Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Sister Charitas Steinke
1910 - 2004
Sister Charitas Steinke, 94, died Nov. 9 at the Dominican Sisters' convent infirmary in Great Bend. She was born Jan. 6, 1910, in Clinton, Okla., as Northelma Marie Steinke. The daughter of Anthony and Rosa Leis Steinke, she entered the Dominican Sisters' Community on June 13, 1924, and pronounced her first vows on Aug. 18, 1927. She celebrated 75 years of religious profession in 2002. Sister Charitas began her ministerial life as an elementary teacher in Kansas schools. For a year she also taught in the sisters' high school in Great Bend. She is most remembered as a medical record librarian, a work she began in 1940. After completing her studies for registered medical librarian she worked from 1950 to 1989 in St. Rose Hospital's and Central Kansas Medical Center's medical library. She also served CKMC as part-time medical staff coordinator before her retirement in 2000. Survivors include two brothers, Urban Steinke of Lakin and Sylvester Steinke of Wichita; and two sisters, Mildred Sexton of Kingman and Eileen Williams of Bryant, Ark. Sister Charitas's body will be brought to the hospitality area of the Dominican Chapel of the Plains, 3600 Broadway, Great Bend, at 8:30 a.m. today, where it will lie in state until the Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Friday, with the Rev. Gerald Hammeke officiating. A wake service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday. Burial will be at the Sisters' Resurrection cemetery. Both the wake and the funeral will be held at the convent. Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend is in charge of the arrangements. Friends may call at the convent today and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Friday morning until the time of service. Memorials may be sent to Dominican Sisters Ministry Fund, Office of Mission and Ministry, 3600 Broadway, Great Bend, KS 67530-3692. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
James Howard Schutte
1925-2004
James Howard Schutte, 79, of Great Bend, died Nov. 6 at Central Kansas Medical Center. He was born May 29, 1925, in Rush County, northeast of McCracken, the son of George and Lottie Belle Blake Schutte. He was a graduate of La Crosse High School and attended Kansas State University. He married
Patricia L. Honderick on Sept. 6, 1945, at LaCrosse. A resident of Great Bend since 1960, coming from La Crosse, he was a farmer and a welder. Schutte was a member of First United Methodist Church, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and was a 33rd Degree Mason. During World War II he served in the Merchant Marines. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, James E. Schutte of Excelsior Springs, Mo.; one daughter, Elizabeth Neil of Hays; six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one brother, Frederick Dudley Schutte. Cremation has taken place. A graveside memorial service will take place at 2 p.m. Friday at La Crosse cemetery, with the Rev. Gary Brooks officiating. There will be no visitation. Memorials are suggested to First United Methodist Church, 2123 Forest Avenue, Great Bend, KS 67530, and may be sent to the church. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Clarence S. Erbes
1913-2004
LA CROSSE - Clarence S. Erbes, 90, died Sunday, Nov. 7, at Hays Medical Center. He was born Nov. 13, 1913, in Rush Center. He was the son of John Erbes and Marie Elizabeth Lindt Erbes. In 1935, Clarence went to work as a mechanic at La Crosse Implement Company. He later completed a course at John Deere Tractor School in Moline, Ill., on Jan. 15, 1938, and again in 1941, when he went to work for U.S. Tractor and Implement Company at Larned. The Erbes family moved to Greeley, Colo., in 1942 after the John Deere store in Larned was closed. During World War II, Clarence worked at The United Air Lines Modification Center in Cheyenne, Wyo., remodeling commercial airliners into bombers. The family moved back to Kansas in 1944, to the Adolph Erni Farm Northeast of Bison. They lived there and farmed until November1982, when they moved to La Crosse. Mr. Erbes attended grade school in District 56 and 48, one year at Lone Star School and in District 62. He graduated from Bison High School, in Bison, in 1933. He earned a diploma from Sweeney Automotive and Electrical School, in Wichita, as a Certified Automotive Mechanic. Erbes was a member of the United Methodist Church in Bison. He married
