Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Leonard Jacob Kepka
1939 - 2004
Leonard Jacob Kepka, 65, of Great Bend, died Nov. 13 at Central Kansas Medical Center. He was born Sept. 20, 1939, at Russell, the son of Henry and Charlotte Lilak Kepka. He married
Mary Ann Gnad on June 20, 1964, at Ellis. A resident of Great Bend for 41 years, coming from Dorrance, he was formerly a sandblaster for Oneil Tank Co., and later worked for Essex before retiring. Kepka was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus in Great Bend. Survivors include his wife, of the home; one son, Robert L. Kepka of Olathe; one daughter, Susan Emma Kepka of Hays; one brother, Raymond Kepka of Dorrance; two sisters, Adeline Bechard of Grinnell, and Betty Mattas of Wilson; and two grandchildren, Maxwell Kepka and Jillian Kepka. He was preceded in death by one brother, Harold Kepka, and one sister, Alice Gerritzen. Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Patrick Catholic Church with Father Ted Stoecklein officiating. Burial will be at the St. Mary cemetery in Ellis. Memorials are suggested to Polycystic Kidney Foundations or Ronald McDonald House. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Jane Kilby
1925 - 2004
DALLAS, Texas - Jane Kilby, 79, died Nov. 11 in Dallas. She was born March 23, 1925, in Great Bend, to Hubert S. and Vina Freitag Kilby. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and worked in Tulsa and Dallas in the Public Utility Industry, where she held several administrative and executive positions. She is survived by her brother, Jack S. Kilby; and two nieces, Ann Kilby of Austin, Texas, and Janet K. Cameron of Palisade, Colo. At Jane's request, there will be no services. Those wishing to make a donation in memory of Jane may donate to their favorite charity. Funeral arrangements provided by Sparkman/Hillcrest 7405 W. Northwest Hwy. Dallas, Texas 75225
John L. French
1952 - 2004
John L. French, 52, of Great Bend, died Nov. 11 at his home. He was born May 23, 1952, at Scottsbluff, Neb., the son of Loyal P. and Ilene J. Abbott French. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He married
Marcia Oetken Oct. 24, 1992, in Great Bend. He was a truck driver and bar tender. French was a member of Eagles Lodge Area 646, Great Bend. Survivors include his wife, of the home; two step-sons, Joseph Johns, Great Bend, and William Gatlin, Minneapolis, Minn.; a daughter, Jenny Roberson, Salt Lake City, Utah; and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Steven Rea. Memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Charter Funerals Chapel in Great Bend with the Rev. Don Paden officiating. Private family inurnment will be at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the John Lee French Memorial Fund in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Charter Funerals 2115 Washington Great Bend, KS 67530
Orpha Glea Bell
1924-2004
Orpha Glea Bell, 80, of Great Bend, died Nov. 9 at Trego-Lemke Memorial Hospital, WaKeeney. She was born June 26, 1924, in Rush County, the daughter of William Lester and Maisie Merten Schroeder. She married
Ralph L. Bell on Jan. 26, 1948, at Dodge City. He died March 13, 2003. She attended Colorado Women's College at Denver, Colo., and worked at the Great Bend Airbase during World War II. A lifetime resident of Great Bend, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Bell was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Great Bend. Survivors include three daughters, Linda Rousseau, Chesapeake, Va., Carla Beydler, WaKeeney, and Nancy Winslow, Oregon City, Ore.; a brother, Bob Schroeder, Boulder, Colo.; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by one sister, Karen Schroeder. Memorial service for Ralph L. and Orpha Glea Bell will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend with the Rev. Troy Miller officiating. Cremation has taken place and there will be no visitation. Memorials are suggested to American Lung Association, National Rifle Association or donor's choice. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Donald 'Don' Ray Sample
1943 - 2004
Donald 'Don' Ray Sample, 61, died Nov. 10 at his residence in Great Bend. He was born Apr. 29, 1943, in Hastings, Neb., the son of Kenneth Merle and Helen Elizabeth Bachman Sample. A resident of Great Bend for 38 years, coming from Hastings, Neb., he was a truck driver and mechanic for Concrete Services Inc. Sample was of the Methodist faith. He was a member of to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3111 and a U.S. Army veteran. Survivors include a son, Donald G. Sample of Great Bend; two brothers, Roger Sample of Wichita and Kenneth Sample of Pueblo, Colo.; and two grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one brother, Ronnie Sample, and one sister Sharon Schleichardt. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend, with the Rev. Don Paden officiating. Burial will be at the Hoisington cemetery, in Hoisington. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Great Bend Fire Department in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Marie A. Huff
