Archived Marriage Records
Mary Margaret Harmon 1932-2002
HOBBS, N.M. - Mary Margaret Harmon, 69, died April 12 in Hobbs. She was born Oct. 14, 1932, in Moorehead City, N.C., the daughter of Percy and Mary Victoria Springle Harker. She married
Donald R. Harmon Sr. He preceded her in death. She married
Floyd M. Harmon Sr. at the Nazarene Church in Hobbs. He preceded her in death. A resident of Hobbs, coming from Great Bend, she was a homemaker. Survivors include three sons, George M. Harmon of Martinez, Ga., Donald R. Harmon of Taturn, N.M., and Floyd M. Harmon of Hobbs; four daughters, Patricia Wardlaw of Oklahoma City, Okla., Terri J. Whitfield and Diane Gaston, both of Hobbs, and Susan Rodriquez of Plano, Texas; 22 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two daughters, Margaret Ann Harmon and Peggy Jean Harmon; three brothers; and two sisters. Graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Great Bend cemetery in Great Bend, with the Rev. Dick Ogle officiating. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Fryberger Mortuary in Great Bend. There are no memorials suggested. April 16, 2002
Donald Worth Bressler 1919-2002
HOISINGTON - Donald Worth Bressler, 82, died April 14 at St. Thomas Moore Hospital in Canon City, Colo. He was born Sept. 19, 1919, in Norton, the son of Gehad and Mary VanSant Bressler. He married
Vera Lois Lowry Nov. 28, 1940, in Great Bend. She died Oct. 4, 2000. A resident of Canon City since 1984, coming from Hoisington, he was the retired owner of Worth Heating and Electric in Hoisington. Bressler was a member of First Christian Church in Canon City and life member of American Legion Post 286, in Hoisington. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, serving in the Pacific Theatre of operations. Survivors include one son, Troy Bressler of Hoisington, two daughters, Loree Achenbach of Bonner Springs and Ramona Becker of Wichita; 14 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Raymond Bressler, Evan Bressler and Irwin Bressler; and two sisters, Marguerita Leibenau and Mildred Scott. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington, with the Rev. Wayne Flanders officiating. Burial will be at Hoisington Cemetery, with military graveside rites by American Legion Post 286 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7428. Friends may call from 1-8 p.m. Wednesday and from 9 a.m. until service time Thursday, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Hoisington Ambulance Service or Hoisington Little League, both in care of the funeral home. April 16, 2002
Ollie F. Sickelbower 1906-2002
Ollie F. Sickelbower, 95, of Great Bend, died April 14 at Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington. He was born Aug. 29, 1906, in Elbing, the son of Charles and Lillie M. Moore Sickelbower. He married
Dorothy L. Moye June 30, 1925, in Russell. She died March 25, 2002. A resident of Great Bend, he was a driller in the oil industry before his retirement. Survivors include two nieces, Phyllis Howell of Overland Park and Mary Lou Bateman of Merriam; and many close neighbors and friends. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Jake Sickelbower and Fred Sickelbower; and four sisters, Bonnie Laneger, Ethel Baird, Bess Van Sickle; and Vida Stutsman. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Fryberger Mortuary Chapel in Great Bend, with the Rev. David Carlson officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend Cemetery. Friends may call from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at the mortuary. Memorials are suggested to Golden Belt Home Health and Hospice, in care of the mortuary. April 16, 2002
Larry J. Laing 1933-2002
LARNED - Larry J. Laing, 68, died April 10 at his home in Larned. He was born Dec. 12, 1933, in San Antonio, Texas, the son of Bry and Ida Laing. He married
Phyllis Ann Depoy April 11, 1954, in Larned. She died Aug. 9, 2001. A lifelong resident of Pawnee County, he was a correctional officer for Larned State Hospital. Survivors include one son, Bryan Elden Laing of El Dorado; two stepbrothers, Bill Carson of Oklahoma and Don Carson of Tyler, Texas; one stepsister, Naidine Hilleard; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Assembly of God Church in Larned, with the Rev. Richard Martin officiating. Inurnment will be at Larned Cemetery. Friends may call until 8:30 tonight and from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, all at Beckwith Mortuary in Larned. Memorials are suggested to the church or the donor's choice, both in care of the mortuary. April 16, 2002
Harry Bleeker 1916-2002
EMERY, S.D. - Harry Bleeker, 85, died April 13 at Diamond Care Center in Bridgewater, S.D. He was born Aug. 3, 1916, in Emery, the son of Harry M. and Laura Olthoff Bleeker. He was a graduate of Emery High School in Emery. He married
