U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Obituaries Published January 9, 2006
Steven Place
Steven Richard Place, 67, died Dec. 24 at Salina Regional Health Center.
The son of Howard R. Place and Martha (Picklemeir) Place, he was born Oct. 29, 1938, at Buffalo, Wyo.
He received his education in public schools. He married Delene Goodall on Aug. 29, 1956. He was a retired heavy machine operator.
He was preceded in death by his father, Howard R. Place, and a sister, Sherry.
Survivors, besides his wife of Formoso, include a son, Steven E. Place, Formoso; four daughters, Susan Foster, Wasilla, Alaska; Lori Espinosa, Camas, Wash.; Carrie Place, Palmer, Alaska; Tracie Chelfer, Keene, Texas; 17 grandchildren; a great-grandchild; and his mother, Martha place.
Services were Jan. 2 at Bachelor-Faulkner-Dart-Surber Memorial Chapel, Belleville, conducted by Pastor Mark Imel. There was a private family inurnment.
Linda Charlene Cedeira
Linda Charlene Cedeira, 56, began her journey on this earth on Jan. 28, 1949, at Mitchell County Hospital, Beloit, Kan. Her parents, Wanda and Max Louder resided in Jewell County at this time. Linda attended Elementary School in Montrose, Kan., but spent her high school years in the Mankato High School, where she was an honor student.
Some of her fondest memories were of those years in Mankato where she would share lunch hours with her grandparents at the PA Miller Memorial Church. There were also those teenage dances, held beneath the public library on Friday nights, which she attended with her aunt, Marilyn George Creed.
After high school Linda attended Stephens College in Columbia, Mo., later transferring to Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kan. While pursuing her degree in history, she married her high school sweetheart, Mike Grout in 1969. Their daughter was born at this time and shortly thereafter they moved to Pasco, Wash. This marriage ended in divorce.
Linda and her children moved to the Arizona Desert where she worked in the real estate-property management area. She married John Mayhew.
In 2002 she moved to Southern California. Although Linda did not major in the arts she was very talented in this area. She was working as a consultant in antique furnishings when her health began to fail. She succumbed to breast and lung cancer after a one and half year struggle.
She passed away peacefully on Saturday, Dec. 3, surrounded by Heather's loving family in Meridian, Idaho, where she lived during this time. She is survived by her daughter, Heather, and her husband, Jim; her two grandsons, Harley and Jacob Neitzell; her son, Heath Grout; her parents, Wanda Louder and Max Louder; her siblings, Karen Strobe and husband, Bob, and their children, Sam and Hally; Mikel Louder and Janis Louder. She is also survived by her first husband, Gary Michael Grout, and her second husband, John Mayhew.
A celebration of her life will be held in the springtime in Canyon de Chelly, Arizona. Her wishes were for everyone to celebrate her life and live in love.
"I have shaken the dust from my soul and I sing the song of the soul set free."
Alma Risher
Alma V. Risher, 103, died Dec. 29 at St. Joseph Village, Manhattan.
She was born Aug. 12, 1902, at Randall, the daughter of Thomas and Anise (Lienberger) Harbert. Alma was married to Harley Eugene Risher in 1922 and they moved to Jewell where they lived for the next 75 years. Alma moved to Manhattan in 1997 to be near her daughters.
Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband on June 7, 1977, two brothers and three sisters.
Survivors include daughters, Mrs. Glenn Braddock (Iris Bea), and Fauna Jean Woods, all of Manhattan; five grandchildren, Kaellen and Mark Sharp, Oklahoma City, Okla.; Merilyn and Frank Griffith, Salina; Eddie and Lisa Ann Braddock, Anise and Dennis Falder and David and Joni Braddock, all of Manhattan; 15 great-grandchildren; 24 great-great-grandchildren and her sister, Emma Caroline Graff, Beloit.
Graveside services were held Jan. 3 at Wallace Cemetery, Jewell, with Pastor Dan Daniels officiating. Yorgensen-Meloan-Lindeen Funeral Home, Manhattan, was in charge of arrangements.
Mabel Jennings
Mabel (Gouldie) Jennings, 96, Lebanon, died Dec. 28 at her home.
She was one of nine children born to Stephen and Jennie (Reed) Gouldie, Oct. 23, 1909, on a farm in northern Smith County.
Mabel lived her life in Smith County, attending Johnson Country School and was a graduate of Lebanon High School. She married Harold C. Jennings on March 5, 1928, at Lebanon, and they lived in Lebanon. Harold died Jan. 7, 1997.
She was a member of the Christian Church, Lebanon, where she was a Sunday school teacher. She was a member of the Jenny Lind Club of Lebanon.
Before her children were born, she worked as a telephone operator.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Melvin Eugene; a daughter-in-law, Ethel; four sisters, Sadie Fox, Catherine Shimp, Maude (Mace) Barnes and Velma Brown; four brothers, an infant, Ray, Clinton and Everett Gouldie.
Survivors include sons, Garth and Neal, both of Lebanon; two grandsons, Terry, Smith Center, and Kerry, Riley; and four great-grandchildren
Graveside services were Dec. 31 at Cedar Hill Cora Cemetery, Bellaire, with Pastor Laura Fricker officiating. Casket bearers were Terry Jennings, Kerry Jennings, Raymond Princ, J.D. Manely, Rick Rice and Brandon Shaffer.
Melby Mortuary, Mankato, was in charge of arrangements.