WALNUT GROVE, Mo. - Marie A. Huff, 85, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2004, at 8:45 p.m. in Willard Care Center, following an extended illness. Marie was born on the family farm at Bunker Hill, in Russell County and was a longtime resident of the Eudora Community. She was a retired nutrition educational assistant with the Missouri University Extension Service for 12 years, retiring in 1972. She was a member of the Morrisville United Methodist Church were she was affiliated with the United Methodist Women. She had been an active worker with 4-H organizations where she was a leader for more than 20 years. She was a member of the Russell Chapter 109 Order of the Eastern Star of Ash Grove. Marie Parker and Kenneth Huff were united in marriage on June 15, 1935. To this union five children were born. Together they were privileged to share over 21 years. Kenneth preceded her in death on Sept. 14, 1956. Also preceding her were her parents; one son, Don Huff on Jan. 30, 1989; a son-in-law, Ervan Fish; and granddaughter-in-law, Tammy Fish. She is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Dale and Elaine Huff of Bolivar; three daughters, Eunice Fish of Morrisville, Ann and husband Jerry Garton, and Lynn Bennett, all of Walnut Grove; one daughter-in-law, Janice Huff of Eudora; two sisters, Viola Waggner of Great Bend and Betty Lucido of Walnut Creek, Calif.; several nieces and nephews; 10 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren. Services were held Nov. 11 at Wilson Brim Daniel Chapel, in Walnut Grove with the Revs. Bill Moore and Ron McIntire officiating. Interment was at Pleasant Ridge cemetery, Aldrich, Mo. Funeral arrangements provided by Wilson Brim Daniel Funeral Home N. Washington Walnut Grove, MO 65770
Jerry M. Barton
1936 - 2004
DORRANCE - Jerry M. Barton, 68, died Nov. 9 at the Wilson Nursing Center, in Wilson. He was born Feb. 6, 1936, at Oil Hill, the son of Fred and Dora Park Barton. He married
Joanne Koerner July 13, 1957, in Russell. He lived most of his life in Russell, where he was an oil field worker. Barton was a member of St. Wenceslaus Church in Wilson. Survivors include his wife of the home; two sons, Jerry Dean Barton of Russell, and Theron Barton of Shawnee; two daughters, Melody Giebler of Littleton, Colo., and Jo Lana Elam of Gorham; one brother, Rob Barton of Long Beach, Calif.; and one sister, Norma Poulter of Garber, Okla.; and six grandchildren. Parish vigil service will be at 7:30 tonight at Foster Mortuary in Wilson. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the church, with the Rev. Dave Metz officiating. Burial will be at St. Francis of Assisi cemetery is Munjor. Visitation will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at the mortuary. Memorials are suggested to the church, in care of the mortuary. Funeral arrangements provided by Foster Mortuary Inc. 610 24th Street Wilson, KS 67490-0205
Dwight Arnold 'Buster' Dellinger
1941 - 2004
CHASE - Dwight Arnold 'Buster' Dellinger, 63, died Nov. 9 at Salisbury, N.C. He was born March 22, 1941, at Langdon, the son of Claude and Ida Bolt Dellinger. He was a 1959 graduate of Chase High School. He married
Billye VanSteenburgh in 1962; they later divorced. He was a resident of Woodleaf, N.C., and formerly of Chase. He worked in oilfields around Chase and was a ranch foreman in western Kansas. He also worked for Luke Thaxton in Casper, Wyo., was a consultant in Oklahoma and then opened a water well business in North Carolina. Dellinger was a member of the Community Presbyterian Church in Chase. Survivors include two sons, David Dellinger of Mooresville, N.C., and Dariek Dellinger of Casper, Wyo.; one daughter, Deborah Dellinger of Aurora, Colo.; one brother, Virgil Dellinger of Coachella, Calif.; three sisters, Ruby Dumas of Pottsville, Ark., Chrystabelle Harmon of Perryton, Texas, and Joyce Burress of Ellinwood; and four grandchildren. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the church, with the Rev. Jesse Patrick officiating. Burial will be at Springday cemetery in Chase. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home, with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Memorials are suggested to Chase Alumni Association or the American Cancer Society. Funeral arrangements provided by Kimple Funeral Home 113 North Main Ellinwood, KS 67526
Robert J. 'Bob' Nation
1951 - 2004
WINFIELD - Robert J. 'Bob' Nation, 52, died Nov. 5 near Udall, as the result of an auto accident. He was born Dec. 17, 1951, in Great Bend, the son of John H. and Betty Wasson Nation. A 1970 graduate of Winfield High School, he also graduated from Southwestern College in 1974 and received a master's degree in education in 1992. He married
