Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Grayce M. McKibben
STAFFORD - Grayce M. McKibben, 97, died Dec. 28, 2004, at her home in Stafford.
She was born Oct. 15, 1907, at Iuka, the daughter of George and Nellie Cooper Tregellas. A resident of Stafford since 1942, moving from a farm in Preston, she had worked as a reporter for the Stafford Courier newspaper.
She belonged to First Baptist Church, Order of the Eastern Star and Northstar Community Club, all at Stafford.
On Aug. 21, 1928, she married
Wayne F. McKibben at Stafford. He died Dec. 23, 1984.
Survivors include: two sons, John, Las Cruces, N.M., and Larry, Surprise, Ariz.; a brother, George Tregellas, Sun City, Ariz.; a sister, Edna McCune, Stafford; six grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by three sisters, Ina, Iva and Pearl.
Graveside service will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday in Iuka Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Minnis Chapel, Stafford.
Memorials may be sent to First Baptist Church, in care of the funeral chapel.
Bobby E. Meacham
HESSTON - Bobby E. Meacham, 76, died Dec. 30, 2004, at Newton Medical Center.
He was born March 4, 1928, at Great Bend, the son of William George Meacham and Ella Lena McQuaid Stukey. He worked as a postal carrier for many years. After his retirement from the U.S. Post Office, he did maintenance work for Axtell Hospital.
He belonged to Garden Mennonite Church, Hesston. He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. He was honorably discharged Sept. 10, 1952. During his enlistment, he assisted in the capture and securing of Seoul, Korea, and participated in the Wonsan-Hungman-Chosin Campaign of Northern Korea and in operations against forces in South and Central Korea.
On June 9, 1948, he married
Marilyn E. Reusser at Walton. She died Oct. 17, 1997.
Survivors include: a son, Bobby D., Newton; a daughter, Monica L. Meacham Shannon, Wichita; a brother, Garry D. Stukey II, Wichita; eight grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Eddy Meacham; and an infant sister and brother, Peggy and Billy Meacham.
Graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Garden Mennonite Church Cemetery, Hesston, with Pastors David Norris and Ted Veer presiding.
Memorials may be sent to Schowalter Villa, in care of Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, 120 East Broadway, Newton, KS 67114.
Helen A. Bender
RUSSELL - Henry A. Bender, 81, died Dec. 29, 2004, at Russell Regional Hospital.
He was born April 4, 1923, on the family homestead north of Russell, the son of Henry H. and Theresa Dorothea Ehrlich Bender. He graduated from Russell High School in 1941. He worked on the farm and in the oilfields for Flint Rig Co. for a few years. He was a farmer and stockman. He also was a skilled welder and mechanic.
He belonged to St. John Church, Russell, where he formerly had served on the church council. He was a member of Russell Masonic Lodge No. 177 A.F.&A.M., Isis Shrine of Salina and Russell County Shrine Club, where he had formerly served as club president. He was instrumental in helping establish Post Rock Rural Water District in Russell County. He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving during World War II.
On June 5, 1948, he married
Marceline Ann Mitchell at Russell. She survives.
Other survivors include: two sons, Michael, Sterling, and Richard, Shreveport, La.; two daughters, Margaret Mai, Yuma, Ariz., and Nancy Underwood, Russell; a brother, Fritz, Yuma, Ariz.; two sisters, Betty Moss, Hutchinson, and Mary Bridges, nephews and nieces.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Chester; and a sister, Dorothy Reuber.
Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at St. John Lutheran Church, Russell, with the Rev. Henry J. Hartman presiding. Interment will be in Russell City Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to Shriner's Hospitals or to the church, both in care of Pohlman-Heise Mortuary, 610 North Maple, Russell, KS 67665.
Helen Elizabeth Anschutz
RUSSELL - Helen Elizabeth Anschutz, 90, died Dec. 30, 2004, at Wheatland Nursing Center, Russell.
She was born March 23, 1914, on the family farm, three miles northwest of Russell, the daughter of John George and Eva Elizabeth Wagner Bender. She graduated from Russell High School. A resident of Russell, she was a homemaker and farmwife. She had worked for the Extension Council and agricultural office, Russell, for the U.S. Army Air Corp on the west coast as a secretary and later as a secretary at New York. She also worked as a copywriter for KRSL radio at Russell in the mid-1960s and later the Russell Housing Authority.
She belonged to St. John Lutheran Church and Priscilla Circle at the church. She was a member of Russell Regional Hospital Auxiliary, Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, former 4-H leader and volunteer for Lone Star 4-H group for more than 19 years and served on the board of directors and was instrumental in founding the Senior Companion Program at Russell. She also was instrumental as the activity coordinator and volunteer for Russell County Senior Citizens Group and coordinated and planned numerous bus trips throughout the years.
On Oct. 5, 1941, she married
Harold W. Anschutz at Russell. He died Dec. 10, 1981.
Survivors include: four sons, Don, Russell, John, Topeka, James, Midland, Mich., and Wayne, Birmingham, Ala.; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Alvin Bender; and two sisters, Esther Snyder and Alma Bender.
Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at St. John Lutheran Church, Russell, with the Rev. Henry J. Hartman presiding. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Pohlman-Heise Mortuary, Russell. Interment will be in St. John Lutheran Cemetery, Russell.
Memorials may be sent to the church or to Russell County 4-H Foundation, both in care of the mortuary, 610 North Maple, Russell, KS 67665.
