Ona Mae (Stump) Maydew died at the age of 91 at Brewster Place in Topeka on December 8, 2018. She was born August 5, 1927, to Zeta (Hollar) Stump and Joseph Elmer Stump in rural Smith County, Kansas.

Ona was raised on farms near Salem and Lebanon, Kansas. Some of her fondest childhood memories were spending time with her grandparents in their country store in Salem and attending a one-room school. Ona’s paternal grandfather often shared stories of his service in the Civil War. As a teenager, Ona enjoyed riding her retired racehorse “Babe,” playing clarinet in the band and orchestra, acting in school plays and musicals, and leading the marching band as its majorette.

In 1947, Ona married Marvin W. Maydew at First Methodist Church in Topeka, Kansas, and lived in Topeka from her marriage until her death. Ona worked at Capper Publications for several years. After the birth of her first child, she turned her considerable energy and talent to raising her children and homemaking, including sewing and gardening. After 54 years of marriage they were divorced.

Ona was a constant Christian scholar and completed the Menninger Bible Study 4-year course. Another continuing theme in Ona’s life was art. She particularly enjoyed painting and drawing.

One of Ona’s greatest joys was to help others. Her community activities were many. A few of them included teaching Sunday school at Lowman Methodist Church, serving as a Cub Scout Den Mother and Girl Scout Troop Leader, providing a residential home setting for Menninger Clinic adolescent outpatients, learning Braille and transcribing textbooks for a college student, cataloguing the library at the Topeka State Hospital, participating in Certified Public Accountant wives and Topeka Bar Association Auxiliary organizations, and serving for twelve years as a volunteer patient representative for Stormont Vail Hospital.

Ona’s son Ken (Sally) Maydew of Broomfield, Colorado, and daughter Nancy Dixon of Topeka, Kansas, survive. Also surviving are six grandchildren (Mariah Maydew, Micah (Jamie) Maydew, Suzanne (Mike) Dixon, Kyle Clifton, Dutch Maydew, and Dana Maydew), four great-grandsons (Cameron Maydew, Jackson Dixon, Theodore Dixon, and Blake Maydew), and a sister, Doris Lea (Stump) Merritt.

It was Ona’s request to be cremated and that there be no memorial service.

A graveside service will take place at Esbon Cemetery in Esbon (Jewell County), Kansas when weather permits.

Sally Mann Collard, 71, passed away February 6, 2019. Sally was born September 30, 1947 in Wichita Falls, Texas to Clovis and Billie (Wonsch) Mann.

Sally is preceded in death by her father.

Sally is survived by her husband Wayne Collard of Beloit, mother Billie K Mann of Deer Park Texas, brother Jerry (Marilyn) Mann of Humble Texas, sons Brett (Laura) Collard of Beloit, Ryan (Sonja) Collard of Cawker City, Dale (Mandy) of Williamsburg, Co, Lance (Katey) Collard of Beloit, 13 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

Private family service will be held at a later date.

Domoney Funeral Home in Downs Kansas is in charge of arrangements.

Stuttgart resident Leonard C. Pfortmiller passed away Feb. 5, 2019 at his home in Stuttgart at the age of 94. He was born Jan. 6, 1925 in Natoma, KS, the son of Edward H. & Irene (Hackerott) Pfortmiller. He was a carpenter and construction manager.

Survivors include his sons: Richard Hite of Alma, NE, Timothy Pfortmiller of Lowell, AR, Phillip & Matthew Pfortmiller of Stuttgart ; his daughter, Yolanda Moll of Gentry Arkansas; 41 grandchildren & a host of great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Friday, Feb. 8 at 10:00 a.m. in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with Pastor Randy Moll officiating.

Graveside services will be held at 11:30 a.m. in the Peace Lutheran Cemetery, Natoma with Military Honors by the U.S. Navy Honor Guard.

Visitation will be from 9:00 to 9:00 Thursday with the family receiving friends from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church, Rogers, AR.

Online condolences: www.olliffboeve.com.

Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Betty Frances Rachel Schmitz Rossouw, sister of Denise Schmitz, Norton, and Beverly Schmitz Glass, Garden City, died January 31, 2019, in Via-Christi-St. Francis Hospital in Wichita following a short illness. She was 60 years of age.

Born to Max F. and Mabel L. Davis Schmitz on January 19, 1959, in Plainville, KS, Betty attended Norton Community Schools, graduating from Norton Community High School in 1977. While there she participated in girls’ basketball, volleyball and track where she set and held for many years the school and state records in girls’ shot put. She then attended Cloud County Community College and Colby Community College where she pursued studies in psychology and art. Betty had her first creative writing piece published in the CCC’s “Collections”.

After college, Betty returned to Norton where she worked for 10 years as a certified psychiatric aide at Norton State Hospital. She then worked at Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas as a certified nurses’ aide and later as office assistant. She was a program technician for USDA-FLP, was a night auditor at Brooks Motel, office manager for Rossouw Trucking and worked collectively for eight years at Valley Hope in Norton in the business office and insurance and admissions departments.

She married Paul Rossouw on April 14, 2004. They later divorced in 2017.

