Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Virgil A. Unruh
1910 - 2004
LARNED - Virgil A. Unruh, 94, died Nov. 13, 2004, at the Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas, Texas. He was born Oct. 7, 1910, at Great Bend, the son of Benjamin C. and Susie Unruh. During his career in Kansas, he had been with the County Farm Extension Office, a farmer and dairyman, and Pawnee County Agent for the Kansas Farm Bureau. He married
Ruth H. Polson, on Nov. 7, 1941. She died July 13, 1959. He then married
Beda Davis in 1963. She survives. He was a member of the Elks, Masonic Lodge, and New Jerusalem Church in Pawnee Rock, and had attended the Methodist Church in Sun City, Ariz., and Dallas, Texas. He was also a member of the Sun City Travel Club. Survivors include a son, Arvid, and wife Marilynn of Bakersfield, Calif.; a grandson, Jeff of Bakersfield, Calif.; three granddaughters, Michelle, and Tiffany of Newport Beach, Calif. and Nicole of Exeter, Calif. He was preceded in death by a brother, Galen; and a sister, Geneva. Cremation has been arranged. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the New Jerusalem Church in Pawnee Rock, with Vivian Bright presiding. Private inurnment will follow on Friday at the Pawnee Rock cemetery. Beckwith Mortuary Inc., in Larned is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be sent to the New Jerusalem Church in care of the mortuary. This notice may be seen and condolences left at www.beckwithmortuary.com. Funeral arrangements provided by Beckwith Mortuary, Inc. P.O. Box 477 Larned, KS 67530
Donald L. Westerman
1947 - 2004
TOPEKA - Donald L. Westerman, 57, died Nov. 15 at Stormont-Vail Hospital in Topeka. He was born Oct. 9, 1947, at Humboldt, Neb., the son of Paul and Eva Tibbetts Westerman. He lived at Pawnee City, Neb., before moving with his family to Topeka. He graduated from Topeka High in 1965. He went to Washburn and Barton County Community College in Great Bend. He received a degree in nursing in 1982. He married
Katharine Piper on Aug. 8, 1977, in Topeka. He worked at Stormont-Vail, St. Francis and at the Kansas Neurological Institute. in Topeka. He had worked at K.N.I. from 1986 until the time of his death. Westerman attended Oakland United Methodist Church in Topeka. He was also a member of the Christian Motorcycle Association. After graduation he joined the U.S. Navy. He served two tours in Vietnam and later taught electronics at Great Lakes Navy Base near Chicago. He served in the Navy for 10 years. Survivors include his former wife, of Great Bend; two sons, Peter Westerman and Tom Westerman, both of Great Bend; one daughter, Bridget; two brothers, Paul D. Westerman of Brighton, Ill., and Lindsey A. Westerman of Topeka; and one sister, Paula M. Westerman of Topeka. Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, at Oakland United Methodist Church, 801 North East Chester, in Topeka. Burial will be in Prairie Home cemetery following the service. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and the family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday at Davidson Funeral Home in Topeka. Memorials are suggested to the church or to the Donald Westerman Children Education Fund in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Davidson Funeral Home 1035 North Kansas Topeka, KS 66608
Beverly Mae Dougherty
AURORA, Colo. - Beverly Mae Dougherty of Aurora Colorado, formerly of Great Bend and Ellsworth, Kan., died Nov. 10, 2004. She is survived by her five children, Michael Dougherty of Littleton, Colo.; Randy Dougherty and wife Debbie Dougherty of Longwood, Fla.; Kevin Dougherty of New Millport, Penn.; Daniel Dougherty and wife Debbie Dougherty of Aurora, Colo.; and Gaye Becker and her husband Bob of Greeley, Colo. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren: Charity Gayle of Lakewood, Wash.; Audrey Dougherty, Jamie Dougherty, Bryan Dougherty, and Melissa Dougherty, all of Englewood, Colo.; Crystal Dougherty of Quepos, Costa Rica; Stacey Dougherty of Aurora, Colo.; Adam Dougherty of Evans, Colo.; David and Dillon Dougherty of Aurora, Colo.; Jennie Becker of Louisville, Colo.; Sarah and Lexi Becker of Greeley, Colo. She is also survived by seven great-grandchildren: Cassidy Anderson, Logan Becker, Brittany Dougherty, Vanessa Dougherty, Elizabeth Dougherty, Taylor Dougherty, and Kaylee Dougherty. She is also survived by three brothers, Lee Choitz of California, Richard Choitz of Kansas, and Ernie Choitz of Texas. Funeral arrangements were provided by Rundus Funeral Home in Broomfield, Colo.
