Eldon A. “Woody” Schmidtberger, age 85, of Victoria, Kansas died Saturday, June 2, 2018, at his home.
He was born December 30, 1932, in Victoria, Kansas to Frank and Elizabeth (Weigel) Schmidtberger. He married Alberta Marie (Kurz) York-Goscha on June 19, 1976, in Victoria, Kansas.
He was a truck driver hauling grain and cattle. He hauled for High Plains Grain, Weilert Enterprises, Leiker Farms, J Corp and some oil fields companies. He retired from truck driver in 2008. He then drove a few years for Attley Auto Auction and was a driver the Fort Hays Chapter #18 DAV Veterans Van since 2013. He grew up in Victoria and attended Victoria High School. He was a retired US Navy Veteran and served during the Korean Conflict from 1952 until his retirement in 1972. He was on the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier and was a plank owner.
He was a member of The Basilica of St. Fidelis, St. Fidelis 3th Degree Knights of Columbus and 4th Degree Assembly, a Lifetime member of the V.F.W. Post No. 1751 and a Past Commander, all of Victoria. He enjoyed playing pinochle and spending time with his family and friends.
Survivors include his wife, Alberta Schmidtberger, of the home; two sons, Doyle York and his companion, Terry Taffner, Jasper, MO; Bradley Goscha, Victoria, KS; one daughter, Shawnda Rumbaugh and husband, Bruce, Hays, KS; one brother-in-law, Charles Vestecka and wife, Leona, Victoria, KS; ten grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his: parents; one brother, Edwin F. Schmidtberger and wife, Laurentine; nine sisters, Loretta Braun and husband, W.J. “Wendelin; Catherine Melchoir and husband, Joseph; Melfreda Rucker and husband, Arthur; Evelyn Gross and husband, Herman; Virginia Wilkes-Schmeidler and husbands, James and Ernest; Stella Vestecka; Viola Lodovici and husband, Olinto “Shine”; Marian Vance and husband, Rufus; Vera Mae McClurg and husband, Dean; and one infant sister, Evelyn Schmidtberger.
Services will be 10:00 A.M. Monday, June 11, 2018, at The Basilica of St. Fidelis, Victoria, Kansas. Inurnment will be in St. Fidelis Cemetery, Victoria, Kansas with military honors by the Victoria V.F.W. Post # 1751.
A vigil service will be at 7:00 P.M. Sunday, and a Knights of Columbus / V.F.W. rosary will be at 7:30 P.M. Sunday all at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary, 412 Main Street, Victoria, Kansas 67671. The 4th Degree Assembly will stand honor guard from 6:30 to 7:30 PM Sunday, all at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary, Victoria, Kansas.
Visitation is from 5:00 to 9:00 P.M. Sunday, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary Victoria, Kansas, and from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M. Monday, at The Basilica of St. Fidelis, Victoria, Kansas.
The family suggest memorial to the DAV Veterans Van. Condolences can be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or can be sent via e-mail to [email protected]
Russell M. O’Donnell, age 78, of Largo, Florida, died Monday, May 28, 2018.
He was born March 26, 1940, in Chicago, IL to Thomas W. and Lillian M. (Shersh) O’Donnell. He married Patricia Ann (Denning) on October 15, 1966 at Gorham, Kansas. She preceded him in death on April 30, 1995.
He was an engineer in telecommunications field and retired from A T & T in 1995. He then went back to work until 2003 and moved to Largo Florida. He was a 1959 graduate of the Reavis High School in Burbank, IL. He was veteran of the US Air Force from 1961-1965.
Survivors include two sons, Shan O’Donnell and wife, Allison, Oklahoma City, OK; Russell O’Donnell and wife, Lynn, Poplar Grove, IL; four grandchildren, Shaa, Taylaa, Russell Jr. and Noah O’Donnell; one brother-in-law, Clarence Denning and wife, Marilyn, Colby, KS; two sisters-in-law, Judy Lohrmeyer and husband, Mike, Russell, KS; Mary Bender, Great Bend, KS.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; one sister, Mary and one brother, Jake; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Alphonse and Clara (Hoff) Denning.
Services will be at 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, June 6. 2018, at St. Mary Catholic Church, Gorham, Kansas. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Gorham, Kansas with military honors by the Victoria V.F.W. Post No. 1751.
