Archived Marriage Records
Richard Lanne Maddox 1978-2003
Richard Lanne Maddox, 25, of Great Bend, died Nov. 28 at Kansas City, Mo. He was born Sept. 9, 1978, at Duncan, Okla., the son of Brad and Rickee Crane Maddox. A resident of Great Bend since 1981, coming from Geneseo, he was a senior at Mid-America Nazarene College, studying religion. Maddox was a member of First Church of the Nazarene of Great Bend. Survivors include his parents of Great Bend; one brother, Benn Maddox of Great Bend; and grandfather, LeRoy Maddox of Fort McCoy, Fla. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the church, with the Revs. Mark Pennington, Robert Castile, and Dr. Larry Fine officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Geneseo Cemetery. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, with the family receiving friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday, all at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Memorials are suggested to religion department of Mid-America Nazarene University in Olathe, in care of the funeral home. Dec. 2, 2003
Steven Paul Boehnke 1939-2003
ELLINWOOD — Steven Paul Boehnke, 64, died Nov. 29 at Via Christi Regional Medical Center, St. Francis Campus in Wichita. He was born Sept. 8, 1939, at Great Bend, the son of Paul and Ruby “Erma” Reeves Boehnke. He married
Marquita Lacy Ulm May 23, 1981, at Har-Ber Village, Okla. A resident of Ellinwood since 1981, coming from Great Bend, he was a service technician for Great Bend Co-op until retiring in 1997. Boehnke was a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, a former member of Barton County Sheriff Reserves, and one of the original organizers of National Hot Rod Association Drag Races held in Great Bend. He was a U.S. Navy veteran, having served on the USS Rochester. Survivors include his wife of the home; two daughters, Kayla Rhoades and husband Scott of Arlington, Texas, and Jonya Cousins and husband Wesley of Haysville; and two granddaughters, Lacy Rhoades and Kelcy Rhoades. Memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend, with Dr. Sterling Lacy officiating. Burial will be at Hillcrest Memorial Park cemetery north of Great Bend. Friends may call from noon to 9 p.m. Wednesday with the family receiving friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Ellinwood Fire Department or Ellinwood Ambulance Service, both in care of the funeral home. Dec. 2, 2003
Francis J. Ney 1923-2003
HOISINGTON — Francis J. Ney, 80, died Nov. 29 at Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington. He was born May 27, 1923, at Concordia, the son of Frank and Clara Krier Ney. He was a 1941 graduate of Hoisington High School. He married
Margaret Ann Koeller April 11, 1950, at Hoisington. A lifetime Hoisington resident, he was a farmer and produce manager for C.O. Mammel’s, and later a salesman for Ney’s Furniture and Carpet. Ney was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, American Legion Post No. 286 and a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 7428. He was a U.S. Army veteran, having served in World War II. Survivors include his wife of the home; three sons, John Ney of Great Bend, Mike Ney and Bob Ney, both of Hoisington; one daughter, Mary Lou Degenhardt of Great Bend; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by four half-sisters. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. today at the church, with the Rev. Pascal Klein officiating. Burial will be at St. John the Evangelist cemetery of Hoisington, with military graveside rites by VFW Post No. 7428 and American Legion Post No. 286. Memorials are suggested to the church, in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington. Dec. 2, 2003
Edwin H. Suhler 1940-2003
LYONS — Edwin H. Suhler, 63, died Nov. 29 at Sandstone Height Nursing Home in Little River. He was born Feb. 7, 1940, at Chase, the son of Marvin J. and Esther M. Wild Suhler. He was a 1958 graduate of Lyons High School and graduated from U.S. Trade School of Auto Mechanics in Kansas City. A resident of Lyons since 1946, he was a former employee of Drescher Engineering and owner of Suhler Repair of Lyons. Suhler was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, American Legion Post 129 and life member and past commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars 3184, member and past secretary/treasurer of Lions Club, all of Lyons, a life member of AmVets No. 11 of Hutchinson and USS Constellation CVA-64 Plankowners Association. He was a U.S. Navy veteran, having served during the Vietnam War. Survivors include his mother of Lyons; one brother, Bill Wild of Overland Park; and one sister, Bonnie Baldwin of Salina. Memorial service will be at 2 p.m. today at Sillin Funeral Home in Lyons, with the Rev. Richard Andrus officiating. Burial will be at Lyons Municipal cemetery in Lyons with full military honors by Fort Riley Honor Guard. Memorials are suggested to the church, VFW or Bell & Star Fund, all in care of the funeral home. Dec. 2, 2003