Evelyn Florence Rice
1921 - 2004
Evelyn Florence Rice, 83, of Great Bend, died Nov. 12 at Fairacres Manor in Greeley, Colo. She was born Sept. 9, 1921, in Concordia, Mo., the daughter of Fred J. and Lena Lohman Bruns. She married
Robert Lee Rice on July 20, 1946, at Great Bend. He died Jan. 7, 2004. She was a resident of Great Bend since 1938. She was a sales clerk for Montgomery Ward. Mrs. Rice was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Great Bend and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary. Survivors include two daughters, Linda Lee Voss of Williams Bay, Wisc., and Kay Thompson of Eaton, Colo.; one sister, Lavera Odegarde of Great Bend; and four grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one brother, Verlin Bruns. Funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at the church, with the Rev. James A. Strasen officiating. Burial will be at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Great Bend. Visitation will be Thursday, noon to 9 p.m., and Friday, 9 a.m. to noon. Memorials are suggested to Alzheimer's Association or Trinity Lutheran Church in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Ruth Deckert
1913 - 2004
INMAN - Ruth Deckert, 91, died Nov. 15 at Pleasant View Home, in Inman. She was born Apr. 20, 1913, in McPherson County, the daughter of Henry J. and Catherine Schroeder Klassen. She attended elementary school in Inolo, Okla. and high school in Goessel. She went to Bethel College where she received her teaching certificate. She taught elementary school in McPherson County for four years. She married
Harvey Deckert on Aug. 3, 1941, at Halstead. She was a homemaker and also ran her own massage business. Both Ruth and Harvey owned and managed apartments in Newton. Mrs. Deckert was a member of First Mennonite Church, in Newton; Heart and Home Club; Gideons International; and the Good News Club. Survivors include her husband of the home; two sons, Dwight Deckert and Donald Deckert, both of Wichita; one daughter, Donna Ruth Holiday of Wheaton, Md.; two sisters, Martha Epp of Inman, and Anna Klassen of Newton; and six grandchildren. She was preceded in death by three brothers, John Klassen, Arthur Klassen, and Menno Klassen; and two sisters, Linda Androes, and Olga Androes. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the church with the Rev. Clarence Rempel officiating. Burial will be at Greenwood cemetery in Newton. Visitation will be at Peterson Funeral Home on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Memorials are suggested to the church, Gideons International or Pleasant View Home, in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Petersen Funeral Home 215 N. Main Newton, KS 67114
Christopher Harmon 'Red' Meadows
1913-2004
ELLINWOOD - Christopher Harmon 'Red' Meadows, 91, died Nov. 16 at Ellinwood District Hospital. He was born April 30, 1913, in Hamilton, the son of Robert and Cora Kester Meadows. He married
Clara Louise Sanders at Eureka on May 5, 1937. He had been a resident of Ellinwood since 1945, coming from Neal and Hamilton, Kan. He was a truck driver for Lewis Drilling and Branson Truck Service and Cowboy's Oilfield Service. Survivors include his wife, Louise Meadows of the home; three daughters, Carol Smith, and Sally Bayer, both of Ellinwood, and Imogene Werner of Chicago, Ill.; two brothers, Albert Meadows of Climax, and Irvin Meadows of Camarillo, Calif.; one sister, Inez Aaroe of Phoenix, Ariz.; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Friday, at Kimple Funeral Chapel in Ellinwood, with the Rev. Larry Young officiating. Burial will be at Lakin-Comanche District cemetery in Ellinwood. Friends may call from 1 to 8 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. to service time Friday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Ellinwood Area Health Care Foundation or Parkinsons and Diabetes Research, in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Kimple Inc. Funeral Home 113 North Main Ellinwood, KS 67526
Francis X. Zink
1922 - 2004
Francis X. Zink, 82, died Nov. 16, 2004, at his residence in Great Bend. He was born Mar. 24, 1922, in Phillips County, the son of Edward and LaVergne Watkins Zink. He married
Marie Claycamp Kroeger on Nov. 1, 1969, at WaKeeney. She survives. A resident of Great Bend since 1953, coming from Plainville, he was a consultant and owner of Zink Drilling Company. Zink was a member of the Elks Lodge and the American Legion, both of Great Bend. Survivors include his wife, Marie of the home; one daughter-in-law, Barbara Kroeger of Wichita; one brother, Edward John Zink of Phillipsburg; one sister, Kathleen Harlowe of Salina; one grandson, Paul Kroeger of Wichita; and one great-grandson, Luke Kroeger. He was preceded in death by a son, Ron Zink. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend, with the Rev. Deanna Fluck officiating. Burial will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at WaKeeney City cemetery, in WaKeeney. Visitation will be Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The family will receive friends from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., all at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to South Wind Hospice or American Legion. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Orrin W. Miller
1925 - 2004
WILSON - Orrin W. Miller, 79, died Nov. 15, 2004, at the Ellsworth County Medical Center, in Ellsworth. He was born June 22, 1925, in Russell, the son of Henry and Dorothea Bisterfeld Miller. He married