James Allen Rusco
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - James Allen Rusco, Ed D, 64, died Dec. 29, 2004, at Baptist Hospital, Little Rock, Ark.
He was born May 2, 1940, at Great Bend, the son of Orville John and Katherine Mary Schartz Rusco. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Fort Hays State University and his doctrine degree from Northwestern College, Chicago, Ill. A resident of Little Rock for 27 years, formerly of Great Bend, he was a college professor and counselor for the University of Arkansas, Little Rock.
He was a U.S. Army veteran.
Survivors include: two sisters and three nephews and nieces.
Vigil service will be at 7 p.m. Monday at Bryant Funeral Home, Great Bend. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Great Bend, with Fathers Ted Stoecklein and John J. Maes presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Interment will be in Lakin-Comanche District Cemetery, Ellinwood.
Memorials may be sent to the Catholic Community of Great Bend; St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Ellinwood; or to the James Rusco Scholarship Fund at University of Arkansas, Little Rock, all in care of the funeral home, 1425 Patton Road, Great Bend, KS 67530.
Rhoda Mae Taylor
AMARILLO, Texas - Rhoda Mae Taylor, 76, died Dec. 30, 2004, at Baptist St. Anthony Hospital, Amarillo, Texas.
She was born May 27, 1928, the daughter of William and Ella Selzer Landis. A resident of Amarillo for 11 years, formerly of Perryton, Texas, and Canton, she was a homemaker.
She was of the Protestant faith.
On Aug. 1, 1947, she married
Wiley L. Taylor at McPherson. He died July 2, 2001.
Survivors include: a son; four daughters; a brother; a sister, Dollie Hershberger, Hesston; 14 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Spring Valley Mennonite Church, Canton. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Olson's Mortuary, Canton. Interment will be in Spring Valley Mennonite Church Cemetery, Canton.
Memorials may be sent to the church, in care of the mortuary, P.O. Box 355, Canton, KS 67428.
Frank W. Zenor
Frank W. Zenor, 95, died Dec. 31, 2004, at Dillon Living Center, Hutchinson.
He was born June 13, 1909, at Stafford, the son of George and Mabel Deniston Zenor.
He graduated from Stafford High School in 1927. A longtime Hutchinson resident, he was a retired machinist for the former Cessna Fluid Power Division.
He belonged to Eastwood Church of Christ, Hutchinson.
On June 14, 1930, he married
Jessie Lucille Starr at St. John. She died Dec. 25, 2001.
Survivors include: a son, Larry W., Hutchinson; a daughter, Barbara Gough, Hutchinson; five grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Leslie Zenor.
Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Stafford City Cemetery, with Ernie Bishop presiding. Friends may call from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday at Elliott Mortuary.
Memorials may be sent to Eastwood Church of Christ, in care of the funeral home.
Louie Smith
NEWTON - Louie "Smitty" Smith, 84, died Dec. 28, 2004, at Chisholm Trail Road, Newton.
He was born Oct. 20, 1940, at Enid, Okla., the son of Tobias and Helena Eck Smith. He attended school in rural Verden, Okla. A resident of Newton, he was owner and operator of Smitty's Propane Services. He also worked for Hesston and Kinder manufacturing companies. During retirement, he cut wood for 15 years.
He married
Aileen Sebrant. She preceded him in death. On March 30, 2002, he married
Marie Byrum at Newton. She survives.
Other survivors include: two sons, Larry, Valley Center, and Glen, Mesa, Ariz.; a daughter, Janet Horn, Newton; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by seven brothers, Henery, Elmer, Daniel, Edwin, Lincoln, Alvin and Harry; five sisters, Lilly Becker, Edith Koehn, Eva Schmidt, Adina Ratzlaff and Lavina Koehn; and an infant child.
Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Plainview Mennonite Church, Verden, Okla., with the Rev. Robert Schmidt presiding. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday with the family receiving friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Petersen Funeral Home, Newton. Burial will be in Plainview Mennonite Church Cemetery, Verden.
Vernon L. Miller
GREAT BEND - Vernon Leroy Miller, 83, died Dec. 30, 2004, at Wichita.
He was born Oct. 2, 1921, at Ellinwood, the son of George D. Sr., and Marie Galliart Miller. A resident of Great Bend since 2000, moving from Ellinwood, he graduated from Ellinwood High School. He was a farmer, rancher and co-owner of Cheyenne Angus Farms.
He belonged to St. John's Lutheran Church, Ellinwood and the American Angus Association.
On Nov. 4, 1945, he married
Betty C. Panning at Ellinwood. She preceded him in death Jan. 21, 2003.
Survivors include: a brother, George Jr., Ellinwood; a daughter-in-law, Chari Miller, Great Bend; three grandchildren, Lori Greenfield and her husband Donald, Lawrence, Jill Wiechman and her husband Aaron, Valley Center, Julie Moran and her husband Todd, Lawrence; and four great-grandchildren, Christopher, Lacey Rose and Colin Greenfield and Ella Marie Wiechman.
He was preceded in death by two sons, Max Leon and Allan Vernon.
Funeral will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. John's Lutheran Church, Ellinwood, with the Rev. Merlyn Lorhke presiding. Friends may call from 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Kimple Funeral Home, Ellinwood. Burial will be in Lakin-Comanche District Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to St. John's Lutheran Church, in care of the funeral home.