Rose Tschetter May 22, 1941. She died March 26, 1992. A resident of Emery, coming from California, he owned an implement business until 1946 and was involved in agriculture-related business his entire life. Bleeker was a member of First Baptist Church in Emery, where he served on the board of deacons, trustees, men's brotherhood and the building committee, served on the school board and was county chairman for the Republican Party for numerous years. Survivors include two sons, Linwood Bleeker of Pierre, S.D., and Harry Bleeker Jr. of Great Bend; three daughters, Peggy Rodgers and Harriet Berlin, both of Columbus, Neb., and Betty Spakes of Sugarland, Texas; 10 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers; four sisters; an infant sister; and one grandchild. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Burial will be at Emery Community Cemetery. Friends may call from 6-8 tonight at Hettinger-Bittner Funeral Chapel in Emery. There are no memorials suggested. April 16, 2002
Gertrude B. 'Trudy' Deeds 1914-2002
WICHITA - Gertrude B. "Trudy" Deeds, 89, died April 12. She was born in 1914. A resident of Wichita, coming from Great Bend, she was a retired secretary for the Great Bend School District. Survivors include two sons, James B. Deeds of Wichita and William C. Deeds of Sioux City; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Broadway Mortuary Chapel in Wichita. There is no visitation listed and no memorials are suggested. April 15, 2002
Verne E. Willson 1909-2002
RUSSELL - Verne E. Willson, 92, died April 13 at Russell Regional Hospital in Russell. He was born Sept. 22, 1909, in Bunker Hill, the son of Floyd Elmer and Ida Grace Ruby Willson. He married
Eunice Vivian Sellens Nov. 9, 1930, in rural Russell. A lifelong resident of the Bunker Hill and Russell areas, he was a farmer and stockman and also owned and operated Texaco service stations in Russell. Willson was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Russell. Survivors include his wife of the home; two sons, Keith Willson of Georgetown, Texas, and Kent Willson of Russell; one daughter, Donna Lee Walters of Hays; one brother, Donald Willson of Wichita; two sisters, Ida May Willson and Ruth Phillips, both of Topeka; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by six brothers, Emery Willson, Edward Willson, Duane Willson, Lawrence Willson and two infants. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church, with the Rev. Glenn Tombaugh officiating. Burial will be at Russell City cemetery in Russell. Friends may call from noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Pohlman's Mortuary in Russell and from 9:30 a.m. until service time Wednesday at the church. Memorials are suggested to the church or the hospital, both in care of the mortuary. April 15, 2002
James A. 'Jim' Deason 1943-2002
James A. "Jim" Deason, 58 of Great Bend, died April 11 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. He was born Aug. 25, 1943, at Kansas City, Mo., the son of James Nelson and Clara Lucille Myers Deason. He married
Marilyn Brack on Sept. 5, 1965, at Great Bend. A lifetime resident of Great Bend, he was a custodian for USD 428 in Great Bend. Deason was a member of First Christian Church of Great Bend, and Scout leader and master for Kanza Council. Survivors include his wife of the home; two sons, Nelson Deason of Claflin and Vincent Deason of Great Bend; two daughters, Jame Allen and Sheree Marshall, both of Great Bend; one sister, Martha Scranton of Larned; and 11 grandchildren. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend, with the Rev. William F. Johnson officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend Cemetery. Friends may call from 1-8 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. until service time Monday, all at the funeral home. Family will receive friends from 7-8 tonight at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to James Arthur Deason Memorial Fund, in care of the funeral home. April 14, 2002
Francis Lee Kingston 1924-2002
HOISINGTON - Francis Lee Kingston, 77, died April 11 at Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington. He was born Dec. 21, 1924, in Great Bend, the son of Francis J. and Ada Mae Taylor Kingston. He married
Eleanor H. Prosser Feb. 11, 1947, in Hoisington. She died May 16, 1979. A lifelong resident of Barton County, he was a farmer and stockman. Kingston was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus, both of Hoisington. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. Survivors include one son, Bob Kingston of Lincoln, Neb.; two daughters, Arletta Gildersleve of Lenexa and Eileen Warner of Lee's Summit, Mo.; two sisters, Marie Kingston and Mary Maude Dirks, both of Great Bend; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by two sons, Ray Kingston and Curtis Kingston; and one sister, Ruth Smith. Vigil service will be at 7 tonight at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the church, with the Rev. Pascal Klein officiating. Burial will be at St. John cemetery in Hoisington with military graveside rites by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7428 and American Legion Post 286. Friends may call from 1-9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to donor's choice, in care of the funeral home. April 14, 2002
