Theodore C. Helmer
1908-1999
Theodore C. "Ted" Helmer, 90, St. Joseph, died Sunday, March 7, 1999, at a St. Joseph health-care center.
For 31 years, Mr. Helmer was employed by the Acme Radiator Shop until retiring in 1976. During World War II, he served in the Army Air Force for three years and received several medals, including six Bronze Stars.
Born in St. Joseph on Dec. 20, 1908, he was a lifelong resident of St. Joseph.
He was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1668, Macdonald-Dugger-Duncan-Petrie American Legion Post No. 11 and American Association of Retired Persons. He was a former member of the Eagles Lodge.
On May 30, 1931, he married Marjorie G. Howard. She survives of the home.
Mr. Helmer was preceded in death by his parents, Emil G. and May M.; two brothers, Earl and Virgil L.; two half brothers, Jay and Nile; and a half sister, Naoma Turner.
Additional survivors: three sisters, Edna Sonderegger and Helen Nold, both of St. Joseph, and Louise Wiedman, Raytown, Mo.
Service: 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Heaton-Bowman-Smith & Sidenfaden Chapel, St. Joseph. Burial: Memorial Park Cemetery, St. Joseph, with military rites by members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1668, St. Joseph. Visitation: after 9 a.m. today, at the chapel. Memorials may be made to the Westminster Presbyterian Church, St. Joseph, or Interfaith Community Services, 200 Cherokee, St. Joseph, MO 64504.
Melvin O. Larson
1914-1999
HORTON, Kan. -- Melvin O. Larson, 85, Horton, died Monday, March 8, 1999, at a health-care center in Atchison, Kan.
Mr. Larson, born near Horton on Feb. 5, 1914, had been a farmer and stockman in the Maple Grove community near Horton. He lived on the same farm almost all of his life and had been a resident of an Atchison health-care center for nearly three years.
He was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church, near Everest, Kan.
On Jan. 17, 1940, he married Evelyn N. Fulk, near Everest. She survives of the home in Horton.
Mr. Larson was preceded in death by his parents, Laurence C. and Annie M.; and three sisters and three brothers.
Additional survivors: a daughter, Patricia Larson, Horton; two sons, James L., Horton, and William L., Atchison; seven grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
Service: 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, Horton. Burial: Claytonville Cemetery, southeast of Hiawatha, Kan. Visitation: after 9 a.m. today, at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Zion Lutheran Church, Everest, or the Atchison Hospice in care of the funeral home, 1720 First Ave. E., Horton, KS 66439.
Margaret B. Whitaker
1906-1999
ATCHISON, Kan. -- Margaret "Peggy" B. (Collins) Whitaker, 92, Atchison, died Sunday, March 7, 1999, at a St. Joseph hospital.
Born in Robinson, Kan., on Nov. 6, 1906, Mrs. Whitaker moved with her parents to Atchison as a young child. She was a graduate of the Atchison high school.
A farm wife, she was a member of the Camp Creek United Methodist Church, where she was active in United Methodist Women; and an extension unit, all near Atchison. On April 30, 1926, she married Harold Whitaker in Atchison. He died in 1974.
Mrs. Whitaker also was preceded in death by her parents, John J. and Bessie Collins; her stepmother, the former Bertha Winkler; and two brothers, Jerry and Joe Collins.
Surviving: two daughters, Gai Riley and Bobbie J. Miller, both of Atchison; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Service: 2 p.m. Thursday, Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home, Atchison. Burial: Sunset Memory Gardens, Atchison. Family visitation: 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Camp Creek United Methodist Church.
Leola M. Auxier
1919-1999
Leola Mae (Litton) Auxier, 80, St. Joseph, died Tuesday, March 9, 1999, at a St. Joseph hospital following a brief illness.
Born in Agency, Mo., on Feb. 28, 1919, Mrs. Auxier had lived most of her life in St. Joseph.
She was a member of the Baptist faith and a former Cub Scout den mother.
On Feb. 17, 1936, she married James W. Auxier. He died in 1981.
Mrs. Auxier also was preceded in death by a son, Michael W.; her parents, George and Annie Litton; two brothers, Buck and Bode Litton.; and a companion, Robert F. Limle.
