Mary Glad was born September 16, 1924 in Logan County, Kansas to Roy and Mary Tauscher Bretz. She departed this life on Friday, January 11, 2019 at her residence in The Villas of Green Valley in Green Valley, Arizona.

Mary grew up on a farm and ranch in Logan County. She graduated from Winona High School. She attended Fort Hays State College and eventually received her Bachelor of Science Degree. Her teaching career started at a one room school in McAllister, Kansas. She continued her career at the Weskan School, where like many of her fellow single teachers that lived in the old “Teacherage” she met her future husband, Melvin Glad. They were married June 13, 1948 and enjoyed 57 years together.

Mary started as a substitution clerk in 1950 at the Weskan Post Office and became Postmaster in 1980. She retired and spent time with Melvin traveling to all the grandchildren events.

She is survived by her two daughters, Lenna (Gordon) Tope and Sonja (Dennis) Weeden. Five grandchildren, Allisha (Corey) Weitzel; Jordan (Aubrey) Hanavan; Dustin (Laura) Weeden; Tia (Bill) Duncan; Gabriel (Kristina) Weeden. Two step-grandchildren, Gunnar (Rieko) Tope and Kerry (Melody) Tope. Fifteen great-grandchildren, Adriana, Bryce and Lydia Weeden; Isaac, Josiah and Samuel Weeden; Brody and Mattea Weitzel; Lucy, Henry and Olive Hanavan; Uno and Go Tope; Angie and Caleb Tope. Mary and Melvin always provided unconditional love and support for their family, and she was blessed to live a long life and see the addition of all the great-grandchildren to her family. She is also survived by her brother, Tauscher Bretz and sisters, Lois Ann Siemers and Shirley McKinney.

Mary was pre-deceased by her husband, Melvin; grandson, Patrick Weeden; parents, Roy and Mary Bretz; brother, Lindy Bretz; and sister, Roma Boschwitzki.

Her last wish was to be buried at sunset on the western Kansas prairie. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, January 19, 2019 at The Villas in Green Valley, Arizona. A family and friends gathering will be Saturday, January 26, 2019 at 1 p.m. MT at the Weskan Bible Church, Oak Street & School Avenue in Weskan, Kansas. Graveside service will begin at 3 p.m. MT at the Weskan Cemetery, 523 Weskan Avenue in Weskan with interment following at sunset.

Memorials will be designated by the family later and may be left at the services or mailed to Bateman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 278, Goodland, KS 67735. Online condolences and information www.batemanfuneral.com

Longtime Goodland, Kansas, resident James E. “Jim” Albers, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, January 15, 2019 at the Goodland Regional Medical Center in Goodland, KS.  He was 58 years old.

Jim was born on April 1, 1960 in Oakley, Kansas to George F. and Helen Joan (Depperschmidt) Albers.  He was one of seven children.  He attended school in Colby, Kansas and graduated from Colby High School in 1979.

On June 9, 1989, Jim married Loraine M. Oren at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Colby.  To this union, four children; Sarah, Amanda, Troy and Christine were born.

Jim worked at CASE IH for about 40 years between Colby and Goodland before going to work at American Implement in Wheeler, Kansas as a Diesel Parts Mechanic.  Jim had a love for music and his faith.  You could always find Jim playing on his guitar or doing maintenance work at the Catholic Church in Goodland where he and his family were devout members. He loved playing croquet with Christine and DJing at any event. He loved any dog he came in contact with and they all loved him the same. Most importantly he loved his family and was willing to do anything for them.  

Preceding him in death was his father and one brother Gregory Albers.

He is survived by his mother Joan Albers of Kansas City, MO, his wife Loraine of the home in Goodland, his children Sarah Albers of Hays, KS, Amanda Albers of McPherson, KS, Troy (Braylyn) Albers of Goodland, and Christine Albers of Goodland.  He is also survived by his siblings, Mike (Patty) Albers of Colby, KS, Fred (Susan) Albers of Overland Park, KS, Bart (Mary Kay) Albers of Lawrence, KS, Mary (Rod) Jordan of Liberty, MO and Tom (Tina) Albers of Hays, KS.  He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, January 21, 2019 at 10:30 AM MT at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Goodland with Father Andrew Rockers and Father Norbert Dlabal officiating.  Burial will follow in the Goodland Cemetery.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 20, 2019 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM MT at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Goodland with a Vigil and Rosary Service to begin at 7:00 at the Church.

Memorials may be designated to the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church 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 service arrangements have been entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.

Sandy Beyer, 64, passed away December 17, 2018 at her home. She was born January 2, 1954 at Hays to Elmer J. and Bertille (Meier) Herrman.

Previously from Great Bend and Wichita, she was an Encinitas, California resident. She was of the Catholic faith and a previous member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church. She was an Assistant Manager for Wal-mart. Sandra loved to read, garden and spend time with her family.

Survivors include, two sons, Shawn Beyer and Carissa, Kent Beyer and Mallory, all of Encinitas, California; mother, Bertille “Berdy” Herrman; one brother, Neal J. Herrman and Faye of Great Bend; one sister, Rebecca J. Desmarteau and Mike of Gardner, Kansas; four grandchildren, Hana and Owen Beyer, Virginia and Westley Beyer; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Elmer J. Herrman; a brother, Eugene J. Herrman; and a sister, Bonnie Cutrano.

