Marion Leroy Burris, 90, died March 26, at Almost Home, Great Bend, Kansas. He was born October 22, 1928, in Mildred, Kansas, the son of Edgar Ernest and Gladys June (Jayne) Burris.

Marion served in the United States Army following WWII.

A longtime Hoisington resident, Marion worked in the oil field his entire life starting as a roughneck, then a tool pusher, and retiring as Vice President of Operations from Chief Drilling.

Marion loved spending his free time fishing, gardening and tending his lawn, reading, and woodworking. He was a great storyteller and loved reminiscing with his children.

On August 13, 1950, he married Helen Lucille Flott in Emporia, Kansas. She preceded him in death on July 5, 2013.

Survivors include; six children, Tom Burris and wife Susan of Riverside, MO, Donna Ash and husband Pete of Blanchard, OK, Kathy Burke and husband Ed of Antelope, CA, Kerry Underwood and husband Pat of Blanchard, OK, Mark Burris and wife Sonja of Ruston, LA, and Troy Burris and wife Cindy of Bushton; brother, Ed Burris and wife Margaret of Marble Falls, TX; a special nephew, Jim Burris and wife Millie of Hoisington; 17 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren, and 7 great-great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and brothers, Clarence, Paul, and Hugh Burris.

Cremation has taken place and a private family service will be held at a later date in Hoisington Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Almost Home in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

Erma Jean (Vahle) Nyland, daughter of George & Gertrude (Russell) Vahle, passed away at the Logan Manor in Logan, Kansas on June 7, 2019, at the age of 93.

She was born in Harlan County, Nebraska on November 27, 1925. Her education began in country school District 53 where she spent her first year, then 2nd – 8th grade in District 26. Her freshman year of high school was in Long Island, KS and she completed her sophomore – senior years in Orleans, NE, graduating with the class of 1943. Jean attended teacher’s college in Kearney, NE and earned her degree through correspondence so she could begin teaching. At 17 years old she taught 21 kids, 1st – 8th grade, in Harlan County, NE, country school District 26, for two years and then taught in District 60 for two more years.

Jean worked her way through high school and college for room and board. During high school she lived with Daisy Peterson, working at her care facility where she helped with the patients and also helped deliver babies. Throughout her life she had various jobs in addition to teaching: three years as a nurse’s aide, five years at Valley Hope, sixteen years at Van Diest Wholesale, thirteen years at the Prairie View Community Center and ten years as Prairie View’s City Clerk. She enjoyed each and every job and all of the many friends she made throughout her working years.

On October 31, 1947, Jean married the love of her life, John Nyland of Prairie View, KS. The couple spent a short time in Topeka, KS before moving back to Prairie View. Later on they purchased the family farm and lived there until Jean moved into town in 2002.

In 1948 Jean was baptized and became a member of the Prairie View Reformed Church. She taught Sunday school, bible class, and Gleaners for church. She also volunteered her time and skills with the Lone Prairie 4-H Club for several years, teaching knitting, crocheting and sewing.

Although Jean & John had no biological children, their nieces & nephews were their family. Every summer the kids took turns spending a week with them; their home was always open to everybody. Sharing stories and spending time with her brothers and sisters, their kids and extended families was the most important thing in the world to Jean.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John; brothers: George, Jr., Darrell & wife, Barbara, and Donald Dean; and sister, Joanne Fruehling & husband, Lloyd; brother-in-law, Virgil Anderson; and nieces & nephews: Jonah Kay Vahle, Maranda Lynn Kester, Trevor James Vahle, Sandra Jean Fruehling, and Zoee Lynn Sproul.

Survivors include her sister, Marilyn Anderson of Kearney, NE; sisters-in-law, Beulah Vahle of Long Island, KS and Janice Vahle of Phillipsburg, KS; many nieces & nephews, great and great-great nieces & nephews, along with many friends.

Funeral services will be held Wed. June 12 at 2:00 p.m. in the Prairie View Reformed Church with Pastor Lew VanDerWege officiating. Burial will follow in the Prairie View Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 9:00 Monday & 9:00 to 9:00 Tuesday at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with the family receiving friends from 6:00 to 7:00 Tuesday evening.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Church or the Prairie View Community Center.

Lucille Marie Ingram was born March 1, 1933, the only child born to Lester C. Ingram and Dorothea E. (Rateuke) Ingram. She died on June 6, 2019 in Wichita Kansas, at the age of 86 years, 3 months and 5 days.

She was baptized December 1, 1935 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church by Rev. Carl F. Pohlman. Lucille was confirmed in the Lutheran faith March 30, 1947 by Rev. Ludwig Scholl, and remained a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church throughout her lifetime.

A life-long resident of Goodland, Kansas, she received her education at the first Central Elementary School, Grant Junior High, and Sherman Community High School.

On August 30, 1953, Lucille and Robert L. Smith were married at Emmanuel Lutheran Church. He was stationed at the US Naval Base at Alameda California. He was discharged July 1, 1955 at which time they purchased their home at 1117 College Ave., where she continued to live after his death on January 30, 2006.