his first wife, Erma Dewald in 1955. He then married
Carolyn Herbel in 1975. He was a lifetime resident of the Wilson area. He was a salesman. Miller was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wilson. Survivors include his wife, Carolyn Miller of Wilson; one son, Adrian Miller of Wilson; one step-son, Don Herbel of Salina; one daughter, Suzanne McGuire of Scottsdale, Ariz.; three step-daughters, Pam Kasper of Manhattan, Cathy Smith of Wilson, and Joni Moran of Claflin; one brother, Edwin Miller of Wilson; four sisters, Velma Borell and Arline Stoppel, both of Wilson, and Helen Buckley and Margaret Miller, both of Dodge City; and 11 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Erma; one daughter, Kyra Gayle; two brothers, Henry Miller and Levi Miller; and one granddaughter, Cassey Porter. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the church, with the Rev. James Strassen officiating. Burial will be at the Wilson City cemetery, in Wilson. Visitation will be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at Foster Mortuary in Wilson, and 9 a.m. to service time on Thursday at the church. Memorials are suggested to Immanuel Lutheran Church. Funeral arrangements provided by Foster Mortuary, Inc. 610 24th Street Wilson, KS 67490
Keri Taylair Zimmerman
SALINA - Keri Taylair Zimmerman, the infant daughter of Richard Zimmerman and Jennifer Holtz Lien of Salina, was born on Tuesday, Nov. 9 and died on Wednesday, Nov. 10, at the Via Christi-St. Joseph Hospital in Wichita. Zimmerman is survived by her parents; a brother Kasey Lien of the home; paternal grandparents, Gary and Rhonda Gabel and Rick and Glenda Zimmerman, all of Great Bend; and maternal grandparents, Jerry and Lois Holtz of Salina. Private services were held at the Carlson-Ford-Geisendorf Funeral Home in Salina. Burial was at the Gypsum Hill cemetery in Salina. Funeral arrangements provided by Carlson-Ford-Geisendorf Funeral Home 500 S. Ohio Salina, KS 67401
Donald Reeves
1924 - 2004
Donald Reeves, 79, of Great Bend, died Nov. 15 at Central Kansas Medical Center. He was born Nov. 25, 1924, at Wilmont. He married
his first wife in 1942; they divorced and she died in 1996. He married
his second wife, Edythe Teater, on April 19, 1962, in La Crosse. She preceded in death Feb. 21, 1998. He married
Agatha Cuzick on March 10, 2001, at Great Bend. A resident of Great Bend, coming from California, he was a salesman in auto parts for Automotive Parts and Marmie Motors. Reeves was a member of the St. John's Episcopal Church, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3111 and Great Bowling Leagues. He was a World War II Marine veteran with rank of Second Lieutenant. Survivors include his wife, of the home; one son, Gary Reeves of California; three step-sons, Bill Teater of Oklahoma City, Okla., Tom Teater of Fort Lupton, Colo., and Geary Cuzick of Missouri; three daughters, Karen King of Jetmore, Cindi Baird of California, and Patti Griffith of California; three step-daughters, Dotti Schuckman of La Crosse, Joyce Lewis of Great Bend and Nancy Perreira of California; 30 grandchildren; and 37 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Donna Bee; one brother; two sisters; and two granddaughters, Dawn Bee and Shannon Reeves. Services will be announced at a later date. Memorials are suggested to Central Rush County Emergency Medical Service, in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Ulanda Ethelyn Dorfshaffer Pugh
1914 - 2004
Ulanda Ethelyn Dorfshaffer, 90, of Great Bend, died Nov. 15 at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center. She was born June 6, 1914, in Galatia, the daughter of Joseph Leonard and Chesley Ethel Parker Brown. She married
Samuel W. Dorfshaffer on Oct. 8, 1933, at Lyons. He died June 9, 1973. She married
Roy M. Pugh on April 16, 1978, at Great Bend. He died June 24, 1986. A lifetime resident of Barton County, she was the co-owner and operator of Sammy's Market from 1936 to 1944. She also owned and operated Ulanda's Dining Room from 1954 to 1959. She also sold Avon for 10 years. Mrs. Pugh was a member of First Christian Church where she taught Sunday School for many years, where she was a choir member, deacon, elder, financial secretary, and served on other committees for the church. She was co-founder and active member of the late Golden Plains Chapter of Sweet Adelines and belonged to the Fort Zarah Unit since 1934. She was also past member of Golden Sheaf Order of the Eastern Star. Survivors include one son, Samuel J. Dorfshaffer of Grosslittgen, Germany; three daughters, Gloria Clothier, Kay Maneth both of Great Bend, and Beverly Shewbart of Nickerson; one brother, Douglas Brown of Leslie, Ark.; three sisters, Rachel Johnson of Upland, Calif., Louise Gunn of Great Bend, and Lois Childers of Kingman, Ind.; 10 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one brother, J. Leon Brown; and one sister, Ava Cole. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the church in Great bend, with the Rev. William F. Johnson officiating. Burial will be at the Great Bend cemetery. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. Wednesday., 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, and 9 a.m. to service time Friday, all at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Memorials are suggested to First Christian Church Building Fund, or American Heart Association, in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