Visitation will be form 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. Tuesday, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary,
412 Main Street, Victoria, Kansas 67671 and from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, at St. Mary Catholic Church, Gorham, Kansas.
A vigil service will be at 7:00 P.M. Tuesday, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary, Victoria, Kansas.
The family suggest memorial to St. Mary Cemetery, Gorham, Kansas.
Condolences can be left by guestbook at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or can be sent e-mail to [email protected]
TOPEKA – Governor Jeff Colyer, M.D. has issued an official Governor’s proclamation declaring June 2018 as Business Appreciation Month in recognition of the vital role businesses of all sizes play in strengthening the Kansas economy.
In his proclamation, Governor Colyer stated, “The State of Kansas recognizes the vast accomplishments of its entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized businesses that contribute greatly to building and sustaining an economy that makes Kansas a great place to live, work and play.”
“We value the entrepreneurs and businesses across our state that risk their capital to innovate and grow their dreams into successful businesses right here in Kansas,” said Governor Colyer. “Our goal is to help businesses of all sizes to be successful, whether by providing resources and workforce services or protecting Kansas businesses against burdensome rules and regulations.”
Kansas businesses are thriving in a variety of industries including agribusiness, aerospace, bioscience, advanced manufacturing, energy, retail, professional services, and information technology. In fact, Kansas was just ranked by GoBankingRates.com as the 8th most economically diverse state in the U.S.
Kansas businesses provide approximately 1,147,400 jobs to Kansas residents, with eighty percent of jobs created by small to medium-sized businesses. The economic impact of these businesses isn’t just ripples felt locally, but around the world as more than 2,600 Kansas businesses exported over $11 billion of merchandise in 2017 to markets throughout the globe.
Robert North, Interim Secretary for the Kansas Department of Commerce, says, “Kansas businesses are the engines of economic growth. They better the quality of life in our state by creating jobs, investing in our communities and supporting local activities. In 2018, we are once again excited to honor the businesses in our state.”
The Kansas Department of Commerce will recognize the winners of the annual Business Appreciation Month awards at the Team Kansas awards banquet held in conjunction with the Kansas International Trade Day conference on June 5 at the DoubleTree hotel in Lawrence. The winner will take home the 2018 Governor’s Award of Excellence, the highest award given to a business by the state.
There were seventy-six businesses nominated for the 2018 Governor’s Award of Excellence. Finalists for this year’s award include:
Copeland – Robert F. “Bob” Briggs, 82, died June 1, 2018 at Prairie Senior Living Complex in Colby. He was born on October 21, 1935 in Holyoke, Colorado to Claude James and Bessie (Jones) Briggs.
Bob was raised in Holyoke, Colorado where he graduated from high school in 1955. He went to Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colorado playing football, basketball and track. Later he continued his education at Chadron State College in Chadron, Nebraska where he received his Bachelor’s of Science. Bob then earned his Master of Science degree from Fort Hays State University.
In 1957, Bob began a teaching, coaching, and administrative career that spanned 41 years. He taught and coached at Madrid and Wauneta, Nebraska, Wray, Colorado, and Atwood, Kansas. Later he held principal positions at Moscow, Copeland, Dighton, and Fairfield-Langdon. He ended his career as Superintendent/Principal at Bazine and Ness City. After his official retirement from education, Bob continued to coach football and basketball for another eight years as well as working for Heartland Crop Insurance.
On June 21, 1956, Bob married Shirley Milner in Holyoke, Colorado. To this union five children were born, Rhonda Jo, Melinda Jane, infant son, Rodney Lee, and Troy Mitchell. In 1985, he became good friends with a colleague, Gay Beth Moore. They were married on June 10, 1990 at the Copeland Christian Church. Bob enjoyed fishing, camping, playing golf, and traveling. His greatest enjoyment came from attending his grandchildren’s sporting events.
He was a member of the Sublette Christian Church, Elks Club, United School Administrators, Kansas Association of Secondary Principles, Kansas Athletic Directors Association, National Coaches Association, Kansas Coaches Association, Kansas Football Association, and Atwood Ambassadors. He also was a former deacon at the First Christian Church in Atwood.
