Vallene M. Immenschuh, 77, passed away November 15, 2019 at The University of Kansas Health System Pawnee Valley Campus, Larned.

She was born February 14, 1942 in Great Bend, KS, the daughter of Louis J. and Meta A. Rankin Oetken. A longtime area resident, except for living in California from 1961 to 1983, she was co-owner of the Pelican Press.

She was a member of the Peace Lutheran Church and the ladies church group, both of Albert, KS. She enjoyed living in the country, gardening, reading, traveling and she especially enjoyed the wildlife.

On June 3, 1961, she married Carl Dean Immenschuh in Albert, Kansas. He died October 22, 2011.

Survivors include: two daughters, Lori (William) Rountree, Hutchinson, KS, Lani (Brian Fisher) Immenschuh, Melbourne, FL; brother, Gerald (Karen) Oetken, Larned, KS; sister, Rita Gagelman, Albert, KS; three grandchildren, Jason Hardin, Hutchinson, KS, Kelley Arter, Tacoma, WA, Zack Arter, Manhattan, KS; three great grandchildren, Jayden Hardin (Nicole Main), McKenna Hardin and Remmi Hardin.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.

Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, November 21, 2019, at Peace Lutheran Church, Albert, KS, with pastor Wayne Baldyga presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, November 20, 2019, with family present from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Beckwith Mortuary, Larned, KS. Burial will be in the Peace Lutheran Cemetery, Albert, KS.

Memorials may be given to the Peace Lutheran Church, Albert, The University of Kansas Health System Pawnee Valley Campus or Pawnee County Humane Society, both of Larned, in care of Beckwith Mortuary, P.O. Box 477 Larned, KS 67550. Condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com.

Merle Dean Foos, 84, passed away November 16, 2019 at the Lane County Hospital.

Merle was born September 4, 1935 at LaCrosse, Kansas to Herbert and Martha Helen (Filbert) Foos. They lived on a farm 8 ½ miles NE of Bazine.

When Merle was five years old they moved to Lane County, four miles north and four miles east of Dighton. Their house burned in 1943 and was replaced by a house they moved to the farm, then in 1950 they built a house in Dighton.
Merle attended Iron Bridge Country School for a year and then Alamota School for several years. Upon completing 8th grade from Dighton Grade School he attended Lane County High School and graduated in 1953.

In 1954 he joined the U.S. Army and was sent to Korea where he was stationed in Pusan and Seoul. He spent five months at the 38th Parallel guarding it because there were still snipers around. Upon returning to the United States in February 1956 he owned and managed Merle’s Standard Station in Dighton for nine years.

On February 11, 1967, he married Janis Kay Estes. He worked for Dighton Grain and Pendennis elevators and Mumma Feed Lot. In the late 1970’s he took over the farming and cattle operations from his dad and his father-in-law Banks Estes. He continued farming and ranching until 2018 when he retired. He was a member of the First Christian Church where he served many years as trustee and deacon. He also served on the Dighton COOP Elevator board.

Merle was a hard worker and an excellent farmer (a trait inherited from his Volga German heritage). He was blessed with a wonderful sense of humor and took great pleasure in his family and especially his two grandchildren.

Merle is survived by his wife, Janis, of the home; two sons Mark Taylor and wife Stacey (Minneman) of Dighton and Jeffrey Dean of Hutchinson; grandchildren Regan Taylor Foos and Dylan Douglas Foos; a brother Harley and wife Dee Foos and a sister Patty and husband Don Bartlett all of Wichita. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Merle was preceded in death by his parents and an infant brother Virgil Dean.

Funeral service will be at 11:00 AM Thursday at First Christian Church in Dighton with Rev Aerii Smith officiating. Burial will be in Dighton Memorial Cemetery with military rites by Kansas Army National Guard Honor Guard and American Legion Post # 190 Honor Guard. Memorials are suggested to First Christian Church, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Shriners Hospitals for Children in care of Boomhower Funeral Home. Friends may call from Noon to 8:00 PM Wednesday at Boomhower Funeral Home in Dighton. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com

Helen M. Stos, 95, died November 14, 2019, at Clara Barton Hospital, Hoisington. She was born January 26, 1924, the daughter of Antone and Eleanor (Mauler) Budig.

