Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
John Wesley Kraus 1921-2003
HAYS - John Wesley Kraus, 82, died Dec. 26 at his home in Hays. He was born Feb. 26, 1921, in Hays, to Carl W. and Sadie (Wilson) Kraus. He married
Esther Fredericka Hueftle June 8, 1947, at Oakley. He was a farmer and stockman. He received the Century Old Farm Award from Farm Bureau. He was a graduate of Hays High School in 1939 and from Kansas State University with a bachelor of science degree in agriculture in 1946. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, he taught agriculture classes at Ellis High School and to war veterans as part of the On-the-Farm Training Program. Kraus was a member and served on the board of trustees of the First United Methodist Church, and was also a member of Methodist Men, Hays American Legion, Youth Friends at Washington Elementary School, Soil Conservation Service, Ellis County Historical Society, board member of Hays Cooperative (Midland Marketing), Tau Kappa Epsilon, Knife and Fork, 4-H Council, County Extension Council. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, Dana A. Kraus, rural Hays; two daughters, Rebecca G. Meis, Overland Park, and Rachel D. Johnson, Dodge City; three brothers, Kenneth Kraus and Harold Kraus, both of Hays, and Warren Kraus of Ellis; one sister, Dorothy Bemis, Hays; and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one son, John Carl Kraus, and one brother, Eldon Kraus. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the church with the Rev. William C. Miller officiating. Burial with military honors by the Hays American Legion will be in the Mt. Allen cemetery in Hays. Friends may call from 4 to 6 p.m. today at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, and from 9:30 a.m. until service time at the church on Monday. Memorials are suggested to the Washington Elementary School or the First United Methodist Church Organ Fund, both in care of the funeral home.
Dorothy Hagen 1915 - 2003
ELLINWOOD - Dorothy Louise Hagen, 88, died Dec. 26 at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Okla. She was born June 27, 1915, at Great Bend, the daughter of Harry and Ann Hodley Flory. A lifetime Barton County resident, she had moved to Sapulpa, Okla., four years ago to be close to her children. She was a farm wife, marrying Fred Hagen on Aug. 11, 1935, at Great Bend. He died Oct. 4, 1989. Mrs. Hagen was a member of Immanuel United Church of Christ, Sunshine Club and Thread Benders Quilting Club, all of Great Bend; Ellinwood Sewing Club, Comanche Unit and the Eastern Star. She also spent over 30 years as a 4-H leader. Survivors include one son, Richard Hagen, Sapulpa, Okla.; two daughters, Virginia Gaughan of Durango, Colo., and Evelyn Walford, Owasso, Okla.; eight granchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the church 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. Monday at Kimple Funeral Home in Ellinwood. Memorials are suggested to the church or donor's choice in care of the funeral home.
Shirley B. Gardner 1915-2003
WICHITA - Shirley B. Gardner, 88, died Dec. 24. She married
Glenn Gardner. He preceded her in death. Gardner was a member of West Side Baptist Church and the Eastern Star. She was a homemaker. Survivors include four daughters, Bobbi Coke of Belle Plain, Lee Gardner of Wichita, Darla Bauman of Lynwood, Wash. and Joan League of Great Bend; two brothers, Carrol Wampler of Rogers, Ark. and Fred Gardner of Harrison, Ark; one sister, Jeri Nold of Rogers, Ark.; 32 grandchildren; 60 great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one son, Johnnie Gardner, and one grandson, Roger Gardner. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Lakeview Funeral Home in Wichita. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. today. Memorials are suggested to Prairie Homestead Health Center in care of the funeral home.
Virginia M. Ragsdale 1920-2003
CLAFLIN - Virginia M. Ragsdale, 83, died Dec. 23 at Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington. She was born Nov. 26, 1920, at Bloomington, Neb., the daughter of Glen Hillman and Mae Lockwood. She married
Thomas H. Ragsdale May 6, 1939, at Franklin, Neb. He died Dec. 24, 1983. A resident of Claflin for 28 years, coming from Phillipburg, she was a homemaker. Survivors include two sons, Kenneth Ragsdale of Groover, Colo., and Scott Ragsdale of Las Vegas, Nev.; one daughter, Myrna Herrod of Wynnewood, Okla.; one brother, Alfred Richardson of Hoisington; four sisters, Norma Davis of Fairmont, Neb., Maxine Metzger of Orleans, Neb., Dorothy Boeck of Hoisington and Ilda Orndorf of Prescott, Ariz.; 14 grandchildren; and 27 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two daughters, Aletha M. Farmer and Marjorie Ragsdale; one brother, Sonny Richardson; one sister, Viva Moosman; and one grandson, Chris Ragsdale. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington, with the Rev. Wayne Flanders officiating. Burial will be at Hoisington cemetery. Friends may call from 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday and from 9 a.m. until service time Monday, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Claflin Ambulance Fund in care of the funeral home.
