Archived Marriage Records
Stella Marie Spray 1911-2001
Stella Marie Spray, 89, died April 14 at Cherry Village Nursing Home in Great Bend. She was born Nov. 5, 1911, in Farley, Iowa, the daughter of George and Sarah Struckhoff Wallace. She married
Orville O. Spray Sr. on Dec. 29, 1929, in Farley. He died Feb. 6, 1977. A resident of Great Bend since 1978, coming from Wichita, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Spray was a member of the Episcopal Church, Order of Eastern Star, and Take Off Pounds Sensibly. Survivors include one son, Orville O. 'Butch' Spray Jr. of Great Bend; three grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Bryant-Christians Funeral Home in Great Bend with the Rev. Dr. Gary W. Teske officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Rest Haven Gardens of Memory in Wichita. Friends may call until 9 tonight and from 9 a.m. until service time Tuesday, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Great Bend Humane Society, in care of the funeral home. April 16, 2001
Harry Eldon Bruntzel 1925-2001
LARNED - Harry Eldon Bruntzel, 75, died April 13 at HIS Springs Village, Colorado Springs, Colo. He was born June 23, 1925, at Rozel, the son of Harry August and Willa Jane Ricks Bruntzel. He married
Wilma J. Vratil Dec. 17, 1954. She died July 10, 1999. A longtime resident of Colorado Springs, he was a retired U.S. Postal worker. Bruntzel was a life member and past commander of the Jack Kreiger Post No. 7271 Veterans of Foreign Wars of Larned, American Legion, Masonic Blue Lodge 167 of Larned, 32nd degree Mason and Shrine-Midian Temple, both of Wichita, and Camel Herder - Al Kaly Temple of Pueblo, Colo. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. Survivors include one sister, Beulah Fromong. He was preceded in death by one brother, Bill Bruntzel; and one sister, Lola Bruntzel. Masonic graveside service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Larned cemetery with military honors. There will be no visitation. Memorials are suggested to Pikes Peak Hospice, in care of Beckwith Mortuary of Larned. April 16, 2001
Owen Eugene Johnson 1937-2001
STAFFORD - Owen Eugene Johnson, 63, died April 14 at his home in Stafford. He was born Sept. 26, 1937, in Macksville, the son of Owen C. Johnson and Betty June Peters Cummings. He was a graduate of Stafford High School. A longtime resident of Stafford, he was a retired carpenter. Johnson was a member of First United Methodist Church. Survivors include two sons, Byron Johnson of Stafford and Dale Johnson of Yucca Valley, Calif.; two daughters, Ann Brejcha of western Nebraska and Connie Hawver of Pratt; one brother, Ronald Johnson of Chipita Park, Colo.; two sisters, Twylla Verner of El Cahon, Calif., and Geraldine Johnson of Las Vegas, Nev.; 10 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Minnis Chapel in Stafford with the Rev. Kasey Crosby officiating. Inurnment will be at Stafford Cemetery. The body was cremated. Memorials are suggested to Southwind Hospice, in care of the chapel. April 15, 2001
Marguerite Birkes 1912-2001
HUTCHINSON - Marguerite Birkes, 88, died April 12 at Hutchinson Hospital. She was born Nov. 12, 1912, at Marion, Iowa, the daughter of Perry O. and Leona Watt Silvara. She married
Farrell Birkes May 4, 1952, at Webb City, Mo. He died Dec. 19, 1975. A resident of Hutchinson since 1978, coming from Montezuma, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Birkes was a member of First Baptist Church of Hutchinson, a past member of Early Bird Extension Homemakers Unit of Hutchinson and a past member of Blue Light EHU of Montezuma. Survivors include two daughters, Beverly Burkett of Hutchinson and Roberta Pike of Stafford; one brother, Melvin Silvara of Oroville, Calif.; one sister, Harriett Houseman of Grove, Okla.; four grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Raymond Silvara and Lowell Silvara. Graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Fairview cemetery in Montezuma with the Rev. Jim Autrey officiating. Memorial service will be at 4 p.m. Thursday at the church. Memorials are suggested to Strauth Museum of Montezuma or the church, both in care of Minnis Chapel in Stafford. April 15, 2001
Jeanne Swords 1923-2001
RUSSELL - Jeanne Swords, 77, died April 13 at Main Place of Russell Regional Hospital in Russell. She was born April 19, 1923, at Eureka, the daughter of Jesse Samuel and Ida Mae Mitchell Hart. She married
Leo H. Swords June 1, 1944, at Tonkawa, Okla. A resident of Russell since 1969, coming from Great Bend and McCook, Neb., she was a homemaker. Mrs. Swords was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary of Russell. Survivors include her husband of the home; one son, Leo K. Swords of Russell; one daughter, Charlotte Roth of Great Bend; and six grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one son, David K. Swords; and one sister, Jesse Holeman. Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Monday at St. Mary's Catholic cemetery in Russell with the Rev. Charles Steiner officiating. Friends may call from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at Pohlman's Mortuary in Russell. April 15, 2001
