Archived Marriage Records
Tonya Jean 'TJ' Lane 1945-2002
HOISINGTON - Tonya Jean "TJ" Lane, 57, died March 20 at Central Kansas Medical Center, St. Rose Campus in Great Bend. She was born Jan. 23, 1945, in Sand Springs, Okla., the daughter of Harry Kirk and Ola Mae Mullis Tootle.
She married
Charles Denning Oct. 27, 1961, in Sterling, Colo.
She married
Roy A. Lane July 4, 1987, in Hoisington.
A longtime resident of Hoisington, she worked as a certified nurses aid.
Survivors include her husband of the home; three sons, Kirk Denning and Brett Denning, both of Russell and Anthony Denning of Wichita; two daughters, Ethel Mae Ricketts and Stacey Denning, both of Hoisington; her mother, Ola Mae Youtsey of Dorrance; brothers, Mark Sinclair of McPerson, Harry Tootle and Charlie Tootle, both of Idaho; Leonard Tootle and JW Tootle; sisters, Marsha Niehoff and Reta Bushell, both of Dorrance and Galella Ruth Caughman of Salisaw, Okla.; 20 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by one brother, Robert Michael Sinclair.
Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington, with the Rev. Mike Joiner officiating.
Burial will be at Hoisington Cemetery.
Friends may call from 1-8 p.m. Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and from 9 a.m. until service time Tuesday, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to American Cancer Society or American Lung Association, both in care of the funeral home. March 21, 2002
Lena Schwertfeger Bieberle 1920-2002
ELLINWOOD - Lena Schwertfeger Bieberle, 81, died March 20 at Woodhaven Care Center in Ellinwood. She was born Aug. 10, 1920, in Burdett, the daughter of Christian Heimick and Maria Leusette Schmalgemeier Helms. She married
Orville Schwertfeger May 11, 1941, in rural Great Bend. He died June 24, 1978. She married
Nick Bieberle Oct. 9, 1981, in Ellinwood. He died Dec. 13, 1987. A resident of Ellinwood, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Bieberle was a member of St. John Lutheran Church and LWML, both of Ellinwood. Survivors include one son, Frank Schwertfeger of Henderson, Colo.; seven stepsons, Bob Ewald of Billings, Mo., Jerome Ewald of Wichita, Norbert Bieberle of Great Bend, Marvin Bieberle of Lorraine, Ronald Bieberle of Ellinwood, Gordon Bieberle of Chicago, Ill., and Floyd Bieberle of Derby; three stepdaughters, Joyce Leiker of Midland, Texas, Bernadine Overman of Scottsbluff, Neb., and Corrine Batchman of Ellinwood; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the church, with the Rev. Andy Keltner officiating. Burial will be at Lakin-Comanche District cemetery in Ellinwood. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Kimple Funeral Home in Ellinwood. Memorials are suggested to the church Foundation or Ellinwood Area Health Foundation, both in care of the funeral home. March 21, 2002
Janet Simpson Morrison 1930-2002
MERRIAM - Janet Simpson Morrison, 72, died March 19 at her home in Merriam. She was born Jan. 28, 1930, in Great Bend, the daughter of John Sr. and Helen Wagenseller Morrison. A resident of Merriam, she worked as a medical record administrator with the University of Kansas Medical Center for 17 years, until she retired. She was a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church and St. June Circle, both in Mission and National Board of American Medical Records Association. Survivors include her one brother, Lawrence Morrison of Ogallala, Neb.; and lifelong friend, Ann Gioiosa of Merriam. She was preceded in death by one brother, John Morrison Jr. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the church. Graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Great Bend City Cemetery. Friends may call from 9-10 a.m. Saturday at the church. Memorials are suggested to the church, in care of Amos Family Funeral Chapel in Shawnee. March 21, 2002
Earl M. Phillips 1911-2002
Earl M. Phillips, 90, of Great Bend, died March 13 at Integrated Health Services in Great Bend. Memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend, with Harvard Townsend and Bill Wolf officiating. There is no visitation. Memorials are suggested to Barton County Historical Society or the donor's choice, both in care of the funeral home. March 21, 2002
March 20, 2002
Kenneth Douglas Befort 1934-2002
PRATT - Kenneth Douglas Befort, 67, died March 18 at Pratt Regional Medical Center. He was born March 28, 1934, in Great Bend, the son of Celestine "Cy" and Clara Marie Dreher Befort. He married