Freda Marie Hudson 1913-2003
SYLVIA - Freda Marie Hudson, 90, died Dec. 23 at Salina Regional Health Care. She was born Nov. 30, 1913, at LeRoy, the daughter of Claude and Eva Benson Bachus. She was a graduate of Sterling College. She married
Bill Hudson June 4, 1949, at Wichita. A longtime resident of Sylvia, she was a teacher at Raymond, principal and coach at Zenith for seven years, and taught third-grade at Sylvia for 13 years before retiring in 1975. Mrs. Hudson was a member of First United Methodist Church of Sylvia, past youth fellowship leader, past 4-H Club leader and was active in Extension Homemakers Unit. Survivors include her husband of the home; two daughters, EvaJo Hudson and LeeAnn Ade, both of Salina; two brothers, Floyd Bachus of Phoenix, Ariz., and Toss Bachus of Abbyville; two sisters, Lela Bachus of Arlington, Va., and Emma Pearl McBride of Salina; and three grandsons. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Minnis Chapel in Stafford, with the Rev. Harry Graves officiating. Burial will be at Sylvia cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the church, in care of the chapel.
Sister Mary Beatrice Hartman OP 1913-2003
Sister Mary Beatrice Hartman, 90, died Dec. 22 in the Dominican Sisters' convent infirmary, Great Bend. born March 17, 1913, in Manchester, Okla., as Agnes Hartman, Sister Beatrice was the daughter of the late Emil and Eva Bull Hartman. She entered the Dominican Sisters' Community May 28, 1927, and pronounced her first vows Aug. 13, 1930. She celebrated 70 years of religious profession in 2000. Sister Beatrice began her ministry as a teacher in 1931 in Sharon. She taught grades first through eighth, as well as music, for 40 years in various schools in Kansas and in Lamar, Colo. From 1971 to 1986, she served in various duties at the motherhouse - assistant coordinator, liturgy coordinator, sacristan, local transportation coordinator, local finances, librarian, gardener, organist and council member. Sister Beatrice's ministry included pastoral care at St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City, at Central Kansas Medical Center St. Rose Campus in Great Bend, at Hoisington and at the motherhouse infirmary. She retired in 2001. Sister Beatrice is survived by two sisters, Marie Staley of Dodge City and Sister Irene Hartman OP of Larned. She was preceded in death by nine brothers, Lawrence Hartman, Charles Hartman, Eugene Hartman, Francis Hartman, Paul Hartman, Emil Hartman Jr., Clyde Hartman, a still-born child and Gerald Hartman; and four sisters, Cecilia Hartman, Myrtle Dombrowsky, Rose Hartman and Sister Mary Alicia Hartman SCJ. Sister Beatrice's body was brought to the hospitality area of the Dominican Chapel of the Plains, 3600 Broadway, on Tuesday. Liturgy of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. today at the chapel, with the Rev. Gerald Hammeke officiating. Burial will be at the Sisters' Resurrection cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. until service time today. Memorials are suggested to: Dominican Sisters Ministry Fund, Office of Mission and Ministry, 3600 Broadway, Great Bend, KS 67530-3692. Bryant Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Wanda Arlyne Hall Johnson 1927-2003
LARNED - Wanda Arlyne Hall Johnson, 76, died Dec. 22 at St. Joseph Memorial Hospital in Larned. She was born Dec. 5, 1927, in Garfield, the daughter of Clarence Warner and Erma Mae Wolfe Hall. She married
Ralph F. Johnson Nov. 2, 1947, in Larned. A lifetime resident of Larned, she was a dietitian for Larned State Hospital and an operator and secretary for Southwestern Bell. Mrs. Johnson was a member of United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women, both of Larned. Survivors include her husband of Larned; three sons, Thomas Johnson, Brian Johnson and Roger Johnson; two daughters, Marlyn Adree Perez and Becky Kwiatkowski-Gabel; one sister, Betty Nan Williams; 13 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one son, Gary Marc Johnson; one brother, Eugene Hall; and one sister, Virginia Goldsberry. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Beckwith Mortuary in Larned, with the Revs. Charles Grant and Ken Walker officiating. Burial will be at Larned cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to service time Friday. Memorials are suggested to St. Joseph Long Term Care, in care of the mortuary.
Marian Elizabeth Wright 1914-2003
LARNED - Marian Elizabeth Wright, 89, died Dec. 21 at Redmond, Ore. She was born March 13, 1914, at Sanford, the daughter of William Morgan and Mabel Ann McConnell Williams. She married
Clyde H. Wright Feb. 5, 1933, at Larned. He died April 4, 1988. A resident of Redmond since 1990, coming from Pawnee County, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Wright was a member of First Christian Church of Larned and attended the Senior Center in Redmond. Survivors include two sons, Keith Wright of Denver, Colo., and Clyde Wright Jr. of Larned; one daughter, Dixie Wagaman of Redmond; one sister, Mable Ann Robbins of Larned; eight grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one son, Donald Wright; one daughter, Edith Traylor; and one brother, Bill Williams. Graveside service will be at 3 p.m. Friday at Larned cemetery, with the Rev. Dan Lundgren officiating. Family will receive friends from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Friday at Morell Funeral Home in Larned. Memorials are suggested to the church, in care of the funeral home.