Surviving: six sons, James W., Kansas City, Edward L., Charles T. and John R., all of St. Joseph, Richard D., Trimble, Mo., and Patrick S., Pearidge, Ark.; four daughters, Shirley A. Steidel and Dixie Huffman, both of St. Joseph, Deborah Jo Christopher, Troy, Kan., and Paula M. Harding, Stewartsville, Mo.; three brothers, Paul M. and Charles R. Litton, both of St. Joseph, and Fred Litton, Alabama; three sisters, Maxine Schneider, California, Ruth Heater, St. Joseph, and Pauline Phipps, Gower, Mo.; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Service: 9 a.m. Friday, Meierhoffer Family Funeral Care, St. Joseph. Burial: Memorial Park Cemetery, St. Joseph. Family visitation: 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, at the funeral home.
Arletha B. Barnett
1912-1999
Arletha B. (Corbin) Barnett, 87, St. Joseph, died Monday, March 8, 1999, at a hospice in St. Joseph.
Ms. Barnett was born Jan. 30, 1912, in Platte City, Mo. She lived most of her adult life in St. Joseph.
She graduated from Platte City High School and had been a lead teacher for Head Start in St. Joseph before retiring.
Ms. Barnett was a member of Grant Memorial A.M.E. Church in St. Joseph where she served as a trustee and sang in the choir.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Elva A. Robinson; her parents, Tan and Ella Corbin; and three sisters, Artie Belle Knox, Lena Mae Weston and Forestine Grayson.
Surviving: four sons, Harold and Donald, both of St. Joseph, Fred Jr., Atchison, Kan., and Charles, Kansas City; two daughters, Patricia Lankford and Sandra Cruse, both of St. Joseph; Andrew Brunson, of the home; 22 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Service: 1 p.m. Friday, Grant Memorial A.M.E. Church, St. Joseph. Burial: Ashland Cemetery, St. Joseph. Family visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Bullock Family Funeral Chapel, St. Joseph.
Goldia M. Berry
1905-1999
TRENTON, Mo. - Goldia M. (McCulley) Berry, 93, Trenton, formerly of Galt, Mo., died Monday, March 8, 1999, at a Trenton health-care center.
Born Aug, 20, 1905, near Spickard, Mo., Mrs. Berry, had lived all of her adult life on a farm north of Galt, Mo. until moving to Trenton in 1994.
Mrs. Berry was a member of Fairview United Methodist Church north of Galt.
On Nov, 26, 1924, she married Harold A. Berry in Trenton. He died in 1962.
Mrs. Berry also was preceded in death by her parents, Gilbert E. and Anna M. McCulley; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and five brothers.
Surviving: three sons, James, Trenton, Melvin, rural Galt, Mo., and William Davison, Mich.; two daughters, Reva Treese, Vincennes, Ind., and Jeanette Wengert, Montezuma, Iowa; 13 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and a step great-grandchild.
Service: 10:30 A.M. Saturday, Fairview United Methodist Church, north of Galt, Mo. Burial: Berry Cemetery north of Galt. Family visitation: 7 to 8 p.m. Friday at Payne Funeral Home, Galt. Memorials may be made to Fairview United Methodist Church
Ronald R. Bielby
1934-1999
Ronald R. Bielby, 64, St. Joseph, died Sunday, March 7, 1999, at a St. Joseph hospital.
Mr. Bielby, a registered professional engineer, had been employed by the Missouri Department of Transportation for 33 years until retiring in 1995 as a district design engineer. Among his projects was the supervising of the construction of Interstate 35.
Born in St. Joseph on April 7, 1934, he moved with his family to Bethany, Mo., where they lived for 18 years. He returned to St. Joseph in 1985.
Mr. Bielby was a graduate of Central High School in St. Joseph and the University of Missouri, Columbia, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering.
He was a member of the Ashland United Methodist Church, where he was active in the Seekers Sunday School Class and was serving on the evangelism committee and had served on the building committee. Mr. Bielby was involved in Scouting, Little League and girls softball. He served on the advisory board for the Bethany Assembly, Order of Rainbow for Girls, and on the board of the Roy A. Broyles chapter, Order of DeMolay. He was a former member of the Bethany United Methodist Church, where he had served in several positions.
