Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
B. Ruth Wallin
ELLSWORTH - B. Ruth Wallin, 91, died Dec. 6, 2004, at her home, Ellsworth
She was born Nov. 15, 1913, at Mankato, Minn., the daughter of Charles and Alice Sullivan Maxfield. An Ellsworth resident for six years, formerly of Lake Kanopolis, she was a medication aide at Riverview Estates, Marquette.
She belonged to United Methodist Church and the Ladies Thanksgiving Club, both at Geneseo.
On Jan. 13, 1933, she married
Leander A. Wallin at Mankato. He died April 25, 1976.
Survivors include: a son, David Wallin, Ellsworth; two daughters, Leah Sturn, Bushton, and Patti Bateson, Billings, Mont.; two sisters, Audrey Crane, Vero Beach, Fla., and Mary Lou Ballman, Cleveland, Minn.; five grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son, Larry.
Memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at United Methodist Church, Geneseo, with the Rev. Lyndelle S. Linde presiding. There will be no visitation; cremation has taken place. Inurnment will be in Geneseo Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to Riverview Estates, in care of the family.
Robert A. Arnold
HILLSBORO - Robert A. Arnold, 83, died Dec. 7, 2004, at Hillsboro.
He was born March 27, 1921, at Latham, the son of Orval and Elsie McCullough Arnold. He was a former general manager of Tip Top Credit Union and president of Hillsboro State Bank.
He belonged to Hillsboro United Methodist Church.
On Sept. 18, 1943, he married
Doris Jane Klassen at Hillsboro. She survives.
Other survivors include: two sons, Larry G., Castle Rock, Colo., and Robert J. Arnold, McPherson; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Hillsboro United Methodist Church with the Rev. R. Laney Kuhn presiding. The family will receive guests from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Jost Funeral Home, Hillsboro. Burial will be in Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to the church, in care of the funeral home.
Anna J. Howard
LIBERAL - Anna Jean Howard, 76, died Dec. 6, 2004, at Terrace Garden Nursing Home, Garden City.
She was born Nov. 17, 1928, at Shawnee, Okla., the daughter of Emmett V. and Bertha M. Geyer Hampton. She moved to Liberal in 1948, then to Kismet, where she was a custodian for the Kismet Grade School for 20 years. She returned to Liberal in 1984.
On July 12, 1946, she married
Herman Howard at Shawnee, Okla.
Survivors include: four sons, Jerry, Liberal, Larry, Rose Hill, Bruce, Garden City, and Mike Howard, Derby; a daughter, Linda Kirkwood, Liberal; two brothers, Roland Hampton, Compton, Calif., and Thurman Hampton, Fordyce, Ark.; a sister, Violet Jackson, Walters, Okla.; nine grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
Graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Friday in Kismet Cemetery, with Bob Deacon presiding. Visitation will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, and 8 to 11 a.m. Friday, all at Miller Mortuary, Liberal.
Memorials may be sent to American Cancer Society or Alzheimer's Association, both in care of the mortuary.
Hal S. McCracken
Hal Smith McCracken, 98, died Nov. 30, 2004, at Hutchinson Hospital.
He was born July 14, 1906, at Medicine Lodge, the son of Enos Lee "Bud" McCracken and Ella Smith. Enos McCracken was a former Barber County Sheriff and was killed in the line of duty. Hal attended Alva and Medicine Lodge high schools. He was a roustabout, oil field pumper, and an employee of Packaging Corp. of America. He retired in 1969.
He belonged to First Christian Church and American Legion Lysle Rishel Post No. 68. He served in the Navy Air Corp during World War II.
On Aug. 4, 1940, he married
Beulah Logue at Sylvia. She died Jan. 28, 1989.
He is survived by two granddaughters, Carol Quayle, Yachats, Ore., and Alfreida Cranston, Portland, Ore., a nephew and two nieces.
He was preceded in death by four brothers and three sisters.
Memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at First Christian Church with Pastor John Andrews presiding. There will be no visitation. Cremation has taken place. Burial will be in Fairlawn Burial Park.
Ruby P. Petersile
DODGE CITY - Ruby Pearl Blanchfield Petersile, 99, died Dec. 2, 2004, at Trinity Manor, Dodge City.
She was born July 10, 1905, at Sterling, the daughter of T.A. "Thomas" and Magalena "Lena" Rinehart Blanchfield. She and her family moved to a farm southeast of Dodge City in 1908 and to Dodge City in 1929. She worked for Fairmount Dairy for several years and Dodge City Laundry for four years and was a maid and waitress at the Lora Locke Hotel for 27 years.
