Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Dolor J. Turgeon
FORT DODGE - Dolor Jerome Turgeon, 86, died Dec. 3, 2004, at Kansas Soldiers Home, Halsey Hall, Fort Dodge.
He was born Aug. 15, 1918, at Bonesteil, S.D., the son of Francis and Nettie Davis Turgeon. A Fort Dodge resident since 2000, moving from Mission, S.D., he was owner and operator of Texaco Gas Station.
He served in the U. S. Army during World War II.
He was a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion. He also was a veterans service representative for Todd County, S.D., and a deacon for St. John's Episcopal Church, Mission, S.D.
In July 1946, he married
Mercy Lena Little Eagle. She died October 1979.
Survivors include: two sons, Daryel W., Dodge City, Larry, Lansing, a stepson, Nathan Swiftbird, Mobridge, S.D.; three stepdaughters, Irene Nelson, Sisseton, S.D., Lauretta Haukass, Oceanside, Calif., and Barbara Mary Bordeaux, Fort Worth, Texas.; three brothers, Dick, Mesquite, Nev., Ben, Peoria, Ariz., and Jerry, Omaha, Neb.; three sisters, Laura Behrends, Apache Junction, Ariz., Frances Halligan, Carson City, Nev., and Lauretta Barnes, Cody, Neb.; 20 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, Orville; a stepdaughter, Barbara Jean Osborn; and two brothers, Ray and Donnie.
Memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Dec. 13 at the Bishop O'Hare Jones Building, Mission, S.D., with Father John Spurhan presiding. Burial will be in Trinity Cemetery. There will be no public viewing. Cremation has taken place.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Dolor Turgeon Memorial Fund, in care of Burkhart-Ziegler Funeral Chapel, Dodge City.
Bill Chaffin
DODGE CITY - Bill Chaffin, 65, died Nov. 30, 2004, at his home in Rio Verde, Ariz.
He was born Sept. 12, 1939, at Satanta, the son of Owen Charles and Leona Irene (Dale) Chaffin. He graduated from Moscow High School, attended the University of Kansas and graduated from Emporia State Teacher's College with a degree in business and social science. He was a former resident of Moscow, Bogue, Liberal and Grand Junction, Colo., and had residences in Dodge City and Rio Verde. He taught high school in Courtland and Bogue. He then joined his father in establishing Gibson's Discount Store franchises throughout several states. He worked with the Gibson's chain until it sold, at which time he founded Rayne Co. in Dodge City.
He belonged to First United Methodist Church, Dodge City, and Theta Chi Fraternity. He also had an interest in the Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas and Bank of the Southwest, where he was co-owner and served on the board of directors.
On July 2, 1961, he married
Nona Damon at Olathe. She survives.
Other survivors include: a son, Brian, Overland Park; a daughter, Stephanie Franzitta, Cimarron; a brother, Gary Chaffin, Dodge City; and two grandsons.
Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at First United Methodist Church, Dodge City, with the Rev. Lance Carrithers and Jeff Hiers presiding. Friends may call from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday at Swaim Funeral Home, Dodge City. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Dodge City.
Memorials may be sent to the Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas, in care of the funeral home.
Richard A. Hayes
LARNED - Richard A. Hayes, 56, died Nov. 30, 2004, at Wesley Medical Center, Wichita.
He was born Aug. 8, 1948, at Cherokee, Okla., the son of Leonard Steffen and Winifred Cleo McVay Hayes. A Larned resident since 2001, moving from Wakita, Okla., he was a high school principal.
He belonged to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Larned.
On Dec. 27, 1978, he married
Pat C. Koetting at Salina. She survives.
Other survivors include: a son, Richard Steffen, Hays; four daughters, Claire Denise Hulsey, Overland Park, Deirdre Rose Hayes-Cootz, Houston, Martha Maria Hayes, Plains, and Brenda "Bunny" Hayes, Hays; a brother, Daniel Joe, Wichita; a sister, Winivieve DiAnn Ruggles, Haysville; and a grandson.
He was preceded in death by a son, Robert Patrick.
Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Larned, with Father Dennis Reed presiding. Graveside service will be at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Short Springs Cemetery, Alva, Okla.
Memorials may be sent to a charitable organization of the donor's choice, in care of Morell Funeral Home, Larned.
Marie Ellis Howard
Marie Ellis Howard, 84, completed her life's journey Dec. 2, 2004, at Hospice House, Hutchinson.
She was born Sept. 28, 1920, at Stafford, the daughter of Ed O. and Annie B. Williams West. She was a homemaker.
She was a member of Crossroads Christian Church, Hutchinson.
