Billie Dean “Bill” Delka was born on May 10, 1945 at Red Cloud, Nebraska. He passed away on April 4, 2018 at his home in Guide Rock, Nebraska after a long fight with chronic leukemia.

Bill was the sixth of eleven children born to Harold and Olive (Smith) Delka and spent his childhood years in the Bostwick area. Bill attended Guide Rock High School before being drafted into the United States Army where he was a heavy equipment operator.

While working construction, Bill met Arlene Schmidtberger, who was the sixth of thirteen children. They married on June 21, 1969 at the Cathedral of the Plains Catholic Church in Victoria, KS and would have celebrated 49 years of marriage this summer. Bill was extremely proud of his family and they were the most important part of his life. Bill and Arlene were blessed with their children: Julie, Les, Chris, Amy, and Jill.

Bill worked construction in Kansas and Texas before moving back to Nebraska where he worked as a mechanic. Bill & Arlene moved to Guide Rock in 1975 and opened Delka’s Sales & Service. The shop remained a central gathering space on main street until it closed in 1995 when Bill went to work for Road Builders in Grand Island. In his leisure time he loved to garden.

Bill was an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous for 27 years. Through the AA community he actively lived the twelve steps and became a mentor to others. His quick wit and sense of humor led to contagious laughter in any setting. Even with surgeries and chemotherapy, Bill was known to brighten people’s days with his clever comments and genuine conversations. Regardless of sickness or health, Bill loved phone calls and visits with family and friends.

Survivors include his wife Arlene; children, Julie (Kory) Delkamiller of Omaha, Nebraska and children Maia, Lydia, and Naomi; Les (Jennifer) Delka of Lincoln, Nebraska and children Emily and Andrew; Chris (Gaye) Delka of Pierce, Nebraska and children, Dylan, Dalton, and Lauren; Amy (Brian) Howard of Papillion, Nebraska and children Joey, Lucy, Hunter and Austin; Jill (Kevin) Edgren of Grand Island, Nebraska and children Ikaiah, Hayden, and Gabriella. Also surviving are his siblings Neil (Audyne), Don (Alice), Ted (Myrtie), Frank (Connie), Ray (Lee), Dale (Diane), Betty (Dale) Ehlers, Elaine, Joe (Joann), and Doris Epke; nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends. He was preceded in death by his parents.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, April 7, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Red Cloud, Nebraska with Rev. Paul Frank and Rev. David Korth officiating. Visitation will be Thursday evening and all-day Friday. Visitation with family present will be held Friday from 5-7 p.m. with the Rosary beginning at 7:00 p.m. Interment with military honors will be at the Guide Rock Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Red Cloud Sacred Heart Catholic Church or the Guide Rock American Legion.

Joyce J. Banbury, 83, of Russell, Kansas, died on Tuesday, April 03, 2018, at her home in Russell.

Joyce was born on August 24, 1934, in Holton, Kansas, the daughter of Charles and Loreda (Godsey) Raymond. She grew up in Smith Center, Kansas and graduated from High School in Topeka, Kansas in the class of 1952. After high school she attended Ft. Hays State University for 3 years and later received her B.A. from Kansas State University. She met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Conrad Banbury on August 20, 1969 in Smith Center, Kansas. From this union they took great joy in raising Joyce’s two sons Martin and Michael.

Joyce owned and operated Banbury Cross in the 1970’s, Wheatcraft in the 80’s and worked as a sales specialist for EBay from the 1990’s to current. With EBay she also worked as an education specialist teaching people how to buy and sell goods on EBay. With EBay she won several sales awards and was a well known presenter for EBay Live across the United States. She was a longtime member of Trinity United Methodist Church. She took great pride in helping raise her granddaughter Dannie’ll Heaton. She enjoyed painting, wheat weaving, gardening, growing flowers and power walking. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Surviving family include her two sons Martin Heaton (Suzann) of Salina, Kansas, and Michael Heaton (Linda) of Winfield, Kansas; 5 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Judy Berridge and husband Conrad.

A memorial service to celebrate Joyce’s life will be held at 11 A.M. on Thursday, April 12, 2018, at the Trinity United Methodist Church in Russell, Kansas, with Pastor Ezekiel Koech officiating. A reception will be held at the Trinity Fellowship Hall immediately follow the church services. Visitation with the family will take be from 4 P.M. to 7 P.M. on Wednesday, April 11, 2018, at the family home at 212 North Main Street in Russell. Memorials can be made out to the mortuary and sent in care of the mortuary. A memorial will be determined by the family at a later date. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.

Ruby Lou Eickbush, 89, of McPherson, Kansas, passed away at 10:48 a.m., Wednesday, April 4th, 2018 suddenly, at McPherson Hospital.

Ruby was born in Braman, Oklahoma on August 12, 1928, a daughter of Celesta Etta (Jameson) and Norris Edward Tickel.

Ruby attended elementary schools in Braman, Oklahoma and graduated from Hays High School, Hays, Kansas. She then attended Fort Hays State Teachers College, Hays, Kansas.

She was a member of First United Methodist Church McPherson, Kansas where she served her church in several capacities through the years.

Ruby was a homemaker and she took great pride in providing for her family in this manner. She also was a partner along with her husband Robert owning and operating Green’s and Armstrong’s Furniture Stores both of McPherson. They liked to give and do things for the community in which they considered their back yard. They put a bridge in Lakeside Park and donated two black swans which were named Bob and Ruby, and finished by adding a courtyard and fountain in which they named it Swan Court. They also donated a baseball field when Wall Park was developed. As a memorial to Robert, the family donated the Gallery of Honor Recognition Room at McPherson Hospital and was dedicated on October 20, 1986. This memorial is a reflection of Robert’s lifelong desire to enhance the quality of life in the McPherson community. She and her son Bob were currently partners in Eickbush Production Company.

