Helen Wilmetta Schwien, 94, of Russell, Kansas, died on Saturday, August 31, 2019, at the Great Bend Regional Hospital in Great Bend, Kansas.

Helen was born on December 13, 1924, in Barton County, Kansas, the daughter of John and Rachel (Steinert) Karst. She grew up north of Galatia, Kansas, and attended the Galatia Country School. She met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Waldean Walter Schwien on June 17, 1945, in Bender Hill Trinity Lutheran Church in Bender Hill, Kansas. From this union Helen and Waldean were blessed with three children Ginger, John and James. Helen and Waldean lived on the Schwien family farm were they raised their three children. She was a hard working and dedicated homemaker and helped Waldean take care of the family farm. After 61 years of marriage, Waldean preceded Helen in death on July 08, 2006. She was a longtime member of the Bender Hill Lutheran Church where she played the organ for over 20 years and was also the choir director. She was also a longtime member of St. John Lutheran Church in Russell. She enjoyed cooking, singing in the Bender Hill Lutheran Church and St. John Lutheran Church choirs and enjoyed singing with the Dutchmasters Polka Band. She also enjoyed watching her grandsons and great grandsons race in the dirt track racing circuit. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, step grandchildren and step great grandchildren.

Surviving family include her daughter Ginger L. Tittel (Ronnie) , sons John Schwien (Bonnie) and Jim Schwien (Gloria) all of Russell, Kansas; sisters Deloris Deutsch of Hoisington, Kansas, Norma Stricker (Glen) of Great Bend, Kansas, Margie Kraft of Ness City, Kansas, and Rita Thompson of Kansas City, Missouri; 6 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, 5 step grandchildren and 12 step great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.

A celebration of Helen’s life will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Thursday, September 05, 2019, at the St. John Lutheran Church in Russell, Kansas, with Pastor Roger Dennis officiating. Burial will follow at the Russell City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 8 P.M. on Wednesday, September 04, 2019 at the mortuary with family greeting guests from 6 P.M. to 7 P.M. Wednesday evening. Memorials may be given to the St. John Lutheran Church and sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.

Joseph Stegman Jr., 85, Hays, KS passed away August 29, 2019 at Park West Plaza – Legend Senior Living, Wichita, KS.

Joseph was born July 8, 1934, on the family farm 7 miles NE of Ness City, KS to Joseph and Regina Jacobs Stegman. He graduated from Ness City High School in 1952. He was a graduate of Fort Hays State University with BS and MS degrees. He was a U.S. Army veteran serving during the Korean War era. He later served as a teacher and administrator for 37 years at USD 241 Sharon Springs, Kansas.

Joseph married Marjorie Ann Jones on December 28, 1957, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Hays, KS. She preceded him in death on October 27, 2015. Survivors include children: Theresa Endsley, Lawrence, KS; Michael Stegman (Marcie), Trenton, MO; Daryl Stegman (Laura), Spearville, KS; Carolyn Mason (Dennis), Goddard, KS, 10 grandchildren: Brandon Endsley (Anya); Rachael Endsley; Jessica Stegman; Katie Stegman Rice (Brad); Jason McNeal; Alex McNeal (MaryAnne); Megan Stegman; Heidi Stegman; Joseph Stegman; Austin Mason, and 9 great-grandchildren, sisters: Thelma Fehrenbach, Ness City, KS; Lillian Brown, Salina, KS; Venita Stoecklein (James), Hutchinson, KS, and brother: Dennis Stegman (Kay), Elkhorn, NE.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Vivian and Sylvia, two brothers-in-law, Otto Fehrenbach and Vernon Brown, two sons-in-law, Mitchell Endsley and Scott McNeal.

He was a former member of Holy Cross Catholic Church, Sharon Springs, KS and Kansas State Teachers Association. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, American Legion, and Knights of Columbus.

Funeral Services will be Wednesday, September 4, 2019 at 10:00 AM at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hays. Burial will follow the services, inclusive of Military Honors rendered by members of the Hays VFW Post 9076, in the St. Joseph Cemetery, Hays.

Viewing and Visitation will be Tuesday, September 3, 2019 from 4 PM to 8 PM, together with a Parish Vigil service at 7 PM, and on Wednesday from 9:00 AM to 9:30 AM all at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel, 2509 Vine Street Hays, KS 67601.At 6:30 PM Joseph Stegman (grandson) will sing a solo for grandpa. Followed by: Paul McNall (family friend) will share some memories of Dad.

Memorials are suggested to Sharon Springs Grade School – Wallace County USD 241.

Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or by email at [email protected].

SMITH CENTER – H. Loudale Myers-Yenne, age 94, passed away Thursday August 29, 2019 at Sunporch of Smith County in Smith Center, KS. She was born the daughter of Rev. William & Helen (Crocker) Brown on December 11, 1924 in Thornburg, KS.

She was preceded in death by her parents, first husband Bud Myers, Second Husband Raymond Yenne and a sister Karen.