Mr. Bielby was a member of the St. Joseph East Optimist Club, of which he was a former president; he was serving on the long-range transportation planning subcommittee for the St. Joseph Area Transportation Study; was chairman of the board of directors of the loan committee for the Neighborhood Housing Services of St. Joseph Inc. and on the board of directors for the St. Joseph Downtown Association. He was a member of the Bethany Lodge No. 97, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, of which he was master; Bethany chapter No. 80, Royal Arch Masons, of which he was high priest; Bethany Commandery No. 42, Knights Templar, of which he was commander; organized and served as charter master of the Harmony Council No. 53, Cryptic Masons; and district deputy grand master for the Grand Lodge of Missouri. He also served as grand royal arch captain of the Grand chapter, Royal Arch Masons of Missouri; as prior of the Missouri Priory of the Knights of the York Cross of Honour; sovereign of the St. Joseph Conclave of the Red Cross of Constantine; and as preceptor and registrar of Our Lord's Tabernacle of the Holy Royal Arch Knights Templar Priests. He was chairman of the Knights Templar Educational Fund and grand master of Cryptic Masons of Missouri. Mr. Bielby also was a member of the Moila Shrine Temple of St. Joseph.
He was awarded the Honorary Legion of Honor by the Order of DeMolay and Grand Cross of Color by the Order of Rainbow for Girls; and life memberships in the Order of the Silver Trowel, Order of the High Priesthood and Past Commander's Association.
On Feb. 4, 1956, he married Barbara J. Maag in St. Joseph. She survives of the home.
Mr. Bielby was preceded in death by his parents, Albertus J. and Mona; and a brother, Albertus J. Jr.
Additional survivors: three sons, R. Kurt, Liberty, Mo., Christopher E., Westerville, Ohio, and Bruce J., Bethany; two daughters, Rana R. Killingsworth, Skidmore, Mo., and Brenda B. Bugbee, Bethany; a sister, Marion Enos, Van Nuys, Calif.; and six grandchildren.
Service: 1 p.m. Friday, Ashland United Methodist Church, St. Joseph. The body will be taken to the church one hour prior to the service. Burial: Memorial Park Cemetery, St. Joseph. Masonic rites: 6:30 p.m. Thursday by members of the Grand Council of Cryptic Masons, at Meierhoffer Family Funeral Care, St. Joseph, where family visitation will follow until 9 p.m. Memorials may be made to the Ashland United Methodist Church in St. Joseph.
Carl F. Buttron
1908-1999
NORTONVILLE, Kan. - Carl F. Buttron, 91, Nortonville, died Monday, March 8, 1999, at a health-care center in Nortonville.
Born in Nortonville on Jan. 12, 1908, Mr. Buttron had lived in the Nortonville area all of his life and had farmed in that area for all of his adult life.
He was a graduate of the Nortonville high school and was a member of the St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Nortonville, where he was an elder and trustee, and active in the Lutheran Laymen's League.
On Feb. 4, 1940, he married Verna M. Kloepper in Kansas City. She died in 1971.
Mr. Buttron also was preceded in death by a son, Robert F.
Surviving: three sons, Donald and Edward, both of Nortonville, and Kenneth, Atchison, Kan.; a daughter, Cathy Nichols, Nortonville; two brothers, Harold and Ralph, both of Nortonville; a sister, Mildred Nolting, Nortonville; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Service: 10:30 a.m. Thursday, St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Nortonville. Burial: Nortonville Cemetery. Family visitation: 6 to 7:30 tonight, at the O'Trimble Funeral Home, Nortonville. Memorials may be made to the St. Matthew Lutheran Church or American Cancer Society.
Leona G. Cordell
1902-1999
MARYVILLE, Mo. - Leona G. (Mayfield) Cordell, 96, Maryville, died Monday, March 8, 1999, at a Maryville health-care center.
Born in Parnell, Mo., on April 28, 1902, Mrs. Cordell graduated from Parnell High School and Northwest Missouri Normal School, now Northwest Missouri State University, in Maryville.
A homemaker and retired teacher, she taught at Common Sense School in Maryville. She also worked at St. Francis Hospital, also in Maryville.
Mrs. Cordell was a member of Laura Street Baptist church in Maryville.
