Former Phillipsburg resident Beverly J. Morgan passed away Dec. 7, 2018, at the University of Minnesota Hospital in Minneapolis, MN at the age of 91. She was born July 24, 1927, in South Gate, CA, the daughter of Fred & Edith (Drew) Gallagher.

Survivors include her son David of Hays; her daughter, Janet Silsby of Minneapolis, MN; her brother Fred Gallagher of Phoenix, AZ; 3 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild.

Funeral services will be held Friday, Dec. 14 at 10:00 a.m. in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with Pastor LeRoy Herder officiating. Burial will follow in the Iowa Union Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 9:00 Thursday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the United Methodist Church.

Online condolences: www.olliffboeve.com.

Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Phillips County resident Charlene Joyce Duncan passed away December 10, 2018 at her home in rural Phillips County at the age of 84. She was born Oct. 9, 1934, the daughter of Charley and Viola (Klink) Bretton.

Survivors include her son Chuck and wife Wanda of rural Phillipsburg; her daughter-in-law, Idona Duncan of Stockton; 5 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, Dec. 15 at 10:00 a.m. in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with Pastor Lew VanDerWege officiating. Burial will follow in the Belmont Cemetery, Speed.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 9:00 Thursday and 9:00 to 9:00 Friday at the funeral home with the family receiving friends from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Speed Community Center

Esther “Jo” Joan (Gilbert) Phlieger passed away on December 8, 2018 at her home in Stockton at the age of 81. She was born on October 3, 1937 to Carl and Elsie (Manaugh) Gilbert in Hays, Kansas. Jo married Edgar “Eddie” Phlieger in Plainville, Kansas on October 13, 1955. They were blessed with seven children: Anthony, Beth, Joan, Michele, Laura, Scott, and James.

Jo grew up in Plainville and graduated from Plainville High School. She worked as an EMT for the Plainville Ambulance for 10 years before working as a dispatcher for the Rooks County Sheriff’s Department for 16 years. Jo was very involved with her children as both a Den Mother and Girl Scout leader. She loved painting, reading, computer games, crafts, sewing, travel, and anything intellectual.

Jo is survived by her sons Anthony Phlieger and wife Pat of Jacksonville, TX, Scott Phlieger and wife Dawn of Natoma, and James Phlieger and wife Bobbie of Plainville; daughters Beth Brand and husband Dewayne of Kearney, NE, Joan Werth of Harlingen, TX, Michele Williamson and husband Kim of Bradenton, FL, and Laura Morris of Hays; sister Norma Bard of Wiggins, CO; nephew Steven Bard of Wiggins, CO; 16 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents Carl and Elsie Gilbert and husband Eddie Phlieger.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Friday, December 14, 2018, at 11:00 A.M. at the funeral home in Stockton. There will be no visitation. A private family inurnment will be held at a later date. Memorials may be sent to Humane Society of the High Plains and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 N 1st, Stockton, KS 67669.

Wilma Jean Van Winkle was born May 18, 1935, in Ransom, Kansas to Ernest and Ruby Van Winkle and passed away December 10, 2018, at Rhode Island Suites in Ransom. As a child, she attended The Christian Church in Ransom and was baptized July 3, 1948.

At age 18, she joined The Rebekah Lodge in Ransom and later transferred to Utica. In 1963, The Christian Church in Ransom closed and Wilma began attending the Mennonite Church and had been a member since that time.

She and her parents traveled several years to Truth or Consequences, NM to spend the winter months where she made several friends. She was very fond of animals and very proud of her hometown. She enjoyed writing poetry, walking with her friends, and attending church.
Wilma knew and loved her Savior Jesus Christ and anticipated one day being with him.

Preceding Wilma Jean in death were her parents, her brother Vernon and two sisters Dana LaVon and Drucilla Beamer. She often joked, teased and was quite a character. She will be greatly missed by all her friends and family. Graveside services will be held at the Ransom Cemetery Wednesday, December 19, at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation in memory of Wilma to the Ransom Mennonite Church.

Clifford Omer Roy passed away on December 8, 2018 at the Solomon Valley Manor in Stockton at the age of 88. He was born on August 29, 1930 to Dona and Nathalie (Asselin) Roy in the Webster Township, Rooks County. On May 17, 1954 he married JoAnn Wolcott at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Damar. They were blessed with 5 children: Douglas, Tracy, Corey, Paris, and Gina.

Clifford attended school in Webster and graduated from Webster High School in 1947. He served in the Army in Alaska before owning and operating Roy’s Crane and Dozer service for 55 years. Clifford was a lifetime member of the V.F.W. and St. Thomas Catholic Church. He enjoyed many things during his life from bowling and flying his 4-seat Cessna, to dancing and leading wedding marches. He also enjoyed attending auctions and his grandkids’ sporting events. He loved his candy, horses, and antique sleighs. But above all, he loved his friends, family, and grandchildren.