On May 18, 1943, she married Leonard Valentine Stos in Great Bend, Kansas.

Helen was a farmer’s wife, helping on the family farm alongside her husband until his death on March 15, 2001.

She was a member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church and Altar Society. She was skilled in woodworking, building closets for her home, and refinishing wood furniture. She loved all types of crafts, she could crochet, sew, decoupage, and needlepoint on plastic canvas. She was also an excellent baker, making many wedding cakes and birthday cakes. Helen also had a passion for raising white German shepherds and black toy poodles.

Survivors include her five children; Leonard “Butch” Stos and wife Kim of Otis, Karolyn Schaffer and husband Charles of La Crosse, Debra Stos of Newton, Randy Stos and wife Heather of Hoisington, and Tim Stos and wife Lynnette of Olmitz; four siblings, Katherine McGrath of Pleasanthill, California, Lenora Hutton of Derby, Bernard “Barney” Budig of Antcock, California, and Beatrice Axman of Olmitz; 7 grandchildren and 3 step grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren and 6 step great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brothers, Arthur, Richard, and Eugene Budig, and sisters, Irene Sanders and Esther Saling.

Friends may call 1 to 5 p.m., Sunday at the funeral home.

Family will greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Sunday, at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Olmitz, with Vigil and Rosary to begin at 7 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, November 18, 2019, at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Olmitz, celebrated by Father Anselm Eke. Burial will follow in St. Ann’s Catholic Cemetery, Olmitz.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to St. Ann’s Catholic Church or Kindred Hospice in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

Delores Marie Deines, age 90, of WaKeeney, Kansas, passed away on Friday, November 15, 2019 at Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital Long-Term Care in WaKeeney.

Services are pending with Schmitt Funeral Home, WaKeeney.

Jack Holmes, 87, of Russell, Kansas passed away on Friday, November 15, 2019, at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell.

Jack was born October 26, 1932, in Wichita, Kansas. He was the only child of Earl and Anna (Singer) Holmes. At the age of 6, Jack and his parents moved to Russell. He graduated from Russell High School 1950.

Jack was united in marriage to Elaine Covington November 1, 1953, in Phillips, Texas. This union was blessed with three children; Tami, Julie and Tim. They made their home in Sterling, Colorado; Cambridge, Nebraska; Farmington, New Mexico; Pratt, Kansas; and returned to Russell in 1974.

Jack was an Oil Pumper for Getty Oil for over 35 years. After Chevron Texaco purchased the company, he remained working for three more years before retiring in 1987. He was an active member of the Calvary Chapel, Assembly of God Church.

Surviving family include his beloved wife of 66 years, Elaine of the home, Tami (David) Hoffman of Golden, Colorado and Son, Tim Holmes of Wichita, Kansas; four grandchildren Julie King, Denver, Colorado, Jenny (Joel) Maxwell, Arvada, Colorado, Justin (Maggie) Hoffman, Arvada, Colorado, Lauren (Alex) Lievestro, San Diego, California; five great-grandchildren Elise and Ava King, Sherman Oaks, California and Zadie, Zyla and Zaxton Maxwell, Arvada, Colorado.

Jack was proceded in death by his parents Earl and Anna Holmes and their daughter Julia Elaine Holmes.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 A.M., Tuesday, November 19, 2019 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell. A private burial of ashes will follow at a later date.
A Memorial has been established with Hoffman Family Foundation benefiting Rays of Grace Primary School in Kirugu, Uganda Africa. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, 610 N. Maple, Russell, Kansas 67665 who is facilitating these arrangements.

Larry Arnold Shepard, 78, Lenora, Kansas passed away at the Norton Andbe Home on Monday, November 11th, 2019.

Larry was born on August 22nd, 1941 in Jerome, Idaho. The son of Lewis “Barney” and Nelda Shepard. He attended grade school in Idaho before moving to Lenora, Kansas and years later graduating from Hill City High School in 1959.