On May 16, 1922, she married Ray J. Cordell in Pine Bluff, Wyo. He died in 1969.
Mrs. Cordell also was preceded in death by a daughter, Elaine Wake; three brothers, Ivan, Orlie and Bill Mayfield; and two sisters, Margery Hooker and Rose Evans.
Surviving: two daughters, Irene Florea, Jefferson, Iowa, and Evelyn Brown, Fort Collins, Colo.; two sons, Eldon R., Hopkins, Mo., and John D., Maryville; a sister, Willa Gartside, Chillicothe, Mo.; 16 grandchildren; 44 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren.
Service: 10 a.m. Thursday, Price Funeral Home, Maryville. Burial: Nodaway Memory Gardens, Maryville. Visitation: 7 to 8 tonight at the funeral home.
Zella D. Crane
1912-1999
NEW HAMPTON, Mo. - Zella D. (Ebersole) Crane, 87, New Hampton, died Tuesday, March 9, 1999, at a Bethany, Mo. hospital.
Born Jan. 31, 1912, in Hew Hampton, Mrs. Crane, a homemaker, was a member of First Christian Church, New Hampton.
On Sept. 4, 1930, she married Omer D. Crane. He died in 1999.
Mrs. Crane also was preceded in death by her son, Donald W.; her parents, George and Mary Ebersole; three brothers, Dudley, Meryne, and John Ebersole; and two sisters, Laura E. Anthony, and Ardath McCoy-Tripp.
Surviving: a son George, Lakeville, Minn.; a brother, Jerald Ebersole, Independence, Mo.; three grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
Service: 11 a.m. Saturday, Roberson Funeral Home, Bethany, Mo. Burial: Lone Star Cemetery, Denver, Mo. Visitation: after 3 p.m. Friday at the funeral home where the family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday. Memorials may be made to Lone Star Cemetery or New Hampton Christian Church.
Jordon T. Cunning
Jordon Tyler Cunning, infant son of Lawrence and Rebecca Cunning II, St. Joseph, died Monday, March 8, 1999, at a Kansas City hospital.
Jordon was born in Kansas City on March 6, 1999.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Ronald Shryock; and paternal great-grandfather, Ivan Cunning.
Additional survivors: a brother, Jacob of the home; his maternal grandmother, Charlotte Shryock, St. Joseph; paternal grandfather and step-grandmother, Larry and Peggy Cunning, St. Joseph; paternal grandmother, Terry E. Cunning, St. Joseph; and paternal great-grandmother, Velma B. Cunning, St. Joseph.
Service: 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Meierhoffer Family Funeral Care, St. Joseph. Burial: Mount Olivet Cemetery, St. Joseph. Family visitation: 7 to 9 tonight, at the funeral home.
M. Opal Davis
1909-1999
SAVANNAH, Mo. - M. Opal (Hall) Williams Davis, 89, Savannah, died Monday, March 8, 1999, at a Savannah health-care center.
Mrs. Davis was born April 9, 1909, near Skidmore, Mo. She lived in the Hopkins, Mo., area before moving to Fillmore, Mo., in 1931. She had lived in Savannah since 1993.
She graduated from Hopkins High School and received her teaching certificate from Northwest Missouri State Teachers College in Maryville. She also received her bachelor's degree in education from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Mrs. Davis taught in Holt and Andrew county rural schools from 1929 to 1957. She then taught at the Mary Neipp School for the orthopedically handicapped from 1957 until retiring in 1974.
She was a member of the First Christian Church in Hopkins, Order of Eastern Star in St. Joseph; and Retired Missouri State Teachers Association.
In 1933, she married Reed E. Williams. He died in 1961.
She married Charles N. Davis in 1962. He died in 1978.
Mrs. Davis also was preceded in death by a son, Roger H. Williams; her parents, Cloud and Tennie Hall; six brothers ;and three sisters.
Surviving: a son, Virgil Williams, Savannah; two stepsons, Gene Davis, Fillmore, and Donald L. Davis, Olathe, Kan.; eight grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and five step-great-grandchildren.
Service: 11 a.m. Thursday, Breit & Hawkins Funeral Home, Savannah. Burial: Fillmore Cemetery. Family visitation: 7 to 8:30 tonight at the funeral home, where friends may call after 8 a.m. today.
