Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Elizabeth Purtle
Elizabeth K. “Kay” Purtle, 60, of Lewistown, Ill., formerly of Valley Center, died Oct. 12, 2003. Service was Oct. 14 at Henry-Lange Memorial Home, Lewistown.
Survivors include her sons and daughters-in-law, Kip and Amanda Purtle of Valley Center, Beau and Gretchen Purtle of Marion, Ill., and daughter and son-in-law, Joli and Bob Pierson of Havana, Ill.
Betty Minson
Betty Lou Wentz Minson, 64, of Valley Center, retired executive secretary for Boeing Aircraft, died Oct. 12, 2003. Visitation is from 9 a.m. to noon today (Thursday) at Mason Funeral Home, Winner, S.D. Service is at 2 p.m. today at United Methodist Church in Winner. Burial will be at Winner cemetery.
She was born Jan. 7, 1939, in Winner, S.D., the daughter of Leo “Jiggs” Wentz and Hilda Brickman. She graduated from the University of Colorado, where she received her secretarial business degree. She came to Wichita in 1965 with her first husband, Wayne Foss, and two sons. She served many years as a secretary for Koch Industries, Slawson Oil, Arabbia Law Firm and Northwest National Life Insurance Co., retiring after 15 years of service at Boeing. She married
C.F. “Buzz” Minson on March 26, 1988, in Houston, Texas. He survives of the home.
Other survivors include her sons and daughter-in-law, Randy and Tammy Foss of Valley Center, Jeff Foss of Topeka; stepdaughter and family, Linda and Dave Schmidt of Marietta, Ga.; stepsons and spouse, Billy and Steve Minson of Wichita, Rod and Mel Minson of Decatur, Ala.; three grandchildren, Amy and Aubrey Foss of Valley Center, Matt Foss of Columbus, Ohio; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
A memorial has been established with the American Cancer Society. Baker Funeral Home has charge.
Alma Frischenmeyer
Alma Lee Kirchmer Frischenmeyer, 77, of Wichita, mother of Pat Wells of Valley Center, died Oct. 12, 2003. She was a retired AAA Auto Club Wichita manager. Rosary was Oct. 15, and mass is at 2 p.m. today (Thursday), both at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.
She was born Nov. 8, 1925, on a farm near Sedgwick. She married
Richard “Dick” Frischenmeyer on May 24, 1947. He survives. They were in charge of the Lord’s Pantry at the church for many years.
Other survivors include her daughters, Nancy Fager of Salina, Connie Schrader of Wichita; brother, Don Kirchmer, sister, Helen Tipton, both of Newton; grandchildren, Jake and Katie Fager, Jennifer Dodd, Michael Jaske, Eric Schwepker; and great-grandchildren, Andrew and Alex Dodd and Jonathan, Shannon and Sabrina Schwepker.
A memorial has been established with the church and the Lord’s Pantry. DeVorss Flanagan-Hunt Mortuary has charge.
Muriel Davies
Muriel Elizabeth Davies, 94, of Wichita, retired benefits clerk in human resources at Wichita State University, died Oct. 2, 2003. Service was Oct. 7 at Old Mission Mortuary.
She enjoyed cooking, playing cards, reading and the ministry. She was preceded in death by her parents, William T. Davies and Lora May Thomas, and sister, Eulah Mary McNeil.
Survivors include her niece and husband, Sharon D. and Edward Thompson of Herington; nephew and wife, William E. and Debbie M. Thompson of Derby; niece, Katharine A. Thompson of Herington; great-great-nephew, Andrew Thompson; and great-great-niece, Linnea Thompson.
Memorials have been established with Furley United Methodist Church, Furley, and United Methodist Urban Ministries of Wichita.
Micah Edwards
Micah Andrew Edwards, infant grandson of Kyle and Tracey Omo and nephew of Ashley, Jillian and Joshua Omo and Adam and Taylor Shannon, all of Valley Center, was born and died Oct. 2, 2003.
Other survivors include his parents, Grady and Lakecia Omo Edwards, brother, Caleb of the home; grandparents, Kim Omo of Wichita, Allen and Brenda Vermillion of Wichita; aunt and uncle, Jamie and Shannon Edwards of Hutchinson; and great-grandparents, Kent and Ann Williams of Ft. Smith, Ark., Cliff and Peggy Omo of Goddard, Leroy and Betty Galloway of Hutchinson.
Baker Funeral Home had charge.
Hugh Higgs
Hugh Darrell “H.D.” Higgs, 68, of Exeter, Mo., formerly of Wichita, brother of Franklin Higgs of Valley Center, died Oct. 5, 2003. Service was Oct. 8 at Fohn Funeral Home, Cassville, Mo.