Clifford is survived by his wife JoAnn of the home in Stockton; sons Douglas Roy of Rose Hill, Tracy Roy and wife Claudia of Salina, and Corey Roy and wife Gail of Norton; daughters Paris Bremer and husband Gerald of Otterville, MO and Gina Brooks and husband Barry of Smith Center; brother Stanley Roy and wife Diane of Damar; sisters Viola Ricks of Arlington, TX and Norma Griffin and husband Darrell of Salina; step-sisters Diane Roy of Damar, Marge Roy of Atwood, Evelyn Roy, and Karen Roy; 9 grandchildren, Piper Roy, Sean McIntire (Krista), Katharine Draper (Ashton), Bethany Shirk (Spencer), Christian Bremer, Megan Bremer, Paige Brooks, Grady Brooks, and Louis Frazier (Payton); and 3 great-grandchildren, Kloie Simons, Dean Simons, and Charlotte McIntire.

Preceding Clifford in death are his parents, Dona and Nathalie; brothers Eugene Roy, Orville Roy, LaVerne Roy, and Albert Roy; sisters Donna Wiltfong and infant Shirley Roy.

Clifford worked hard all his life to provide for his family. Although he was taken from us too soon, we know that those we enjoyed and loved, we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes a part of us. We can smile because he lived and left us with cherished memories that will live forever in our hearts.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, December 13, 2018, at 10:30 a.m., at the St. Thomas Catholic Church in Stockton. Burial will follow in the St. Thomas Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with the family receiving friends 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and a Vigil at 6:00 p.m. all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Solomon Valley Manor or V.F.W Post #8873 and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 N. 1st, Stockton, KS 67669.

Goodland, Kansas, resident and former Burlington, Colorado, resident Judith Lynn Nations, 74, passed away on Saturday, December 8, 2018 at the Wallace County Community Care Center in Sharon Springs, KS.

Judy was born on August 29, 1944 in Goodland, KS, to James LeRoy and Katherine Hope (Gemmer) Trablik. She was one of 3 children. She completed her education later in life. In 1965, she married Grady Monroe Nations in Topeka, KS.

In the 1980’s, Judy and Grady moved to Burlington, Colorado, where he worked for many years as the grounds keeper for Old Town. After retiring from Old Town, they moved to Tennessee to live with their son Grady Wayne Nations until Grady’s death in 2015. After his death, she moved to Goodland to be closer to family. While living in Goodland, she attended the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

Preceding Judy in death were her parents, her husband and one son Dean Nations.

She is survived by 5 children; Teresa Nations of Oxnard, CA, Mark Nations (Randi) of Ojai, CA, Lee Nations (Geri) of Nixa, MO, Pam Weissman (Richard) Port Richey, FL and Grady Wayne Nations (Jennifer) of Hendersonville, TN. She is also survived by 7 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, and two sisters Vicki (Guy) Fitzwater of Sharon Springs, KS and Beth Pugh of Goodland, KS.

Memorial services will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be designated to the Paralyzed Veterans of America and may be sent to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.

Please visit www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com to leave a message of condolence for the family and to read a complete obituary.

The memorial service for Michael E. Hilger, 48, of Stewartville, MN will be at 11:00 A.M. on Friday (December 14, 2018) at Zion Lutheran Church in Stewartville, MN with Rev. Byron Meline officiating. Mr. Hilger died on Thursday (December 6, 2018) unexpectedly of natural causes in Stewartville.

Michael Eugene Hilger was born on March 4, 1970 in Sheboygen, WI to Thomas and Karen (Dotzert) Hilger. He moved often as a child and young boy when his father began his ministry as a Lutheran Pastor. The Hilger Family moved to Hays, KS where Michael attended Hays H.S. graduating in 1988. He then attended Ft. Hays State University for 3 years where he majored in music. He attended Central Bible College in Springfield, MO earning a 4-year degree in Bible Studies. Michael was married on June 24, 1989 in Hays, KS to Crystal R. Bangle. Following their marriage the couple lived in Springfield, MO. He next received calls to the Assembly of God Church as Assistant/Youth Pastor in Lewiston, Maine (1999-2000). He was then called to serve as the Senior Pastor in Leroy, KS (2000-04). From there he was inspired to move to Stewartville where he was Pastor at River of Life Assembly of God Church until 2008. The Hilger’s were later divorced and Mike has continued to make his home in Stewartville. He has been employed for a number of years with Kwik Trip Co., serving the past 3 years as store leader at their Spring Valley location. He attended services at Zion Lutheran Church and had recently become keyboardist and music leader at their Saturday evening service. Mike was always ready to give his time and talents. He grew up in a musical family playing multiple instruments, including alto saxophone in H.S. marching band and was a drum major in college. He helped chaperone many Stewartville Marching Band trips, parades, and competitions. He also volunteered with Rochester Area Youth for Christ, Paws and Claws, and the Robotics Team at Austin H.S. In addition, he coached his kids soccer teams. Michael also enjoyed photography and LED lights! He was a collector of “things” and followed the Kansas City Chiefs. His children were his everything and he loved time spent with his family.

