Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Rita T. Hermes
SCOTT CITY - Rita T. Hermes, 77, died Jan. 30, 2000, at Park Lane Nursing Home, Scott City.
She was born Jan. 1, 1923, at Ost, the daughter of John Nicholas and Mary Anna Hilger Hermes. She graduated from Sacred Heart Academy, Wichita. A Scott City resident since 1934, moving from Shallow Water, she was a sales clerk at Duckwall's Inc., for many years.
She belonged to St. Joseph's Catholic Church, the Ladies Altar Society and the Daughters of Isabella, all at Scott City.
Survivors include: seven brothers, Eugene, Columbia Falls, Mont., Raymond and Gerald, both of Scott City, Clarence, Colorado Springs, Colo., Dr. Jerome, Seneca, Bishop Herbert, Cristalandia, Brazil, and Norbert, Salina; two sisters, Victoria Urban, Englewood, Colo., and Lucilla Herman, Broken Arrow, Okla.; and numerous nephews and nieces.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Mildred Brunner.
Vigil prayer service will be at 7:30 p.m. today at Price & Sons Funeral Home, Scott City. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Scott City, with Father Francis Khoi Nguyen presiding. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home. Burial will be in Scott County Cemetery, Scott City.
Memorials may be sent to the Rita T. Hermes Memorial Fund, in care of the funeral home.
Dave J. Unruh
GALVA - Dave J. Unruh, 96, died Jan. 31, 2000, at Infinia Healthcare Center, McPherson.
He was born Dec. 14, 1903, at Galva, the son of John B. and Elizabeth Deckert Unruh. A lifetime Galva resident, he was a farmer, welder and mechanic.
He belonged to Galva United Methodist Church and was a board member of Good Hope School District No. 37 and Delmore Township.
On Dec. 1, 1925, he married
Della Mae Decker at Newton. She survives.
Other survivors include: a son, Robert, Canton; four daughters, LaVeda Regier and Darlene Everhart, both of McPherson, Joyce Lawless, Galva, and Norma Mittelsteadt, Waseca, Minn.; 17 grandchildren; 47 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by five brothers, Will, Pete, Abe, Ike and Jake; six sisters, Nettie Becker, Mary Becker, Lena Unruh, Susie Becker, Frieda Koehn and Martha Koehn; and an infant son, Roland.
Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church, McPherson, with the Rev. Sandy DesPlas presiding. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday, with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m., both at Stockham Family Funeral Home, McPherson. Burial will be in Empire Cemetery, rural Galva.
Memorials may be sent to the church in care of the funeral home.
Alberta Decker
McPHERSON - Alberta Decker, 86, died Jan. 31, 2000, at Memorial Hospital, McPherson.
She was born Sept. 17, 1913, at rural Galva, the daughter of C.B. and Lena Jantz Unruh. A lifetime McPherson County resident, she was a homemaker and cook for Sunflower Grade School, rural Galva, and McPherson USD 418.
She belonged to Grace Bible Church, McPherson.
On Oct. 3, 1934, she married
LeeRoy Decker at Galva. He died Dec. 31, 1999.
Survivors include: two sons, Jim, Galva, and Gil, Watkinsville, Ga.; two daughters, Shirley Sonik, Perth, Australia, and Pam Cones, Crawfordsville, Ind.; and three granddaughters.
She was preceded in death by three brothers, Roy, Orville and Vernon Unruh; four sisters, Mary Eck, Minnie Eck, Alvina Becker and Cecil Wedel; and a grandson.
Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Grace Bible Church, McPherson, with the Rev. Richard Duerksen presiding. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, with the family receiving friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m., both at Glidden-Ediger Funeral Home, McPherson. Burial will be in Crestwood Memorial Park Cemetery, rural McPherson.
Memorials may be sent to the church in care of the funeral home.
Herschel R. Walls
ULYSSES - Herschel R. Walls, 44, died Jan. 30, 2000, at Ulysses.
Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced by Garnand Funeral Home, Ulysses.
Martha A. Smith
LIBERAL - Martha A. Smith, 73, died Jan. 29, 2000, at her home.
She was born April 2, 1926, at Berino, N.M., the daughter of Shannon P. and Anna D. Hartman Russell. She graduated from La Junta, Colo., High School in 1943. A Liberal resident since 1986, moving from La Junta, she worked at local canning factories, as a bookkeeper for Montgomery Ward, La Junta, and at Wal-Mart and La Fonda Motel for several years.
She belonged to South Church of God, Liberal, and the La Junta Fireman Ladies Auxiliary, La Junta.
On July 8, 1944, she married
Wayne W. Smith at Abilene, Texas. He survives.
Other survivors include: two sons, Leslie W., Las Vegas, and Gary L., Liberal; a brother, R.D. Russell, Denver; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son, Larry, and five brothers.
Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. today at Miller Chapel, Liberal, with the Rev. David Hellmig presiding. Friends may call from 8 a.m. to service time today at the chapel. Graveside service will be at 1 p.m. MT Wednesday in Fairview Cemetery, La Junta, with Minister Jim Russell presiding.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Parkland Tower, in care of the mortuary.
R. Dale Harter
ST. JOHN - R. Dale Harter, 76, died Jan. 30, 2000, at Stafford District Hospital, Stafford.
He was born Oct. 11, 1923, at St. John, the son of Ray and Ruth Harter. He graduated from St. John High School in 1942. A lifetime resident of the St. John area, he was a farmer and past undersheriff for Stafford County.
He was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Seward, Veterans of Foreign Wars, St. John, and was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II.
On Oct. 26, 1948, he married
Louise E. Fehrenbacher at Seward. She survives.
Other survivors include: two sons, Dennis, Stafford, and David, St. John; a sister, Joyce Benham, Woodland Hills, Calif.; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Kathryn Gerstner; three brothers, Garey, Harlan and Rodney; and a sister, Jeanne Wright.
Graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Fairview Park Cemetery, St. John, with Father Rene Guesnier presiding. Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. today at Minnis Chapel, St. John.
Memorials may be sent to the Class of 1971 Scholarship Fund in care of the chapel.
Otis H. Parnell
KINSLEY - Otis H. Parnell, 77, died Jan. 30, 2000, at Edmond, Okla.
He was born Aug. 5, 1922, at Dodge City, the son of Otis and Chrissie Sutton Parnell. A Kinsley resident, he was a pharmaceutical salesman.
He belonged to First Christian Church and the Kiwanis Club, both at Kinsley, and was a former Edwards County commissioner.
On June 22, 1944, he married
Joan M. Pike at Minneola. She survives.
Other survivors include: two daughters, Pam Silagi, Tulsa, Okla., and Tanda Ulm, Edmond, Okla.; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at First Christian Church, Kinsley, with the Rev. Sara Davis-Blodgett presiding. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at McKillip Memorial Funeral Home, Kinsley. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery, Mullinville.
Memorials may be sent to the Progressive Supranuclear Palsy or to Parkinson's Disease, both in care of the funeral home.