Alice C. Bender on Feb. 16, 1936, in Hays. Survivors include his wife, Alice C. Erbes of La Crosse; one daughter, Karen Marie Collins of Tucson, Ariz.; two grandchildren, David J. Collins and Kelly J. Collins; and one great-grandson, Jax Sieghardt Collins. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Marie Elizabeth Lindt Erbes; and two sisters, Leah Erbes and Bertha Bailey. Funeral service will be Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2004, at 10:30 a.m. at the Janousek Funeral Home Chapel in La Crosse, with the Rev. Marilyn Christmore officiating. Burial will be at La Crosse City cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2004, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. with the family receiving friends from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Janousek Funeral Home in La Crosse. Memorials may be made to the United Methodist Church in Bison or the United Methodist Youthville in Newton. Funeral arrangements provided by Janousek Funeral Home 719 Pine La Crosse, KS 67548
Margaret E. Alexander
1918-2004
GENESEO - Margaret E. Alexander, 86, died Nov. 7 at Lyons District Hospital in Lyons. She was born Sept. 8, 1918, in Geneseo, the daughter of Bruce C. and Ruth H. Deardorf Gray. She was a 1937 graduate of Geneseo High School and attended Emporia State Teachers College. She married
Earl Alexander Sept. 21, 1941, in Wichita. A lifetime resident of Geneseo, she was a homemaker and former school teacher. Mrs. Alexander was a member of the United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, L.T.C., Eastern Star and American Legion Auxiliary, all of Geneseo. Survivors include her husband of the home; one son, Michael Alexander of Geneseo; two daughters, Susan Stockstill of Geneseo, and Barbara Selby of Wichita; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandsons. She was preceded in death by four brothers, Jack Gray, Bob Gray, Bruce Cody Gray Jr., and Jimmy Gray; one sister, Mary Elizabeth Gray; and one grandson, Darin Selby. Funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at the church, with the Rev. Lyndelle Linde officiating. Burial will be at Geneseo cemetery. Visitation will be from 2 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Sillin Funeral Home in Lyons. Memorials are suggested to the church or Rice County Emergency Medical Service in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Sillin Funeral Home 214 West Ave. South Lyons, KS 67554 620-278-2211
Mona Jean Miller
1953-2004
LARNED - Mona Jean Miller, 51, died Nov. 4 at the Swedish Memorial Hospital, in Englewood, Colo. She was born July 17, 1953, at St. John, the daughter of Ralph W. and Shirley J. Detrich Miller. A resident of the Denver, Colo., area since 1978, moving from Norton, she was a measurement analyst for the Duke Energy Company. Survivors include, Richard Wicker of Strasburg, Colo.; her mother, Shirley Miller of Radium; one brother, Monte Miller of Boonville, Mo.; two sisters, Monica Miller of Minden, Neb., and Marla Farber of Great Bend; three nephews; and three nieces. She was preceded in death by her father, Ralph W. Miller. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Beckwith Mortuary Chapel in Larned with the Rev. Wade Russell officiating. Burial will be in the Point View cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at the mortuary. Memorials may be sent to the Mona Miller Educational Fund in care of the mortuary. Funeral arrangements provided by Beckwith Mortuary Inc. P.O. Box 324 Larned, KS 67550
Violet Jean Powers
1934-2004
Violet Jean Powers, 70, of Great Bend, died Nov. 6 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. She was born June 18, 1934 in Essex, Iowa, the daughter of Frans and Ellen Seagreen Johnson. A resident of Great Bend since 1963, coming from Shenandoah, Iowa, she was a homemaker and had been a sales clerk for Brown Shoe Fit Company in Great Bend. She married
Bill F. Powers, March 2, 1956, in Essex, Iowa. Mrs. Powers was a member of St. Mark Lutheran Church and Sweet Adelines, both in Great Bend. Survivors include her husband, of the home; one son, Mark Powers, of Wichita; two daughters, Jean Porter of Wichita and Carol Sattarin of Kansas City; and three grandchildren. She was preceded in death by three brothers and four sisters. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the church with Rev. Phil Youngquist officiating. Burial will be in Great Bend cemetery. Friends may call from 1-9 p.m. today at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Memorials are suggested to St. Mark Lutheran Church Building Fund in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, Ks. 67530
Lenatta I. Deutsch
1915-2004