Bob is survived by his wife, Gay Beth Moore-Briggs of Copeland; two daughters, Rhonda Berry and husband Gaylon of Port Aransas, Texas and Melinda Fikan of Colby; two sons, Rodney Briggs and wife Michelle of Independence, Missouri and Troy Briggs of Sublette; three step children, Dale W. Moore and wife Faith of Owings, Maryland; Doug Moore and wife Shannon of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Vicki Hesser and husband Troy of Louisburg; a brother, James C. Briggs and wife Beverly of Apache Junction, Arizona; two sisters, Betty McConnell of Greeley, Colorado and Maxine Stegall and husband Keith of Leadville, Colorado; daughter-in-law, Tiffany Briggs of Sublette; sister-in-law, Ruth Wyckoff and husband Don of Norman, Oklahoma; 13 grandchildren, Alicia Fikan Siruta and husband Jason, Bradley Fikan and wife Shannon, Meredith Berry Castor and husband Charles, Amy, Stacy, Brooke and Bailey Briggs, Dustin Moore and wife Amy, Michael Moore and wife Elena, Cutter and Blade Moore, Stephanie Hesser Unruh and husband Jeff, and Brigit Hesser; 16 great grandchildren, Ashley Mosier and husband Josh, Callie and Jadon Siruta; Taden, Ella, Emery, Brasen, Rence, and Pierce Fikan, Mia, Parry, Gage, Lyra, and Atti Moore; and Paige and Jace Unruh, one great-great grandson, Maxen Mosier and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Willard Briggs and wife Jean; brother-in-law, Everett McConnell; and infant son; and one granddaughter, Tiffany Ann Briggs.
Funeral service will be held at Sublette Christian Church on Wednesday June 6, 2018 at 2:00 PM with Pastors Brandon Mildren and Doug Harris presiding. Burial will follow at Copeland Cemetery. Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Chapel, Sublette on Tuesday June 5, 2018 from noon to 8:00 PM. Memorials are suggested to the Bob Briggs Memorial Fund to be designated by the family at a later time. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.
The Hays Beautification Committee is seeking nominations from the public for the 2018 Water $mart Landscape Award Program.
A Water $mart Landscape is a sustainable and drought-tolerant landscape with low-water use plants and turf to maximize water efficiency. The goal of the award program is to increase awareness of water conservation in the Hays community by promoting creative low-water use (Water $mart) Landscaping.
The Water $mart Landscape Award may be presented to a residential or commercial Hays water customer with a landscape that exemplifies superior design and follows the seven principles of water smart landscaping:
1) Planning and Design
2) Low Water Use Plants
3) Practical Turf Areas
4) Efficient Irrigation
5) Soil Amendment
6) Mulches
7) Maintenance
Nomination Requirements:
The nominee must be within the city limits of Hays.
The selected Water $mart Landscape must be visible to the public.
The Water $mart Landscape must have been installed at least one year prior to nomination to show healthy establishment and proper care.
A winner will be chosen from each category, commercial and residential. Winners will receive a plaque and a certificate identifying them as a Water $mart Landscape winner. Nominations will be judged by the Hays Beautification Committee and finalists will be contacted to schedule an on-site visit.
Please submit nominations by June 11 to Holly Dickman, City of Hays Water Conservation Specialist, [email protected]. Winners will
be notified by June 30 and will be presented the award during a regularly scheduled Hays City Commission meeting in July.
Phillipsburg resident Foster D. Matteson passed away June 1, 2018 at the Phillips County Hospital in Phillipsburg at the age of 92. He was born November 14, 1925 in Phillipsburg, The son of Lee and Dorothy (Hassler) Matteson. He was the former owner of Matteson Motors.
Survivors include two daughters, Diane Kaup of Phillipsburg and Debra Matteson of Lakewood, CO; his son, David of San Antonio, TX; 5 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.
Funeral services will be held Friday, June 8 at 2:00 p.m. in the United Methodist Church, Phillipsburg, with Pastor Lew VanDerWege officiating. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery with military honors by Ft. Riley Honor Guard.
Visitation will be from noon to 9:00 Wed. and 9:00 to 9:00 Thursday with the family receiving friends from 7:00 to 8:00 Thursday evening at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Foster Matteson Memorial for Phillipsburg Improvements.
Online condolences: www.olliffboeve.com.
Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Phillipsburg resident Gerald “Rusty” Carswell passed away May 31, 2018 at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, KS at the age of 65. He was born April 11, 1953 in Osborne, the son of John & Jimmie (Clark) Carswell.
