Norman L. Miller
1911-1999
ATCHISON, Kan. -- Norman Lee Miller, 88, Atchison, formerly of Huron, Kan., died Wednesday, March 3, 1999, at a health-care center in Atchison.
Mr. Miller, a farmer until his retirement in 1976, was born in Moray, Kan., on Feb. 7, 1911, and moved to Huron in 1945.
He was a member of the Christian Church in Huron.
On March 14, 1935, he married Alice E. Clifton in Moray. She died in 1995.
Mr. Miller also was preceded in death by a daughter, Kay A. Miller; his parents, Woodson and Edith; a brother, Raymond; and a grandchild.
Surviving: four sons, Norman W., Clarksdale, Mo., Dale E., Atchison, Marvin, Sun Lakes, Ark., and Lawrence F., Huron; a daughter, Evelyn Richards, Wauchula, Fla.; two brothers, William, Huron, and Marvin, Troy, Kan.; three sisters, Beulah Chapple, Ruby Franklin and Myrtle Wright, all of St. Joseph; 23 grandchildren; and 47 great-grandchildren.
Service: 2 p.m. Saturday, Harman-Rohde Funeral Home, Troy. Burial: Moray Cemetery, Bendena, Kan. Family visitation: 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Christian Church in Huron.
Charles S. Ruch
1907-1999
FALLS CITY, Neb. Charles S. ''Babe'' Ruch, 91, Falls City, died Wednesday, March 3, 1999, at the Falls City hospital.
Mr. Ruch had worked for the H.J. Prichard & Son Motor Co. in Falls City for 42 years and then for the Armbruster Motor Co. of Falls City for 30 years until retiring.
Born northeast of Falls City on Dec. 17, 1907, he moved with his family to Fairfield, Neb., at age 1 and to Falls City in 1917. He was a graduate of the Falls City high school.
Mr. Ruch was a member of the First United Presbyterian Church and Elks Lodge No. 963, both of Falls City; and United Commercial Travelers.
On May 29, 1937, he married Nellie Wright in Troy, Kan. She survives of Falls City.
Mr. Ruch was preceded in death by his parents, Charles A. and Pearl B.; and a brother, Bert W.
Service: 10:30 a.m. Friday, Dorr Funeral Home, Falls City. Burial: Steele Cemetery, Falls City. There is no scheduled family visitation.
Stella M. Stark
1925-1999
MERCER, Mo. -- Stella M. (Clark) Stark, 74, Mercer, died Tuesday, March 2, 1999, at her residence.
Born in Princeton, Mo., on Feb. 28, 1925, Mrs. Stark lived in Mercer County, Mo., most of her life. She attended Princeton, Mo., schools
On June 30, 1952, she married Hearl D. Stark in Princeton. He died in February of 1999.
Mrs. Stark also was preceded in death by two daughters, Delores J. Stark and Martha Clark; a son, Robert Clark; her parents, Joe D. and Mary Jane Clark; four sisters, Lucille Leonard, Emily Holloway, Eula Clark and Nellie Brassfield; and four brothers, Thomas, William, Emmit and Lafayette Clark.
Surviving: five daughters, Sharon Cattlett, Oklahoma City, Naeomi McCullough, Lexington, Mo., Priscilla Henry, Mercer, Wanda Eckert, Laredo, Mo., and Mary Bunch, Ozark, Ala.; three sons, Jackie D. Stark, Oklahoma City, Harold W. Stark, Mercer, and Joe D. Stark, Decatur, Iowa; three sisters, Barbara McKenna and Nancy Sparks, both of Princeton, and Joanne Stark, Mercer; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Service: 1 p.m. today, Assembly of God Church, Mercer. Burial: Middle Point Cemetery, west of Mercer. The body will be taken to the church at 10 a.m. today and family visitation will follow until service time. Arrangements: Slater Funeral Home, Trenton, Mo.
Mary E. Starnes
1917-1999
SAVANNAH, Mo. -- Mary Elizabeth (McGlothlin) Starnes, 81, Savannah, formerly of St. Joseph, died Tuesday, March 2, 1999, at a health-care center in Savannah.
Mrs. Starnes had been employed as a cook for the Lawrence Homes in St. Joseph.
Born in St. Joseph on July 27, 1917, she had lived in St. Joseph until moving to a health-care center in Savannah two years ago. She was a member of the King Hill Baptist Church in St. Joseph.