Goldie W. Kelley 1909-2001
LYONS - Goldie W. Kelley, 92, died April 12 at Lyons District Hospital in Lyons. She was born Feb. 18, 1909, in Great Bend, the daughter of George O. and Clara Mae Hopkins Dunn. She was a graduate of Great Bend High School. She married
Bowman Kelley Feb. 18, 1928, in Hutchinson. He died June 29, 1988. A resident of Lyons since 1945, she was a retired bookkeeper for OK Tire Store of Lyons. Mrs. Kelley was a member of First Christian Church of Lyons, charter member of Gray Ladies, serving at Lyons District Hospital for 12 years, volunteer and bookkeeper at Friendship Meals of Park Place in Lyons, former member of HDU and former member of Rebekah Lodge of Lyons. Survivors include one son, Theron Kelley of Lyons; one daughter, Beverly Root of Lyons; one brother, Leonard Dunn of Tacoma, Wash.; eight grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Merle Dunn and Oren Dunn; two sisters, Mable Nelson and Vonnie Green; and one grandson, Thane Kelley. Graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Great Bend cemetery with the Rev. Tom Eastman officiating. Friends may call from 8:30-10 a.m. Monday at Sillin Funeral Home in Lyons. Memorials are suggested to Rice County Council on Aging, in care of the funeral home. April 15, 2001
Nona Lea Staub 1931-2001
ST. JOHN - Nona Lea Staub, 70, died April 12 at Central Kansas Medical Center, St. Rose Campus in Great Bend. She was born April 7, 1931, in Pratt, the daughter of Ernest and Clara Jane Wilson. She was a 1950 graduate of Pratt High School. She married
Carl M. Staub June 26, 1956, in Clayton, N.M. A resident of St. John for 45 years, she was a homemaker and farmer. Mrs. Staub was a member of Eden Valley Church of the Brethren, Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, Junior Golden Circle Club, and Republican committee woman for Douglas Township for 18 years, all of St. John. Survivors include her husband of the home; two sons, Lonnie Staub and Carl Staub Jr., both of St. John; two daughters, Gail Dill and Rita Suiter, both of St. John; two sisters, Roberta Hickey of Dallas, Texas, and Arlena Mills of Pratt; 12 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one son, John Nicholas Staub; and two brothers, John Henry Giggy and Wilford Ernest Wilson. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Minnis Chapel Inc. in St. John with the Rev. Matthew Spurgin officiating. Burial will be at Fairview Park cemetery in St. John. Friends may call from 2-8 p.m. today at the funeral chapel. Memorials are suggested to the church, in care of the funeral chapel. April 15, 2001
Thelma Irene Zimmer 1909-2001
Thelma Irene Zimmer, 91, died April 14 at Integrated Health Services of Woodhaven in Ellinwood. She was born July 23, 1909, at Schaffer, the daughter of George Washington and Susan Cox Schaffer. She married
Roy Zimmer Aug. 14, 1933, in Newton. He died July 1975. A longtime resident of Great Bend, she assisted her husband in his accounting business. Mrs. Zimmer was a member of First Congregational Church of Christ, Dorcas Club and Women's Fellowship, all of Great Bend. Survivors include one son, Bill Zimmer of Great Bend. Funeral will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Bryant-Christians Chapel in Great Bend, with Loren Dyke officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend Cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday and from 9 a.m. until service time Wednesday, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Woodhaven of Ellinwood Employees' Fund, in care of the funeral home. April 15, 2001
Betty G. Ensminger 1918-2001
LA CYGNE - Betty G. Ensminger, 83, died April 1 at Miami County Medical Center. She was born March 3, 1918, in Carterville, Mo., the daughter of Charles Gray Jr. and Edith White. She married
Jack F. Ensminger. He preceded her in death. A resident of Olathe for five years, coming from Great Bend, she was a homemaker. Survivors include one daughter, Helen L. Jahay of Ellinwood; three brothers, Jimmy D. Mitchell of Fayetteville, Ark., Bob D. Mitchell of Great Bend and David C. Mitchell of LaCygne; one sister, Helen Rollege of Joplin, Mo.; 13 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. Memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Great Bend with the Rev. Dr. Gary Teske officiating. Memorials are suggested to Tanglewood Lakes Recreation Community Center, in care of W.L. Frye and Son Mortuary in Olathe. April 13, 2001
Leroy Karlin 1930-2001
Leroy Karlin, 70, of Great Bend, died April 11 at his home. He was born Nov. 19, 1930, in Severin, the son of Leo and Martha Etzel Karlin. He married