Mary Louise Dale 1910-2003
Mary Louise Dale, 93, of Great Bend, died Nov. 28 at North Shore Manor in Loveland, Colo. She was born Feb. 15, 1910, on the family farm near Seward, the daughter of Patrick L. Sr. and Teresa Hall Keenan. She married
E. Lewis Dale Jr. Nov. 12, 1938, at Seward. He died Aug. 21, 2000. A lifetime area resident of Stafford and Barton counties, she taught in the Stafford school system for nine years, known as “Miss Louise.” Later she cashiered for Keenan Auction Service for 30 years. Mrs. Dale was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, Altar Society, Daughters of Isabella, all of Great Bend, and a former member of St. Francis Xavier and Altar Society, both of Seward. She was a talented cook, seamstress and home decorator. She was a 4-H leader, taught classes in religion at St. Francis Xavier in Seward, participated in many community drives such as Red Cross, worked on election boards and served in the church altar society in many ways. Beloved for her writing of interesting letters, she also wrote a narrative family history of the Patrick L. Keenan Sr. family. She was smart, she was funny and she could tell all the funny and interesting stories of the family and community in which she grew up. Her greatest gift to her family was a life well lived with humor and an example well set. Love goes on forever. Survivors include two sons, Patrick L. “Pat” Dale of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Dr. James E. “Jim” Dale of Golden, Colo.; one daughter, Mary Frances Wichman of Fort Collins, Colo.; five brothers, Bob Keenan, Larry Keenan, Pat Keenan Jr. and Dennis Keenan, all of Great Bend, and Terry Keenan of Scott City; two sisters, June Klepper of Ellinwood and Gloria Ball of Seattle, Wash.; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by three brothers, Paul Keenan, Russell Keenan and Ora Keenan; and one sister, Sylvia Langer. Altar Society rosary will be at 4 p.m. today at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Vigil will be at 7:30 p.m. today followed by a D of I rosary, both at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Great Bend, with the Rev. Reginald A. Urban officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend Cemetery. Friends may call from noon to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to St. Isidore Catholic Student Center, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, in care of the funeral home. Dec. 2, 2003
James W. Westbrook 1928-2003
AUGUSTA — James W. Westbrook, 75, died Nov. 29. He was born July 13, 1928, at Kansas City, Mo., the son of Thomas and Gladys McCammon Westbrook. He was a graduate of the University of Kansas. He married
Yvonne Hammer March 25, 1951, at Claflin. She died April 10, 1971. He married
Dolores Bieberle Aug. 12, 1988, at Hoisington. A resident of Augusta since 1988, formerly of Alexandria, Va., he was a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force, having served for 31 years. Westbrook was a U.S. Air Force veteran of World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War. His decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star and many others. He served in the President’s investigatory commission from 1975 to 1979 in Washington, D.C. Survivors include his wife of the home; two sons, Tony Westbrook of Los Angeles, Calif., and Randy Westbrook of Leesburg, Va.; three stepsons, Keith Bieberle of St. John, Glen Bieberle of Hoisington and Darin Bieberle of Great Bend; two daughters, Cheryl Hoffman of Glendale, Calif., and Sonya Westbrook of Woodbridge, Va.; two stepdaughters, Janiece Klenda of La Crosse and Kay Demel of Hiawatha; one grandson; and nine stepgrandchildren. Funeral will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Dunsford Chapel Funeral Home in Augusta. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral chapel. Memorials are suggested to AmVets National Service Foundation, in charge of the funeral chapel. Dec. 2, 2003
Alice Jilg 1910-2003
