Peter E. Marcus, 77, passed away on January 17, 2019 at the Ness County Hospital in Ness City, Kansas. He was born on June 6, 1941 in Ames, Iowa the son of Orville and Viola (Kopper) Marcus.

He was an elementary school teacher in the Beeler and Ness City schools and a financial planner for Waddell and Reed. He was very active in the Lions Club and he served as the President of the Ness City Rotary Club as well as Rotary Past District Governor. He was a member of the United Methodist Church of Ness City where he served on many boards including lay speaking. Pete was a US Army Veteran serving as a Chaplain’s Assistant.

He married Coline Duer on December 30th, 1962, in St. John, Kansas. She survives.

Other survivors include his daughter, Penny Nielsen and her husband, Patrick; son, John Marcus and his wife, Brenda; two sisters, Connie and Joan Marcus; five grandchildren, Katie Leigh Marcus, Lisa and Jessica Burgy, and Jacob and Andrew Nielsen, and three great-granddaughters.

Graveside services and inurnment will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be given to the United Methodist Church, Ness City Rotary Club, or the Ness City Library.

Willard “Scott” the “Mountain Man” Behrle, 58, passed away January 17, 2019, at Clara Barton Hospital, Hoisington. He was born April 22, 1960, at Anthony, to Wilburt and Hazel (Bemis) Behrle.

Scott, a resident of Hoisington since 2012 coming from Kinsley, was a self-employed arborist, previously working at Scholfield Mill Right, Dodge City. He was a member of the First Street Church of God, Hoisington, and enjoyed building hot rods.

He was previously married to Corinne Bright, of Tonkawa, OK, and Anita Watkins of Kinsley. Other survivors include two daughters, Melissa Hipp and husband Joe, and Jennifer Behrle-Rhodes and husband Richard, all of Hoisington; one step daughter, Valerie Schroth and husband Josh, of Blue Springs, MO; two sisters, Diana Glaze, of Otis, and Liz Hull Cotton of Pueblo, CO; seven grandchildren and three step grandchildren.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 25, 2019, at First Street Church of God in Hoisington with Rev. Dick Ogle. Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday, January 24, 2019 at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, 415 N. Main, Hoisington, KS 67544. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established for the Scott Behrle Expense Fund, in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home.

Wayne Dryer Russett, age 80, of Ulysses, Kansas, died Thursday, January 17, 2019, at Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas. He was born June 26, 1938, in Postville, Iowa, the son of Olaf and Mae (Dryer) Russett.

Wayne moved to Ulysses after graduating from Flippin High School in Flippin, Arkansas. He married Lucreta Martin on June 26, 1960, in Ulysses. Wayne worked for Ansel Manufacturing for 24 years and was the Street Superintendent for the City of Ulysses for 25 years. He enjoyed woodworking, making walking sticks, and fishing. Wayne will be remembered for driving around town and socializing.

Wayne is survived by his children, Debbie Theye and husband Densel of Liberal, Kim Leiker of Hays, David Russett and wife Patty of San Antonio, Texas, and Kari Geerdes and husband Victor of Hays; brother, Faye Russett and wife Elaine of Kinsley; nine grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Wayne is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Lucreta in 2012; daughter, Brenda in 2018; grandson, D.J. Theye in 2016; great-grandson, Braiden Smith; and two brothers, Darrell Russett and Conley Russett.

Funeral service will be Tuesday, January 22, 2019, at 2:00 PM at Garnand Funeral Home Chapel in Ulysses with Minister Warren Baldwin officiating. Interment will follow at Ulysses Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday, January 21, 2019, from 2:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Garnand Funeral Home in Ulysses. Memorial contributions may be given to DeBakey Heart Institute in care of Garnand Funeral Home, 405 W. Grant Ave, Ulysses, KS 67880.

Donna Jean (Austin) Butts, longtime Sherman County resident, passed away at the Greeley County Long-term Care Facility in Tribune, Kansas on Wednesday, January 16, 2019 at the age of 84 years old.

She was born in Ruleton, Kansas at the home of her Maternal Grandparents Smith, on July 28, 1934, to Charlie and Hazel (Smith) Austin.

Donna attended school from grade school through most of high school in Goodland, Kansas. She later obtained her GED. She attended NWKTC in the Secretarial course. She also attended Colby Community College in the Nursing Program, but was not able to complete it.

Donna entered into marriage to Ralph Mitchell on October 14, 1950. To this union, three children, Donna, Charles and Kenneth were born. She entered in marriage with John Butts on May 16, 1959. To this union, three more children, Kevin, Daniel and Scott were born.