To this union three children were born; daughter Eunice, and sons Timothy and Thomas.

Lucille sang in the church choir, taught Sunday school and was also the Sunday school treasurer. She belonged to Luther League and later she and her husband were sponsors for Luther League. She worked in the archive room at the church for several years.

She baby-sat for children from 1962 through 1965. She and Robert opened their home to foster children for fourteen years from 1969 through 1983.

Lucille worked as Secretary of Emmanuel Lutheran Church for five years from 1966 to 1971, donating much of her time. She was employed by USD #352 as a Secretary of Central Elementary and North Elementary Schools for twenty-one years, from 1974 until her retirement on June 1, 1995.

She was preceded in death by her husband and her parents.

She is survived by her children; Eunice (Rick) Schroeder, Hugoton, Kansas, Timothy (Pat) Smith, Goddard, Kansas, and Thomas (Tammy) Smith, Denver, Colorado; four grandchildren; Nathan (Mead) Schroeder, Topeka, Kansas, Laura (Jesse) Phillips, Green Ridge, Missouri, Christopher (Monica) Smith, Kuna, Idaho, Sarah (Joe) Zelaznik, Carson City, Nevada, three step-grandchildren, Michelle Harper, Ashley, and Patrick Arnold, all of Wichita; eight great-grandchildren; Tambre, Alayna and Havley Phillips, Jaxon and Ryne Schroeder, Fox Smith, and Isaiah and Sloane Zalaznik; sister-in-law Mona Helfrich, many nieces and nephews, and countless friends.

Lucille was very proud of all the achievements of her children and grandchildren; she enjoyed working on family genealogy; she worked with the Sherman County Historical Society on the histories of Main Street buildings and recorded histories of long-time residents of Sherman County, and she loved working with her flowers and in her garden.

Funeral services for Lucille will be held on Thursday, June 13, 2019 at 10:00 AM MT at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Goodland with Pastor Tim Glendening officiating. Burial will follow in the Goodland Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 12, 2019 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM MT at Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.

Memorials may be designated to Northwest Kansas EMS or to Donor’s Choice and may be left at the services or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.

Online condolences for the family may be left at www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com.

Funeral services have been entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.

Rosa Elizabeth (Betty) Sitz went to her heavenly home on June 6, 2019, at Morton County Senior Living nursing home. She was born to Johan and Anna (Dietz) Dienes on July 31, 1915, in Trego County, Kansas.

She married Hubert Gustave Sitz on May 14, 1937. Of this union was born four children; Rudolph, Annetta, Carl and Louise.

Betty and Hubert came to Elkhart, Kansas, in the 1980’s. She worked in restaurants and after Hubert’s passing in 1984 she started doing in-home care. She loved taking care of people. Betty was an avid reader and enjoyed doing crossword puzzles. She was a member of Christ Lutheran Church and loved going to church to visit and sing. She always had a big smile for everyone.

Betty leaves behind; her children and their spouses, Rudolph Sitz of Wilson, Oklahoma, Annetta Kelley and husband Gary of Sedan, Kansas, Carl Sitz and wife Maria of Dodge City, Kansas, and Louise Kee of Elkhart, Kansas; 25 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, and 16 great-great-grandchildren.

Betty is preceded in death by her husband, Hubert; parents; four brothers, Marion, Burt, Benjamin, and Alfred; three sisters, Lena, Martha, and Freda; two daughters-in-law, a granddaughter-in-law; and a great-grandson.

Funeral service will be Wednesday, June 12, 2019, at 10:00 AM at Christ Lutheran Church in Elkhart, Kansas, with Reverend Ervin A. Daugherty, Jr. officiating. Graveside service will be Wednesday, June 12, 2019, at 5:00 PM at the Wakeeney Cemetery in Wakeeney, Kansas. Friends may call Tuesday, June 11, 2019, from 10:00 AM until 8:00 PM, with family present from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM, at Garnand Funeral Home in Elkhart. The family requests memorials may be given to Christ Lutheran Church or Morton County Senior Living Community in care of Garnand Funeral Home, PO Box 854, Elkhart, KS 67950.

It is with great sadness to announce that on Sunday, June 2nd, 2019, Gary Lee Stewart, loving father and brother, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at his home in Goodland, at the age of 57.

Gary was always known as the life of the party. His smile and laugh are one of the first things that people remember of him. He had many occupations throughout his life, including carpenter, mechanic, and pressman. But, his greatest accomplishment was being a husband, to Michele, and a father to his two beloved children.

Gary will be forever missed, remembered, and survived by his son Jarrod (Calie) and daughter Jordan (Neal), his sisters Valerie (Randy) and Sharon, his sister in law Molly (Dave), his grandchildren Brian, Amberleigh, and Bella, his dog Lola, and his best friends, that are too many to name.

A celebration of Gary’s life will be held at noon on Sunday, June 16th, 2019 in Crestone Colorado at his fathers’ cabin. Bring your own beer and your best stories/memories of Gary. It’s what he would have wanted.

Online condolences for the family may be left at www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.