Margaret Janet (Gilchrist) Thurlow, 96, passed away on February 24, 2018 at the Dawson Place Nursing Home in Hill City, Kansas.

She was born September 10, 1921 in Hoxie, Kansas to David and Blanche (Menefee) Gilchrist. She grew up with her older siblings: Lucille, Kenny and Velda.

On June 4, 1941 Margaret married Ray Thurlow in Oberlin, Kansas. Ray passed away December 4, 1993. Five children were born to this union; Larry, Janet, Linda, Terry and Roger. Margaret attended grade school in Menlo, Kansas and graduated from Menlo High School in 1939. She continued her education at Fort Hays State College studying home economics until she married Ray.

Margaret was a devoted wife, a cherished mother and loving grandmother. She was an excellent homemaker, exceptional cook and accomplished seamstress. Her joy was making her home welcoming and peaceful. She was a caring friend always finding time to help others.

While living in Prairie View, Kansas, Margaret was employed as a school cook. After moving to Hill City she worked as a bookkeeper for Shields Grocery, McCauley Drug, which became Wise Drug, doing a variety of jobs, and later helping at Hixon Jewelry. Margaret spent 52 years lovingly raising her family and caring for Ray until his death. After Ray passed away, Margaret found much joy in traveling and spending time with her friends that were so dear to her. Until she was unable to drive, one of her favorite pastimes was to take a carload of women to Hays for water aerobics.

Those who knew Margaret will remember her as a gracious, beautiful, stylish, caring and helpful woman who unselfishly gave of herself not only to family and friends, but also to anyone she met. She was a true believer of our Lord Jesus Christ with a servant’s heart.

Margaret was active in the Hill City Presbyterian Church, Graham County Hospital Auxiliary, Eastern Star, and Helianthi Club. She also enjoyed water aerobics at Fort Hays State University and volunteering her time to the needs of the community.

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, Dave and Blanche; her husband, Ray; and a son, Roger; a brother, Kenny Gilchrist; and sisters Lucille Boggs and Velda Gilchrist.

Left to mourn her passing are: son Larry and wife Patty Thurlow of Bogue, granddaughter Jennifer and husband Jesse Schmidtberger and great granddaughters Josie and Julia Schmidtberger, grandson Lance Thurlow and fiancé Cindy Gode, grandson Roger and wife Amy Thurlow, great grandchildren Lily and Asher Thurlow; daughter Janet and husband Lee Wade of Medicine Lodge, Kansas, granddaugher Kam and husband David Cranor, grandchildren: Jedidiah, Rebekah, Keagan, and Kirsten Cranor; daughter Linda and husband Dale Fullen, grandchildren Doug Fullen and friend Greg Nockleby, Kari and husband Joe Hatton, great grandchildren Emma and Joey Hatton; and son Terry Thurlow of Russell, granddaughter Wendy Walker, great grandson Jason and wife Kiley Walker, great-great grandchildren Trey and Bree Walker, great grandson Jayden Walker, granddaughter Ciara Thurlow, great grandchildren Nevaeh Smith, Braylon Bryant, Ahalya Singh, and Mathai Thurlow.

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Bob Hofer, age 90, of Cedar, passed away Tuesday, February 27, 2018 at the Smith County Long Term Care in Smith Center.

Funeral arrangements are pending with Simmons-Rentschler Mortuary, 116 W. First Street, Smith Center, KS 66967.

Memorial contributions may be made in Hofer’s name in care of Simmons-Rentschler Mortuary.

Longtime Goodland, KS, resident Dolores Louise Jones Peter, 88, passed away on Monday, February 26, 2018 at the Citizen’s Medical Center in Colby, KS.

Dolores was born on June 30, 1929 in Bruning, NE to Leonard and Martha (Schutte) Dankenbring. She was one of four children. The family moved to Goodland where Dolores attended school and graduated from Sherman County High School in 1946.

On June 30, 1947, Dolores married Melvin Jones at the courthouse in Goodland. To this union, five children; Kathy, Karen, Coleen, Connie and Billy were born. The family made their home in Goodland where Dolores spent her life as a wife, mother and worked various motel positions in Goodland. Dolores and Melvin later divorced and she then married Howard Peter.

Dolores enjoyed being with family and friends, cooking, baking, crafting, and spending time with her grandchildren.

Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband’s Melvin and Howard, two daughters, Kathy Miller and Connie Whitebread, one sister Lucille Leitner, one grandson James Miller and one great great granddaughter.
She is survived by three children; Karen (Dewayne) Marler of Tulsa, OK, Coleen (Tom) Rohr of Goodland, KS, and Billy (Jeanette) Jones of Goodland, KS; two sisters Alene Mesloh of Richardson, TX and Wilma Casey of Waco, TX. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren and 8 great great grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 3, 2018 at 11:30 AM MT at the Calvary Gospel Church in Goodland with Reverend Ron Scheimo officiating. Burial will follow in the Goodland Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 3, 2018 from 10:30 to 11:30 AM MT at the church.