She belonged to Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dodge City.
She married
Lynn Irwin. He preceded her in death. She later married
Marvin Babcock. On April 30, 1965, she married
Frank W. Petersile. He died June 29, 1978.
Survivors include: a stepson, Frank Petersile, Boone, N.C.; two stepdaughters, Marilyn Burry, Dodge City, and Jackie Cook, Boone; and several nephews and nieces.
She was preceded in death by four brothers, Clarence, Wilfred, Gilbert and Forrest "Mandy" Blanchfield, and two sisters, Irene Blanchfield and Mable Van Dine.
Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Saturday in Maple Grove Cemetery, Dodge City, with Father Ted A. Skalsky presiding. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at Burkhart-Ziegler Funeral Chapel, Dodge City.
Memorials may be sent to Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, in care of the funeral home.
Chester P. Miller
HESSTON - Chester P. Miller, 95, died Dec. 1, 2004, at Newton Medical Center.
He was born Feb. 23, 1909, at Kalona, Iowa, the son of Jacob P. and Emma Yoder Miller. In 1971, he moved to Palmer Lake, Colo., and worked at Frontier Boys Village for 41/2 years. A Hesston resident since 1976, he was a farmer.
He belonged to Hesston Mennonite Church.
On June 4, 1933, he married
Lydia Leona Yoder at Kalona. She preceded him in death.
Survivors include: two sons, Laurel, Hesston, and Arlen, Grove City, Ohio; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Schowalter Villa Chapel, Hesston, with the Rev. John Murray presiding. Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday, with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m., at Miller Funeral Home, Hesston. Burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Eastlawn Cemetery, near Hesston.
Memorials may be sent to Mennonite Voluntary Service, in care of the funeral home.
Marcella A. Dresher
CANTON - Marcella A. Dresher, 92, died Nov. 30, 2004, at her home, rural Canton.
She was born July 19, 1912, at McPherson, the daughter of Goss L. and Minnie Moddrell Stansel. She was graduated from McPherson High School and McPherson College. A Canton resident since 1950, moving from Windom, she was a retired elementary school teacher for Sunflower and Moundridge schools.
She belonged to Canton United Methodist Church and Rachel Circle of United Methodist Women and was a former youth Sunday school teacher.
On July 19, 1936, she married
Donald W. Dresher at McPherson. He died May 23, 1997.
Survivors include: two sons, Larry K., Arroyo Grande, Calif., and Merlin D., Canton; a sister, Faylene Way, Eagle, Idaho; and four grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Glendon Stansel.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Canton United Methodist Church, with the Revs. Richard Brooks and Sonja Griffith presiding. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Olson's Mortuary, Canton. Interment will be in Canton Township Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to the church, in care of the mortuary.
Robert Middleton
FORT DODGE - Robert Middleton, 79, died Dec. 1, 2004, at the Kansas Soldiers Home, Halsey Hall, Fort Dodge.
He was born June 23, 1925, at Beaman, Iowa, the son of Arnett and Grace Kitzman Middleton. He graduated from Grundy Center High School, Iowa. A Fort Dodge resident since 1994, moving from Spearville, he was a machine operator and supervisor for Crustbuster for 15 years.
He was past commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 5984, Spearville. He joined the U.S. Army Air Force in 1945.
Graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Friday in Kansas Veterans Cemetery, at Fort Dodge, with the Rev. Dick Robbins presiding.
Memorials may be sent to the Kansas Soldiers Home, in care of Burkhart-Ziegler Funeral Chapel, Dodge City.
Maudies D. Johnson
Maudies DeJanna Altto "Mo, Mo" Johnson, 29, died Nov. 29, 2004, due to injuries in an automobile accident at Hutchinson.
She was born Sept. 11, 1975, at Hutchinson, the daughter of Robert H. Theus and Vincent "Cookie" Thompson. A lifetime Hutchinson resident, she was a dietary aide.
Survivors include: a stepmother, Glinda Theus; two daughter, Titana and Yasmine Johnson, both of the home; her father, Hutchinson; a brother, Roland Thompson, Hutchinson; three sisters, Qonta Janzen and Barbara Ann Theus, both of Hutchinson, and Patricia Ann Harris, Dallas; and a grandmother, Maudies Mingo, Ringgold, La.
She was preceded in death by her mother.
Graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Fairlawn Burial Park, with Pastor Kim Biery presiding. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday at Heritage Funeral Home Chapel, Hutchinson.
Memorials may be sent to the Maudie Johnson Memorial Fund, in care of the funeral home.