Known for her great sense of humor and booming laugh, Betty was as kind as she was funny. She graced family, friends and clients with her compassion and understanding through attentive listening, enthusiasm, and warm smiles. With a penchant for storytelling, Betty loved irony with a hint of sarcasm and her self-deprecating humor made people laugh. She truly enjoyed photography and found artistic expression in shooting pictures of nature, sunsets, and phases and colors of the moon. Betty was, in short, a hoot.

She was a life-long member of the Harmonson-Redd American Legion Auxiliary, served on the Second Chance Homeless Pet Society’s board of directors, and maintained her St. Francis Altar Society membership.

She is preceded in death by her parents, brother Michael Timothy Schmitz and older sister Kay Margaret Schmitz Smith. She is survived by sisters Dr. Beverly Schmitz Glass and husband Bruce, Sister Denise Ann Schmitz, CSJ, along with niece Shelley Ritter Colip and husband David, children AvaJane and Max Lynndale, Simpsonville, SC, nephews Christopher Smith and wife Jennifer, children Hayden and Lailah, Sand Springs, OK, Pat Smith and wife Bridgit, with sons Xavier and Gage, California, and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and many, many friends.

The Rosary, led by representatives from the Congregation of St. Joseph- Concordia, will be held Friday, March 15, 2019 at 7 p.m, at Enfield Funeral Home Chapel and will be followed by The Wake at Bullseye Event Center. The Celebration Mass will be Saturday, March 16, 2019 at 11 a.m., at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. Father Vincent Thu Laing will be the celebrant.

Memorials may be made to the Betty Schmitz Rossouw Memorial Fund in care of Enfield Funeral Home, Norton. Condolences may be shared at www.enfieldfh.com

Emma Jane Littlejohn, 96, of Salina, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, January 29th, 2019.

Emma was born in Abilene, Kansas on November 5, 1922, a daughter of the late Ruth (Haddock) and Leon M. Ramsey.

She worked as a Nursing Instructor at Osawatomie State Hospital, University of Arkansas, Fort Hays State University.

She also served as a Hospital Apprentice First Class for the United States Navy from June 1943 – December 1945.

Survivors include her sister, Rose Marie White, of Midland, Texas; daughter, Janice Littlejohn-Burch, (Vince), of Kansas City, Missouri; and numerous grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Jack Littlejohn; brothers, Leon Ramsey, John Ramsey; son, Jim Littlejohn.

Graveside services will be held at 1:00 pm, Saturday, February 9, 2019 at Prairie Dale Cemetery, Talmage, Kansas with Pastor Jon Fillipi officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Legion Post 62, in care of Carlson-Geisendorf Funeral Home, 500 S. Ohio, Salina, Kansas 67401.

Ben V. Jenik entered into rest on January 18, 2019, peacefully at his home in Visalia, California, at 100 years of age. He was born on the family farm in Menlo, Kansas, on May 6, 1918 to Ben and Rosa (Volok) Jenik. He was the 6th of eight children. His brothers were Frank (Phyllis), Fred (Margaret), Beldon (Betty), and Allan (Betty). His sisters were Mabel (Fred Gaede), Alice (Vernon Richmond), and Hester (Eddie Ryan). All of his siblings, their spouses and his parents preceded him in death.

Ben married Viola Wassemiller on August 8, 1947 in Monument, Kansas. She preceded him in death on March 11, 2015. They were married 67 years. To this union are five surviving children: Juanita, Patty, Barbara (John), Les (Donna), and Laurie. He also leaves seven surviving grandchildren: Jopha, Cynthia, Joshua, Kleet, Coltan, Benjamin and Brandon, (one grandson, Rowdy Mangini, preceded him in death in 1988), six great-grandchildren and numerous extended family cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Ben’s father passed away when Ben was 11 years old, so to help his mother, he worked the family farm and neighboring dairies. When he was 16, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and was sent to the CCC camp in Lamoni, Iowa. The CCC was a program to help build roads, bridges, and dams. At age 18, he went to work for the Union Pacific Railroad as one of the “Pick and Shovel Gang”, replacing ties and rail. In 1940, at age 22, he went to work for the Kellner Implement Company, in Oakley, Kansas. In June 1942, he was drafted into the Army Air Force at Fort Riley, Kansas. Rifle Marksman was his military qualification. His military occupational specialty was Supply Technician. On July 25, 1943, he boarded the Queen Mary for England, where he served during WWII, assigned to the 21st Depot Supply Squadron, 8th Army Air Force, 490th Bomb Group, attaining rank of Sergeant. After his discharge on November 12, 1945, he returned to his job at the Kellner Implement Company.

In 1947, he married Viola and they made their home in Oakley, Kansas (1947-1956). In 1956 he moved his family to McDonald, Kansas where he went into a John Deere partnership with his brother Fred (1956-1958). He moved his family to Thornton, Colorado (1958-1959) and then in April of 1959, he moved his family to Visalia, California to work again for his old boss, Lloyd Kellner. Ben continued to work as a John Deere mechanic for over 40 years until he retired in 1983.

He enjoyed taking annual trips to Kansas, gardening, feeding and watching the birds, bowling, and tinkering on various projects.

He was a kind, gentle and peaceful man who will be greatly missed and eternally loved and cherished.

Services will be held on Friday, March 8, 2019, 10:00 am at Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home in Oakley, Kansas, with military honors and burial following at the Monument Cemetery in Monument, Kansas.