In 1933, she married William F. Starnes in St. Joseph. He died in 1983.
Mrs. Starnes also was preceded in death by her parents, George and Olive McGlothlin; and a sister, Dorothy Williams.
Surviving: a daughter, Margaret Morris, St. Joseph; two brothers, Oliver McGlothlin, Bethany, Mo., and Wayne McGlothlin, St. Joseph; a sister, Opal Wells, St. Joseph; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Service: 1 p.m. Friday, Clark-Sampson Funeral Home, St. Joseph. Burial: Memorial Park Cemetery, St. Joseph. Family visitation: 6 to 8 tonight and 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Melbourne V. Stevens
1910-1999
NEW HAMPTON, Mo. -- Melbourne V. Stevens, 88, New Hampton, died Tuesday, March 2, 1999, at the Albany, Mo., hospital.
Mr. Stevens had been engaged in farming for 37 years. He also had worked at the Martinsville, Mo., school for 13 years and as a city marshal for New Hampton for 19 years until retiring.
Born in Worth County, Mo., on Dec. 1, 1910, he was a graduate of the Martinsville high school and a member of the Masonic Lodge in New Hampton.
On July 20, 1935, he married Doris Welch in Maryville, Mo. She survives of the home.
Mr. Stevens was preceded in death by his parents, H. Morton and Susie; two brothers, Samual J. and Curtis D.; and two sisters, Carmetta and an infant.
Additional survivors: three sons, Rex, New Hampton, Danny, Lathrop, Mo., and John, St. Louis; three daughters, Jean Thrailkill, Eagleville, Mo., Joyce Harris, Smithville, Mo., and Kathy Sperry, Harris; a brother, Junior, New Hampton; 21 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.
Service: 2 p.m. Friday, Roberson Funeral Home, Bethany, Mo. Burial: Miller Cemetery, Denver, Mo., with rites by members of the Bethany Masonic Lodge No. 97, A.F. & A.M. Visitation: after noon today, at the funeral home, where the family will receive friends after 7 tonight. Memorials may be made to the Leukemia Society in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 46, Bethany, MO 64424.
Cynthia A. Switch
1934-1999
HORTON, Kan. -- Cynthia A. (Williams) "Kitche-Kamee-Quah" Switch, 64, Horton, died Tuesday, March, 2, 1999, at a Topeka, Kan., hospital.
Mrs. Switch had worked for Horton Community Home Health Care and was a community health representative for the Kickapoo Tribe. She previously had worked as a certified nurse's aide.
She was born Oct. 29, 1934, in Mayetta, Kan. She was a member of Prairie Band Potawatomi Tribe and Kickapoo Senior Citizens.
On May 21, 1955, she married Charley Switch in Holton, Kan. He survives of the home.
Mrs. Switch was preceded in death by a brother, Henry Williams; and two sisters, Rose Picher and Georgia Armell.
Additional survivors: a son, Everett, Horton; her stepfather, Louis Oliver, Delia, Kan.; four sisters, Thamar Morris, Las Vegas, Helen Wilson, Delia, Donna Wahquaboshkuk, Mayetta, and Donnis Keo, Lawrence, Kan.; and three grandchildren.
Drum services: 5:30 p.m. today, Old Kickapoo Community Building, west of Horton. Burial: 10 a.m. Friday, Wizo Cemetery, near Mayetta. Visitation: friends may call until 3 p.m. today at Dishon-Maple-Chaney Mortuary, Horton.
Masyline C.Vaughn
1914-1999
LATHROP, Mo. -- Masyline C. (Copenhaver) Vaughn, 84, Lathrop, died Tuesday, March 2, 1999, at the Liberty, Mo., hospital.
Born in Tffin, Mo., on Dec. 10, 1914, Mrs. Vaughn lived in Lawson, Mo., before moving to Lathrop in 1946.
On Nov. 12, 1933, she married Noble G. Vaughn in Lawson. He survives of the home.
Mrs. Vaughn was preceded in death by her parents, John A. and Anna L. Copenhaver; two brothers, Dallas B. and Rodrick Copenhaver; and a sister, Betty J. Henry.