Survivors include his wife Lisa of the home; his mother, Jimmie Carswell of Alton; 3 sons, Travis of Phillipsburg, Keith of Lincoln, NE and Paul of Kensington; his brother, Kendal of Garden City and 1 grandchild.
Cremation was chosen. A memorial service will be held Sat., June 9 at 11:00 a.m. in the First St. John Lutheran Church, Kensington, with Pastor Dave Hutson officiating.
Visitation will be from 9:00 to 9:00 Friday with the family receiving friends from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Physical Therapy Dept. or the Phillipsburg Fire Dept.
Online condolences: www.olliffboeve.com.
Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
The final flurry of filings ahead of the Kansas primaries in August didn’t disappoint.
“This is one of the busiest days of the year, every two-year cycle,” said Secretary of State Kris Kobach, surveying the last crop of candidates that paraded in just before the noon deadline Friday.
Performance artist Vermin Supreme arrives at the Secretary of State’s office to get his name on the ballot for the attorney general’s race. Supreme will challenge Derek Schmidt in the Republican primary. CREDIT MADELINE FOX / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE
Performance artist Vermin Supreme made his entrance dressed in tie-dye and with his signature rain boot on his head. He filled out the paperwork to challenge Attorney General Derek Schmidt in the Republican primary, listing a Rockport, Massachusetts address.
The name of another out-of-stater, Andy Maskin, who had filed to run for governor though he lives in New York City, was struck from the candidate list in May after a Republican party official objected. A state court judge later affirmed that state law presumes candidates for chief executive of Kansas will live in the state.
But the new law putting an end to teen candidacies won’t be in effect for this election, so the names of three teenage duos will be on primary ballots. Gubernatorial wannabe Joseph Tutera Jr. of Mission Hills and his running mate Phillip Clemente added their names with a handshake and a photo in the secretary of state’s office on Wednesday.
It is my pleasure to announce that my Lt. Governor Phillip Clemente and I will be on the Kansas Primary Ballot! pic.twitter.com/tvVemdcw5Y
— Joseph Tutera Jr. (@JosephTuteraJr) May 30, 2018
If it seems like everyone and his wife are running for office in Kansas, it’s actually kind of true.
Rep. Keith Esau of Olathe is leaving the Legislature to make a bid to succeed Kobach as secretary of state, and his wife Charlotte Esau filed to take his place in the House.
Candidate for governor and newlywed Jim Barnett, a physician and former Republican state senator, named his wife, Rosie Hansen, who worked in the Foreign Service, as his running mate Thursday. The two married in September.
The gubernatorial field has whittled down already, but there’s still a dozen candidates, with Gov. Jeff Colyer and Kobach the perceived frontrunners on the Republican side, and state Sen. Laura Kelly and former Kansas Agriculture Secretary Josh Svaty on the other.
University of Kansas political scientist Patrick Miller said the gubernatorial primaries are still tricky to predict — the most recent polls on the Democratic side came out before House Minority Leader Jim Ward withdrew in May.
Polls on the Republican side either have Colyer and Kobach statistically tied or slightly favor Kobach. Miller said it could also be interesting to watch how Insurance Commissioner Ken Selzer spends the substantial amount of money he raised, and whether that will help move the needle on his bid for governor.
Announced independent candidate Greg Orman has not yet filed. With no primary, the deadline for independents isn’t until Aug. 6. Miller said Orman is likely to act as a spoiler, pulling mostly Democratic votes in the general election to give Republicans a possible advantage.
Not another 2016
The list of candidates was rapidly out of date as political hopefuls filed for office on the morning before the Friday filing deadline. CREDIT MADELINE FOX / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE
State senators aren’t up this year, but there is a plethora of races for the House.
Democrats fielded 99 candidates, nearly as many as they did for House seats two years ago. But Miller, who has studied voting patterns across the state, says don’t count on a repeat of 2016.
Miller said some of that moderate and Democratic enthusiasm is tapering off this time around. There are fewer contested seats than in 2016 and the number of Republican primaries is down.
“If you’re looking at, are we going to have another 2016, no, I don’t think the math is there for that,” he said.
That sets Kansas apart from many other states, which are seeing a blue wave fueled by Democrats energized against President Donald Trump. If Kansas Democrats were following that nationwide trend, they’d be running more Democrats in heavily Republican, Trump-voting districts, Miller said.
