It is with great sadness that the family of Leonel Hector Herrera, MD, LTC, announces his passing after a brief fight with cancer. He died peacefully while surrounded by his family in his home in Volin, SD on Friday, January 26th 2018, at the age of 67.

Leonel was an accomplished healer, educator, coach, loving husband, and fan of his children and grandchildren. His Catholic faith provided a foundation for how he lived, raised his children, and loved his wife.

He was born on November 13, 1950 in San Antonio, TX to David and Carmen Herrera. He graduated from St. Louis University with a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy; University of Nebraska College of Medicine with a Doctorate of Medicine; University of Nebraska College of Medicine / Creighton University Neurology Residency Program.

In 1970, he married Yolanda and enlisted in the US Air Force. He quickly excelled and was offered the opportunity of going to school to further his education. After graduating from St Louis University in 1976, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and assigned to the 55th Medical Group at Offutt AFB as a Physical Therapist where he attained the rank of Captain in 1980. He held this position until 1985 when he graduated from the University of Nebraska College of Medicine. He completed his internship in Internal Medicine at Creighton University Hospital. He finished his Neurology training in the Creighton University-University of Nebraska Joint Residency program. In 1990, he opened up his own private practice, Midwest Neurology and Rehabilitation Associates P.C. in Sioux City, IA. In 1999, Capt. Herrera was recommissioned as a Major in the US Army Reserves. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 2004 and held that rank until his retirement in 2010 where he commanded the 388th Medical Battalion, Army Reserve Unit in Hays, Kansas. Starting in 2000, he began working at Great West Casualty Company in South Sioux City, NE where he held his position as Vice President and Medical Director until his final days. He also remained active in private practice on a part-time basis at Tri-State Specialists in Sioux City, IA.

In the 80s and 90s, he was an enthusiastic soccer player, who enjoyed the pleasure of playing on a team aptly named the Holy Name “Wheezers” where he and Yolanda formed many long lasting friendships.

He was preceded in death by his parents David and Carmen Herrera and his brother David Herrera.

Leonel is survived by his wife, Yolanda Herrera; four sons, Leonel Herrera (Stephanie) of Bahrain, LD Herrera (Colleen) of Vermillion, Daniel Herrera (Andrea) of Vermillion, David Herrera of Colorado Springs, CO; three daughters, Katie Herrera of Vermillion, Kathy Herrera of Vermillion, Kelsie Herrera of Yankton, SD. Leonel will also be fondly remembered by his eight grandchildren, Carolanne, Quinton, Josie, Dominic, Brooklyn, Kiara, Natalie, and Micah.

Viewing will be from 5 – 7 pm and will be followed by a Rosary and Prayer Service on Wednesday, January 31st at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Vermillion.

Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, February 1, 2018 at 10:30am, at St. Agnes Catholic Church, with Fr. John Fischer officiating. Interment will follow at St. Agnes Calvary Cemetery. A reception will follow at the parish hall. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Leonel’s life.

Wilma Lee Cunningham, 81, of Russell, Kansas, died on Saturday, January 27, 2018 at the Wilson Care and Rehabilitation Center in Wilson, Kansas.

Wilma was born on January 12, 1937, in Pensacola, Florida, the daughter of Arrie Lee and Cora Peak. She grew up in Hayward, California and attended local schools there. She met, fell in love and was united in marriage to George Thomas Cunningham on November 20, 1954, in Alameda, California. From this union Wilma and George were blessed with 3 children Steven, Terrie and Karen. She and George moved to Russell, Kansas in 2000. She worked as a full time homemaker, wife and mother to her family. She enjoyed crafts, sewing, her dogs and working with ceramics. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Surviving family include her son Steven Cunningham (Kathy) of Hays, Kansas, daughter Terrie Blick (Al) of San Leandro, California and daughter Karen Cunningham of Russell, Kansas; 3 grandchildren Michael, Ryan and Christopher and 13 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her Parents, husband George on October 23, 2006, and a sister.

