Archived Marriage Records
Vern Shryock 1920-2001
ST. JOHN - Vern Shryock, 81, died May 14 at his residence in St. John. He was born March 6, 1920, in St. John, the son of Joe and Mary Shryock. He married
Betty Ragsdale. She died. He married
Velda May Mulholland Sept. 4, 1973. A resident of St. John, he was a painter, carpenter and farmer, working at Kansas Highway Department, city of St. John and White Manufacturing in St. John. Shryock was a member of First Southern Baptist Church and Veterans of Foreign Wars, both of St. John. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. Survivors include his wife of the home; three sons, Jack Shryock of Wichita, Dennis Shryock of Maize and Larry Shryock of Cheney; two stepsons, Jack Smith of Sanbenito, Texas, and Ronald Smith of San Antonio, Texas; one brother, Gail Shryock of Apache Junction, Ariz.; one sister, Nadine Minnis of St. John; 13 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one brother, Wayne Shryock. Graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Fairview Park cemetery in St. John with the Rev. Ron Miller officiating. Memorials are suggested to Southwind Hospice in Pratt, in care of Minnis Chapel in St. John. May 16, 2001
Joe Richard Crowder 1925-2001
LONGMONT, Colo. - Joe Richard Crowder, 76, died May 12 in Longmont. He was born April 20, 1925, in Augusta, the son of Joseph R. and Lois V. Dickinson Crowder. He married
Opal J. McVay May 27, 1948, in Augusta. A resident of Longmont, coming from Augusta, he was instrument repairman for Frontier Airlines. Crowder was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. Survivors include his wife of the home; two daughters, Barbara J. Hoffman and Debbie J. Puckett; one brother, H. Don Crowder; two sisters, Ruby Lamb and Bethany Powers; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Richard H. Crowder and N. Delbert Crowder. Memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Church of Christ in Longmont with the Revs. Bob Lewis and Bill Hoffman officiating. There will be no visitation. Memorials are suggested to the Mountain States Children's Home, in care of the church. May 15, 2001
Louella Howerton 1908-2001
WICHITA - Louella Howerton, 92, died May 12. She was born June 22, 1908, in Green Forest, Ark., the daughter of William J. and Anna Mae Atkinson Wells. She married
John G. Howerton July 19, 1924, in Eureka Springs, Ark. He died Oct. 5, 1968. A resident of Wichita, she was an employee of Beech Aircraft Corporation and a caregiver to the elderly. Survivors include one daughter, Janice Waknitz of Great Bend; 10 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and several great-great-grandchildren. Funeral will be at 1 p.m. today at Mission Chapel Mausoleum in Wichita. Memorials are suggested to Riverside Christian Church, in care of Cochran Mortuary and Crematory in Wichita. May 15, 2001
Golda Mae Heinze 1917-2001
WICHITA - Golda Mae Heinze, 83, died May 6 at her residence in Wichita. She was born Dec. 14, 1917, in Stafford County, the daughter of Herman E. and Augusta Dralle Weers. A resident of Wichita, she was a retired teacher for the Wichita School District. Survivors include two daughters, Suzanne Hewes of Ingalls and Elaine Heinze of San Antonio, Texas; and three grandchildren. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Bethany Lutheran Church in Wichita. There is no visitation. Memorials are suggested to the Bethany Lutheran School Scholarship Fund, in care of Resthaven Mortuary in Wichita. May 15, 2001
Jesse T. Morsbach 1912-2001
HOISINGTON - Jesse T. Morsbach, 88, died May 12 at Central Kansas Medical Center, St. Rose Campus in Great Bend. He was born Nov. 24, 1912, in Inman, Neb., the son of Leroy and Laura Moore Morsbach. He married
Edna Waldren Dec. 12, 1951, in Raton, N.M. A resident of Hoisington, coming from Tribune, he was a car inspector for the Missouri Pacific Railroad. Morsbach was a member of First Baptist Church of Tribune, and First Christian Church and American Legion, both of Hoisington. He was in the U.S. Army Air-Corps veteran. Survivors include his wife of the home; two sons, Jim Bivins of Four Seasons, Mo., and Mike Bivins of Shawnee, Okla.; one brother, Harry Morsbach of Spokane, Wash.; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers; and one sister. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington with the Rev. Paula Bell officiating. Burial will be at Lyons Municipal Cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday and from 9 a.m. until service time Wednesday, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to First Christian Church, in care of the funeral home. May 14, 2001
Gilbert Joseph Dreher 1930-2001