Arlene Dome on Nov. 13, 1954, at Pfeifer. A resident of Great Bend, coming from Lawrence, he was owner/operator of Leroy's Telephone Service, worked as a lineman for Southwestern Bell and as a PBX installer for Atlantic Telephone and Telegraph Company. Karlin was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, American Legion, Telephone Pioneers and Chamber of Commerce, all of Great Bend. He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, serving in the Korean War. Survivors include his wife of the home; two sons, Gerard ?Jerry? Karlin of Shawnee and Joseph ?Joe? Karlin of Lenexa; three daughters, Mary Waite of Ellinwood, Susan Broeckelman of Mankato and Jean Scarfino of St. Louis, Mo.; six brothers, Felix Karlin of Lawrence, John Karlin of Portland, Ore., Tom Karlin of Eatonville, Wash., Peter Karlin, Herb Karlin and Fred Karlin, all of Beloit; four sisters, Sister Leonissa Karlin and Sister Mary Martha Karlin, both of Hays, Betty Pfeifer of Victoria and Martha Jean Biegler of Helena, Mont.; and 21 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Larry Karlin, Gerard Karlin and Norman Karlin; and one sister, Katie Dreiling. Vigil service will be at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, followed by a Knights of Columbus rosary at Bryant-Christians Funeral Home in Great Bend. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the church with the Rev. Warren Stecklein officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend Cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and from 1-9 p.m. Sunday, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Kansas Right to Life or Food for the Poor Inc., both in care of the funeral home. April 13, 2001
Selma L. Ochs 1916-2001
BISON - Selma L. Ochs, 84, died April 10 at Rush County Memorial Hospital in La Crosse. She was born Aug. 26, 1916, in rural Rush County, the daughter of John George Jr. and Emma Scheuerman Appel. She married
Reuben Ochs Jan. 28, 1934, in Otis. He died Nov. 14, 1999. A resident of rural Otis and Bison, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Ochs was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, served as a Sunday School teacher and was an officer of ALCW, all of Otis. She was a 4-H leader and a member of the American Agriculture Movement. Survivors include one son, Darrel Ochs of Bison; two daughters, Glenna Leiker of Aurora, Colo., and Marvalee Shaw of Valley Center; one sister, Mary Bitter of La Crosse; 10 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by six brothers and five sisters. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the church with the Rev. Margaret Gary officiating. Burial will be at Trinity Lutheran cemetery in Otis. Friends may call until 9 tonight at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington and from 9:30 a.m. until service time Friday at the church. Memorials are suggested to Rush County Nursing Home or Rush County Emergency Medical Service, both in care of the funeral home. April 12, 2001
Eula Evelyn Bohannan 1926-2001
CHASE - Eula Evelyn Bohannan, 74, died April 9 at Morton County Hospital in Elkhart. She was born Sept. 23, 1926, at Nogo, Ark., the daughter of William and Minnie Walker Boyd. She married
Howard Edward Bohannan Dec. 25, 1947, in Pinesville, Mo. He died Jan. 14, 1988. A resident of Chase, coming from Elkhart, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Bohannan was a member of Pentecostal Church of Lyons. Survivors include three sons, Kenneth Bohannan and Travis Hardcastle, both of Ellinwood, and Joe Bohannan of Hutchinson; four daughters, Connie Shadduck of Elkhart, Debbie Mazur of Chase, Brenda Suppes of Winfield and Cindy Shadduck of Ellinwood; one brother, Bill Boyd of Santa Paula, Calif.; one sister, Euna Mayben of Woodlake, Calif.; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one brother, Omer Boyd; and one sister, Clara Mae Eleam. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Sillin Funeral Home in Lyons with the Rev. Larry Weatherman officiating. Burial will be at Chase Springdale cemetery in Chase. Friends may call until 7 tonight at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association, in care of the funeral home. April 12, 2001
Mable M. Krebaum 1913-2001
Mable M. Krebaum, 88, of Great Bend, died April 11 at Central Kansas Medical Center, St. Rose Campus in Great Bend. She was born Jan. 27, 1913, in Newton, the daughter of Charles and Ila McCool Ward. She married
Raymond A. Krebaum Sept. 4, 1935, in Minter. He died Nov. 16, 1973. A resident of Great Bend, she was a homemaker and caregiver for the elderly. Mrs. Krebaum was a member of First Christian Church of Great Bend and the National Association of Retired Federal Employees. Survivors include two sons, Jim Krebaum of Geat Bend and Vic Krebaum of Hutchinson; five grandsons; and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by three brothers, Walter Ward, Clyde Ward and Charles Ward; two sisters, Bertha Kummer Daniels and Hazel Orr; two half-brothers, Harold Ward and Harley Ward; one half-sister, Sylvia Ward; and four stepbrothers, Alfred Arnett, Fred Arnett, Floyd Green and Loyd Patterson. Private family service will be at 6 p.m. Friday at Bryant-Christians Funeral Home. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the church with the Rev. William F. Johnson officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend Cemetery. Friends may call until 9 tonight and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, both at the funeral home. Family will greet friends from 7-9 p.m. Friday. Memorials are suggested to the church or Golden Belt Home Health and Hospice, both in care of the funeral home. April 12, 2001