Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Marion Ray Phillips
1931-2004
Marion Ray Phillips, 73, died Thursday, Aug. 26, 2004, at Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa, Okla. Marion Ray and Maurice Roy, twins, were born April 11, 1931, to Ida Wilcutt and Mark Paul Phillips, Hoisington, Kan. Maurice was 30 minutes older than Marion. The twins were the youngest of six children, all named for family ancestors and all graduates of the Great Bend schools. He married
Peggy Ann Carter Babb on Sept. 15, 1961. She died in March 1970. Following Maurice's return from Korean military service, the twins started the first hay grinding operation in the Kansas area. A football injury prevented Marion from active military service. He was later responsible for a nine-state sales territory representing Comaro Carpet Company of Dalton, Ga., and had been a commercial sales representative for Swift Ice Cream Company of Tulsa, Okla. His hobbies were restoration of old-time cars and motorcycles, purveyor of classic cars, and flower gardening. Marion was a Mason and a Shriner, a life member of the Elks Club and member of Sons of the American Revolution and Descendants of Washington's Army at Valley Forge. There are three surviving Babb stepchildren. The eldest is Carolyn Babb Engle of Tulsa, Okla., and her children, Melanie Copeland of Kelleyville, Okla., and Leslie Phillips of Albuquerque, NM. Linda Babb Rainey of Broken Arrow, Okla., has two daughters, Stacy Goodson, Tulsa, Okla., and Michelle Abrams, Broken Arrow, Okla. The youngest, Michael Babb, Houston, Texas, has one daughter Stephanie Babb, Athens, Ga. Great-grandchildren are Derrick and Shelby Copeland, Ian Rainwater and Allysa Abrams. Marion is also survived by two sisters, Joyce Phillips Essmiller of Great Bend and Beverly Phillips Brummett of Elgin, Ill. He was preceded in death by his wife Peggy, parents Ida and Mark Phillips, and three brothers, Harold Wayne Phillips, Maurice Roy Phillips and Francis Burns Phillips. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 2, 2004, at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend, with The Reverend Gary Brooks officiating, followed by burial in Great Bend cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday and from 9 a.m. until service time Thursday at the funeral home. A memorial service was held earlier in Cleveland, Okla. Memorials are suggested to the Cleveland, Oklahoma Public Library in care of Bryant Funeral Home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1426 Patton Road
Frances M. Bisterfeldt
1934-2004
Frances M. Bisterfeldt, 69, died Aug. 30 at her home in Great Bend. She was born Nov. 17, 1934, in Rush County, the daughter of Frank Edward and Grace M. Hoffman Sohm. She married
William D. Bisterfeldt on June 11, 1960, at Great Bend. She attended Otis High School and lived most of her life in Great Bend. She worked for the Otis Telephone Company and Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in Great Bend. Mrs. Bisterfeldt was a member of King Memorial United Methodist Church in Great Bend, and Telephone Pioneer. Survivors include her husband of the home; two daughters, Brenda Clark, Houston, Texas, and Lisa Jacobs, Great Bend; one brother, Lowell Sohm, Otis; and three grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one son, Kent Bisterfeldt; and two brothers, Leon Sohm and Vernon Sohm. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Charter Funerals Chapel in Great Bend, with the Rev. Phil Smith officiating. Burial will be at La Crosse City cemetery in La Crosse. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m., at the funeral chapel. Memorials are suggested to Multiple Sclerosis Society in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Charter Funerals 2115 Washington Great Bend, KS 67530
Frank Ryan Vondra
1979-2004
Frank Ryan Vondra, 25, died Aug. 28 at his home in Great Bend. He was born Aug. 17, 1979, at Ellsworth, the son of Frank D. and Carolyn Campbell Johnson Vondra. A long-time Great Bend resident, he was a laborer. Vondra enjoyed playing guitar and playing pool. Survivors include his mother and step-father, Carolyn and Mike Johnson of Great Bend; father and step-mother, Frank D. and Jeri Vondra of Little River; brother Darrick Vondra, Great Bend; half-brother, Travis Campbell of Denver, Colo.; stepbrother, Joshua Scripsick of Larned; step-sister, Cindy Spreier of Larned; grandparents, Frank W. and Mary Jane Vondra of Geneseo, and Jack Campbell of Larned; step-grandfather, William Johnson, Ellinwood; and special friend Terra Dacarlis. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Rose Catholic Church in Great Bend with the Rev. Reggie Urban officiating. Following a luncheon, burial will be at Lakin-Comanche District cemetery in Ellinwood. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at Kimple Funeral Home in Ellinwood. There will be a candlelight memorial held by his extended family, friends and beloved at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the donor's choice in lieu of flowers. Funeral arrangements provided by Kimple Funeral Home 113 North Main Ellinwood, KS 67526
Edmond 'Jim' Engleman
1928-2004
Edmond 'Jim' Engleman, 76, of Great Bend, died Aug. 28 at Hutchinson Hospital in Hutchinson. He was born June 12, 1928, at Great Bend, the son of Everest Jesse and Alice Roberson Engleman. He married
Janet Collier Armstrong on Dec. 21, 1991, at Great Bend. A resident of Great Bend most of his life, living in Springerville, Ariz., for 10 years, he was a self-employed farmer and pipefittter from Brown & Root Construction. Engleman was a member of First United Methodist Church in Great Bend. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, Greg Engleman, Kansas City, Mo.; one daughter, Jennifer Anderson, Seattle, Wash.; two step-daughters, Kathie Keller, Great Bend, and LeeAnn Armstrong, Mission; four grandchildren; and one step-grandchild. He was preceded in death by one son, Stacy Jim Engleman, two brothers, George Engleman and Bill Engleman, and two sisters, Eleanor Cuba and Hazel McCoy. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend with the Rev. Gary Brooks officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the church or Multiple Sclerosis Society. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Audree Jean Langer
