Helen Joyce Govert, age 88, passed away on Wednesday, April 24, 2019 at Greeley County Long Term Care in Tribune, Kansas. Helen was born June 9, 1930 in Arkansas City, Kansas, the youngest of nine children, to Arthur & Pearl (Bundy) Leach.

Helen graduated from Arkansas City High School in 1948, attended Arkansas City Junior College and later graduated from Fort Hays State University with a Bachelors Degree in Education. She taught elementary school in a one-room schoolhouse in rural Sumner County, Kansas.

At a fortuitous blind date, Helen met Joseph “Joe” John Govert, Jr. and they were later married on May 31, 1955 at Hays, Kansas. Helen’s sense of humor counterbalanced Joe’s seriousness for over sixty-one years, with Joe’s passing on June 3, 2016 at Tribune, Kansas.

In 1956, the couple relocated to Greeley County, Kansas to farm and raise their family, establishing Govert Construction in 1957. Helen briefly worked at the Greeley County Public Library and operated a porcelain doll studio, Exquizit Creations, with her friend Alice Robertson from 1989 through 2008.

Helen was an active volunteer, an avid reader and spirited storyteller, regularly being asked to give book reviews at community events. She enjoyed welcoming new residents to the community, with her friend Marge Kuttler as part of the Welcome Wagon. She enjoyed sharing her passion for drawing, painting and porcelain dolls with 4-H students, staffing Sacks on Broadway and as a member of the Pride Committee. Helen was a member of St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Tribune, Kansas, serving as Sacristan in assisting in setting up for services at the church and Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, providing communion to the homebound.

Helen’s surviving family includes-

Three Children and their spouses-
Mike & Cathy Govert- Tribune, Kansas
Kevin & Cindy Govert- Tribune, Kansas
Sara & Gene Greeson- Tribune, Kansas

Nine grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.

Her parent, husband four brothers and four sisters preceded her in death.

Her family cherishes Helen in a million different ways, all because she was a loving wife, mother and grandmother and great grandmother.

Vigil services will be held at 7:00 p.m. (MDT) Sunday, April 28, 2018 at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Tribune, Kansas.

Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 29. 2019 at the church with Fathers Tim Hickey and Benjamin Martin officiating.

Burial will be in Greeley County Cemetery in Tribune, Kansas.

Friends may call from 2:00 until 5:00 pm Sunday at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Tribune, Kansas.

Memorials may be given to the Greeley County Library in care of the funeral home.

Condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at priceandsons.com

Myrna Faye Campbell, 87, passed away April 24, 2019 at her home in Great Bend. She was born November 11, 1931, in Rural Smith Center to Melvin & Velma (Staley) Yenne. She married Donald Gene Sheets on February 7, 1950 and they later divorced. She then married Eldon Spike Campbell on October 6, 1978. He died July 2, 1987.

Coming from Smith Center in 1962, Myrna was employed as a bookkeeper for Doonan Truck for 6 ½ years, the Great Bend Tribune for 23 ½ years and then retired in March 1994. She worked part time then for Lou’s Printing, Dairy Queen, Dollar Tree, and Satellite Pros. She was a member of the First Christian Church of Great Bend. She graduated from Smith Center High School and was a volunteer for Compeer & Hospice. She enjoyed going to Branson, MO and playing Black Jack, golf and going to baseball and basketball games and spending time with her family.

Survivors include, one daughter, Donna Marbut; one son, John Sheets and wife Vicki of Great Bend; two step daughters, Cathy Winters of Phillipsburg and Sheila Stocker and husband Randy of Shelton, NE; one brother, Robert Yenne of Arvada, CO; three step sisters, Carolene Stutterheim, Lorraine Wells and husband Roger of Phillipsburg, Shirley Stutterheim of Almena; step brother-in-law, Dick Van Der Wege of Lindsborg; a host of nieces and nephews; 5 grandchildren, Jason Marbut and wife Mandi, Jennifer Keener and husband Jarrod, Trevor Marbut and wife Samantha, Rachelle Sheets and Joshua Sheets; step grandchildren, Talatha Reese and husband Jay and Jason Winters, all of Phillipsburg; 7 great grandchildren, Tyler Marbut and wife Taylor, Kelsie Brown and husband Trent, Kameron Keener, Kaleigh, Addilie and Waylon Sheets, and Blake Sheets, all of Great Bend; 4 step great grandchildren, Hannah, Abbigal, and Jacob Winters, Kaleigh and Makenzie Marbut; three great great grandchildren, Brantlie Mae Marbut, Kayson Brown and Carter Marbut. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Eldon; her step father William DeBoer, two son-in-laws, Dale Marbut and Leon Winters; two step sisters, Helen DeBoer, Elnor Van Der Wege; and brother-in-law Roger Stutterheim.