HOISINGTON — Alice Jilg, 93, died Nov. 30 at Hill Top House Nursing Home in Bucklin. She was born March 25, 1910, at Emporia, the daughter of John Jay and Sarah Caroline Owen Boyle. She married
Walter Joseph Jilg May 1, 1937, at Great Bend. He died Oct. 16, 1988. A resident of Bucklin, coming from Greensburg and Hoisington, she taught in one-room schools and was a homemaker. Mrs. Jilg was a member of First United Methodist Church in Hoisington. Survivors include two daughters, Annetta Woodhead of Carthage, Mo., and Wilma McChristian of Greensburg; five grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; six step great-grandchildren; and one step great-great-grandson. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Clarence Boyle and Owen Boyle; and three sisters, Eudella Jilg, Mary Jane Smith and Mildred Grow. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the church, with the Rev. Wayne Flanders officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend Cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington, with the family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, and from 11 a.m. to service time Thursday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the church, South Wind Hospice in Pratt or Maude Carpenter Children’s Center of Wichita, all in care of the funeral home. Dec. 2, 2003
Ruie Ann Hayden Munson 1959-2003
OVERLAND PARK — Ruie Ann Hayden Munson, 44, died Sept. 28 at Providence Medical Center in Kansas City. She was born Feb. 25, 1959, at Kansas City, Mo., the daughter of Chet and Onabelle Rundell Hayden. She was a 1977 graduate of Stafford High School and attended Emporia State University. She received a degree in business travel from Brown Mackie College. She married
Ben Munson Dec. 3, 1983, at Salina. They divorced. A resident of Overland Park, coming from Stafford, Wichita and Salina, she was creator of “Barrier Breakers.” Mrs. Munson was a member of West Side Christian Church in Wichita. Survivors include her parents of Stafford; and one brother, Keith Hayden of Stafford. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Minnis Chapel in Stafford with Phil Smith officiating. Burial will be at Stafford Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Tape Ministry of Topeka Library, in care of the funeral chapel. Sept. 30, 2003
Alice Sula 1905-2003
WILSON — Alice M. Sula, 98, died Sept. 26 at Ellsworth County Medical Center in Ellsworth. She was both Sept. 17, 1905, at Ellsworth, the daughter of Joseph and Anna Hospodka Mares´. She married
Anton D. Sula May 6, 1924, at Ellsworth. He died June 8, 1953. A lifetime resident of Wilson, she was a homemaker and owner of Alice’s Dress Shop in Wilson. Mrs. Sula was a member of Noble EHU, American Legion Auxiliary, both of Wilson, ZCBJ Lodge, SOKOL Lodge and Wilson Opera House Corporation. Survivors include one son, Anton Sula of Wilson; one daughter, Edith Murphy of San Diego, Calif.; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. today at Foster Mortuary of Wilson with the Rev. Kris Bair officiating. Burial will be at Wilson City Cemetery. Friends may call from 8 a.m to service time today at the funeral home. Sept. 30, 2003
Marvin F. Jacobs 1923-2003
ABILENE — Marvin F. Jacobs, 80, died Sept. 28 at Memorial Hospital in Abilene. He was born April 11, 1923, near Russell, the son of John M. and Rosa Mermis Jacobs. A lifetime Gorham-area resident, he worked on a pulling unit in the oil fields and was employed by Ivan Holt Well Service retiring in 1985, and was caretaker for St. Mary’s Church and cemetery for 20 years. Jacobs was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and Third Degree Knights of Columbus, both of Gorham. Survivors include two brothers, Louis Jacobs of Gorham and Bernard Jacobs of Hays; two sisters, Mary A. Schmeidler of Hays and Bernardine Leiker of Great Bend. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Alfred Jacobs and Edwin Jacobs. Vigil will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, followed by Knights of Columbus rosary at 7:30 p.m., both at Cline’s Mortuary in Victoria. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the church. Burial will be at the church cemetery. Friends may call from 3 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home and from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Thursday at the church. Memorials are suggested to the church, Capuchin Province of Mid America or Masses, all in care of the funeral home. Sept. 30, 2003
Vera Charlene Bourbon 1923-2003