Rep. Ron Estes faces Ron M. Estes in the Republican primary in August. ASCHA LEE OF KMUW/COURTESY PHOTO
The incumbent blasted the newcomer, calling him an, “imposter,” in a fundraising email Friday.
“It’s appalling and an insult to Kansas voters,” Rep. Estes said of his challenger’s candidacy. He said the other Ron Estes’ middle initial, “M”, stands for “misleading.”
Secretary of State Kobach said Kansas law allows candidates with the same name to include a prefix or suffix in order to clarify their identities for voters. In this race, his office will allow the incumbent Estes to add “Representative” in front of his name.
Miller said it’s unlikely the entrance of another Ron Estes will hurt Rep. Estes’ chances.
“I can’t think of a case where an incumbent has been brought down by a same-name candidate,” he said. “The odds should be with the, quote-unquote, real Ron Estes.”
Esther Lillian Russell, age 94 years and 11 months, died on June 3, 2018 at Long Term Care in WaKeeney.
Esther was the 11th child of 12 of Alexander and Katharina Elisabeth (Flath) Graf. The first 3 children of Alexander and Katharina Graf were born in Neu Weimar, Russia — Esther was born in Wiley, Colorado.
Esther attended grade schools in Marion & Dickinson counties and like all her siblings, took first grade twice — the first year to learn English, the second year to learn first grade.
Esther attended high school in Longford, KS and was the second in her family to graduate from high school. Esther studied NORML training in high school but suffered from rheumatic fever her first year out of high school so never did teach, although she always remembered her NORML training.
Esther’s siblings were all in Milwaukee, WI by 1943, so Esther went there also and worked in factories supplying arms for WW II. Esther was laid off like everybody else on the last day of WW II, and she returned to Clay County, KS. On February 24, 1948, Esther Lillian Graf married Johnnie William Russell in the parson’s home in Longford, KS.
Johnnie and Esther lived in Talmage, then moved to Colby in 1955, then to Collyer in 1960, and to WaKeeney in 1967. Esther was a homemaker until 1964. She then worked in the Quinter and WaKeeney hospitals, then Travenol in Hays, and then Johnnie and Esther opened the Thrift Shop next to their home and Esther ran that for several years.
Esther enjoyed crocheting, knitting, sewing, quilting, gardening, her fruit trees, western movies, genealogy, making Bierrocks & Schlagerbam, and collecting antiques along with her husband of nearly 70 years, Johnnie William Russell. Johnnie passed on February 16, 2018.
Esther is survived by daughter Sharon LeCount, son Warren, a granddaughter, 2 greatgrandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Interment will be in the Veteran’s Cemetery in WaKeeney.
The family will hold a private service at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a gift to the Trego County Historical Society or the Trego Community High School, or to do a small favor for a friend or a complete stranger.
SMITH CENTER – Bill J. Brown, 93, passed away June 4, 2018 at the Smith County Memorial Hospital, Smith Center, Kansas.
Bill, the son of Fred and Beatrice (Grewell) Brown was born on March 10, 1925 on the farm in Pawnee Township, Smith Center, Kansas. He attended Fairview Grade School and Lebanon High School where he excelled in school, FFA, Football, and Basketball; starting as a Junior and Senior. He always looked forward to watching KU and KSU Football and Basketball,as well as, Redmen football. From the time Bill was a little boy, he knew that he wanted to be a farmer, so after graduation, he started his farming career.
Bill married Ardis Shipman on August 8, 1951 and shared nearly 67 years of marriage and memories together. They purchased the farm next door to where he grew up in Pawnee Township; where they lived until moving to Smith Center in 1992. This union was blessed with two children, Jerry Dell Brown and Janet Kae Brown. Bill took great pride in his farm receiving the Kansas Bankers Association’s Soil Conservation Award in 1999. He took an even greater pride in his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Bill was a model for what it means to be a friend, to serve others, and to love deeply. He was always ready to lend a helping hand and put others first. He enjoyed attending the activities of his children, church activities and his friendships, but being with family gave him the greatest joy.
He is survived by his wife, Ardis (Shipman) Brown of Smith Center, KS; a son, Jerry Brown of Smith Center, KS; a daughter, Janet Brown of Salina, KS; four grandchildren: Brandon Simmelink and wife Lisa of McPherson, KS; Chris Brown of Russell, KS; Matt Brown and fiance Alicia of Smith Center, KS; Jessica Tolson and husband Brad Reed of Salina, KS; and four great-grandchildren: Hannah, Baylee, Bryant, and Emma.