Visitation will be held from Noon to 9:00 p.m., Monday, April 29, 2019, at Bryant Funeral Home, with family present from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 30, 2019, at Bryant Funeral Home with Rev. Bill Johnson presiding. Interment will be in the Great Bend Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to the First Christian Church or Kindred Hospice, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Adolph Degenhardt, 97, formerly of Hays, died Wednesday, April 24, 2019 at McCrite Health Center in Topeka.

He was born November 20, 1921 in Pfeifer the son of John J. and Anna Marie “Emma” (Basgall) Degenhardt. He served for three years in the Civilian Conservation Corps and was a United States Army World War II Veteran. Adolph was a welder, co-owner, and foreman for Hays Machine Works for 38 years. He married Elsie Wendling on August 24, 1942 in Pfeifer. She preceded him in death on March 21, 1951. He married Florentine Meder- Urban in Hays on July 19, 1952. She preceded him in death on August 29, 1971. He married Alice Wudarczyk, and she preceded him in death. He spent over 20 happy years with companion and dear friend, Lydia Sander before she preceded him in death. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, the St. Anthony’s Third Degree Knights of Columbus Council #4166, the Bishop Cunningham Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, and the Knights of Columbus in Topeka. He was hard working, generous, devoted to his religion and his church, had a good sense of humor, enjoyed playing pinochle, polka dancing, and spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Survivors include two daughters; JoAnn Degenhardt-Staley (Lyle) and Priscilla Degenhardt-Burke (Bob), two sons; Raymond Degenhardt (Donna) and Col. (Ret) Ernest Degenhardt (Tish), 11 grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and 12 step-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wives; Elsie, Florentine, and Alice, special friend; Lydia, five brothers; Sylvester, Victor, Walter, Dale, and John, two sisters; Regina Basgall and Alvina Bieker, a step-daughter Eileen Urban-Jacobs, and a grandson; Derek John Degenhardt.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Monday, April 29, 2019 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church with Fr. Barry Brinkman officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00 pm until 8:00 on Sunday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Monday, all at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. A parish vigil service will be at 7:00 pm followed by a Knights of Columbus rosary, all on Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to St. Joseph Catholic Church. Condolences and memories of Adolph may be shared with the family at www.haysmemorial.com

Donnie L. “Don” McDonald, 70, Wentworth, Missouri, died Wednesday, April 25, 2019 at his home in Wentworth.

He was born April 20, 1949 in Gobler, Missouri, the son of Paul and Lena (Franklin) McDonald. He attended Coolidge, Arizona schools. He was in the United State Marine Corps from 1969 to 1971 and achieved the rank of Lance Corporal on his discharge. On April 18, 1986 he was united in marriage to Agnes Gable. They celebrated 33 years of marriage. He was retired from Schreiber Foods in Monett, Missouri. He enjoyed playing guitar, fishing, gardening, maintaining his country home and acreage, and giving his family a hard time. He was a loving husband, father, son, son-in-law, and uncle to numerous nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.