On July 12, 1936, she married
Leonard Ellis. He preceded her in death. She later married
Carl Wilke and Clay Howard. They both preceded her in death.
Survivors include: three sons, David W. Ellis, Overland Park, Leonard "Gus" Ellis, Newton, and Mick L. Ellis, Hutchinson; two daughters, Linda J. Algrim, Nickerson, and Myrna M. Jones, Hutchinson; 17 grandchildren; and 27 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by six brothers, Ralph, Clifford, Clyde, Gilbert, Ruby and Ray West; and two sisters, Margaret Evans and Loretta Mathias.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home and Crematory, Hutchinson, with Wayne Pittman presiding. Graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Monday in North Inman Cemetery, Inman.
Memorials may be sent to the church or Hospice of Reno County, both in care of the funeral home.
John F. Vierthaler
ANTHONY - John F. Vierthaler, 77, died Dec. 2, 2004, at his home, Anthony.
He was born May 21, 1927, at St. Leo, the son of John and Elizabeth Theis Vierthaler. An Anthony resident, he was a retired office manager for Williams Gas Co. and Williams Motor Co., Anthony.
On April 11, 1950, he married
D. Alice Cordes at Aleppo. She survives.
Other survivors include: a daughter, Patti Browning, Holcomb; four brothers, Omer and Dennis, both of Hutchinson, Larry, Zenda, and Bob, Wichita; two sisters, Mary Ann Fisher, Cimarron, and Ella Fisher, Kingman; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Rosary will be at 9:30 a.m., and funeral will be at 10 a.m., both Monday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Anthony, of the St. Joan of Arc Parish Community, with Father Michael Peltzer presiding. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Prairie Rose Funeral Home, Williams Chapel, Anthony. Burial will be in Forest Park Cemetery, Anthony.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the American Cancer Society, in care of the funeral home.
Faye A. Miller
HOISINGTON - Faye Alice Miller, 95, died Dec. 3, 2004, at Woodhaven Care Center, Ellinwood.
She was born Sept. 1, 1909, at Rush Center, the daughter of Arthur Q. and Alice Mary Neeley Thornbrugh. A longtime Hoisington resident, she was a homemaker.
She was of the Methodist faith, was a member of the Clara Barton Foundation and was a former Girl Scout leader in Hoisington.
On Aug. 24, 1932, she married
Sherman J. Miller at Greensburg. He died June 15, 1996.
Survivors include: a daughter, Marjorie Byers, Great Bend; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two stepgreat-grandchildren; and three stepgreat-great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Clarence Thornbrugh; and two sisters, Margie Anderson and Maxine Krummel.
Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, Hoisington, with the Rev. Don Paden presiding. Burial will be in Hoisington Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to Clara Barton Foundation or to the donor's choice, both in care of the funeral home.
Amelia C. Bidwell-McDonald
WICHITA - Amelia Christine Bidwell-McDonald, 31, died Nov. 30, 2004.
A Wichita resident, she was an account representative for Bank of America.
Survivors include: husband, Jimmy; a son; a daughter; her father; her mother and her husband; two brothers; two sisters; and four grandparents.
Funeral will be at 2 p.m. today at Broadway Mortuary, Wichita.
Memorials may be sent to the Jarrid Vestering and Bridget Bidwell Trust Fund, in care of the Bank of America.
Virginia Rebecca Marie Witt (Buck)
ONTARIO, Calif. - Virginia Rebecca Marie Witt (Buck), 86, passed away Dec. 1, 2004, at the Ontario Health Care Center.
She was born July 16, 1918, in Meade and was a resident of Ontario for the past 36 years.
She was a homemaker for more than 50 years. She was a Jehovah's Witness and her faith was her lifelong dedication.
Mrs. Witt is survived by her son, Gene Witt, Ontario; daughter, Joyce Bixler, Apple Valley, Calif.; son, Bill Witt, Big Bear Lake, Calif.; daughter, Debra Rhodes, Ontario; daughter, Cynthia Coccia, Ventura, Calif.; daughter, Denise Harwood, Claremont, Calif.; and daughter, Nita Long, Pinon Hills, Calif.; brother, Ervin Buck, Hermenitage, Pa.; 26 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Albert Witt, and her son, Russell Witt.
Virginia was a loving mother and grandmother. She will be missed greatly by her family and friends.
Visitation will be held on Monday, December 6, 2004, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Draper Mortuary, 811 N. Mountain Avenue, Ontario. Services will be held on Tuesday, December 7, 2004, at 1 p.m. at the Draper Memorial Chapel. Interment will follow in Bellvue Memorial Park, Ontario.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society, 1240 Palmyrita Ave., Suite A, Riverside, Calif., 92507.
Draper Mortuary is assisting the family.