Other survivors include his wife, Norma; mother, Hazel of Exeter; son, Bradley, daughter, Pam Baker, both of Wichita; sister, Jane Johnson of Springfield, Mo.; and four grandchildren.
Donald Porter
Donald A. Porter, 74, of Park City, retired Coleman Co. and Evcon Industries truck driver, died Sept. 30, 2003. Memorial service was Oct. 3 at Glenn Park Christian Church.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Beverly Sue Porter.
Other survivors include his wife, Donna Porter of Park City; son and daughter-in-law, Mike and Virginia Porter of Park City; daughter, Andra Reeves of Wichita; stepdaughters, Vickie Scraper, Connie Beaver, both of Wichita; brothers, Robert Porter, Jim Porter; sister, Norma Carter; grandchildren, Taryn Northern of Douglass, Michele Towey, Makayla Reeves, both of Wichita; and great-grandchildren, Blake Northern, Mackenzie Northern.
A memorial has been established with Trinity Hospice. All Faiths Funeral Services had charge.
Tish Emmerson
Tish Emmerson, 43, of Wichita, Galichia Medical Group billing supervisor, died Sept. 21, 2003. Service is at 10 a.m. today (Thursday) at Downing & Lahey Mortuary West.
Survivors include her husband, Ron; son, Jason Emmerson; daughter, Lacey Emmerson; parents, Leroy and Norene Nedeau; brothers, Louis Nedeau and Christopher Nedeau, all of Wichita; and sisters, Felicia Brock of Wichita, Cecilia Owens of Plevna, Patricia Conner of Derby.
Steven Trimble
Steven Wayne Trimble, 45, of Valley Center, owner of Steve’s Auto Sales and A-1 Truck & Auto Body Shop, died Sept. 20, 2003. Visitation with family 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Baker Funeral Home. Service at 11 a.m. Saturday at Calvary Baptist Church. Burial is at Hillside cemetery, Sedgwick.
He was born Nov. 19, 1957, in Wichita, the son of Carl Wayne Trimble and Toni Faye Bensch. They survive of Valley Center. He was a 1975 graduate of Valley Center High School. He married
Debra L. Nance on Sept. 19, 1986, in Newton. She survives of the home. He was preceded in death by his grandparents.
Other survivors include his daughters, Mandy Hebert of Wichita, Nikki Plenert of Hillsboro; son, Toby Decker of Valley Center; brother and sister-in-law, Jeff and Kathy Trimble of Maize; sister and brother-in-law, Brenda and Don Osler of Valley Center; grandmother, Ellen Trimble of Austin, Texas; grandchildren, Ciara Hebert, Blake Herron, Dallas Hebert, Madison Hebert, Haley Plenert, Ethan Plenert; nieces, Chelsea and Steffanie Trimble, Jessica and Andrea Osler; and numerous other relatives.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established with the church.
Paul Matz
Paul E. Matz, 77, of Kechi, died Sept. 18, 2003. Graveside service was Sept. 22 at Kechi cemetery. Memorial service was Sept. 22 at Risen Savior Lutheran Church in Wichita.
He was born June 21, 1926, in Hillsboro, the son of Carl and Louise Matz. He served in the Army Air Corps and was a member of the church. He was a self-employed upholsterer, particularly in antique automobile restoration.
Survivors include his wife, Marie; daughter, Karen Thompson of Valley Center; son and daughter-in-law, Kent and Marilyn Matz of Kechi; brother, Robert of Marion; sister, Lois Caudell of Suitland, Md.; grandsons, Dale of Kechi, Drew Thompson of Manhattan, Carl of Wichita; granddaughters, Shannon of Wichita, Dana Thompson of Valley Center; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established with Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice and the church, 6770 E. 34th, Wichita 67226.
LaVon Herron
LaVon Miller Herron, 88, of Newton, mother of Janel Hawkins of Valley Center, died Sept. 21, 2003. She was co-owner of a La Plata, Mo., hardware store and a Montgomery Wards parts and service clerk. Visitation 10 a.m. today (Thursday), service is at 11 a.m., both at La Plata Christian Church. Burial is at La Plata cemetery.
She was born Oct. 26, 1914, in Downing, Mo., the daughter of William Miller and Pearl Caldwell. They preceded her in death, as did brothers Fred and Leo Miller; a sister, Neva Miller; and three infant siblings. She married
Eugene L. Herron on April 21, 1934, in Kirksville, Mo. He also preceded her in death.