Jacqueline Striegel on Dec. 21, 1974, in Wichita. He was a partner of RamOil from 1976 to 1986. He was a teacher and coach for many years, working 12 years at Mulvane, then for the Belle Plaine, Burden and Oxford school districts. At the time of his death, he was teaching at Cowley County Community College and substitute taught in many area school districts, including Winfield. Nation was a member of the Southwestern College Booster Club and was on the board of the Winfield Girls Fast Pitch Association and the Winfield Recreation Commission since 1996. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Winfield and United Methodist Men. Survivors include his wife of the home; a son, R.J. Nation of Norfolk, Va.; two daughters, Rachael Land of Woodward, Okla., and Miranda Nation of Winfield; his mother, Betty Nation of Winfield; a sister, Nancy Nation Heinz of Winfield; and four grandchildren. Services were held Tuesday at the church. Burial was held at the Highland cemetery. Memorials have been established with Southwestern College, the Winfield Recreation Commission and the church. Swisher-Taylor & Morris Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Edna A. Rankin
1913 - 2004
LYONS - Edna A. Rankin, 90, died Nov. 9 at the Good Samaritan Center in Lyons. She was born Dec. 3, 1913, in Geneseo, the daughter of Alex and Mary Alice Wycoff Ramsey. She graduated from Geneseo High School in 1930. She married
Loyd A. Graham in 1933, in Okla. He died in 1970. She married
Richard I. Rankin in 1974, at Paola. He died July 15, 1992. She was a resident of Lyons since 1999, formerly of Bella Vista, Ark. She was a homemaker. Rankin was a member of the United Methodist Church in Lyons; charter member of the Bella Vista United Methodist Church in Bella Vista, Ark.; and former member of the Rebekah Lodge, in Lyons and Great Bend. Survivors include a stepson, Duane Rankin of Mexico, Mo.; a daughter, Cathy Camelio of Centennial, Colo.; a step-daughter, Duana Dralus of Kansas City, Mo.; two grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; and several step great- grandchildren. She was preceded in death by five brothers, Emmett Ramsey, Charles Ramsey, Henry Ramsey, John Ramsey, and Kenneth Ramsey; and one sister, Oleta Smith. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Friday, at the United Methodist Church in Lyons, with the Rev. Cindy Watson officiating. Burial will be at the Geneseo cemetery, in Geneseo. Memorials are suggested to Lyons Good Smaritan Center or Alzheimer's Foundation in care of Sillin Funeral Home, in Lyons. Funeral arrangements provided by Sillin Funeral Home 214 West Ave. South Lyons, KS 67554
Mace Evans
1921 - 2004
Mace Evans, 83, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2004, at Central K a n s a s M e d i c a l Center in Great Bend. She was born Sarah Mace Alder on Nov. 7, 1921, in P r i n c e s s Anne, Md., the daughter of Lloyd L. and Margaret Baldwin Alder. Mace graduated from Wilmore High School in Wilmore in 1939. She attended Fort Hays Teachers College from 1939-1940. She also attended business college in Topeka. On July 13, 1940, she married
John Roy Evans in Medicine Lodge. Mace and John Roy were married
and enjoyed each others lives for more than 64 years. Mace was a member of the United Methodist Church of Claflin. Mace founded the Order of Easter Star at Claflin. She was a 50-year member of the Holyrood Chapter of the Eastern Star. During her high school years she was a soloist in the Wilmore First Baptist Church. She also was a founding member of a Bridge Club in Claflin. Mace was employed as a secretary for the Kansas Highway Patrol in Topeka, co-owner of the Bowling Alley in Claflin, a stockholder at Stoneridge Country Club and American State Bank and was a Golden Eagle Advisory Board member. Mace was employed as a teller and bookkeeper for 13 years for Farmers & Merchants State Bank of Claflin. After her husband started his own oil business, Mace was his bookkeeper, where she was an immense part of the success of the business. She is survived by her husband, John Roy; and two daughters, Pamela Evans of Fairport, N.Y. and Patricia and Gary Kirmer of Claflin; two granddaughters, Rachel Kirmer and Megan Kirmer; two sisters: Helen Haskell of Wellington and Althea Alder of Evanston, Ill.; and one brother, Carl Alder of Ellinwood. She was preceded in death by a baby son; her parents; three brothers, Rudy Alder, Lloyd Alder Jr. and John Alder; and one sister, Beatrice Odell. Visitation will be Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. with family to receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. and Friday, from 9 a.m. to service time at the United Methodist Church. Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday Nov. 12, 2004, at the United Methodist Church in Claflin, with the Rev. Sarah deSalazar officiating. Burial will follow at the Claflin cemetery. Memorials may be sent to American Cancer Society in care of Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