Additional survivors: four sons, Dwight and Dennis, both of Richmond, Mo., Dwain, Lenexa, Kan., and Bob, Gladstone, Mo.; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Service: 2 p.m. Friday, First Christian Church, Lathrop. Burial: Lawson Cemetery. Family visitation: 6:30 to 8 tonight, at the Bailey Funeral Home, Lathrop. Memorials may be made to the church of the donor's choice.
Ruey C. Witten
1902-1999
TRENTON, Mo. -- Ruey C. (Helmandollar) Witten, 96, Trenton, died Tuesday, March 2, 1999, at the Trenton hospital.
Mrs. Witten, born in Edinburg, Mo., on April 11, 1902, had lived in Grundy and Daviess counties, Mo., all of her life. She had been a resident of Trenton since 1973.
She was a graduate of the Trenton high school and Trenton Junior College; and a member of the Wesley United Methodist Church in Trenton.
On Sept. 2, 1923, she married Herbert H. Witten in Edinburg. He died in 1978.
Mrs. Witten also was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Daisy Helmandollar; a brother, Glen Helmandollar; a sister, Frankie Call; and a grandchild.
Surviving: three daughters, Caroline Stokes, Trenton, Pauline Jefferson, Wichita Falls, Texas, and Claire Jo Nisonger, Bloomington, Texas; two sons, Charles, Williams, Minn., and Maurice, Hays, Kan.; 12 grandchildren; a step-grandchild; six great-grandchildren; and three step- great-grandchildren.
Service: 11 a.m. Friday, Slater Funeral Home, Trenton. Burial: Independent Order of Odd Fellows Cemetery, Edinburg. Family visitation: 7 to 8 tonight, at the funeral home.
Betty J. Anderson
1929-1999
HIAWATHA, Kan. -- Betty J. (Stoffer) Anderson, 69, Hiawatha, died Wednesday, March 3, 1999, at the Hiawatha hospital.
Mrs. Anderson had been employed as a cook for the Robinson, Kan., Elementary School and as a nurse's aide for the Hiawatha Community Hospital. She also had worked as a dental receptionist for Dr. Ken Riley and at Wal-Mart in Hiawatha.
Born in Robinson on Nov. 7, 1929, she was reared north of Robinson and was a lifelong resident of Brown County, Kan. She was a graduate of the Robinson high school and a member of the Upper Wolf Lutheran Church, southeast of Robinson.
On Sept. 11, 1949, she married Luther Anderson, near Robinson. They farmed near Robinson until moving to Hiawatha in 1974. He survives of the home.
Mrs. Anderson was preceded in death by a son, Dennis N.; and her father, Rolland Stoffer.
Additional survivors: two daughters, Connie King and Nancy Rockey, both of Hiawatha; her mother, Ruth Stoffer, Hiawatha; and three grandchildren.
Service: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, Hiawatha. Burial: Upper Wolf Lutheran Cemetery, near Robinson. Visitation: after 9 a.m. today, at the funeral home, where the family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 tonight. Memorials may be made to the American Legion Baseball Team for Noble Park, Hiawatha, in care of the funeral home, 519 N. First St., Hiawatha, KS 66434.
Neoma E. Chartier
1924-1999
BROOMFIELD, Colo. -- Neoma E. (High) Chartier, 74, Broomfield, formerly of St. Joseph, died Saturday, Feb. 27, 1999, at hospital in Denver, Colo.
Mrs. Chartier had been employed as a telegrapher for the Union Pacific Railroad in eastern Kansas and southern Nebraska for several years.
Born in Atchison, Kan., on Sept. 3, 1924, she was reared there and in the St. Joseph area. She was a graduate of Benton High School in St. Joseph and a member of Lakewood, Colo., Christian Church. She had been a resident of Denver area since 1947 and Broomfield for 30 years.
On Dec. 25, 1947, she married Richard Chartier in Fort Morgan, Colo. He survives of the home.
Mrs. Chartier was preceded in death by her parents, Roy High and Lorene High Zacharias; her stepfather, Louis Zacharias; a sister, Nadine High; and a brother, Frank High.
Additional survivors: a son, Walter, Fort Lupten, Colo.; a daughter, Vicky Gowin, Walsh, Colo.; and three grandchildren.
The funeral service was held Tuesday, March 2, at the Lakewood Christian Church. Burial was in the Crown Hill Cemetery in Lakewood. Arrangements were by the Crown Hill Funeral Home of Lakewood. Memorials may be made to the Lakewood Christian Church.