There will be a visitation at 9:30 a.m. followed by a rosary, with Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, January 26, 2019 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, with Father Ted Stoecklein presiding. Inurnment will take place at the Great Bend Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the A.L.S. Association, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Betty Lou (Goetz) Wagner, 84, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, January 8, 2019 at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas.

Betty was born March 21, 1934 in Victoria, Kansas. She was one of five children born to William and Helen (Herman) Goetz. At age 8, the family moved from Victoria to Russell. She grew up in Russell and graduated from Russell High School in 1951.

She was united in marriage to the love of her life, Paul J. Wagner on April 8, 1969 in Russell. This union was blessed with four children: Melanie, Kevin, Michelle and Paul.

Betty’s passion was the love and care of her family. She was known for not only nurturing her own children but the children of the entire neighborhood. She cared deeply for her family and instilled the value of faith and love within them.

Outside of the home, Betty was a Tax Preparer with H&R Block for 18 years. Her and her husband Paul built a contract pumping business, B&P Pumping where they worked side by side until Paul’s death in 2005. She was a faithful member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and the RCCW. Her hobbies included bowling, playing cards especially pinochle, bingo, dominos, puzzles and sewing. Upon the arrival of each of her grandchildren, she proudly quilted a baby blanket for them. She loved spending time with her family and friends and played a very active and important role in the lives of each of her grandchildren and great grandchildren

Betty’s surviving family include her two daughters, Melanie Banks (David) and Michelle Wagner (Todd Schneider) all of Russell, Kansas; two sons, Kevin Wagner (Shannon) of Seminole, Florida and Paul Wagner (Candi) of Russell, Kansas; grandchildren Kayla, Chelsie, Brianna, Jordyn, Jacquelyn, Paulie (PJ) and great grandchildren Emma, Scarlett and Jensyn.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Paul; brothers, Donald and Bill Goetz; sisters, Gloria Teel and Arlene Sturman; and grandson Sean Banks.

Celebration of the Funeral Mass will be held at 1:00 PM, Saturday, January 26, 2019 at St. Mary, Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Russell. Burial of Ashes will follow at the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery. There is no visitation taking place. A Memorial has been established with St. Mary, Queen of Angels Catholic Church Maintenance Fund. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, who is in charge of these arrangements.

Doris Marie (Cermak) Ptacek, 95, passed away at the Shawnee Heartland Assisted Living Facility in Shawnee, Kansas, on Saturday, January 12, 2019.

On May 11, 1923, she was born in Bee, Nebraska to James and Amelia (Bouska) Cermak. Her father passed away in 1927, and the family moved to Wilson, Kansas and later back to Bee, Nebraska where she attended school. While she was in school, Doris and her sister used to sing and dance to Czech songs at programs. After graduation from High School, she attended Lincoln Business College. Upon graduating from Business College, Doris worked at the Nebraska State Capitol for four years. In 1947, she married John Ptacek in Wilson, Kansas. John was a farmer in Wilson where they lived and raised their son Darell.

Doris helped her husband on the farm and continued to work at other jobs. During the construction of the Wilson Dam and Reservoir she worked for four years in the site office. Later, she worked in the Ellsworth County Hospital Administrative office for over twenty-seven years until she retired. In 1983, her beloved husband, John, passed away. After his death, Doris continued living on and running the family farm.

In 2000, Doris moved to Shawnee Heartland, Shawnee, Kansas, where she was one of the original residents when the facility opened. The move allowed her to be closer to her son Darell, his wife Linda and three active grandsons. She was also blessed with seven great-grandchildren. Doris enjoyed watching all of them grow-up and attended their sporting events whenever she could. Over the years Doris had many hobbies, including dancing, growing flowers and a garden, raising chickens and ducks, collecting antique glassware and her specialty collection of butterfly themed pins and jewelry. Doris was always an active member of the Catholic Church, Daughters of Isabella, Altar Society and was a 4-H volunteer leader for ten years.

Doris is survived by her son, Darell and wife Linda of Lenexa; Grandchildren, Russ Ptacek and wife Erin of Louisburg, Travis Ptacek and wife Stephanie of Overland Park, Cody Ptacek and wife Kerri of Olathe; seven great-grandchildren, Ethan, Nova, Blair, Marie, Camden, Derek, and Quincy; Brother-In-Law, Frank Sisel of Raytown, Missouri, and other relatives.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John Ptacek; parents, James and Amelia Cermak; and two infant sons; and sister, Rosalyn Sisel.

Doris worked hard, loved her Lord Jesus and her family. Be encouraged by her legacy, live an inspired, spiritual and happy life as you did when she was living. Live each day with encouragement knowing that Doris is smiling down on you from Heaven.

A Mass of Christian Burial is planned for Monday, January 21, 2019, at the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Wilson, Kansas, 10:30 A.M., Father Matthew Chacko presiding. Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 20, 2019 from 2:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M with family receiving friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with Vigil and Rosary Service at 7:00 P.M. all at the Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home in Wilson, Kansas. The family suggests, in lieu of flowers, memorials to the American Cancer Society or American Macular Degeneration Research Foundation (AMDF).