HAYS - Gilbert Joseph Dreher, 71, died May 9 at Via Christi Regional Medical Center, St. Francis Campus in Wichita. He was born Jan. 9, 1930, at Liebenthal, the son of Rudolph Conrad and Magdalena Helen Suppes Dreher. A lifelong resident of Rush County, he was a farmer. Dreher was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Liebenthal and the Kansas National Guard. Survivors include one son, Gilbert Dreher Jr. of Hays,; two daughters; Suzanne Bieker of Ellis and Margi Learned of Liebenthal; two brothers; Charles Dreher of Mesa, Ariz., and Norbert Dreher of Aurora, Colo.; one sister; Mary Ann Flax of Dodge City; six grandchildren; and one great grandchild. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Harold Dreher, Julius Dreher and James Dreher. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the church. Burial will be at St. Joseph's Cemetery. Friends may call from 9-9:45 a.m. Monday at the church. Memorials are suggested to the Gilbert Joseph Dreher memorial, in care of Janousek Funeral Home. May 13, 2001
Helen L. Finney 1909-2001
EDMOND, Okla. - Helen L. Finney, 91, died May 11 at Edmond Medical Center in Edmond Okla. She was born Dec. 2, 1909, at Canton, the daughter of William L. and Elta Maude Powers Ganson. She married
Kenneth W. Finney Nov. 19, 1929, in Salina. He died Nov. 26, 1980. A resident of McPherson from 1981-1996, coming from Hays and Great Bend, she was a homemaker and a Barton County Resister of Deeds. Mrs. Finney was a member of First Presbyterian Church of McPherson. Survivors include one son, Jack Finney of Henderson, Nev.,; one brother; Leslie Ganson of Vergennes, Vt.; three sisters; Lois Koffel of Lake Placid, Fla., Marjorie Arnold and Pat 'Shirley' Cain, both of Valley Center; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one son, Don Finney; three brothers, Wayne Ganson, Elton Ganson and Ralph Ganson; two sisters, Sue Wintersteen and Maxine Blevins; and one granddaughter; Stephanie Finney. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the church in McPherson, with the Rev. William Nelson officiating. Burial will be at McPherson Cemetery. Friends may call until 5 tonight at Stockham Family Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to the church, in care of the funeral home. May 13, 2001
Leona Mead 1924-2001
LARNED - Leona Mead, 77, died May 11 at her Larned residence. She was born April 4, 1924, at Trousdale, the daughter of Tony W. and Effie D. Strunk Bell. A lifelong area resident, she was a nurse's aide at Larned State Hospital. In her retirement years, she operated a taxi service. Survivors include one son, Vernon Lynn 'Sonny' Mead of Larned; two daughters; Angel Degenhardt of Hoisington and Sherry Colglazier of Larned; 12 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one son, Darrell Mead; two brothers, Arlin 'Buster' Bell and Otis Bell; four sisters, Cleo Debusk, Marie Stimatze, Agnes Bell and Lively Turner; and one great-granddaughter; Rebekah McCool. Funeral will be at 3 p.m. Monday at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel, with Don Degenhardt officiating. Burial will be at Larned Cemetery. Friends may call until 8 tonight and from 9 a.m. until service time, all at the mortuary. Memorials are suggested to the Hospice of the Golden Belt or the American Cancer Society, both in care of the mortuary. May 13, 2001
Verla Maxine Wheaton 1933-2001
LYONS - Verla Maxine Wheaton, 67, died May 11 at Good Samaritian Center in Olathe. She was born July 23, 1933, at Centerview, the daughter of Tom and Verna Turner Stade. She married
Garrett Eugene Wheaton Jan. 17, 1954, at Lewis. A resident of Lyons since 1966, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Wheaton was a member of First Baptist Church, former Sunday school teacher and superintendent, all of Lyons; and former president and volunteer at the Rice County Women's Thrift Shop. Survivors include her husband of the home; two sons, David Wheaton of Kansas City, Mo., and Sheldon Wheaton of Olathe; her mother, Verna Stade of South Hutchinson; one brother; Thomas DeVou Stade of Grass Valley, Calif.; and two grandchildren. Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the church, with the Rev. Gary Karas officiating. Burial will be at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Wayne cemetery in Lewis. Friends may call from 2-7 p.m. Monday at Sillin Funeral Home in Lyons. Memorials are suggested to Rice County Women's Thrift Shop or Kansas Fellowship of Christian Athletes, both in care of the funeral home. May 13, 2001
Robert 'Bob' L. Folkerts 1936-2001