Michael is survived by his children; – Gabriel of Eagle Lake, MN; Brooke of Stewartville; KyAnne of Springfield, MO and Nathanael of Stewartville; his fiancée – Franny Madison of Austin, MN and her children – Joshua, Gregory and Aaron; his father – Rev. Tom Hilger of Stewartville; sister – Debbie (Julio) Blanco of Louisville, CO; 2 brothers – Steven (Sherry) Hilger of Lee’s Summit, MO and David (Jen) Hilger of Norman, OK; nieces and nephews – Anna Blanco, Max Blanco and Shannon Blanco, Kathryn Hilger, Jake Hilger and Matthew Hilger. He was preceded in death by his mother – Karen Hilger and 2 infants who died prior to birth – Grace -2001 and Christopher – 2002.

A time of visitation for family and friends will take place from 4 to 7:00 P.M. on Thursday (December 13, 2018) at Zion Lutheran Church and 1 hr. prior to the service at the church on Friday morning. A private family burial will take place at a later date. Mike’s kids have set up a Michael Hilger Memorial Fund to benefit the Stewartville Marching Band through the Stewartville H.S. Band Boosters. Arrangements are with Griffin-Gray F.H. in Stewartville. On-line condolences and memories of Michael are welcome at www.griffin-gray.com

Wanda J. Walker passed away Friday, December 7, 2018, at the Solomon Valley Manor in Stockton at the age of 77. She was born on November 23, 1941 to Loyal Walker and Dora (Hoar) Walker on the family farm in Rooks County, Kansas.

Wanda moved to town from the farm in 1954. She attended school in Stockton and graduated from Stockton High School with the class of 1961. She worked at the Ben Franklin store before managing the Frank Walker Senior Center meal site where she worked for 30 years. Wanda enjoyed sewing, crocheting, and being a part of the senior companion program. She also enjoyed her time with her companion of many years, Carl Sander, and her friends and family.

Wanda is survived by her sister Anita Cordill of Rockwall, Texas; brother Verl Walker and his wife Carolla of Folsom, California; and many great and great-great- nieces and nephews.

Wanda is preceded in death by her parents Loyal Walker and Dora (Hoar) Walker, and her brothers Merl Walker, Leo Walker, and William Walker.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday December 15, 2018, at 10:30 A.M. Visitation will be Friday, 2:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. with the family receiving friends 6:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. all the funeral home in Stockton. Memorials are suggested to Senior Companions or Frank Walker Senior Center and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 North 1st, Stockton, KS 67669. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.plumeroverlease.com

Wanda had a heart and spirit that cared more for others than herself. She showed us every day that the greatest of these is love. Although she will be greatly missed by all who knew her, the celebration of her life and memories will never be forgotten.

August 29, 1930 – December 8, 2018

An obituary is pending with Plumer Overlease Funeral Homes.

Click HERE for service details.

Larry E. Driscoll, 93, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, December 4, 2018, peacefully at his home.

The son of James J. and Elizabeth (Miller) Driscoll, Larry was born on July 25, 1925, in Wilson, Kansas. He grew up in the Wilson and Dubuque area. After attending Russell High School he moved to Denver, Colorado. He enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served in the 82nd Airborne Division during WWII. After his service, he returned to Denver, Colorado.

Larry was united in marriage to Donna Jean Briels on September 1, 1951 in Castle Rock, Colorado. This union was blessed with eight children: Terry, Colleen, Connie, Jim, Shelly, Jenny, Maureen and Shawn.

They moved to Russell, Kansas in 1954. At that time he started farming which he loved for most of his life. He was also a contract pumper which then led him into oil production and operations. Larry worked very hard most of his life to provide for his family. There was nothing that he enjoyed more than having all his kids and grandkids gather at his home.

Larry was a member of St. Mary, Queen of Angels Catholic Church, Honorary Life Member of the Knights of Columbus, 3rd Degree, an Auxiliary Member of the Russell V.F.W. Post #6240, American Legion Post #99, and the Russell Elks Lodge #1715. Larry enjoyed watching all sports and was particularly fond of Kansas Jayhawk basketball.

Surviving family include three sons, Terry Driscoll (Jana) of Goddard, Kansas, Jim Driscoll (Kelly) of Russell, Kansas and Shawn Driscoll (Suzy) of Dallas, Texas; five daughters Colleen Mudd of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Connie Griffin (Dennis) of Wichita Falls, Texas, Shelly Boxberger of Russell, Kansas, Jenny Flach (Joe) of St. Louis, Missouri and Maureen Johnston (Patrick) of Dallas, Texas; 17 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, his granddaughter, Corie Lynn Mudd, his wife, Donna, of 55 years; a sister, Bernadine Truan; brothers, Jim, Dan, Francis, Dick, Max and Jerry.

Visitation will be held Monday, December 10, 2018 from 9 AM to 5 PM at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary. Vigil and Rosary will be held Monday, December 10, 2018 at 7 PM, St. Mary, Queen of Angels Catholic Church. Celebration of the Funeral Mass will be conducted Tuesday, December 11, 2018 at 10:30 AM, St. Mary, Queen of Angels Catholic Church. Burial will follow at the St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Russell where the Russell V.F.W. Honor Guard will be conducting Military Rites.

Memorials in his name may be made to The Russell Wrestling Club, or St. Mary, Queen of Angels Catholic Church. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.