A memorial service to celebrate Wilma’s life will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, February 02, 2018, at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell, Kansas. Family will greet guests before and after the memorial service. Cremation has been selected by the family and services will conclude at the mortuary. Memorials may be given to the Wilma Cunningham Funeral Fund and can be sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.

LeRoy James Berens passed away on Friday January 26th. LeRoy is preceded in death by his wife and love of his life, Philomena Berens. He is survived by his brother Ronald Berens, his five daughters: Michelle Wiora, Hope Berens, Sonja Chuprinko, Laura Pfeil, and Philomena Brady. He is also survived by his eleven grandchildren and his two great-grandchildren.

LeRoy was a devout Catholic and an ordained deacon. Deacon Berens served the Diocese of Dallas for over 21 years, at Good Shepherd Parish in Garland and St. Mark’s Parish in Denton. He was a loyal and loving husband to his high school sweetheart, Philomena, for fifty-nine years. He often commented on how lucky he was that the “Beautiful red-haired angel picked me.” LeRoy was an amazing Dad, spending countless hours helping with homework, teaching his girls how to drive, coaching their childhood soccer teams, and so much more.

From 1957 – 1961 LeRoy served in the army, monitoring and protecting the 38th parallel immediately following the Korean War. He was a truck driver and a sharp shooter and reached the rank of Sargent. He graduated from Fort Hays State University with a degree in Chemistry, and he worked as a Forensic Chemist from 1962 to 1996. Afterwards he was a bus driver for the Garland ISD for five years. In his spare time, Deacon Berens loved to paint and woodwork. He had a weakness for his German whiskey, and he relished spending time in his workshop, turning bowls on his lathe or anything else that involved woodworking. Although somewhat of a quiet man, LeRoy was remarkably intelligent and he was incredibly patient and generous with his time, especially when it came to his ministry as a Deacon.

Deacon Berens will be missed by so many people, most especially his daughters. For all who were blessed to meet LeRoy, they came to know him as an honest and humble man, owing all of his success in life to the many, many blessings bestowed on him by God. While we are sad because the world is minus one more genuinely amazing daddy, husband, and servant to God, we are happy that he will be reunited again with his lovely Philomena and our God whom he has loved and served from the beginning of his life to the very end.

Click HERE for service details.

Lawrence L. Dudrey, 91, passed away Saturday, January 27, 2018 at the Holiday Resort in Emporia, Kansas. Lawrence was born on February 6, 1926 in Great Bend, Kansas, the son of William Howard and Elsie Mae (Harris) Dudrey. He grew up in a farming family and graduated in 1943 from Antrim (Kansas) Rural High School.

Lawrence served in the United States Army, Company A, 1st Medical Division for portions of 1945 – 1946, including being stationed in Germany. On July 18, 1947 he married Anna Pearl (Foster) who preceded him in death on September 26, 2017. Surviving children include Leslie Dudrey and wife Christi of Liberty, Missouri; Calvin Dudrey and wife Debbie of Preston, Kansas; Sharon Martin and husband Raymond of Madison, Kansas; Ardyth Stone and husband Robert of Kearney, Missouri; and Debbie Hackler (Merrill) and husband Ralph of Buhler, Kansas. Eleven grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren also survive. Surviving siblings include one brother, Carl Dudrey of Stafford, Kansas and one sister, Gladys Hornbaker of St. John, Kansas.

One son, Merrill Dudrey of Hutchinson Kansas preceded him in death along with his parents William Howard and Elsie Mae (Harris) Dudrey. Also preceding him were three brothers, Wayne Dudrey of Stafford, Kansas; Larry Dudrey of St. John, Kansas; Donald Dudrey of Great Bend, Kansas; and one sister, Vera Mae Batton of Lyons, Kansas.