Virginia L. Christensen
1919-1999
MARYVILLE, Mo. -- Virginia Lenore (Woolman) Christensen, 79, Maryville, died Wednesday, March 3, 1999, at her residence.
Born March 6, 1919, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, Mrs. Christensen, a homemaker, was a graduate of the Abraham Lincoln High School in Council Bluffs. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Maryville.
On July 3, 1937, she married Edward C. Christensen in Council Bluffs. He survives of the home.
Mrs. Christensen was preceded in death by his parents, Asher and Eva Woolman; two brothers Arther C. and Oliver Woolman; a half brother, Robert Woolman; a half sister, Ruth Klepeck; and two grandchildren.
Additional survivors: five sons, Ed, Guilford, Mo., David, Savannah, Mo., Joe, Albany, Mo., Carl and Jeff, both of Maryville; four daughters, Sandra Campbell, Goodman, Mo., Alma Iwen, Omaga, Neb., and Mary Christensen and Ann Dredge, both of Maryville; 28 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
Service: 2 p.m. Saturday, Price Funeral Home, Maryville. Burial: Nodaway Memorial Gardens, Maryville. Family visitation: 7 to 8:30 tonight, at the First United Methodist Church, Maryville.
Arnold W. Embree
1913-1999
DALLAS, Texas -- Arnold Wilson Embree, 86, Dallas, formerly of St. Joseph, died Wednesday, March 3, 1999, at a health-care center in Dallas following a lengthy illness.
Mr. Embree began his career as a coach at the Missouri Military Academy in Mexico, Mo., and Central High School in St. Joseph. Later he was placed in charge of the St. Joseph School District's guidance and counseling programs.
In 1953, he left St. Joseph for St. Clair, Mich., where he organized the guidance program and served as a high school principal in 1956. He was appointed assistant professor of guidance and counseling at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Mich., where he also served in various administrative positions until 1962. Then he was named head of the Pupil Personnel Services for the Pontiac, Mich., public schools until retiring in 1975. He moved to Monroe, La., and then Dallas.
Born in the Mussell Fork community, near Marceline, Mo., on Jan. 31, 1913, he was reared in Marceline, where he was a graduate of a high school there and starred on its football and baseball teams. He went on to win All-American honors playing for Don Faurot's undefeated teams at Northeast Missouri State University at Kirksville, now Truman University. He was elected a charter member of the university's Hall of Fame in 1983. Mr. Embree also earned a master's degree in guidance and counseling from the University of Missouri at Columbia.
Mr. Embree served in the Navy from 1943 until 1946, when he returned to St. Joseph. He was elected the first president of the American School Counselors Association and was a licensed educational psychologist in Michigan. He was a master Mason and a member of Hugh de Payens Commandery No. 4, Knights Templar, both in St. Joseph.
In May of 1936, he married Roberta Stanley of Marceline. She died in 1987.
Mr. Embree also was preceded in death by his parents, Luther A. and Esta; and three brothers and a sister.
Surviving: two sons, James L., Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and Stephen R., Plano, Texas; and four grandchildren.
Service: 10 a.m. Monday, Bentley-Delaney Funeral Home, Marceline. Burial: Mount Olivet Cemetery, Marceline. Family visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, at the funeral home, where a Masonic service will be conducted at 7 p.m. Sunday. Memorials may be made to Truman University or the Alzheimers Foundation in care of the funeral home, 1720 N. Missouri Ave., Marceline, MO 64658.
Thelma F. Harris
1905-1999
WESTON, Mo. -- Thelma Fern (Collins) Harris, 93, Weston, died Wednesday, March 3, 1999, at a St. Louis, Mo., hospital.
Mrs. Harris had owned and operated the Dye Store in Weston.
Born July 29, 1905, in Weston, she was a lifelong resident of Platte County, Mo. She was a member of Salem Christian Church of Weston.
On March 28, 1928, she married Lester M. Harris in St. Joseph. He died in 1985.
Mrs. Harris also was preceded in death by a son, Lester N.; her parents Charles E. and Ludena Collins; a brother, Roy Collins; and a sister, R. Adelec Collins.
Surviving: a daughter, Janette Wolter, Florissant, Mo.; six grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
Service: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Salem Christian Church, Weston. Burial: Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Weston. Family visitation: 6:30 to 8 tonight, at the Vaughn Funeral Home, Weston.
