August 11, 1932 ~ January 6, 2019 (age 86)
A full obituary and memorial services are pending with Koons-Russell Funeral Home, Goodland.
Donations may be made to: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and may be left at the services or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland KS 67735.
Joyce Ellen (Rounkles) Mello, 79, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Friday, January 4, 2019 at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas.
Joyce was born April 7, 1939 in Russell. She was one of five children born to Chester L. and Elsie V. (Killian) Rounkles. She grew up in Paradise, Kansas and graduated from Paradise High School in 1957.
Joyce was united in marriage to John Joseph Mello, Jr. on April 23, 1960 in Topeka, Kansas. This union was blessed with two children; John and Mary. They made their home in Russell County.
Joyce was a devoted wife and homemaker. She also worked for Klema’s Applemart as a Baker for over 33 years. She was a member of TOPS #161. She enjoyed reading, tending her flowers, playing games, watching college basketball, especially Kansas University and spending time with family and friends.
Surviving family include her son, John Mello (Shirley) of Desoto, Kansas; Mary Bushnell (Lonnie) of Gardner, Kansas; brother, Marvin Rounkles of O’Fallon, Illinois; sisters, Lois Bonar (Gene) of Cherryville, Kansas and Penny Loker (Gary) of McDonald, Kansas; and two grandsons, Chad Bushnell and Michael Mello; and great grandson, Brock Bushnell.
Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, husband John and sister Janice Rounkles.
A Memorial Service celebrating Joyce’s life will be held at 10:30 AM, Thursday, January 10, 2019 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell. A private family burial of ashes will follow the services. Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Wednesday, January 9, 2019 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
A Memorial has been established with Melanoma Research Foundation. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.
Ferne E. Miller, 105 passed away January 6, 2019 at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, Larned.
She was born August 23, 1913 in rural Bazine; the daughter of Orren and Flora Winkelman Salmans. A longtime area resident, she was a beautician and a homemaker.
She was a member of the United Methodist Church, Burdett, Shiley E.H.U. and the Burdett Seniors.
On October 12, 1949 she married George Merle Miller at Lakin, Kansas. He passed away March 1, 1982.
Survivors include; two sons, Steven (Margaret) Miller, Burdett and Kim (Peggy) Miller, Caldwell; four grandchildren, Nate (Mandy) Miller, Ryan (Tina) Miller, Brock (Bryttni) Miller and Monica (Adam) Brown and five great grandchildren; Grayson, Beckett, Mia, Dayton and Eva.
She was preceded in death by; a brother, Herbert Salmans and a sister, Florence Miller.
Funeral will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday at the United Methodist Church, Burdett with Carolyn Tarman presiding. Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday at Beckwith Mortuary, Larned. Burial will be in Brown’s Grove Cemetery, Burdett, Kansas.
Memorials may be given to the United Methodist Church, Burdett, in care of Beckwith Mortuary, P.O. Box 477, Larned, KS 67550.
Florine A. (Hurst) Vernon of Oberlin passed away Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019, at the age of 103.
She was born near Achilles, Kan., to Aubra John Hurst and Hazel Ione (Riblett) Hurst at their home. She was the third of 10 children. Florine grew up on the family farm, helping her dad farm with horses, milking cows and gardening with her mother. Florine attended grade school at Achilles. She attended high school in Oberlin. She and her sister, Pauline, batched all week during high school, going home on the weekends.
Florine married Cecil Dale Vernon on Nov. 23, 1935. To this union was born two daughters, Dorothy and Sharon and one son, Richard.
Florine and Cecil bought a farm near the Kansas border in 1944. Florine worked right along beside her husband, Cecil, building their farm, by raising crops, milking cows and raising hogs and chickens. Florine had a large garden where no weeds could be found. Florine dressed hundreds of chickens and sold them. She also sold eggs to the bakery, cleaning each one by hand.
In 1965, they moved to Oberlin, where Florine worked for the SRS, the Golden Age Center, for many years. She drove the school bus for 14 years. Her hobbies were crotcheting, quilting and gardening. She raised and canned her last garden at the age of 101, with the help of her niece, Montine.
Florine was preceded in death by her parents, Aubra and Hazel Hurst; husband, Cecil; son-in-law, Roger Shimek; brothers, Johnny Hurst and Francis Hurst; and sisters, Nellie Hurst, Euella Erickson, Nora Bearley and Pauline Olsen.