1925-2004
Audree Jean Langer passed away Saturday evening in St. James Healthcare in Butte, Mont. She was born in Butte July 6, 1925, to Raymond 'Shorty' and Ann Mellott Gerry. She attended St. Patrick's Grade School and three years at Butte High School before her family relocated to the Los Angeles area. She graduated from Los Angeles High School, and on May 11, 1946, she married
Holly S. Langer in Los Angeles. Audree served over 23 years as a volunteer with the Long Beach Community Hospital Auxiliary. She and Holly moved to Butte in 1993, and are members of Holy Spirit Parish. She is survived by her husband, Holly Langer of Butte; and sisters-in-law and brother-in-law Delores and Marvin Ford of Great Bend, Kan., and Melba Mark of Maryland Heights, Mo. Surviving nieces and nephews include: Holly Jean Weelborg of Maryland Heights, Mo., Jay Weelborg of San Diego, Calif., Shari Weelborg of San Francisco, Calif., Blake and Chauncy Ford of Hutchinson, Kan., Brenda and Joe Dreling of Hays, Kan., and Dana and Lynn Stasser of Mesa, Ariz. Surviving cousins include: William Gerry, Leroy Gerry, Leone Regan, Gerry Durkin, Deanne Zora, Carol Heard, Jennifer Bermingham, Ethel Kellogg, Dan, Doug, Lloyd and Paul Bermingham. She is preceded in death by her parents. Audree's remains are in Wayrynen-Richards Funeral Home where friends may call beginning Wednesday evening at 5 p.m. Prayers will be recited Thursday morning at 9:30 in the funeral home, proceeding to Holy Spirit Catholic Church where Liturgy of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Entombment will be in the Holy Cross Chapel Mausoleum. Memorials may be made to Our Lady of the Rockies or Holy Spirit Church. Funeral arrangements provided by Wayrynen-Richards Funeral Home 1800 Florence Avenue Butte, Mont. 59701
Bonnie Faye Wagenseller
1933-2004
ELLINWOOD - Bonnie Faye Wagenseller, 70, died Aug. 30 at Rice County Hospital in Lyons. She was born Sept. 7, 1933, at Wolfpoint, Mont., the daughter of Moses and Emma St. Germain Whitehorse. A resident of Stafford and Barton counties for the past 30 years, and of Ellinwood for the past six years, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Wagenseller was of the Catholic faith. Survivors include two sons, Mike Wagenseller of Wolfpoint, Mont. and Jimmie Wagenseller of Baker, Okla.; two daughters, Bonita Ward of Ellinwood and Susie Roberts of Ellinwood; one brother, Moses Whitehorse of Wolfpoint, Mont.; one sister, Lillian Beaudry of Libby, Mont.; a companion, Ned Keeler of Ellinwood; and 13 grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a son, Gary Wagenseller. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Ellinwood, with the Rev. John Maes officiating. Burial will be at Lakin-Comanche District cemetery in Ellinwood. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Kimple Funeral Home in Ellinwood. Funeral arrangements provided by Kimple Funeral Home 113 North Main Ellinwood, KS 67526
Katie C. Bauer
1912-2004
Katie C. Bauer, 92, 'The Hat Lady,' died Aug. 29 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. She was born Feb. 18, 1912, at Boothe, Ark., the daughter of Issac and Lucy Jones Gipson. A Great Bend resident formerly of Pawnee Rock, she was a hat maker and farm wife. She married
Roy Bauer Sr. on Sept. 8, 1928, at Larned. He died July 5, 1988. Mrs. Bauer was a member of the First Christian Church, Elks Lodge Auxiliary and Racquet Club, all of Great Bend, the Half Century Club in Pawnee Rock, and the Radium Senior Center in Radium. Survivors include two sons, Roy Bauer Jr. and wife Georgia, Pawnee Rock, and Kent Bauer and wife Karen, Wichita; eight grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a brother, Benjamin; and four sisters, Minnie, Dewey, Joanna and Patsy. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the First Christian Church in Great Bend with the Rev. Bill Johnson officiating. Those attending the service are requested to wear a hat in memorial to Katie. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at the Beckwith Mortuary Chapel in Larned. Burial will be in the Pawnee Rock cemetery in Pawnee Rock. Memorials may be sent to the Great Bend First Christian Church, or the Radium Senior Center, all in care of the mortuary. This notice may be viewed and condolences sent on the Internet at beckwithmortuary.com. Funeral arrangements provided by Beckwith Mortuary Inc. P.O. Box 477 Larned, KS 67550
Clay Cork Ward
1951-2004
TOPEKA - Clay Cork 'Corky' Ward, 53, Topeka, formerly of Great Bend, died Aug. 23 at St. Francis Hospital in Topeka. He was born Nov. 6, 1951, in Great Bend, the son of Wendell Clay and Shirley Ann Ward. He attended Great Bend public schools, Barton County Community College and Platt College. An Auto-CAD operator and welder, Ward was most recently employed by PTMW Inc., Topeka. Ward was a member of the nationally ranked Argonne Rebels Drum and Bugle Corps. Survivors include his mother of Great Bend; one son, Jason Ward; one daughter, Tiffany Ward; three brothers, Thad Ward of WaKeeney, Scott Ward of Chicago, Ill., and Timber Ward of Lincoln, Neb.; one sister, Tracy Ann Swann, Saltville, Va.; and his fiancee, Denise Howell of Topeka. He was preceded in death by a brother, Shane Tucker Ward. Cremation has taken place. A private family inurnment will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to American Liver Foundation, Hampton Village Plaza, Suite 215, St. Louis, Mo., 63109.