Lawrence moved from Morland, Kansas to Hartford, Kansas in August of 1966 when he became principal of the Hartford Schools. He earned multiple degrees (including a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Masters of Science in Education, Elementary Administration) from Fort Hays Kansas State College located in Hays, Kansas. Over the years he supported his family in a variety of ways including as a preacher (Church of Christ), farmer, teacher, school administrator, steel siding applicator, and salesman (World Book, Amway, Conklin).

Cremation has taken place. A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 10, 2018 at the Christian Church, 415 Mechanic St. Hartford, Kansas. Following the visitation, Pastor Bob Robison will officiate a Memorial Service. An inurnment for both Lawrence and his wife, Anna Pearl Dudrey will take place with military honors at the Hartford Cemetery following the Memorial Service. Memorial contributions may be made to the Hartford Community Food Bank in care of Charter Funerals.

Marietta Quint, of Hays, KS, passed away on Sunday, January 28, 2018 at the Hays Medical Center at the age of 89. Marietta was born on September 8, 1928 in Hays to Jacob and Victoria (Befort) Herklotz. She attended and graduated from Girls Catholic High School in Hays. She then attended Marymount College in Salina, KS where she studied teaching and earned her Bachelor’s degree.

Marietta married Virgil J. Quint on October 25, 1958 in Hays. He preceded her in death on October 20, 2007. While raising her family, Marietta taught English and Journalism at Victoria High School. With her students, she published the school yearbook and newspaper. She also was faculty advisor to the pep club and cheerleaders and directed the annual school play. She is fondly remembered by many of her students.

Marietta was involved in Daughters of Isabella for over 50 years. She held various leadership positions at both the local and state level. She served as Kansas State Regent twice and as State Secretary once.

In her later years, she volunteered at the Community Assistance Center in Hays. She enjoyed sewing, embroidery and quilting.

Survivors include two sons, Michael Quint of Nebraska and Bernard Quint of Texas; two daughters, Anita Kjellerson and her husband David of Denver, Colorado and Ruth Wheeler and her husband John of Emporia, Kansas; four grandchildren, Ann Wempe and her husband Sean, Daniel Kjellerson, Emma Wheeler and Jacob Wheeler; sister, Irene “Anita” Pahule of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and a nephew, Edward Pahule. She is preceded in death by her parents; beloved husband of almost 49 years, Virgil J. Quint; two sisters, Agnes and Joanna Herklotz and a brother, Edward Herklotz.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, February 2, 2018 at 10:00 AM at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 201 W. 13th St., Hays, KS 67601. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be on Thursday, February 1, 2018 from 6-8:00 PM and Friday from 9-9:45 AM at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel & Crematory, 2509 Vine St., Hays, KS.

A Daughters of Isabella rosary service will be Thursday at 6 PM followed by a parish vigil at 6:30 PM all at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions can be made to TMP. Donations can be left or mailed to the funeral home.

To share a memory or to leave condolences, please visit www.keitheyfuneralhomes.com.

Louise Lowella Newell, 83, of Derby, homemaker, passed away Thursday, January 25, 2018.

Visitation 1- 8 pm Monday, January 29, with family receiving friends 5-7 pm, Smith Mortuary, 1415 N. Rock Rd., Derby. Rosary, 10 am Tuesday, January 30, with Mass of Christian Burial following at 10:30 am, both at St. Mary Catholic Church, 2300 E. Meadowlark, Derby.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Alvin; parents, George and Irene Thyfault; her brother, Clarence Thyfautl; and her sister, Annette Rohr. Survivors: children, Suzanne Pfeifer, Dennis Newell (Robin), Cindy James (Pat), Dianne Clark (Jean), Nancy Kendrick (Tracy), Sherry Reed (Chip), Larry Newell (Susan), and Mike Newell (Caren); brother, James Thyfault, sisters, Patricia Sis, Mary Engle (Ron), Trudy Deges and Cathy Smee (John); 23 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchildren. A memorial has been established with St. Mary Catholic Church.

View tributes at smithfamilymortuaries.com.