Maureen Marie Outcalt 1943-2003
LARNED - Maureen Marie Outcalt, 59, died Dec. 23 at Larned. She was born Dec. 30, 1943, at Great Bend, the daughter of Maurice A. and Pauline E. Yeager Wildgen. She married
Roy Dale Outcalt June 10, 1975, at Rochester, Minn. He died Dec. 20, 1997. A resident of Rochester, she worked in food service at IBM in Rochester. Mrs. Outcalt was a member of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, Rochester Eagle Auxiliary and past president of Rochester Circle Center, all of Rochester. Survivors include her mother of Larned; and two sisters, Susanne Haymaker of Larned and Paula Beth Brown of Ellicott City, Md. Vigil will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at Morell Funeral Home in Larned. Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Larned, with the Rev. Dennis Reed officiating. Burial will be at Larned cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, in care of the funeral home.
John William Esfeld 1940-2003
ALMA - John William Esfeld, 63, died Dec. 21 at Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center in Topeka. He was born Nov. 21, 1940, in Great Bend, the son of William and Frances Dale Esfeld. He was a 1958 graduate of Great Bend High School. He married
Margaret Eagleson June 4, 1988, in Alma. A longtime resident of Alma, he was a driver for KCI Roadrunner and sold real estate for several years. Esfeld was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church, Topeka Kennel Club, Great Dane Association of Greater Kansas City and Knights of Columbus. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, Kurt Esfeld of Kansas City, Mo.; three daughters, Trina DeVader, Annette Fiedler and Teresa Herrington, all of St. Marys; one stepson, Steve Sockrider of Topeka; one brother, Charles Esfeld of Great Bend; two sisters, Maryanne Standinger of Bartlesville, Okla., and June Meier of Great Bend; eight grandchildren; and one step grandchild. Rosary will be at 7 p.m. Friday at RJ Evans-Gentry Funeral Home in Alma. Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church, with the Rev. John Pilcher officiating. Burial will be at Holy Family Catholic cemetery. Friends may call beginning at 1 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the church, in care of the funeral home.
Floyd Griffin 1912-2003
WICHITA - Floyd Griffin, 91, died Dec. 23. He was born Aug. 19, 1912, in Williamsburg, the son of William Peter and Edith Florence Griffin. He married
Dema Delaney Oct. 15, 1935, in Independence. A resident of Wichita, he was a retired welder. Survivors include his wife of the home; four daughters, Anita Marlene Kuntz of Wichita, Mary L. Reser of Topeka, Carol Diane Harding of Claflin and Barbara Lynn Griffin of Dallas, Texas; seven grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers and two sisters. Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Hillside cemetery in Sedgwick. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Culbertson-Smith Mortuary in Wichita. Memorials are suggested to Kansas Humane Society, in care of the mortuary.
Lillian Katherine Johnson 1907-2003
Lillian Katherine Johnson, 96, of Great Bend, died Dec. 21 at Great Bend Health & Rehabilitation. She was born April 13, 1907, at rural Chanute, the daughter of Peter and Carrie Mabel Hansen. She was a graduate of Chanute High School and attended Central Business College of Kansas City, Mo. She married
Andrew E. Johnson October 1938 at Chanute. He died April 3, 1971. A resident of Great Bend since 1988, coming from Pittsburg, she had worked as a secretary and bookkeeper for Sunshine Mantle Company and Martin Tractor Company, both of Chanute, and Colgan High School in Pittsburg, retiring in 1985. Mrs. Johnson was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, St. Patrick Altar Society and St. Patrick Silver Circle. She was a volunteer for Central Kansas Medical Center surgical waiting room. Survivors include one son, Col. Andrew J. Johnson of Gainesville, Va.; four daughters, Loretto Adams of Derby, Mabel Lombrano of Great Bend, Sister Andrea Mary Katherine Johnson of Los Angeles, Calif., and Jane Jardes of Shawnee; 12 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one brother, George Hansen; and three sisters, Helen Gardner, Mabel E. Simpson and Josephine Muniger. Altar Society rosary will be at 4 p.m. Friday at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Vigil service will be at 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Funeral Mass will be at 9 a.m. Saturday at the church, with the Rev. Ted Stoecklein officiating. Burial will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at St. Patrick cemetery in Chanute. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Catholic Community of Great Bend, in care of the funeral home.
Gloria E. Marples 1922-2003
WICHITA - Gloria E. Marples, 81, died Dec. 21. She was born Nov. 5, 1922, in Great Bend, the daughter of Adolph Sr. and Elizabeth Hampel Riedl. A resident of Wichita since 1939, coming from Great Bend, Bloomington, Osborne, Stockton, Beloit and McPherson, she worked as a waitress at Lassen Hotel and worked at Rose Hill School cafeteria later in life. She was a member of Rebekah Lodges in Derby and Greenwich, and awarded the 'Decoration of Chivalry.' Survivors include one son, James Marples of Esbon; one brother, Gerald Riedl of Wichita; and two sisters, twin Dolores Myers of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Geneva Keehn of rural Butler County. Private services have been held. Lakeview Funeral Home of Wichita was in charge of arrangements.