Survivors include his wife of the home, three sisters; Reba Lovette of Mississippi, Dorothy Fay Ann Estes of Tennessee, and Wilma Jean Adams of Arizona, one brother; Howard Galen McDonald of Arizona, a daughter; Cindy Wright (John) of Manteca, CA, two sons; Donnie McDonald, Jr. of Monett, Missouri, and Bernie McDonald of California, two brothers-in-law; Arlen Gabel and Alan Gabel (Dawn) of Hays, grandchildren; Marsha Rocha and Johnny Wright, several other grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his father and mother-in-law; Wayne and Marie Gabel, a sister; Lurlene Webb, two brothers; Robert Kenneth and Cornelius McDonald, a nephew; Kenneth Clinton McDonald, and two nieces; Connie Graham and Teresa Lynn Lamb.

Funeral services will be at 2:30 pm on Monday, April 29, 2019 at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Delbert Stanton officiating. Burial with military honors by the Hays VFW Post #9076 honor guard will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 7:00 on Sunday and from 1:30 pm until service time on Monday, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society or Oxford Hospice of Springfield, Missouri. Condolences and memories of Don may be shared with the family at www.haysmemorial.com

Warren C. Kraus, age 92, of Ellis, Kansas passed away Wednesday, April 24, 2019 in Ellis. He was born February 19, 1927 in Hays, Kansas to Carl and Sadie (Ward) Kraus. On December 21, 1947 he married Rosemary Duncker in Ford, Kansas.

Warren was farmer and served in the US Navy in Tulagi at the end of WW II. He was a member of the Hays and Ellis United Methodist Churches, VFW, American Legion, 40/8, Kansas Farm Bureau and he was presented a Quilt of Honor.

He is survived by his wife, Rosemary of Ellis; a daughter, Sheila Phillips and husband Michael of Maryville, Missouri; two brothers, Kenneth Kraus of Omaha, Nebraska and Harold Kraus of Hays; a grandson, Mark Craig and wife Sarah and children Wyatt and Juliet all of Brooklyn, New York.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Nancy Kraus; two brothers, Eldon and John Kraus and a sister, Dorothy Bemis.

Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Saturday, April 27, 2019 at the Hays United Methodist Church. Burial with military honors courtesy of the Hays VFW Honor Guard will be 1:30 PM in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Ellis.

Visitation will be Friday, 5 PM – 8 PM at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601. Saturday visitation will be at the church 10 AM until service time.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Hays United Methodist Church or the Parkinson Foundation (www.parkinson.org)
Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or by email at [email protected]

Ruth M. Lake, 80, formerly of Goodland, KS, passed away at the Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin, VT on Monday evening, April 22, 2019. Born in Limon, CO on March 29, 1939, she was a daughter of the late Henry and Syble Rae (Johnson) Kanzler. On December 14, 1958, she married Paul A. Lake in Limon, CO. Paul predeceased Ruth on August 25, 1986.

Ruthie had a “never say never”, compassionate, fighting spirit that saw her through happy and tough times. As a child she grew up in poverty with her father, mother, and 8 siblings. She was a survivor through the tragic loss of her husband Paul in 1986, who she remained true to until her last day, and then the tragic loss of her youngest son Tobey in 1996. She was a two-time cancer survivor.

It was her strong will and primary purpose in life to take care of her family that kept her moving forward and blessed us with 25 additional beautiful years. (This allowed her to enjoy the final chapter of her life, which included helping raise her two amazing grandsons, Tobey and Braedon). She shaped our lives with wonderful story telling, the constant reminder to “stop and smell the roses”, parental advice to teach right from wrong and never lose the ability to keep laughter in your life. She will be missed.

Ruth is loved and mourned by her children, Tiffini Lake-Bellows and her husband, Jay of Waterbury, VT; Troy Lake and his wife, Kelly of Waterbury Center, VT; Tracy Lake and his wife, Cheri of Lenexa, KS; 8 grandchildren, Amanda, Ali, Andrew, Kady, Ben, Brianna, Tobey and Braedon; a sister, Charlotte Larsen of CA; 3 brothers, Melvin Kanzler of CO, Clifford Kanzler of CA, and Lester Kanzler of WA; as well as nieces, nephews and extended family. Ruth was predeceased by a son, Tobey Lake on April 18, 1996.

In lieu of flowers memorial gifts would be appreciated to the Department of Palliative and Spiritual Care, CVMC, PO Box 547, Barre, VT 05641.