Other survivors include her son, Larry Herron of La Plata; sisters, Jean Davidson, Cleta Miller, both of Kirksville, Mo., Ann Curtis of Centerville, Iowa; granddaughters, Polly Freeman, Molly Hawkins, Mary Herron, Sally Loflin, Kristi Herron; great-grandsons, Charles Frieze, Michael and Noah Freeman; two grandsons by marriage; and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial has been established with the church, 120 W. Moore, La Plata, Mo. 63549. Baker Funeral Home has charge.
James Lincicome
James D. “Jim” Lincicome, 73, of El Dorado, father of David Lincicome of Valley Center, died Sept. 16, 2003. He was a retired Texaco Refinery unit operator. Service was Sept. 19 at First United Methodist Church.
Other survivors include his wife, Melva; daughter, Jayme Collins of Emporia; sister, Colleen Moore of Victorville, Calif.; brothers, Bill Lincicome of Owasso, Okla.; and three grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with the church. Kirby-Morris Funeral Home had charge.
James Cruce
James A. “Jim” Cruce Sr., 72, father and father-in-law of Jim Jr. and Melinda Cruce of Valley Center, died Sept. 22, 2003. He was a retired Mid-Kansas Construction foreman. Services are at 11 a.m. today (Thursday) at Cochran Mortuary.
Other survivors include his wife, Edna, of the home; sons and daughters-in-law, Bill and Nita Cruce of West Chester, Pa., David and Charlotte Cruce of Wagoner, Okla.; daughters and sons-in-law, Deborah and Stan Wilhite of Wichita, Dorothy and Scott Morton of Wichita; brother, Glen Cole of Farbaugh, Calif.; sisters, Betty Mason of Glenpool, Okla., Ellen Coomer, Cecil Rosemond, Virginia Hathcoat, all of Wagoner, Okla.; 11 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Geraldine Knott
Geraldine S. Burgin Knott, 72, of Wichita, mother and mother-in-law of David and Karla Knott and grandmother of Dee Dee and Robby Knott, all of Park City, died Sept. 14, 2003. Mass was Sept. 18 at St Patrick Catholic Church in Plains.
She was preceded in death by her husband, J.D. Knott, and two daughters, Diane and Debra.
Other survivors include her son, Dennis Knott of Wichita, and a sister, Olivia Lee of Minneola.
Fidler-Orme Mortuary of Meade had charge.
Blossom Van Ert
Blossom Van Ert, 82, of Wichita, died Sept. 15, 2003. She was a homemaker. Mass was Sept. 20 at St. Patrick’s Church. Burial was at Lakeview Memorial Gardens.
She was born Oct. 10, 1920, in Wichita. She was married
to Lambert “Van” Van Ert for 57 years. He survives. Other survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Greg and Kay Van Ert of Edenton, N.C.; daughter, Karen Van Ert of Denver, Colo.; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Memorials have been established with Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, and with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Box 27106, New York, NY 10087.
Barbara Johnson
Barbara Louise Milner Johnson, 64, of Wichita, died Sept. 20, 2003. Service was Sept. 24 at Central Community Church, Wichita. Burial will be at a later date in Roselawn cemetery, Baton Rouge, La.
She graduated from Stephens College in Columbia, Mo., and Louisiana State University, and was a substitute teacher in Valley Center, Maize and Wichita.
Survivors include her husband, Charles W. Johnson; daughters, Cynthia Anne Tilton of Leawood, Patricia Milner Maroney of Tulsa, Okla.; sons, Chad Harold Johnson of Burlington, Ky., Christopher William Johnson of North Platte, Neb.; brother, Charles Edward Milner Jr. of Baton Rouge, La.; and grandchildren, Matthew Lee Maroney, Amy Louise Maroney, Ford William Johnson.
Memorials have been established with the church, 6100 W. Maple, Wichita 67209, and with Stephens College, 1200 E. Broadway, Columbia, Mo.
Betty Pearson
Betty Jean Pearson, 77, of Valley Center, retired Pearson Excavating bookkeeper, died June 7, 2003. Service was June 9 at Baker Funeral Home.
She was born June 2, 1926, in August, the daughter of Fred F. Stroud and Mary Schauf-Stroud. She married
Gorge A. Pearson Sr. on Dec. 18, 1951, in Wichita. He preceded her in death.
Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, George Jr. and LeAnna Pearson of Valley Center; brother, Bill Stroud of Neb.; sister, Virginia Hayes of El Dorado; grandchildren, Chad and Sarah Pearson, Blake Pearson of Valley Center, Janelle Pearson, Wichita; great-grandchildren, Kailey Pearson, Cody Pearson, both of Valley Center.
A memorial has been established with Special Olympics of Kansas, 5315 E. 21st North, Wichita 67208.