Lois Jean Fisher July 2, 1961, in San Diego, Calif. A resident of Pratt, he was a machine operator for KPL Natural Gas Company. Befort was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and American Legion, both in Pratt. He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War. Survivors include one son, Mark D. Befort of Pratt; one daughter, Kim Voss of Mulvane; three brothers, Al Befort of Hutchinson, Curt Befort of Wichita and Keith Befort of Pratt; two sisters, Nancy J. McCleary and Wanda M. Narvid, both of Wichita; and five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one son, Jason Wayne Befort; and one brother, Jim Befort. Vigil service will be at 7 p.m. Friday at the church. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church, with the Rev. James Dieker officiating. Burial will be at Greenlawn cemetery in Pratt. Friends may call until 8 tonight, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, all at Ayres-Calbeck Mortuary in Pratt. Memorials are suggested to Gifts and Bequest Committee at Pratt Regional Medical Center or the donor's choice, both in care of the mortuary. March 20, 2002
Celeste Mary Nienke 1925-2002
ELLINWOOD - Celeste Mary Nienke, 77, died March 19 at Homestead in McKinney, Texas. She was born Feb. 22, 1925, in Great Bend, the daughter of Louis Adam and Mary Alice Malone Schartz. She married
Raymond G. Nienke July 26, 1982, in Lyons. He died Nov. 4, 1998. A resident of McKinney since Dec. 2000, coming from Ellinwood, she worked as a farming and oil production secretary. Mrs. Nienke was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Ellinwood. Survivors include one son, Craig Griffith of San Francisco, Calif.; two stepsons, Fred Nienke of Hardin, Ill., and Chet Nienke of Ellinwood; two daughters, Carol Rakes of Fountain Hills, Ariz. and June Griffith of McKinney; three stepdaughters, Sharyl Palmer and Sharon Evans, both of Mesa, Ariz., and Vicki Morse of Littleton, Colo.; one sister, Genevive Koch of San Diego, Calif.; and three grandchildren. Altar Society Rosary will be at 3 p.m. Friday and a vigil service will be at 7 p.m. Friday, both at Kimple Funeral Home in Ellinwood. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church, with the Rev. David Flagor officiating. Burial will be at Lakin-Comanche District cemetery in Ellinwood. Friends may call from 1-8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to St. Joseph's School Endowment or Ellinwood Area Health Care Foundation, both in care of the funeral home. March 20, 2002
John Gerald Rourke 1922-2002
BURDETT - John Gerald Rourke, 79, died March 18 at Integrated Health Services in Great Bend. He was born Sept. 27, 1922, in Brownell, the son of John Joseph and Margaret Halbleib Rourke. He married
Dorothy Nemechek Nov. 4, 1947, in Collyer. She died Aug. 30, 1981. A resident of Burdett since retiring in 1982, he was a farmer in the Brownell and McCracken area. Rourke was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Larned, life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3449 in WaKeeney, American Legion Post 382 in Brownell and Burdett Seniors in Burdett. Survivors include three sons, John J. Rourke of Allen, Texas, Gerald Rourke of Aguilar, Colo., and Kevin Rourke of Russell; three daughters, Kathleen Kazmaier of Larned, Dorothy Marie Penrod of Rocky Ford, Colo., and Louise Seltman of Nekoma; four sisters, Katherine Daigle of WaKeeney, Lucille Nemechek and Eileen Nemechek, both of Goodland and Sister Margaret Rourke of Salina; 10 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Bernard Rourke and Joseph Rourke; one sister, Helen Schaben; and one grandson, Bradley Legleiter. Wake will be at 7 tonight at Morell Funeral Home in Larned. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in McCracken, with the Rev. Dennis Reed officiating. Burial will be at the church cemetery in McCracken. Friends may call until 8 tonight at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to St. Mary's McCracken Heritage Association or Burdett Emergency Medical Services, both in care of the funeral home. March 20, 2002
Dorothy Curtis 1921-2002
ELLSWORTH - Dorothy Curtis, 80, died March 18 at Ellsworth County Medical Center in Ellsworth. She was born April 10, 1921, in Chicago, Ill., the daughter of Adolph and Mabel Leith Stefek. She married