Survivors include her sons Bren (Carolyn) Myers of Beloit, Joel (Cynthia) Myers of Carbondale, Jack (Kathy) Yenne of Smith Center, Calvin Yenne of Mosier, OR; daughters Julee (Gerry) Kirnie of Smith Center, Jill (Bill) Flint of Oxford, OH, Patti (Michael) Horton of Green Valley, AZ; a sister Winifred Lawrence of Olathe; 4 grandchildren Chad Myers, Todd (Jacque) Myers, Seth (Hannah) Myers, Jarrah (Jason) Kennedy; 8 Great Grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

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Donald Jay Hughes, 82, went to be with the Lord on August 29, 2019 at Citizens Medical Center surrounded by friends, family and his pastor. He was born on November 14, 1936 in Rexford, Kansas, the son of the late Martin and Joye Hughes. He was the younger of two brothers. He married Ruth Ann Price on April 22, 1967.

He started his banking career at Rexford State Bank in 1964. Three years later he began a 24 year career at Thomas County National Bank. He also served his customers and community at Sunflower Bank, First National Bank and The Bank in Colby, Kansas. Some of his endeavors before the world of banking included: grocery clerk; washing dishes in his parents’ café, owning and operating a pool hall, grain elevator manager, volunteer firefighter and school bus driver. From these experiences, he earned a B.S. degree in Life. When he could (or when Ruthie let him), he lent a hand to his customers, stranded highway drivers and young college students.

He served nine years as Treasurer for the Colby School District. He served on the Colby-Thomas County Metropolitan Area Planning Commission Board, the Colby Community College Endowment Association Board of Trustees, and the Board of Stewardship and other volunteer positions at the Trinity Lutheran Church.

He was survived by his wife, Ruth; his son, daughter in law and two grandchildren, Brendan and Roberta Hughes, and Gabriel and Sofia; his daughter, son in law, two grandchildren and six great grandsons, Tina and David Livingstone, and Lindsey and Elena; and his youngest daughter, son in law and three grandchildren, Amber and Lee Roy Danford, and Aleeya Joi, Jaxon and Jayden. He was preceded by his brother, Dean Hughes.

A memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, September 3, at the Trinity Lutheran Church, Colby. Inurnment will follow at Beulah Cemetery. Family requests in lieu of flowers to make donations to the Northwest Kansas Foundation for Hope, in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. Online condolences: www.baalmannmortuary.com

Rex Kerbaugh, 82, of Hill City, Kansas passed away at the Graham County Hospital August 29, 2019, surrounded by his beloved family. Rex was born December 23, 1936 in Loveland, Colorado, to Wallace and Lena (Kaufman) Kerbaugh. When he was a child his parents moved with their five children to Kansas. Rex attended grade and high school in Morland. Throughout his life he maintained friendships with his Morland acquaintances.

He served in the United States Army from 1956-1958, including an overseas tour of duty in Germany. Shortly after returning home he met Delores Geist. They were married in Wakeeney, January 30, 1960. Children quickly followed and by 1969 he was the proud father of six. At one point Rex and Delores had four children aged three and under! Rex was looking forward to celebrating 60 years of marriage this winter.

Rex was a lineman for Hill City before going to work for Midwest Energy. He held a variety of positions while serving 23 years with the power company. After the Hill City Power Plant closed, Rex relocated to the Tecumseh plant, where he worked for six years before retiring in 1999.

While raising their children Rex and Delores lived on a farm south of Hill City. This allowed for plenty of fun while gardening and caring for animals, which was always a family affair. This atmosphere helped instill hard work and responsibility in his children. Weekend getaways and vacations always included camping and plenty of outdoor activities. Rex often told stories of a family trip to Colorado to see his brother with the whole family packed in his 1957 Chevy. As a skilled woodworker Rex even built a horse drawn buggy to participate in trail rides. He participated in many rides and of course made this a family event. In 1991 Rex and Delores moved into town after their kids were grown.

Rex was also an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, trapping and activities supporting these sports which included scouting hunting locations and raising hunting dogs. He particularly enjoyed hunting when he was able to do it with his sons and passed on his love of the outdoors to them. After Rex got his kids hooked on archery they often bow hunted together. When Rex struggled with long walks scaring up pheasants, he took up trapping. Rex trapped raccoons and coyotes all over Graham County but was especially proud when he trapped the most challenging game, bobcats.

Rex was always ready to help others, perhaps best demonstrated by his regular blood mobile contributions. He was pleased to be recognized for donating more than 11 gallons. Rex was also very proud of his army service. Anyone driving by his Hill City home can see the Stars and Stripes flying high, showing his patriotism and great love for our country.

Rex was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Bernard; two infant great-grandsons; and one brother, Wayne of Golden, Colorado. He is survived by his wife Delores of the home; five children: Kathy (Ross) VanPelt of Salina; Kenneth (Geralynn) of Tonganoxie; Karen (Tim) Pfeifer of Shawnee; James (Anita) of Hill City; and Tracey (Tony) Herman of rural Hill City; daughter-in-law Bonnie Kerbaugh of Elk City, Oklahoma; 15 grandchildren; six great grandchildren; three sisters: Berneta Bell of Hill City; Leona Bell of Morland; and Jean Nickelson of Wakeeney; and two granddogs. Rex’s love for family, his quiet gentleness, and his deep faith in God will be the things we remember and cherish.

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August 28, 2004 – September 1, 2019

An obituary is pending with Plumer Overlease Funeral Home.

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