Earl M. Hemphill 1940-2002
RUSSELL - Earl M. Hemphill, 61, died April 11 in Russell. He was born April 19, 1940, in Ponca City, Okla., the son of Harold Clifton and Myrta Ellen Ogan Hemphill. He was a graduate of Great Bend High School. He married
Eileen Boatright Sept. 2, 1962, in Russell. A resident of Russell since 1963, coming from Abilene, Texas, Great Bend and Peru, he worked as an electrician and became a full time fire chief in 1982 in Russell. Hemphill was a member of Bible Baptist Church in Russell, Kansas State Fire Fighter Association, Kansas State Fire Chiefs Association and International Fire Chiefs Association. He was a U.S. Navy veteran from 1958-1962. Survivors include his wife of the home; two sons, Lawrence Hemphill of Salina and James M. Hemphill of Russell; one daughter, Audra Lynn Bruggeman of Atchison; one sister, Andrea Martin of Abilene; and six grandchildren. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Russell High School (Amos Morris) Gymnasium in Russell, with the Rev. Dale Lane officiating. Burial will be at Russell City cemetery in Russell. Friends may call from noon to 9 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. until noon Monday, all at Pohlman's Mortuary in Russell. Memorials are suggested to the church or Russell Fireman's Relief Association, both in care of the mortuary. April 14, 2002
Henrietta Trimmer 1942-2002
Henrietta Trimmer, 60, of Great Bend, died April 11 at Via Christi Regional Medical Center, St. Francis Campus in Wichita. She was born March 5, 1942, in Concordia, the daughter of Henry and Amy Gutscher Karnatz. She married
George Trimmer III Oct. 4, 1971, in Belleville. A longtime resident of Smith Center before moving to Great Bend in 1996, she worked as a nurse's aide and as a clerk at Quick Pantry, both in Smith Center. Survivors include her husband of the home; three sons, Rick Brown of Beloit, Terry Brown of Smith Center and Frank Trimmer of Great Bend; four daughters, Vickie Long and Kimberly Craig, both of Smith Center, Billie Clinesmith of Hugoton and Lisa Brown of Halstead; and 10 grandchildren. Memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Calvary Gospel Church in Smith Center. Inurnment of ashes will be done at a later date by the family. Minnis Chapel in Stafford is in charge of arrangements. April 12, 2002
Harlan R. Parr 1935-2002
Harlan R. Parr, 67, of Great Bend, died April 10 in Great Bend. He was born Feb. 11, 1935, in Faucett, Mo., the son of A.D. and Frances Stanton Parr. He married
Ila Pember Sept. 14, 1985, in Great Bend. A resident of Great Bend since 1954, coming from Kansas City, Mo., he was a self-employed carpenter and also worked as the superintendent of special projects for Rice Engineering for 10 years before retiring in 1999. Parr was a member of First Assembly of God Church in Great Bend. Survivors include his wife of the home; three sons, Tim Parr, Randy Parr and Gary Parr, all of Great Bend; one stepson, Gary Pember of Wooster, Ohio; one stepdaughter, Michelle Yeager of Lakewood, Colo.; one brother, Tom Parr of Kansas City, Mo.; one sister, Bobbie Houghton of Excelsier Springs, Mo.; 17 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Gene Parr and Russell "Buck" Parr; and one sister, Harriett Parr. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the church, with the Revs. Dwight Dozier and David Hartsell officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend Cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, with family receiving friends from 7-8 p.m., all at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend and from 9 a.m. until service time Saturday at the church. Memorials are suggested to First Assembly of God Facility Refurbishing, in care of the funeral home. April 11, 2002
Carmen Reinhardt Cook 1916-2002
Carmen Reinhardt Cook, 85, of Great Bend, died April 8 in Fayetteville, Ark. She was born May 11, 1916, in Bison, the daughter of Jacob and Katherine Kaiser Reinhardt. She married
Daniel Harold Cook July 10, 1961, in Raton, N.M. he died Dec. 27, 1996. A resident of Fayetteville, coming from Great Bend and Hoisington, she was a teacher for Great Bend and Hoisington School Districts and was later employed by Chief Drilling Company and Hilton Drilling Company. Mrs. Cook was a member of First United Methodist Church in Great Bend. Survivors include one daughter, Carma Jeanne Heckathorn Hughey of Fayetteville; two grandsons; five step-granddaughters; 15 step-great-grandchildren; and 18 step-great-great-grandchildren. Memorial service details will be announced at a later date by Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Cremation has taken place. Memorials are suggested to the church, in care of the funeral home. April 11, 2002