She is survived by three children, Dorothy Shimek of Jennings, Kan., Sharon (Eldon) Parde of McCook, Neb., and Richard (Shelly) Vernon of Hays, Kan.; and two sisters, Betty Beckley of Colby, Kan., and Shirley Most of Russell, Kan.; 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, friends and family.
Florine was a member of the First Assembly of God Church in McCook for over 60 years. She also taught Sunday school and played the piano when needed.
Memorials may be given in her name.
Visitation is Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019, from 5 to 7 p.m., with family present, at Pauls Funeral Home in Oberlin.
Memorial services are Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019, at 2 p.m. at the First Assembly of God Church, 811 East C in McCook, with the Rev. Richard Vernon officiating, assisted by grandson, the Rev. Richard Gervais and granddaughter, the Rev. Alisa Parde. Burial will follow at the Oberlin Cemetery.
Pauls Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.
Sonia Jan “Cloe” Domsch, 84, lost her battle after a long illness, January 4, 2019, at the Good Samaritan in Oberlin, Kansas. She was born May 12, 1934, to Bertha “Irene” and Delbert “Sohn” Cloe, in Atwood, KS. She graduated from Atwood High School and business school in Colorado Springs, CO.
She married Donald W. Domsch Oct. 2, 1954, in the first Christian Church in Atwood. To their union were born two children, Judy Lee & Mike Wayne. Their early family life was spent living on Don’s grandparent’s farm, and running a farming operation with Don’s brother. Sonia also worked in Atwood at several bookkeeping jobs. They later bought a house in Atwood which Sonia lived in until her illness.
Sonia spent years working for Central KS Power Co. in Atwood, and later Midwest Energy where she worked until retirement.
Sonia received notoriety for her bobbin lace making by being chosen as a Kansas Master Folk Artist and a1986 National Fellowship Heritage Award winner. She was also invited to demonstrate at a presidential inauguration. Several of her lace pieces are on display in museums in KS & New Mexico and at the Smithsonian in Washington D. C.
Sonia was preceded in death by her parents and husband. She is survived by her brother, Bob (Sheri) Cloe, of Manhattan; her daughter Judy (Roger) Cochran, of Oberlin, KS; her son, Mike Domsch, of Atwood; 5 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren and many other wonderful family and friends.
Sonia was buried Saturday January 5, 2019 at Fairview Cemetery in Atwood at her request. Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Atwood. In lieu of flowers memorials in her name may be made to the Rawlins Co. Museum or Ra. Co. Public Health Dept., sent to Baalmann Mortuary PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For condolences or information visit www.baalmannmortuary.com
July 14, 1933 – January 5, 2019
An obituary is pending with Plumer Overlease Funeral Homes.
Click HERE for service details.
Royal Desmond Reid, 88, passed away January 5, 2019, in Overland Park, KS.
Royal was born September 23, 1930, to parents Fred and Anna (Goetsch) Reid, in Brewster, KS. He was the third of five sons, which also included, Warren, Delmar, J., and Jarrell. Royal was married to Joan Y. (Leonhart) Reid for 53 years.
Royal graduated from Brewster High School in 1948 and attended Kansas State University, graduating in 1955 with a Business Administration degree, with a major in Accounting. Following graduation, he moved to Kanorado, KS to manage the Coffey Grain elevator that was built the same year, and eventually owned part interest in the business known as Coffey-Reid Grain. For a time, he also leased and managed Mueller Grain in Goodland, KS and Burlington, CO. Upon the retirement of Mr. Coffey, Royal purchased an interest in the elevator in Goodland and the business became known as Reid Grain, Inc. In 1980, Royal sold his interest in this business, purchased a seat on the Chicago Board of Trade, and pursued his dream of independent trading. His working career also included owning and managing a farm operation from 1964 until 2014, on land south of Burlington, CO.
Royal’s passion for business was evident in interactions with anyone who crossed his path and he was an inspiration to many. Royal was an advocate of all things Goodland and Sherman County. He was a longtime member of Rotary, Kiwanis, Elks Club, and served on the Goodland City Council. Recreational pursuits included skiing, tennis, golf, and many hours spent at a card table playing bridge with family and friends.
Royal is survived by daughter Leigh Ann Winbolt and grandchildren Jacob and Annie Leigh of Elmurst, IL; brother Warren of Andale, KS; brother J. of Overland Park, KS. He was preceded in death by his son, Jerry, and brothers, Delmar and Jarrell.
Funeral services for Royal will be held on Wednesday, January 9, 2019 at 10:30 AM MT at the First Christian Church in Goodland with Pastor Doug Amend officiating. Burial will follow in the Goodland Cemetery, Goodland, KS.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 8, 2019 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM MT at Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.
