - Levana Belle Blanke, 74, died Jan. 6 at her winter home in Weslaco, Texas. She was born June 6, 1929, in Winfield, the daughter of Truman Miles and Zana Mae Williams Mitchell. She married
Clarence Melvin Craven Dec. 29, 1947, in Greeley, Colo. He died Jan. 5, 1973. She married
T. Jack Blanke Dec. 6, 1982, in Las Vegas, Nev. He died Oct. 12, 1999. A resident of Russell and Weslaco, coming from Gorham, Texas and Oklahoma, she was a homemaker and owner/operator of T. Jack Trucking Co. for 12 years. Mrs. Blanke was a member of Russell Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary, Ladies Shrine Auxiliary and Nomad Shrine Camping Group. Survivors include two sons, Kenneth J. Craven of Great Bend and Melvin L. Craven of Hoisington; two daughters, Susan E. Craven and Teri K. Helwer, both of Russell; two brothers, George Mitchell of Marble Falls, Texas, and Robert Mitchell of Joplin, Mo.; one sister, Ida Mae Newton of Edmond, Okla.; 12 grandchildren; and 11 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one infant son, Alan Jay Craven; and one brother, Donald E. 'Dick' Mitchell. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Pohlman-Heise Memorial Chapel in Russell, with Johnnie Hardie officiating. Burial will be at Prairie Lawn cemetery in Gorham. Friends may call from 3 to 9 p.m. Friday at the mortuary. Family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the mortuary. Memorials are suggested to American Heart Association, in care of the mortuary.
Fay H. Partington
1910-2004
ALDEN - Fay H. Partington, 93, died Jan. 5 at Sterling Presbyterian Manor. He was born Sept. 13, 1910, at Sterling, the son of William Wilson and Rosa Lanham Partington. He was a 1930 graduate of Sterling High School. He married
Ivan E. Long June 15, 1941, at Sterling. She died May 26, 2001. A lifetime Rice County resident, he was a retired farmer. Partington was a member of First United Methodist Church, serving as an usher, Sunday School teacher and on many church committees; served 31 years on Rice County Farm Service Agency committee; Rice County Farm Bureau Board and was a state leader of the year in 1952; Sterling College's Rice County Citizen of the Year in 1983; Rice County Extension Board; served on the Ark Valley Electric Co-op Board; Alden Council on Aging; charter member of Alden Community Pride, serving on the committee for many years; charter member of Alden Booster Club; served 40 years on Valley Township Board as treasurer; and other community organizations. Survivors include one son, Howard Partington of Great Bend and his wife Marie; one daughter, Shirley Fair of Alden and her husband Ed; grandchildren, Ellen Bock of Wichita; Julie Baker of Mission; Sarah Ober of Lawton, Okla.; Kimberly Partlow of Wichita; Randall Partington of Fredonia; three great-granddaughters; and two great-grandsons. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Clarence Partington, Clyde Partington and Lyle Partington; and one grandson, Charles Norman Fair. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at United Methodist Church in Sterling, with the Rev. Dr. Lee R. Louderback officiating. Burial will be at Sterling Community cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to noon Friday at Sillin Funeral Home in Sterling. Memorials are suggested to Rice County Council on Aging, in care of the funeral home.
Joyce Marie Murray
1930-2004
PAWNEE ROCK - Joyce Marie Murray, 73, died Jan. 5 at her home in Pawnee Rock. She was born Sept. 5, 1930, at Willow Lake, S.D., the daughter of Dave H. and Ruth Blogg Peterson. She married
Wilbur 'Bill' Murray Oct. 14, 1976, at Garden City. He died May 13, 1998. A longtime resident of Pawnee Rock, she was a retired dietary aide at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center in Great Bend and a former employee with Fuller Brush of Great Bend. Mrs. Murray was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Ellinwood. Survivors include three sons, David Jackson and Terry Jackson, both of Pawnee Rock, and James Jackson of Great Bend; one daughter, Vickie Alsup of Pawnee Rock; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by five brothers and four sisters. Graveside memorial service will be at 3 p.m. Friday at Great Bend cemetery, with the Rev. Dwight Dozier officiating. Cremation has taken place and there will be no visitation. Memorials are suggested to Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center, in care of Morell Funeral Home of Larned.
Stephen S. Dlabal Sr.