Hoisington - Lenatta I. Deutsch, 89, died Nov. 4 at Cheyenne Meadows Living Center in Hoisington. She was born Sept. 10, 1915, in Russell County, the daughter of William and Mollie Strecker Michaelis. A resident of Hoisington since 1955, coming from Susank, she was a homemaker. She married
Leo F. Deutsch, April 12, 1936, at Susank. He died March 13, 1996. Mrs. Deutsch was a member of Concordia Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday school for 22 years. Survivors include nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by four brothers, Walter Michaelis, Huldrich Michaelis, Oscar Michaelis and Delmar Michaelis; and one sister, Ophelia Keeten. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the church with Rev. Garry Dassow officiating. Entombment will be in Great Bend Mausoleum. Friends may call from 1-9 p.m. today at Nicholson Ricke Funeral Home and from 9:30 a.m. to service time at the church. Memorials are suggested to the church in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home 415 N. Main / P.O. Box 146 Hoisington, KS 67544
Bertha Mae Skelton
1918 - 2004
Larned '“ Bertha Mae Skelton, 86, died Nov. 3, 2004, at Central Kansas Medical Center, Great Bend. She was born March 25, 1918, in Pawnee County, the daughter of David and Margaretha Berg Kindsvater. A lifetime Pawnee County resident, she was a former cook at USD 495 school, Larned Country Club and Bert's CafĂ©, Rozel. Mrs. Skelton was a member of First Christian Church, Christian Women Fellowship, CIC Extension Unit, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, where she was Past President, Chaplain, and 7th district Chaplain, and was very active at the Welcome Inn, all of Larned. On Aug. 8, 1948, she married
Harold Max Skelton at Pawnee Rock, Kan. He died May 7, 1983. Survivors include: Daughter-in-law, Donna and husband Marvin Campbell, Larned; three grandsons, David Skelton, Cordova, Tenn., Jeff Winkler, Santa Fe, N.M., and Pat Winkler, Tucson, Ariz.; four granddaughters, Dawn Tracey Skelton, Michele Skelton, Lori Skelton, all of Larned, and Molly Schmitt, Bend, Ore.; an adopted granddaughter, Angie Kerns, Hays; and seven great-grandchildren, Max, Bethany, Brittany, Brock, David, Jacob, and Hailey. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel in Larned, with Pastor Dan Lundgren and the Rev. John Grummon presiding. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the mortuary. Burial will be in the Larned cemetery, Larned. She was preceded in death by two sons, Max and David; and a brother, David Kindsvater. Memorials may be sent to the Welcome Inn in care of Beckwith Mortuary in Larned. Condolences may be sent and this notice viewed at beckwithmortuary.com. Funeral arrangements provided by Beckwith Mortuary Inc. P.O. Box 477 Larned, KS 67550
Arthur W. 'Art' Witt
1917 - 2004
CLAFLIN - Arthur W. 'Art' Witt, 87, died Nov. 3, 2004, at Central Kansas Medical Center, in Great Bend. He was born June 13, 1917, in Bison, the son of William and Louise Hildebrand Witt. He married
Ruth Schlick on Aug. 1, 1941, in Lorraine. He then married
Wanda Nickels on Jan. 20, 1979, in Claflin. She survives. He had been a resident of Claflin for 25 years. He was a farmer and stockman, farming the homestead near Bison. He enjoyed welding and craft projects including the buffalo street signs for the city of Bison. Witt was a member of the United Methodist Church and Lions Club, both of Claflin. He was the past president of the Rush County Barbed Wire Association. Survivors include wife, Wanda Witt of the home; one son, Dr. Merle Witt and wife Polly of Garden City; one step-son, Jim Nickels and wife Barb of Hutchinson; two daughters, the Rev. Carrol Blevins of Las Cruces, N.M., and Shirley Markley and husband Gary of Euless, Texas; two step-daughters, Judy Ray and husband Bob of Hoisington, and Janelle Bennett and husband Craig of Sterling; one sister, Helen Zimmerman of Columbus, Neb.; 12 grandchildren; and six great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Ethel Tombaugh and Ruth Stude. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the United Methodist Church, in Claflin, with the Rev. Sarah deSalazar officiating. Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Lerado cemetery, in Lerado. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home and Saturday from 9 a.m. until service time at the United Methodist Church in Claflin. Memorials are suggested to the Claflin Ambulance Service or American Cancer Society or American Heart Association, in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home 415 N. Main / P.O. Box 146 Hoisington, KS 67544