Memorial may be designated to VITAS Innovative Hospice Care 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 services have been entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.
Julia Ann Geisinger, 78, of Selden, died Saturday, January 5, 2019. She was born March 27, 1940, in Atwood, KS, to August and Ann (Haller) Martin. Julia attended Marymount College where she received her nursing degree. On February 4, 1961, Julia married John R. Geisinger, in Herndon, KS. She enjoyed gardening, canning and sending produce to the farmers market and truly enjoyed the customers who came to the farm. She was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, in Leoville, where she was a member of the Altar Society and planned and prepared many funeral dinners.
Julia was preceded in death by her parents.
She is survived by her husband John R., of Selden; children, Jacqueline (Mike) Wiens, of Colby, John Geisinger, of Selden, Joe (Patty) Geisinger, of Austin, TX and Jason (Dana) Geisinger, of Selden; sisters, Cecelia (Ron) Lehman, Lucy (Butch) Evans and Irma (Terry) Jones; brothers, Robert (Liane) Martin, Dick Martin, John (Catalina) Martin and Henry (Lorri) Martin; ten grandchildren, Johnna (Josh) Dexter-Wiens, Kaylin Wiens, Madison Wiens, Josh (Brittany) Geisinger, Jessica Geisinger, Libby Geisinger, Mary Geisinger, Jake Geisinger, Karlee Geisinger and Nash Geisinger and two great grandchildren, Luca and Aubrey.
Visitation is 5-7:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 8, 2019, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Leoville, KS, with a Vigil at 7:00 p.m. The Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 9, 2019 also at the church, with burial to follow in Calvary Cemetery, Leoville. Memorials are suggested to the Sheridan County Benefit Walk, in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For condolences or information visit www.baalmannmortuary.com.
June 10, 1935 – January 5, 2019
An obituary is pending with Plumer Overlease Funeral Homes.
Click HERE for service details.
Ellsworth Leo Murphy, age 85 of Smith Center, Kansas, passed away peacefully on January 3rd 2019. He was born on August 25, 1933 to Leo and Mabel (Bragdon) Murphy in Reserve, Kansas. Ellsworth married his high school sweetheart Shirley Anne Browning in Smith Center on December 27, 1953. To this union five sons were born; Steve, David, Kevin, Darin and Sean.
Ellsworth was a 1951 graduate of Smith Center High School. Hoping to travel the world, he enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1953. Serving his country for four years as a Flight Engineer and Aircraft Mechanic with the majority of his time spent in Texas and Mather Air Force Base in Sacramento, California. With the Korean War nearing an end, he was discharged with a rank of Sergeant on February 7, 1957 one day before his second son was born.
Following his time in the service, Ellsworth obtained a degree in Accounting at Fort Hays State University. Employed by a local accounting firm after graduation and seeking to further his career, he went to work for the Internal Revenue Service in Des Moines Iowa in the Audit department.
He was quickly promoted to Special Agent in Criminal Investigations.
Ellsworth and Shirley raised their family in Iowa where many great relationships were born. He loved the lake, spending family time on the boat nearly every weekend and when it was frozen he could be found ice fishing in his Ice house.
Retiring from the IRS and relocating to Smith Center in 1983, Ellsworth and his son Steve opened “Murphy Service and Carwash”. Shortly thereafter, Ellsworth was elected Sheriff of Smith County, Kansas on two separate occasions. He loved meeting people and was always willing to lend a helping hand for others. He was a proud member of the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, sharing the family heritage with his sons. He was a man of high integrity and many talents shown throughout his life with his carpentry and mechanical skills. Building bicycles from scrap parts as a young man to a complete home renovation in his mid-60’s. Ellsworth loved working with his hands throughout his life.
His family will mourn the passing of a kind and warm hearted man but take comfort knowing he had a personal relationship with his Savior Jesus Christ.
Missing him dearly are his wife Shirley and their sons, Steve and wife Marlene of Smith Center, David and wife Donna of Atascocita Texas, Kevin and wife Angela of Austin Texas, Sean and wife Shelly of Spring Texas, and son Darin who is deceased. Also mourning his loss are daughters-in-law Kim Murphy and Kym Solly.