Harold Curtis July 2, 1942. He died Sept. 23, 1982. A resident of Ellsworth since 1941, she was a homemaker and worked as a laundress at Ellsworth County Hospital. Survivors include one son, Raymond Curtis Jr. of Salina; one daughter, Sue Jimison of Great Bend; two sisters, Alice Riley of Florida and Barbara Stonebraker of Scottsdale, Ariz.; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. There is no services or visitation listed at this time. According to the deceased's wishes, her body has been donated to science. Memorials are suggested to American Diabetes Association, in care of Parsons Funeral Home in Ellsworth. March 20, 2002
Georgene Marie Marietta 1923-2002
Georgene Marie Marietta, 78, of Great Bend, died March 16 at Hutchinson Hospital in Hutchinson. She was born Aug. 8, 1923, in Mankato, the daughter of Charles and Helen Diamond Murphy. She married
Verle Loris Marietta Sept. 5, 1948, in Mankato. He died Dec. 20, 1999. A resident of Great Bend since 1952, coming from Alva, Okla., she was a homemaker and worked for 10 years at the Barton County Courthouse. Mrs. Marietta was a member of First United Methodist Church in Great Bend. Survivors include two daughters, Kala Marietta of Phoenix, Ariz. and Karla Norsworthy of Raleigh, N.C.; one brother, Bob Murphy of Mankato; and two grandsons. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend, with the Rev. Jana Baxter officiating. Burial will be at 3 p.m. Thursday at Mount Hope cemetery in Mankato. Friends may call until 9 tonight, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday and from 9 a.m. until service time Thursday, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to American Cancer Society, in care of the funeral home. March 19, 2002
Lugene C. 'Gene' Ritter 1928-2002
Lugene C. "Gene" Ritter, 74, of Great Bend, died March 17 at Hutchinson Hospital in Hutchinson. He was born Jan. 22, 1928, in Tribune, the son of Lonnel C. and Delma Hansen Ritter. He was a 1946 graduate of Hoisington High School and a 1952 graduate of Fort Hays State College. He married
Barbara Drake Sept. 30, 1951, in Hoisington. A resident of Great Bend, coming from Hoisington and Olathe, he was retired in 1983 from the USDA Conservation Service after 32 years of service. Ritter was a member of First Christian Church in Great Bend, Masonic Lodge 331 AF and AM in Hoisington, lifetime member of both American Legion Post and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post, Soil and Water Conservation Society and Organization of Professional Employees of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving from 1946-1948. Survivors include his wife of the home; four sons, Randy Ritter of Salina, Ben Ritter of Eugene, Ore., Doug Ritter of Wichita and Bob Ritter of Lane; one brother, Dr. H.K. Ritter of Hoisington; and 10 grandchildren. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the church, with the Rev. William F. Johnson officiating. Burial will be at Hoisington cemetery with Masonic graveside rites. Friends may call until 9 tonight, from 9-11:30 a.m. Wednesday, all at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington and from 12:30 p.m. until service time Wednesday at the church. The casket will remain closed. Family will receive friends from 7-8 p.m. tonight, at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to First Christian Church Building Fund, in care of the funeral home. March 19, 2002
John M. Carey 1923-2002
HUTCHINSON - John M. Carey, 78, died March 18 at Wesley Towers in Hutchinson. He was born Sept. 18, 1923, in Hutchinson, the son of Howard J. and Louise B. Banks Carey. He was a graduate of Fountain Valley School in Colorado Springs, Colo. He married
Patricia J. Bosse Oct. 5, 1946, in Ellinwood. She died July 3, 1999. A resident of Hutchinson, coming from Austin, Texas, and Ellinwood, he retired from Bosse Grain in Ellinwood in 1982. Carey was a member of St. John's Presbyterian Church in Austin and was a former member of Immanuel United Church of Christ in Ellinwood. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, serving in the South Pacific. Survivors include one daughter, Pamela L. Carey of Hutchinson; one brother, Howard J. Carey Jr. of Hutchinson; and one sister, Anna May Johnston of Hutchinson. He was preceded in death by one son, John M.B. Carey Jr.; and one sister, Margaret Klode. Memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Wesley Towers Conference Room in Hutchinson, with the Rev. Robert Brooks officiating. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Lakin-Comanche District cemetery in Ellinwood, with the Rev. Larry Young officiating. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday at Kimple Funeral Home in Ellinwood. Memorials are suggested to TECH Center in Hutchinson or Wesley Towers Good Samaritan Fund, both in care of the funeral home. March 19, 2002