Larry married Shirley Bruning on June 2nd, 1961 at St. Peters Lutheran Church in Logan, Kansas. They were married 58 years. To this union three sons were born: Gary, Paul, and James “Jim”.

Larry was fortunate to have learned multiple trades during his career. He worked in the oil fields, operated the Standard Oil Tanker route in Norton, Kansas before working at the Norton County School District. Larry later worked at the Norton Ready Mix prior to moving to Chandler, Arizona in 1986. Larry was the head maintenance worker for the Valley Hope in Chandler until 1999 when he and his wife moved to Lenora to work for the Lenora school until 2006. He assisted the community with handy man services until his retirement.

Larry was baptized and confirmed at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Norton, Kansas and in later years was an active member of the United Parrish in Lenora. Larry shared his love for camping and boating with his family on summer weekends and annual vacations. He also enjoyed traveling and motorcycle adventures.

Larry was preceded in death by parents Barney and Nelda (Troutner) Shepard, brothers James and David, sister Charlotte Morford and daughter-in-law Ginger (Wooten) Shepard; brother-in-law Dalbert Bruning and sister-in-law Karen Bruning.

Larry is survived by his wife Shirley (Bruning) Shepard of Lenora, KS; three sons: Gary Shepard of Lenora, KS; Paul Shepard of Concordia, KS; & Jim Shepard and wife Marni Green of Cave Creek, AZ. Six Grandchildren: Mathew Shepard of Queens, NY; Stephanie Shepard and spouse Emily of Tampa Bay, FL; Rachel (Shepard) Goodman and husband Daniel Goodman of Emporia, KS; Zachary Shepard of Phoenix, AZ; Samantha Shepard of Phoenix, AZ; and Andrew Shepard of Phoenix, AZ. Two step grandchildren, Madison Anderson of Glendale, AZ; Corbin Bailey of Glendale, AZ; and three Great Grandchildren. Two brothers Steve Shepard and wife Rhonda of Quinter, KS and Kenny Shepard and wife Karen of Penokee, KS; Brother-in-Law Lloyd Morford of Hill City, KS and many other loving relatives and friends.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 23rd, 2019 in the Lenora United Parish Church, Lenora, KS, with Reverend Blair Kirkpatrick officiating. Inurnment will follow in the St. Peter’s Cemetery, Phillips County, KS.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Lenora United Parish Church or Hospice Services, Inc.

Virginia Lee Eklund, 96, of Hutchinson, Kansas, and former Natoma, Kansas, resident, died on Saturday, November 9, 2019, at the Good Samaritan Village in Hutchinson, Kansas.

Virginia was born on February 28, 1923, in Hutchinson, Kansas, the daughter of Francis Marion and Louise (Meade) Gookins. She grew up in Hutchinson and attended local schools in Hutchinson. She met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Robert Grant Eklund on September 16, 1939, in Hutchinson, Kansas. From this union, Robert and Virginia were blessed with two sons Ken and Bill. Robert passed away on September 06, 2003. Virginia was a homemaker taking care of her husband and sons but also worked part-time as a clerk in a grocery store. She was a member of the Natoma Methodist Church and a former member of the Eastern Star. She enjoyed quilting, crocheting and collecting dolls and toys. She and Robert also enjoyed traveling to Alaska, Arkansas and Montana. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family.

Surviving family include her sons Ken Eklund and wife Marsha of Clancy, Montana and Bill Eklund and wife Becky of Springdale, Arkansas; 7 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

Virginia was also preceded in death by her 3 brothers, Francis, Bob and Carl Gookins and 3 sisters, Gladys Brown, Charlotte Schlatter and Mary Alice Rush, grandson Matthew Ryan Eklund and great grandson Bryce Matthew Eklund.

A memorial service to celebrate Virginia’s life will be held at 10 A.M. on Saturday, November 23, 2019, at Mitchell United Methodist Church in Hutchison, KS. Graveside services will follow at 3 P.M. Saturday afternoon at the Natoma City Cemetery in Natoma, Kansas. Cremation has been selected by the family. Memorials may be given to Kindred Hospice in Hutchinson, Kansas, and can be sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Natoma, Kansas is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.