Ellsworth is survived by thirteen Grandchildren: Michelle Rust and husband Kirby, Stephanie Bainter and husband Kevin, Ryan Murphy, Matt Seeman and wife Cassie and Breckyn Murphy; Joel Murphy and fiancée Courtney Weems, Jordan Murphy and wife Brandi and Justin Murphy; April Murphy, Ashley Murphy and Brandon Murphy; Genevieve Murphy and Myles Murphy. Also eight Great Grandchildren: Iva, Sydni and Lexi Rust, Madison, Dominic and Jada Bainter, Eli and Easton Murphy. Ellsworth is also survived by his brother Patt Murphy and wife Lynn of Salina Kansas, brother-in-law Lee Schroeter of Topeka Kansas, sister-in-law Carol Limer of Warrenton North Carolina and numerous nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly.
Ellsworth often said “Adios”, so to a special husband, father, grandfather and friend we say “Adios, you will be missed dearly.”
A service honoring Ellsworth’s life will be held at 2:00 pm Saturday January 12th 2019 at New Covenant church Smith Center Kansas.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in honor of Ellsworth to the New Covenant Church 117 W. Kansas Ave. Smith Center, Kansas 66967 or the American Cancer Society.
Shirley Mae (Reimer) Doll, 88, of Lawrence, Kansas passed away December 30, 2018.
She was born April 19, 1930 in Albert, Kansas, the daughter of Frank and Myrtle (Andree) Reimer. She was a longtime resident of both Larned and Lawrence, Kansas.
Growing up Shirley attended Stony Seven elementary school in rural Rush County as well as Otis Rural High School in Otis, Kansas. During high school she was a member of both the school band and pep band and played the saxophone and clarinet in addition to being a cheerleader. She also graduated from the bookkeeping program at Brown Mackie College in Salina, Kansas.
She married her husband Edwin Doll on November 1, 1980. They loved to travel and wintered in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Together they sang in the Lake Havasu Young at Heart Choir and traveled to Edwin’s horse shoe competitions.
Shirley was a member of The First Christian Church of Larned and was a member of the Sonshine Sunday School class. She also volunteered at the church thrift shop. She later became a member of Ascension Lutheran Church in Wichita, Kansas and was a member of the bell choir.
She was a talented pianist and loved to sing and play church hymns on the piano. She was an excellent cook and her family loved her meatloaf, special cucumbers, green beans, deviled eggs and pecan pie. Shirley had beautiful cursive handwriting and was known for sending cards and long letters to her family and friends that included artistic drawings and doodles.
Shirley loved to garden and grew beautiful roses. She was an active square dancer and had a soft spot for all animals including her cat. She was a devoted and loving grandmother, and was always present for swim meets, t-ball and baseball games, school concerts and events. Her grandchildren adored her and loved spending time with her, including many overnight sleepovers.
She had a kind and loving heart and was always willing to help anyone in need. She often visited elderly friends in the nursing home taking them her roses and fresh apples she cut for them. She had a bubbly personality, a witty sense of humor and easily made friends with anyone she met. She will be dearly missed by all that knew and loved her.
Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Myrtle Reimer; husband, Edwin Doll; brother Kenneth Reimer; and sister, Norma (Reimer) Garner.
She is survived by her brother Keith Reimer (Deana), Lawrence; daughters Diane Morgan, Wichita and Dawn Dirks (Bob Ham), Lawrence; nephew Tyson (Val) Reimer, Lawrence; nieces Keena Schmidt (Chet), Lawrence, Chris Garner, Hutchinson and Sheri Elliott (Gary), Topeka; great nephews and nieces Grayson Schmidt, Caeson Reimer, Rileigh Schmidt, Crosby Reimer and Ava Rivera, all of Lawrence; grandchildren Amy Vogel (Jason), Wichita, Chelsea Dirks-Ham, Springfield, Missouri, and Seth Dirks-Ham, Lawrence; and great grandchildren Jack and Harper Vogel, both of Wichita.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, January 14, 2019 at Beckwith Mortuary, Larned, with Pastor Scott Goltl presiding. Visitation will be Sunday, January 13, 2019 from 1:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at Beckwith Mortuary Larned. Burial will be in the Larned Cemetery, Larned.
Memorial contributions may be given in honor of Shirley to the American Cancer Society, in care of Beckwith Mortuary, P.O. Box 477, Larned, Kansas 67550.
June 26, 1943 ~ January 5, 2019 (age 75)
An obituary and services are pending with Bateman Funeral Home, Goodland.
September 23, 1930 ~ January 5, 2019 (age 88)
An obituary is pending with Koons-Russell Funeral Home
Donations may be made to: VITAS Innovative Hospice Care in Lenexa and may be left at the services or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland KS 67735.
Click HERE for service details.