Ruby was a member of AY Chapter P.E.O., McPherson Scottish Society, served on McPherson Art’s Council Board, Oriental Chapter #580 of Eastern Star, American Legion Auxiliary, McPherson Hospital Auxiliary and Elk’s Lodge #502 B .P.O.E., McPherson. Ruby enjoyed bowling, playing bridge and other card games, dancing, fishing, exercise class at the Senior Center and volunteering in her neighborhood collecting donations for numerous causes.

Ruby Lou Tickel was united in marriage to Robert Warren Eickbush on June 6, 1948 at Hays, Kansas. This union was blessed with the birth of three children, 2 daughters and one son, Linda Jean, Judith Ann, and Robert Douglas.

She is survived by her children, Linda Flores and husband Lazaro, of Lincoln, Nebraska, Judith “Judy” Wilkes and husband Mark, of Wichita, Kansas, and Robert “Bobby” Eickbush and wife Deborah “Debbi”, of McPherson, Kansas; her 4 grandchildren, Lyne’ McBride (Stacey), Robert M. Eickbush (Nicole) Layne T. Eickbush (Kim), and Taylor M. Wilkes; her 8 great-grandchildren, Troy McBride, Joel McBride, Alexis McBride, Courtney Eickbush, Conor Eickbush, N’Dya Collins, A’Nya Collins, and S’Mya Collins; other relatives and a host of friends.

Ruby was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Robert Eickbush; her sister, Betty Jean Guy, and granddaughter Amanda R. Wilkes.

Visitation will be held on Sunday April 8, 2018 from 3 to 5 p.m., at Glidden – Ediger Chapel, McPherson.

The funeral service will be held at First United Methodist Church, McPherson, Kansas, at 10:30 on Monday, April 9th, 2018 with Reverend Karen Rice-Ratzalff officiating.

Final resting place will be at the McPherson Cemetery McPherson, Kansas.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church or Chapter AY P.E.O. and they can be sent in care of the Glidden – Ediger Funeral Home; 222 West Euclid Street; McPherson, Kansas 67460.

Albinus F. “Al” Hertel, 87, Hays, died Wednesday, April 4, 2018 at the Parkview Care Center in Osborne, Kansas.

He was born February 17, 1931 in Munjor, Kansas the son of Peter A. and Amelia (Sander) Hertel. He was raised on the family farm east of Munjor and he and his brothers farmed the land with their father. On November 6, 1950 he was united in marriage to Lucy C. Lietz at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hays. They celebrated over 65 years of marriage before she preceded him in death on April 30, 2016.

Al not only worked on the family farm, he also worked several years in the summer months on a ranch near Chester, Montana. Later, he moved to Great Bend, Kansas working as a dozer operator for Wilkerson Tractor Co. As time went on, Al and Lucy moved their young family to Hays where Al worked for Rupp Motor Co. and the Farmers Co-op. He worked there at the time Interstate 70 was being built and the work crews brought tires in for repair by the truckloads. He was a master mechanic at Montgomery Ward Auto Center. During this period, he worked evenings with his vacuum truck that he put together in 1960, creating Al Hertel Pit Cleaning. He operated Al’s DX Service Station at 13th and Vine in the 1970’s, where his customer friendships grew and grew.

In the late 70’s, Al added several vacuum trucks to his fleet and Hertel Tank Service was created. He was very proud of his equipment and that his sons could work by his side. The Tank Service continues today with the 3rd generation. While his trucks were being used in the oil field and industrial applications, Al created Hertel Oil Company in 1983. Through all this time, Al continued to farm and established JMA Farms in 1987. He loved the land and loved being diversified. He shared his kindness and his own blessings, always buying people meals, helping out stranded friends, and contributing time, talent, and treasure to the local catholic churches.

He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and a 3rd degree member of the Knights of Columbus Council #6984.

Survivors include three sons; David and wife Virginia of Arvada, CO, Michael and wife Lori and John and wife Laura, all of Hays, a daughter; Kathy and husband Patrick Thrash of Eastvale, CA, three sisters-in-law: Pat Lietz of Wichita, Aletha Hertel of Hays, and Anna Lessor of Great Bend, eight grandchildren; Christina Hertel and Stacy Kadota of Arvada, Lisa Hertel and Heath Ritchie of Westminster, CO, Michelle and Mike Schlyer of Hays, Craig and Mallory Hertel of Hays, Brett Hertel and Tara Hertel of Hays, Marc and Katy Hertel of Russell, Jill and Jake Schlegel of Shawnee, eight great grandchildren; Spencer and Caden Hertel-Kadota of Arvada, CO, Jenna and Paige Schlyer, Sophie and Mya Hertel, all of Hays, and Mary-Kate Hertel and Reese Owens, both of Russell.

He was preceded in death by his wife Lucy, his parents, and four brothers, William and wife Regina, Clarence and wife Helen, Elmer, and Virgil Hertel.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 9:30 am on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 215 W. 13th, Hays, with Fr. Fred Gatschet officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 8:00 on Friday and from 8:30 am until 9:15 on Saturday, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street. A parish vigil service will be at 6:30 pm followed by a Knights of Columbus rosary, both on Friday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to St. Joseph Catholic Church or to St. Nicholas of Myra Church Renovation. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com