TEMPE, Ariz. — Vera Charlene Bourbon, 80, of Tempe died peacefully in her sleep on Sept. 24. She was born Aug. 21, 1923, in Great Bend, the daughter of George and Emma Lucas and moved to Arizona in 1978. She is survived by her daughters, Dorothy (Chris) Hanisko and Donna (Kit) Groseth and her grandsons, Eric and Will Hanisko and Grant Groseth, all of Tempe; her sister, Mildred (Chris) Smith of Wichita; and a niece and nephew, Marcia (Gerald) McPhail of Lawrence and Chris (Sonia) Smith of Ithaca, N.Y. Her son, Dwight Bourbon, and her brother, Elmer Lucas, preceded her in death. Very Vivacious Vera will be deeply missed by her family and by her multitude of friends, many of them life-long. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 3 at Great Bend cemetery with the Rev. Hal Staats of First Presbyterian Church officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85014. Sept. 30, 2003
Frances J. Ochs 1916-2003
HAYS — Frances J. Ochs, 86, died Sept. 28 at St. John’s of Victoria. She was born Dec. 5, 1916, at Olmitz, the daughter of Frank and Josephine Krestine Kober. She married
John Ochs April 6, 1937, at Denver, Colo. He died Sept. 30, 1977. She was a homemaker. Mrs. Ochs was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. Survivors include one son, Richard Ochs of Hays; one brother, Leonard Kober of Kansas City; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by one son, Kenneth; six brothers; and two sisters. Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Hays Memorial Funeral Home. Burial will be at La Crosse City Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 6 p.m. today and from noon until service time Wednesday, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to St. John’s of Victoria, in care of the funeral home. Sept. 30, 2003
Patricia Rae Krestine 1938-2003
Patricia Rae Krestine, 65, of Great Bend, died Sept. 27 at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center. She was born Feb. 13, 1938, at Wichita, the daughter of Edward M. and Lydia Emma Reusser Solter. A resident of Great Bend since 1956, coming from El Dorado, she was a nurses’ aide at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. Krestine was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Eastern Star, a former Scout leader and president of Golden Belt Singles Club, all of Great Bend. Survivors include one son, Joseph Krestine of Leawood; and two grandchildren. Inurnment will take place at a later date at Clearwater Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to American Diabetes Association, in care of Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Sept. 30, 2003
Pauline Breit 1910-2003
HAYS — Pauline Breit, 93, died Sept. 29 at Hays Medical Center in Hays. She was born June 23, 1910, at Pfeifer, the daughter of Albert and Katherine Meder Jacobs. She married
Alois J. “Bert” Breit Aug. 5, 1935, at Loretto. He died March 21, 1992. A resident of Hays, she worked in housekeeping at Fort Hays State University for many years. Mrs. Breit was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church of Hays. Survivors include one son, Ed Breit of Hays; three daughters, Nila Winder of Kansas City, Mo., Cora McCartney of Garden City and Judy Strecker of Wichita; two brothers, Bill Jacobs of Pfeifer and Jerome Jacobs of Great Bend; one sister, Rose Bahr of Great Bend; eight grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one infant son, Francis Breit; one brother, Clement Jacobs; four sisters, Mary Haberman, Dorothy Dreiling, Frances Jacobs and Alice Jacobs; and one great-granddaughter, Alyssa McCartney. Parish vigil will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Hays. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the church. Burial will be at St. Joseph cemetery in Hays. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and from 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. Thursday, both at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Holy Cross Charities in her name and memory, in care of the funeral home. Sept. 30, 2003
Connie Rae Shell 1952-2003
EMPORIA — Connie Rae Shell, 51, died Sept. 27 at her home. She was born Aug. 18, 1952, at Hays, the daughter of Don and Lucille Willcox Richmond. She married