TIMKEN - Robert 'Bob' Folkerts, 64, died, May 9 at Hays Medical Center. He was born May 14, 1936, at Great Bend, the son of Harvey H. and Vera Cecila Parker Folkerts. A resident of Timken since 1991 coming from Missouri, he was a heavy equipment mechanic. Folkerts was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. Survivors include four sons, Ted Folkerts of Timken, Tim Folkerts of Hays and Kelly Folkerts and Kenny Folkerts, both of Tula, Okla.; two daughters, Traci Suppes of Great Bend and Terrie Folkerts of Rush Center; one brother, Max Folkerts of Timken; one sister, Sherrie Litzenburger of Edmond, Okla.; and 12 grandchildren. There will be no visitation. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at La Crosse cemetery with the Rev. Maurice Schaus officiating. Military graveside service will be conducted by the Fort Riley Honor Guard. Burial will be at the cemetery. Great Bend Family Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. May 13, 2001
Benjamin 'Ben' Franklin Spatz Jr. 1913-2001
BELOIT - Benjamin "Ben" Franklin Spatz Jr., 87, died May 10 at his home in Beloit. He was born Aug. 15, 1913, in Mitchell County. He married
Aileen Spatz. A lifelong resident of Beloit, he was a sales representative for Sunflower Manufacturing. Spatz was a member of First United Methodist Church, Methodist Men, Lions Club and was a past commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars, all of Beloit. Survivors include his wife of the home; two daughters, Cindy Balthazor of Russell and Sheila Hein of Hoisington; one sister, Hester Roles of Beloit; and three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one grandson, Kirk Matthew Balthazor. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the church with the Rev. Bill Brazil officiating. Burial will be at Elmwood cemetery in Beloit. Friends may call at Harrison Funeral Home in Beloit. Memorials are suggested to the church, in care of the funeral home. May 11, 2001
Albert L. Dixon 1956-2001
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Albert L. Dixon, 44, died April 25 in San Diego. He was born Nov. 14, 1956, in Warren, Mich., the son of Gerald and Helene Dixon. A resident of San Diego, he grew up in Great Bend. Survivors include his parents of Great Bend; one brother, Gerry Dixon of Stony Point, N.Y.; and one sister, Arlene Exferd of Boise, Idaho. Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Brown Grove cemetery in Burdett with the Rev. Don Paden officiating. There will be no visitation. Bryant-Christians Funeral Home of Great Bend is in charge of burial arrangements. May 8, 2001
Alan Isern 1935-2001
ELLINWOOD - Alan Isern, 66, died May 8 at Ellinwood District Hospital. He was born April 13, 1935, in Ellinwood, the son of Milton and Helen Weber Isern. A longtime resident of Ellinwood, he was a past president and CEO of Peoples State Bank and owner of Isern Oil Company, both of Ellinwood. Isern was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and Grove Park Golf Club, all of Ellinwood; and a University of Kansas Williams Fund member. He was the former mayor of Ellinwood. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. Survivors include one son, Chad A. Isern of Shawnee; three daughters, Betsy Isern of Overland Park, Amy Mulich of Lewisburg and Molly Curtis of Shawnee; one sister, Carolyn Johnson of Ellinwood; and six grandchildren. Memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the church with the Rev. Andy Keltner officiating. Burial will be at Lakin-Comanche District cemetery in Ellinwood. Friends may call from 3-8 p.m. Thursday at Kimple Funeral Home in Ellinwood. Memorials are suggested to Ellinwood Ambulance Fund or the Ellinwood School and Library Foundation, both in care of the funeral home. May 9, 2001
John Carroll Jarmer 1943-2001
John Carroll Jarmer, 57, of Great Bend, died May 7 at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Wichita. He was born Dec. 24, 1943, in Hutchinson, the son of John F. and Albina Sue Horyna Jarmer. A resident of Great Bend, he was an engineer for Welex-Division of Halliburton Services. Jarmer was a member of the Catholic church, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and Eagles Lodge, all of Great Bend. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War. Survivors include one son, Brett Jarmer of Wamego; two daughters, Rebecca Schroeder of Topeka and Nicole Lentz of Kansas City; and three sisters, Viola Estes of Larned, Loretta Right of Olmitz and Bonnie Reber of Independence. Graveside service will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Great Bend cemetery with a flag presentation by the American Legion Argonne Post 180 of Great Bend. There will be no visitation. Memorials are suggested to Hoisington Alcohol Treatment Center, in care of Bryant-Christians Funeral Home in Great Bend. May 9, 2001