He was preceded in death by one great-grandchild KaeLynn Tolson.
Patricia “Pat” Jane Richter, 83, of Stockton, KS, passed away on Thursday, December 21, 2017 at Arbor House Assisted Living in Midwest City, OK. Born November 14, 1934, in Follett, TX, she was the daughter of the late Albert and Vera Laubhan.
Pat attended Woodward High School and completed one year at Oklahoma State University. She married Earl G. Richter in the spring of 1973 and moved with her sons to Cherryvale, KS where she worked at Jim Gill Insurance agency as a real estate agent and office support staff. They moved to Stockton, KS in the early 1980’s where Pat continued her work in office support at the Rooks County Treasury Office. Pat enjoyed card games, board games, puzzles and going antiquing with her husband. She had a quick wit that stuck with her even when the dementia set in, and made everyone who met her love her.
Pat is survived by her sons Darel Kip Valentine and his wife, Amber, of Shawnee, KS; Craig Valentine and his wife, Janece, of Fort Dodge, IA; stepson Richie Richter and his wife, Glenna, of Midwest City, OK; grandchildren, Cammie Valentine and Mia Valentine of Olathe, KS; Crystal Canaday and her husband, James, of Oklahoma City, OK; Cody Richter and his wife Brittany, of Choctaw, OK; sister, Sydney Courington and her husband Newt, of Castle Rock, CO; sister-in-law Karen Laubhan, of Enid, OK; 6 nieces and nephews; 5 great-grandchildren; and many other friends and relatives. She is preceded in death by her siblings, Peggy Green on September 15, 2013; Douglas Laubhan on October 11, 2015, and stepson Rusty Richter on July 17, 1981.
Earl Glen Richter, 89, of Stockton, KS, passed away on Wednesday May 23, 2018 in Midwest City, OK. Born May 21, 1929, in Cherokee, OK, he was the son of Delmer and Blanche Richter.
Earl left Cherokee in his teen years when his parents moved to Parsons, KS. He graduated from Erie High School and attended Pittsburg State University on a basketball scholarship. After his 3rd year, Earl enlisted in the Army, during the Korean War and after serving, he returned to Pittsburg State to graduate with a degree in education.
Earl started his career in education as a teacher but advanced quickly to the administration level and did what he loved most, being a principal. Some of his favorite places were the Kansas communities of Glen Elder, Cherryvale and Stockton, where he retired. He later served as a Councilman for the City of Stockton.
In 1973, Earl married his soulmate Patricia Richter and moved to Cherryvale to begin their 44 year loving journey together. Earl loved to fish but his great enjoyment was going to estate sales collecting his antiques. Dad loved to share his enthusiasm for college basketball season and especially his loved Kansas Jayhawks. He loved having company for many card games and the pure genuine joy of spending time with his family, neighbors and friends.
Earl is survived by his son Richie Richter and wife Glenna of Midwest City, OK; stepson Kip Valentine and wife Amber of Shawnee, KS; stepson Craig Valentine and wife Janece of Fort Dodge, Iowa; grandchildren Crystal Canaday and husband James of Oklahoma City, OK, Cody Richter and wife Brittany of Choctaw, OK, Cammie Valentine of Colorado Springs, CO, Mia Valentine of Olathe, KS; and 5 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents Delmer and Blanche Richter, son Rusty Richter, sister Shirley Jarbo and brother Rex Richter.
Memorial service will be held at 11:00am on Thursday, June 7, 2018 at the funeral home in Stockton. A private family inurnment will follow at a later date.
Orscheln Farm & Home has announced winners of the 2018 Longest Turkey Beard Contest.
The first-place winner was Carson Spray, with a beard measuring 12 1/2 inches. Roy Spray, Carson’s father, placed second in the contest, bringing in a beard measuring 11 5/8 inches.
Carson and Roy Spray
Carson Spray will be the recipient of a hunting blind, sponsored by Barronett Blinds. Roy Spray will receive Turkey Calls and Decoy from Hunting Specialty STRUT. All entries will receive camo facepaint or camo head net provided by Nex-Tech.
Eldon A. “Woody” Schmidtberger, age 85, of Victoria, Kansas died Saturday, June 2, 2018, at his home.