During her lifetime, Donna was employed at Steiner’s Drive-In, the Sherman Theater, the Shamrock Restaurant, Boothroy Memorial Hospital, Goodland Regional Medical Center, Gibson’s and sold Avon.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents, a brother Charles Dale Austin, both of her husbands, a son Daniel Butts and a great-granddaughter Darcy Lynn Miller.

She is survived by her sister, Joyce Elaine (Bill) Rogers of Denver, Colorado, her children, Donna Miller of Goodland, Kansas, Charles Mitchell of Emporia, Kansas, Kenneth (Karen) Mitchell of Arvada, Colorado, Kevin Butts of Goodland, Kansas, Scott Butts of Colby, Kansas, 17 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren (with one more on the way) and 2 great-great grandchildren, several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Family was the most important part of Donna’s life. She collected many pictures and proudly displayed them on the walls and shelves in her home. She was excited to attend a school program, musical, sporting event or dance recital of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, even if it meant traveling out of town to attend. She was always there to cheer them on.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, January 22, 2019 at 10:30 AM MT at the First Christian Church in Goodland with Pastor Doug Amend officiating. Burial followed in the Goodland Cemetery, Goodland, KS.

Memorial contributions may be made in Donna’s name to be decided at a later date by the family 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 were entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.

Galen D. Brandt, age 58, died on Wednesday, January 16, 2019 at the Garden Valley Retirement Village in Garden City, Kansas. He was born on November 28, 1960 the son of Harold and Elma Jean Siemens Brandt in Wichita, Kansas.

He was a member of the Garden Valley Church, played in various bands, Neon Nights, Out In Back, and Otis Wheat. Galen worked at Old Chicago in Garden City, Kansas.

On January 14, 2019 he married Rhonda Gallaway at the Garden Valley Retirement Village. She survives.

Other survivors include:

Parents Harold and Elma Jean Brandt of Garden City, Kansas

One Brother Trevor and Becky Brandt of Garden City, Kansas

One Sister Janet White of Wilson, Kansas,

Several nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be held on Friday, January 25, 2019 at the Garden Valley Church in Garden City at 2:00 p.m.

Memorials in lieu of flowers are suggested to the Galen Brandt Memorial Fund in care of Price & Sons Funeral Home, 620 N. Main St. Garden City, Kansas 67846.

Downs, Kansas — Opal A. Rexroat, 76, passed away January 14, 2019. She was born November 18, 1942 in Portis, the daughter of Omer and Neva (Fields) Rieschick.

She was a retired bookkeeper and homecare provider.

She is preceded in death by her parents and daughter, Kimberly.

She is survived by her husband Richard of the home, son Justin (Hiedi) Rexroat of Beloit, three grandchildren, sister, Dorcas (Robert) Schweitzer of Osborne, and two brothers, Darrel (Della) Rieschick of Sacramento, California and Alfred (Deanna) Rieschick of Andover.

Funeral services will be held Monday, January 21, 2019 at 2pm at the United Methodist Church in Downs. Visitation will be Sunday, January 20, 2019 from 4-5:30pm at the church. Memorials may be given to Downs Senior Center and the church in care of Domoney Funeral Home, PO Box 127, Downs KS 67437.

Steven P. Walter, 63, of Belleville, Illinois, born Thursday, June 30, 1955, in Belleville, IL, passed away Tuesday, January 15, 2019 at Memorial Hospital in Belleville, Illinois.

Steven was a roofer by trade and in his youth, was a member of the Black Knights.

He was preceded in death by his:

Brother: Paul Douglas
Sister, Cynthia Ann
Surviving are his:

Wife of 43 years: Mary, nee Kreutzer, Walter of Belleville, IL, formerly of Victoria, KS

Parents: Victor and Carol Jean, nee Conner, Walter of Mascoutah, IL

5 Children
Nicole (Doug) Clayton of Fenton, MO,
Mathew (Stacie Giovanetti) Walter of Belleville, IL
Stephanie (Greg) Giedeman of Belleville, IL
Michelle (Anthony) Bergeron of Brooklyn Park, MN
Jonathan Walter of Belleville, IL
Sister: Brenda (Robert) Bryant of Mascoutah, IL

12 Grandchildren
Chloe Walter
Sophia Walter
Taylor Hurst
Cole Clayton
Chase Clayton
Logan Giovanetti
Bailey Walter
Riley Giedeman
Anthony Bergeron, Jr.
Parker Walter
Veronica Giedeman
Victoria Giedeman

Memorials: Memorials may be made to the National Kidney Foundation, St. Louis, MO.

Visitation: A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, January 18, 2019 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at East Lodge #504, 9950 St. Clair Ave in Fairview Heights, IL.

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