In Lieu of Flowers, memorials are designated to the Dolores Peter Memorial Fund and may be left at the services or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.

Online condolences may be left at www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com.

Funeral services are entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.

Harry “Conrad” Kough, age 87, passed away on Sunday, February 25, 2018 at his home in Scott City, Kansas.

He was born on October 1, 1930 in Wichita County, Kansas, the son of Blair & Thressa Whitham Kough. A lifelong resident of both Wichita County and Scott City, Kansas, he was a retired Farmer, Relator, and Motel Owner and Operator.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Scott City, Kansas and past member of the Pence Community Church in Pence, Kansas.

On June 1, 1952 he married Betty Ann Ryan in Scott City, Kansas. She survives.

Survivors include his Wife – Betty Ann Kough of Scott City, Kansas, Three Sons – Dan & Evelyn Kough of Scott City, Kansas, Steve & Flossie Kough of Scott City, Kansas, Bryan & Brenda Kough of Scott City, Kansas, Two Daughters – Sherri & Kenny Baker of Scott City, Kansas, Lisa & Kriss Schroeder of Colby, Kansas, Thirty One Grandchildren and Thirty Three Great Grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his Parents, One Daughter – Nancy Kough, Two Grandsons – Justin Schroeder and Nicholas Kough.

Funeral Services will be held at the First Baptist Church in Scott City, Kansas at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 3, 2018 with Rev. Kyle Evans presiding.

Memorials may be given to the VIP Center or First Baptist Churcc in care of Price & Sons Funeral Home.

Interment will be in the Scott County Cemetery in Scott City, Kansas.

Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Thursday and 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Friday at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Scott City.

Harold David Bieker passed away at the Hays Medical Center, Saturday, February 24, 2018 at the age of 67. He was born to Louie and Ludwina (Munsch) Bieker on August 13, 1950 in Quinter, Kansas. Harold was the youngest of thirteen children. He grew up in Hoxie, Kansas and attended Hoxie Grade School and the Hoxie High School graduating with the class of 1968.

On September 13, 1975, in Hoxie, Kansas, Harold married the love of his life Arlene Rumback. They were blessed with three children Heather, Heath, and Brent. Harold’s family was very precious to him.

Harold loved to work. He enjoyed working as a heavy equipment operator for the Sheridan County Road Department and running the big “blade” was a real joy for him. When he wasn’t working he loved to hunt and fish. He really liked to go deer and pheasant hunting. When he wasn’t hunting you might find him riding his motorcycle or just “tinkering”. Harold was a good cook, and you might just find him in the kitchen or at the grill fixing a feast for his family. Above all, Harold was a family man. He loved his wife, kids, and grandchildren, and they were the most important thing in the world to him.

Harold is survived by his wife Arlene of the home; daughter, Heather Bieker of Dodge City, Kansas; sons, Heath Bieker and his wife Desi of Colorado Springs, Colorado and Brent Bieker and wife Erin of Elizabeth, Colorado; grandchildren, Braden Simmonds, Jovan Bieker, Ivan Kaus, Hayden Bieker, River Bieker, Ashlyn Kaus, Laela Bieker, and Tessa Bieker; brothers, Ralph Bieker of Hoxie, Kansas, Clarence Bieker and wife Virginia of Hoxie, Kansas, Eugene Bieker of Oberlin, Kansas, Alex Bieker and wife Willetta of McCook, Nebraska, and Charles Bieker and wife Sue of Salina, Kansas; and sister, Eleanora Douglas of Afton, Oklahoma, Mary Kay Sanders and husband Bill of Hoxie, Kansas, and Annie Stillman of Hoxie, Kansas.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Louie and Ludwina Bieker; brother, Tony Bieker; sisters, Viola Bieker, Barbara Irwin, and Louise Bryant.

A funeral service is planned for Wednesday, February 28, 2018, at the St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church, at 10:00 A.M. with interment to follow in the Hoxie City Cemetery. A visitation is planned for Tuesday, February 27, 2018, from 11:00 A.M. until 7:30 P.M. Family will receive friends from 5:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. A vigil service will be held at 6:00 P.M. on Tuesday, February 28, 2018. Visitation and Vigil will be held at the Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to the St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church. On-line condolences may be left at www.mickeyleopoldfuneral.com.

Harold was a hardworking man. The greatest love and joy of his life was his loving wife, children, and grandchildren. The father loved by all is gone, but his kind and caring spirit will live on in his family.

John Charles Wedd, 70, of Hays, KS and formerly of Wichita, KS, passed away on Sunday, February 25, 2018 at the Wheatland Nursing Center in Russell, KS.

Services are pending and will be announced at a later date. Services are being handled by Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel & Crematory, 2509 Vine St., Hays, KS 67601.