Obituaries Published April 23, 2006
Opal Vestal
Opal May Vestal was born Oct. 2, 1914 on a farm south of Courtland, to Emerald and Jessie (Hutchinson) Mills, and died at Huntington Park Care Center in Papillion, Neb., on April 13 where she had resided over the past seven years. She was 91 years, six months and 11 days old.
She attended grade school at Salt Marsh and Bollen Country Schools and graduated from high school in Montrose. Opal married Lee (Slats) Vestal, in June of 1937, and to this union were born two children: Janet and Arden. They were blessed by having eight grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.
Opal was preceded in death by her grandson, Michael Lynn Ritterbush; husband, Slats of 49 1/2 years; son-in-law, Jim Ritterbush.
She is survived by her daughter, Janet and husband Jim Stevens, Bellevue, Neb.; son Arden Vestal, Wichita; and their families.
Opal and Slats resided in Mankato most of their married life where they were members of the Christian Church.
Services were held April 18 at 10:30 a.m. at the Christian Church, Mankato, with Pastor Thaddeus Hinkle officiating. Casket bearers were Gordon Ernst, Curtis Ernst, Brett Ernst, Virgil Kimminau, Jerry Vader, William Collins. Honorary casket bearers were Dean Buster, Dean Leonard, Keith Bohnert, Roy Damon, Rex Freeman, Milford Mills, Mitch Martin and Harlow Vader. Interment was in the Balch Cemetery, Formoso. Melby Mortuary, Mankato, was in charge of arrangements.
Wayne Hedden
Wayne Sheldon Hedden was born on Nov. 7, 1933 in Bruning, Neb., to Marion J. and Adeline E. (Higel) Hedden. He died at his home in Colby on April 14 at the age of 72.
Wayne was the eldest of three children. The family moved frequently before finally settling in Mankato, where his father and uncles ran the airports in Norton, Mankato, and Belleville. He was baptized at an early age in the Lutheran faith, and confirmed at the Mankato Lutheran Church. He attended school in Mankato and graduated with the Class of 1951. After high school he attended college at Fairbury Junior College in Fairbury, Neb., and Kansas State College.
During this time several of his classmates were drafted, but not Wayne, so he decided to enlist. He was turned down by the Navy and Coast Guard due to his eyesight but stopped at the Air Force recruiting station on April 1, 1955, and was told "Come on in". Thus began a 21 year career.
Wayne married Kathleen A. Wiley on Jan. 27, 1956, and moved with her to the first of many military stations. He served on military bases at McConnell AFB near Wichita, Torrejon AFB near Madrid, Spain, Wurtsmith AFB near Oscoda, Mich., Phang Rang AFB, Vietnam, Ellsworth AFB near Rapid City, S.D., and Whiteman AFB near Warrensburg, Mo. Wayne helped his family of five children adjust to the various moves by being involved with them in scouting as Boy and a Girl Scout leader, and in Little League as a coach. He served as a Dental Assistant and retired in June 1976 as a Tech Sargent with an Honorable Discharge.
Wayne and his family moved to Colby in 1976 where he worked at Colby Supermarket and attended Colby Community College. He graduated from Fort Hays State University in 1981 with a degree in Food Services. He returned to Colby where he worked for Lantern Park Nursing Home and retired in 1986 due to heart problems. Retirement was enjoyed by cooking, traveling, reading, woodworking, and being with his nine grandchildren.
He is survived by: wife, Kathleen of the home; children, David Michael, Salina, Debra Michelle Brodst and husband Darrell, Stockton, Donald Mark and wife Janet, Abilene, Daniel Matthew and wife Christel, St. Joseph, Mo., Diana Marie Carter and husband JC, Colby; grandchildren, Nicole and Adam Brodst, Whitney and Emily Hedden, Shannon, Scott and Jacob Hedden, Caleb and Cayla Carter; brother, Wes, Phoenix, Ariz.; sister, Wanda Siedel, Lawrence; sister-in-laws, Eva Wiley, Cawker City, Sharon Leigh, Bloomington, Ind.; several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held today Thursday, April 20, at 10 a.m. at Kersenbrock Funeral Home, Colby, with Pastor John Schmidt officiating, with graveside services following at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Mankato, at 3:30 p.m. There will be full military honors from the Fort Riley Honor Guard. He was cremated.
Don Wilson
Don Rusk White was born Sept. 21, 1929 at Kansas City, Mo., and adopted by J.R. and Elvira (Personnett) White. He died April 16 at the Mitchell County Hospital, Beloit, at the age of 76 years, six months, and 25 days.
Don was raised in Mankato, attended Mankato School and graduated from Mankato High School. While a youth in Mankato, Don was active in 4-H. After graduation Don went into the Army during the Korean War and was stationed in Alaska. He was community minded. Don was active in Mankato City Council, American Legion, V.F.W., Mankato Golf Club, area coin clubs, Jewell County Historical Society, Mankato Development, Mankato Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, was a community leader, and promoted 4-H activities. He was a member of the Harmony United Methodist Church and retired from Kansas Dept. of Transportation.
Don was preceded in death by his father, J.R. White.
Survivors are: his mother, Elvira; several cousins; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services were held April 19, 10:30 a.m., at the Melby Mortuary Chapel, Mankato, with Pastor Laura Fricker officiating. United States Honor Guard served as casket bearers. Graveside services were conducted by United States Honor Guard, Fort Riley, and V.F.W. Post No. 7830, Mankato. Interment followed in the Mount Hope Cemetery, Mankato. Melby Mortuary, Mankato, was in charge of arrangements.