Click HERE for service details.

Kenneth E. McCorkle, 82, of Alton, KS passed away on Monday, April 22, 2019 at the Salina Regional Medical Center of Salina, KS. Kenney was born on March 13, 1937 to Ellsworth and Mabel (Smith) McCorkle in Burr Oak, KS. He was the youngest of 7 children.

After Kenny obtained his GED, he joined the U. S. Army in 1955. He served for 12 years. He served in the Korean and the Vietnam wars. While he was in the service, he married Edna Fern Louder on July 2, 1961 in Burr Oak, KS. To this union, 2 children were born. Where ever Kenny was stationed, Edna would follow to the local bases to be with Ken, whenever possible. After Kenny’s discharge, he and his bride moved to Burr Oak.

Kenny worked in a gas station after he got out of the service. He drove propane trucks for the local Phillips 66 and Midway Co-op stations for the next 11 years. In 1978, Kenny transferred to the Midway Co-op Station in Alton, KS to manage the service station. He became the mayor of Alton for several terms while they lived in Alton. In the mid 80’s, they moved to Osborne where he worked in a service station for a while. He later worked in the local grocery store. At the age of 75, Kenny decided it was time to retire.

Kenny and Edna enjoyed camping on weekends. He certainly enjoyed cars and his family.

Kenny was preceded in death by his parents and son, Gary in 1980.

Kenny is survived by his wife, Edna; daughter: Susan (Todd Ingebretson) Stoddard of Carrington, ND; 3 grandchildren & 4 great-grandchildren.

Click HERE for service details.

Merle Dean “M.D.” Grimes, 83, passed away Wednesday, April 24, 2019 at his home in Larned.

He was born September 10, 1935 in Burrton, the son of William T. and Neva Barger Hedrick Grimes.

A lifetime area resident he was a service station operator at M.D. Super Service.

He was a member of Isis Shrine, Salina; Sunflower Shrine and Masonic Lodge, both of Great Bend; Past member of Larned City Council; Former President of USD 495 School Board; past Patron of the Order of the Eastern Star; and he enjoyed travling.

On October 15, 1961 he Married Patsy D. Clapham at Larned, she survives.

Other survivors include; two sons, Darin Grimes, Shakopee, Minnesota and Trent (Glenda) Grimes, Wood Heights, Missouri; one sister, Patricia Appel, Anna, Texas; one brother, Donald Warner, Shawano, Wisconsin; three grandchildren; seven great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers; John Price and Richard Warner.

Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held 2:00 PM, Saturday, April 27, 2019 at First Christian Church, Larned, with Reverend Jack Hopkins presiding. Visitation will be from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Friday at Beckwith Mortuary, Larned.

Memorials may be given to the Sunflower Shrine Travel Club, in care of Beckwith Mortuary, PO Box 477, Larned, Kansas 67550. Personal condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com.

Wayne Rathbun Sr., 86, passed away April 24, 2019, at Medicalodges of Great Bend. He was born April 16, 1933, at McPherson to Lyle & Geneva (Leeper) Rathbun. He married Joan Easdon on February 14, 1954, at Great Bend. She survives.

A lifetime Great Bend resident, Wayne was a member of the First Southern Baptist Church and the Masonic Lodge. He was self-employed as an oil field truck driver and structural pipe salesman. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and boating and especially loved his grandchildren.

Survivors include, his wife, Joan of the home; one son, Wayne Rathbun, Jr. and wife Connie of Great Bend; three daughters, Charlotte Rowe of Enid, OK, Cheryl Lawson of Casa Grande, AZ, and Chris Rathbun of La Mesa, CA; cousin, Jim Leeper and wife Julie of Burleson, TX; eight grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Friday, April 26, 2019 at Bryant Funeral Home, with family present from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 27, 2019, at First Southern Baptist Church, with Pastor Tim Singleton presiding. Burial will be at a later date.

Memorials are suggested to the First Southern Baptist Church Trustee Account, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Donnie L. “Don” McDonald, 70, Wentworth, Missouri, died Wednesday, April 24, 2019 at his home.

Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced by Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.