1920-2004
WILSON - Stephen S. Dlabal Sr., 83, died Jan. 6 at Ellsworth County Medical Center. He was born Sept. 20, 1920, at Wilson, the son of John and Mary Wanasek Dlabal. He married
Ida Vlcek Jan. 13, 1942, at Ellsworth. A lifetime resident of the Wilson area, he was a farmer and stockman. Dlabal was a member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Wilson, charter member and past president of Smokey Hill Electric Co-op, Knights of Columbus and Nocturnal Adoration Society. Survivors include his wife of the home; two sons, Stephen S. Dlabal Jr. and James Dlabal, both of Wilson; one brother, Pete Dlabal of Ellsworth; one sister, Mary Kirk of Ellsworth; and eight grandchildren. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the church, with the Rev. Jerome Morgan officiating. Burial will be at St. Wenceslaus cemetery in Wilson. Friends may call from noon to 8 p.m. today at Foster Mortuary in Wilson. Memorials are suggested to Ellsworth County Medical Center, in care of the mortuary.
Michael Lee Pryor Jr.
2004-2004
Michael Lee Pryor Jr., infant, of Great Bend, died Jan. 2 at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. He was born Jan. 2 at Wichita, the son of Michael Lee and Marla Standiferd Pryor. Survivors include his parents of Great Bend; one sister, Hunter Leeann Pryor of the home; his grandparents, Jack and Rosemary Standiferd of Fredonia, Bob and Mary Pryor of Great Bend, and Harlan and Martha Welch of Harrisonville, Mo.; and great-grandparents, Leo and Marilyn Kaiser of Claflin, and Millie Young of Fredonia. Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Fredonia City cemetery, with the Rev. Stephen Baxter officiating. Timmons Funeral Home in Fredonia is in charge of arrangements.
Leslie A. Meier
1930-2004
Leslie A. Meier, 73, of Great Bend, died Jan. 5 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. He was born July 7, 1930, at Russell, the son of John George and Katherine Margaret Ehrlich Meier. He married
Gladys Moore Straub May 22, 1977, at Great Bend. A resident of Great Bend since 1976, coming from Russell, he worked for the county of Russell until 1976, and Barton County, retiring in 1986. Meier was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Great Bend. He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, having served from 1951 to 1953. Survivors include his wife of the home; two stepdaughters, Judy Olson of Great Bend and Janice Lisenby of Foreman, Ark.; two brothers, Harold Meier of Claflin and Paul Meier of Great Bend; three step-grandchildren; and two step-great-granddaughters. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Clarence Meier and Carl Meier; and one sister, Lorena Hoffman. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend, with the Rev. James A. Strasen officiating. Burial will be at St. John Lutheran cemetery in Russell. Friends may call from 5 to 9 p.m. today, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, and from 9 a.m. until service time Friday, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the church, in care of the funeral home.
Imogene Rasek
1912-2004
Imogene Rasek, 91, of Great Bend, died Jan. 4 at Pleasant View Nursing Home in Inman. She was born April 10, 1912, at Warrensburg, Mo., the daughter of Amos and Ada Brown Taylor. She married
Frank C. Rasek July 19, 1936, at LaJunta, Colo. He died Oct. 12, 1957. A resident of Great Bend, she was a teacher for USD 428, teaching fifth grade at Park and Morrison schools and retiring in 1977. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church, past president of Presbyterian Women, past deacon, a member of USD 428 Retired Teachers Association, American Association of University Women, Portia Club, Knife and Fork Club, and Community Concert Association. Survivors include one daughter, Linda Rasek of Hutchinson; one niece, Jackie Ohlson of Denver, Colo.; and one nephew, Larry Rasek, Greeley, Colo. She was preceded in death by one brother, Lawrence Chester Taylor. Funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the church with the Rev. Hal Staats officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend cemetery. Friends may call from 1 to 5 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, both at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend, and from 11:30 a.m. to service time Thursday at the church. Memorials are suggested to Alzheimer's Association, the church or Barton County Community College Scholarship Fund, all in care of the funeral home.
Raymond G. Dufford
1917-2004
LARNED - Raymond G. Dufford, 86, died Jan. 3 at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center. He was born March 15, 1917, at Pawnee Rock, the son of Elmer and Waty Dickey Dufford. A lifetime resident of Pawnee and Barton counties, he was a farmer. Survivors include two daughters. Cremation has taken place and no service is planned. Memorials are suggested to Raymond Dufford Memorial, in care of Beckwith Mortuary of Larned.
Elsie Vainer
1906-2004
MARION - Elsie Vainer, 97, died Jan. 3 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. She was born Jan. 15, 1906, at Herington. She married
Joseph Vainer. He died in 1960. A resident of the Tampa and Pilsen communities most of her life, she was a homemaker. She was a member of Holy Family Parish in Marion County. Survivors include one son, Jim Vainer of Great Bend; one daughter, Virginia Means of Napa, Calif.; three grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Rosary will be at 7:30 p.m. today at Zeiner Funeral Home in Pilsen. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. John Nepomucene Church, Holy Family Parish in Pilsen with the Rev. Paul Oborny officiating. Burial will be at Pilsen Church cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Center for Basic Cancer Research, Kansas State University, in care of the funeral home.