Larry G. Shell Jan. 25, 1988, at Miami, Okla. She was a 1970 graduate of Elwood High School in Elwood, Neb., and attended Kearney State College and Fort Hays State University. A resident of Emporia, formerly of Great Bend, she was assistant manager of Emporia Country Club and former owner and manager of Ralph Wallace Buffet and Restaurant in Great Bend. Shell was the first chairperson of Great Bend Crime Stoppers and helped institute Great Bend Police Department Play Day. Survivors include three sons, Robert “Bobby” Williams of Great Bend, Casey Williams and Michael Williams, both of Emporia; one daughter, Christy Williams of St. John; two stepdaughters, Angie Friedrich of Rancho Murieta, Calif., and Amy Shell of Oakland, Calif.; her parents of Kearney; one brother, Don Richmond Jr. of Kearney; two sisters, Pam Dickinson of Kearney and Sheri Rice of Grand Island, Neb.; and four grandchildren. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. today at Twelfth Avenue Baptist Church in Emporia with the Rev. Al Areheart officiating. Graveside service will be at 4 p.m. today at Great Bend cemetery with the Rev. Dave Dickinson officiating. Memorials are suggested to American Cancer Society or Hand in Hand Hospice, in care of Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home in Emporia. Sept. 30, 2003
John G. Dreiling 1932-2003
HAYS — John G. Dreiling, 71, died Sept. 25 at Saint John’s Nursing Home in Victoria. He was born March 29, 1932, in Victoria, the son of Leo J. and Albina Jacobs Dreiling. He married
Marian R. Sack Feb. 23, 1952, at Victoria. A lifetime resident of Victoria and Hays area, he was a farmer and oil producer. Dreiling was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion, all of Hays, Victoria 3rd Degree Knights of Columbus and 4th Degree Assembly Knights of Columbus. He was a board member of Saint John’s Corporation and a trustee of Leo J. and Albina Dreiling Charitable Trust. He was a U.S. Army veteran. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, Todd Dreiling of Hays; four sisters, Anita Feltis, Irene Kippes and Shirley Gross, all of Hays, and Lillian Schumacher of Victoria; and three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by four brothers, Leo Francis Dreiling, Thomas Dreiling, infant Virgil Dreiling and infant Frederick Dreiling; and one infant sister, Lillian Margaret Dreiling. Vigil will be at 7 p.m. Sunday and Knights of Columbus rosary will be at 7:30 p.m. today, both at Cline’s Mortuary of Hays. The 4th degree Knights of Columbus will stand honor from 6:30 to 7 :30 p.m. today at the mortuary. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the church, with Bishop George K. Fitzsimons of Salina officiating. Burial will be at St. Joseph cemetery in Hays, with military honors by Hays VFW and American Legion. Friends may call from 5 to 8 tonight and from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. Monday at the mortuary. Memorials are suggested to St. John’s Nursing Home in Victoria or Masses, both in care of the mortuary. Sept. 28, 2003
Sister Theodosia Tockert OP 1902-2003
Sister Theodosia Tockert, 101, died Sept. 25 in Dominican Sisters’ convent infirmary in Great Bend. She was born Jan. 23, 1902, in Odin as Mary Margaret Tockert, the daughter of Nick and Emilia Penka Tockert. She entered the Dominican Sisters’ Community July 26, 1918, and pronounced her first vows May 24, 1921. She celebrated the 80th anniversary of her religious profession in 2001. Sister Theodosia was a life-time educator of grade, junior high, high school and college students of Kansas. She was principal of many of the elementary schools in which she also taught. In 1986, she was inducted into the Kansas Teachers’ Hall of Fame. She served her religious community as a councilor on the leadership team and as the secretary of the congregation for many years. Late in life, she also tutored, taught English to Vietnamese students and was a teacher aide. She retired to the convent infirmary in 1997. Survivors include two sisters, Clara McGinty of Haysville and Hattie Tinkel of Great Bend. Sister Theodosia’s body will lie in state at Dominican Chapel of the Plains, 3600 Broadway, until the Liturgy of Christian Burial at 3 p.m. Monday at the chapel, with Bishop Ronald Gilmore of Dodge City Diocese officiating. A wake service will be at 7 p.m. Sunday at the chapel. Burial will be at Sisters’ Resurrection Cemetery. Friends may call from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. today at the convent. Memorials in honor of Sister Theodosia are suggested to Dominican Sisters Mission & Ministry Fund, Office of Mission & Ministry, 3600 Broadway, Great Bend, KS 67530-3692. Bryant Funeral Home of Great Bend is in charge of arrangements. Sept. 28, 2003
