Obituaries

Mar 15, 2018

JoAnn (Betson) McCurdy, age 87, of WaKeeney, passed away Thursday, March 15, 2018 at Hays Medical Center, Hays, Kansas.  She was born August 8, 1930 in Wichita to Ivan and Hilma (Gillcrest) Betson.

JoAnn was a graduate of Bentley High School, and went on to attend St. Francis Nursing School, where she graduated as a Registered Nurse. ...

Mar 6, 2018

Geraldine "Jerry" Shaw, age 86, passed away Tuesday, March 6, 2018 at Sheridan County Health Complex, Long Term Care, Hoxie, Kansas.  She was born September 27, 1931 in Quinter to M.A. and Osie (Stubbs)  Gillespie.

Jerry was a 1949 graduate of Grainfield High School.  She was united in marriage to Curtis Shaw on June 19, 1949 in...

Mar 1, 2018

Ryan William Struss, age 35, of WaKeeney, passed on to Heaven Thursday, March 1, 2018 in WaKeeney.  He was born May 8, 1982 to Laura and Kevin Struss.  He was delivered by Dr. James J. Hamilton at the Trego County Hospital, WaKeeney.

Ryan cherished his family.  He loved farming, especially in John Deere tractors.  He always said...

Feb 28, 2018

Verda O. Delaney was born November 15, 1938, on a farm south of Ness City, Kansas.  She was the second of two children born to Lorin E. (Bub) and Ruby (Goss) Delaney.  Verda attended rural Ness County schools and later graduated from Ness City High School in 1956.

Verda grew up helping her parents on the farm. ...

Feb 22, 2018

Edna Christene "Chris" (Walker) Garrett, age 92, of WaKeeney, Kansas, passed away after a short illness on February 22, 2018 in Peoria, Arizona.  She was born November 21, 1925 at home, north of WaKeeney to Ralph and Leona (Rucker) Walker.  She graduated in 1943 from TCHS in WaKeeney.  She attended both KU and Wichita State University.

She...

Feb 18, 2018

Barbara Jean Opat, 73, of WaKeeney, KS, passed away with peace and grace on February 18, 2018, with her children by her side.

Barbara was born to Joseph and Anna Opat in Ransom, KS and has since been a lifelong resident of WaKeeney.

With her fiery red hair that matched her spirit, Barbara lived her...

Feb 16, 2018

Johnnie William Russell died Friday evening, February 16, 2018 at Trego Lemke Memorial Hospital, WaKeeney, Kansas. Johnnie was born on April 29, 1925, southwest of Idana, Kansas to John William Russell, and Nellie Pearl (Johnson) Russell. In 1929 Johnnie was joined on the family farm by twin brothers, Clayton and Clinton. They passed in 1958 and 2006. Johnnie attended...

Feb 11, 2018

Monty Michael Mlinek , age 66, passed away on about February 11, 2018, at the farm near Collyer, KS. He was born in WaKeeney, KS on October 17, 1951, to Robert J. and Nona J. Mlinek .

He is survived by three brothers, Larry of Hays, KS, Randy of Lakeland, FL, and Jeffrey of Fayetville...

Feb 3, 2018

Emma Louise Wiesendanger Yanda, age 94, of Sun City West, Arizona, passed away after a brief illness on February 3, 2018.  She was born in Randolph, Kansas on September 28, 1923, to J.J. and Marie Elizabeth Peterson Wiesendanger.

She graduated from Salina High School in 1941 and Kansas City Art Institute in 1946.  On September 4, 1948,...

Jan 27, 2018

Tony R. LaRue, age 60, of WaKeeney, passed away Saturday, January 27, 2018 at Hays Medical Center.  He was born July 24, 1957 in Hoxie, Kansas, to Ray and Virginia (Currier) LaRue.

On May 25, 1979, Tony was united in marriage to Marlene Zeman.  They enjoyed thirty-seven years of marriage together, until Marlene's passing on...

Jan 26, 2018

Leona Dechant, age 85, of WaKeeney, died Friday, January 26, 2018 at Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital, Long Term Care.  She was born June 30, 1932 in Collyer, Kansas to George and Marianna (Waldman) Ziegler.

Leona was united in marriage to Alvin Dechant on June 8, 1953, in Collyer.  She was a member of Christ the King...

Jan 24, 2018

William (Bill) Phillip Beer, 91, passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones on January 24, 2018. Bill was a man of very strong faith, a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Bill was born April 4 th , 1926, in WaKeeney, KS to Wenzel and Anna (Honas) Beer. He married Martha Mae Augustine on October 17, 1949, spending the...

Jan 22, 2018

It is with great sadness William "Bill" Joseph Fry, age 58, died at Hays Medical Center, Hays, Kansas on January 22, 2018.  He was born on October 15, 1959 in WaKeeney, Kansas, to William "Jack" and Elizabeth "Betty" Joan (Opat) Fry.  He is a graduate of Trego Community High School Class of 1979. After high school he took part...

Jan 4, 2018

Lifelong WaKeeney area resident, Lenora (Papes) Wiedeman, passed away Thursday, January 4, 2018, at Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital, Long Term Care, WaKeeney.  She was 102 years of age.  Lenora was born February 22, 1915 in WaKeeney, to William and Anna (Schimkowitsch) Papes.

She was a 1932 graduate of Trego Community High School.  Lenora was united in...

Jan 4, 2018

Judy Ann (Blackburn) Phillips, age 68, of WaKeeney, passed away Thursday, January 4, 2018 at her home in WaKeeney. She was born November 15, 1949, in Hays, Kansas, to William Frederick and Leona Lorene (Shubert) Blackburn. Judy was a 1967 graduate of Ellis High School and attended Fort Hays State University. On September 1, 1967, she was united in marriage...

Jan 1, 2018

Ruth Scott, age 98, of WaKeeney, Kansas, passed away Monday, January 1, 2018 at Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital, Long Term Care, WaKeeney.  She was born November 6, 1919, in WaKeeney, to Solomon and Katherina (Karst) Deines.

Ruth attended WaKeeney Grade School, and graduated from Trego Community High School in 1939.  On September 28, 1946, she was...

Dec 26, 2017

Beula Bretton Hubbell Wilson passed away on December 26, 2017.  Beula was born on December 10, 1926, in Rural Gove County.   She was the daughter of Earl Sr. and Hazel (Hannaford) Bretton.   She attended Pleasant Valley School District, southeast of Orion in Gove County.   In 1945 she graduated from Vona High School, Vona, Colorado.

On December 13,...

Dec 26, 2017

Thomas O' Toole, age 81, of Utica, passed away Tuesday, December 26, 2017 at his residence. A private family service will take place at a later date, as cremation was chosen. Schmitt Funeral Home, Wakeeney is assisting with arrangements.

Dec 16, 2017

Joanne Claycamp, 85, formerly of WaKeeney, KS, late of Kenosha, WI, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 16, 2017, at Casa Del Mare.

Born in Hill City, KS, on July 14, 1932, she was the daughter of the late Arnold and Oakie (Bell) Hillman.  She was educated in the schools of WaKeeney and married her high school...

Dec 14, 2017

Richard L. Cain, age 85, passed away December 14, 2017, in Baytown, Texas.  He was born November 11, 1932 to Frank and Twyla (Skinner) Cain, in Harvey County, Kansas.

Richard graduated from Trego Community High School.  He was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Baytown, Texas, and Clear Lake (Kemah) Elks Lodge #2322, Kemah, Texas.  On...