Connie Gayle Carrier
1948-2004
ALBERT - Connie Gayle Carrier, 56, died Aug. 27, 2004, at rural Great Bend. She was born Jan. 3, 1948, the daughter of Junior and Lois Baxter Cate at Eldorado Springs, Mo. She married
David Roy Carrier Oct. 3, 1968, at Great Bend. A homemaker/caregiver and a secretary for Dave's Truck Service, she was a lifetime area resident. Carrier was a member of Raymond Baptist Church, Raymond, St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church and Altar Society, Great Bend. Survivors include her husband of the home; her mother Lois Cate-Clark of Ellinwood; one son, Jason Carrier of Hoisington, one daughter, LeAnna Carrier-Wassinger of Schoenchen; one brother, Michael Cate of Wichita; three sisters, Judy Hitchcock, Colorado Springs, Colo., Cindy Huff, Larned, and Christi Tiede of Hays; and two grandsons. She was receded in death by her father. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 31, at Raymond Baptist Church with the Rev. Bob Bethel officiating. Burial will be at Hilltop cemetery, Raymond. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday and the family to receive friends from 7-8:30 p.m. Monday, all at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to the Connie Carrier Grandchildren's Educational Fund. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, Kan., 67530
Geneva Ilene Rankin
1946-2004
RUSSELL - Geneva Ilene Rankin, 58, died Aug. 27, 2004, at Russell Regional Hospital. She was born Aug. 14, 1946, at Larned, the daughter of Calvin and Eunice Pool Jennings. She grew up in Larned and attended schools there. After received her education she worked at Larned restaurants as a waitress for a few years. She married
Melvin E. Rankin in 1964. They later divorced. She then married
John Drake. She was a waitress in Great Bend before moving to Russell in 1973. She is preceded in death by her parents; an infant son, Lonnie E. Rankin; and one sister, Lillian Goatcher. Survivors include her husband John Drake of the home; one son, Kevin W. Rankin of Solomon; one daughter, Kellie J. Rankin of Russell; one brother, Bud Jennings of Dallas, Texas; three sisters, Lucille A. Brown of Larned, Norma L. Horacek of Downs and Helen P. Rankin of Great Bend; and five grandchildren. Funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Pohlman-Heise Memorial Chapel in Russell with the Rev. Henry J. Hartman officiating. Burial will be at Larned City cemetery in Larned. Friends may call from 3-8 p.m. today and the family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. today, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Renal Dialysis Center of Hays or the American Cancer Society in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Pohlman-Heise Mortuary 610 North Maple Street Russell, Kan., 67665
Brenda L. Newman Kincaid
1965 - 2004
OTIS - Brenda L. Newman Kincaid, 39, died Aug. 24 at her home in Otis. She was born March 29, 1965, at Fairfield, Ill., the daughter of Ronnie R. and Sharon L. Brooks Newman. She graduated from Ulysses High School. A resident of Otis since 2001, coming from Lake Preston, S.D., she was a certified nurses' aide in the health care industry. Survivors include her parents of Otis; one son, Dalton C. Kincaid of Otis; one daughter, Nichole L. Houston of Larned; one brother, Ronnie R. Newman Jr. of Phoenix, Ariz.; one sister, Kimberly D. Newman of Marshalltown, Iowa; grandmother, Lois Brooks of Fairfield; and one grandson. She was preceded in death by one grandson, Austin R. Janssen. Funeral service was Wednesday at Janousek Funeral Home Chapel in La Crosse, with the Rev. Al Hatten officiating. Burial will be at Brooks & Newman cemetery in Fairfield. Memorials are suggested to Hays Humane Society at Hays, in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Janousek Funeral Home 719 Pine La Crosse, KS 67548
