Leona Dechant, age 85, of WaKeeney, died Friday, January 26, 2018 at Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital, Long Term Care. She was born June 30, 1932 in Collyer, Kansas to George and Marianna (Waldman) Ziegler.

Leona was united in marriage to Alvin Dechant on June 8, 1953, in Collyer. She was a member of Christ the King Catholic Church and Altar Society. While she worked a number of jobs throughout her life, she was always a homemaker and loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Leona enjoyed cooking and doing needle point work. Time spent with family was near to her heart; she especially enjoyed all of her grandchildren. Leona will be dearly missed.

Survivors include two sons, Marvin (Machele) Dechant, and Larry Dechant, both of WaKeeney; two daughters, Joleen (Alvin) Schuster, and Jacqueline (Donald) Ummel, both of WaKeeney; nine grandchildren, Tonya Dechant, Craig Dechant, Darren Schuster, Michael Schuster, Kevin Schuster, Ericka Nieman, Tyler Ummel, Jennifer Dechant, and Amy Dechant; eleven great-grandchildren; and three sisters, Armella Zerr, Kathleen Leckie, and Donna Goetz. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and two brothers, Del and Ralph Ziegler.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, January 29, 2018 at Christ the King Catholic Church, WaKeeney. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be Monday, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the church parish center.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital LTC or Christ the King Catholic Church. Contributions to the organization may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th, WaKeeney, KS 67672.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.schmittfuneral.com.

Goodland, KS resident Taylor Wayne Ratliff, 16, passed away on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at his home in Goodland.

Taylor was born on February 22, 2001 in Smith Center, KS to Kelly Dean and Thea Dawn Ratliff. At the time of his death, Taylor was attending school at Goodland High School and was in the 11th grade. He enjoyed sports and had a special love for his dog Emma. Some of his favorite hobbies included hunting, shooting and spending time with friends.

Preceding Taylor in death were his two grandfathers Dean Leroy Ratliff and Andrew David Russell. He was also preceded in death by an uncle Zachary Dougherty.

He is survived his parents Thea and Kelly Ratliff of Goodland, KS; two brothers Cordell and Tristen Ratliff of Goodland, KS; his grandparents Annette Lewis of Goodland, KS, Mary (Roger) Ledoux of Phillipsburg, KS; Karl (Deb) Dougherty of Joplin, MO; aunts Lacie (Mark) Sieck of Goodland, KS, Beth Freeman of Phillipsburg, KS and Tina (Jim) Larison of Alma, NE; uncles Kent (Evon) Ratliff of St. Louis, MO, Levi (Becky) Dougherty of Phillipsburg, KS, Bob (Annie) Russell of Phillipsburg, KS, and Jacob (Jessie) Dougherty of Phillipsburg, KS; his girlfriend Delanie Vrbka, as well as numerous other aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Funeral services for Taylor will be held on Monday, January 29, 2018 at 10:30 AM MT at the United Methodist Church in Goodland, KS with Pastor Brent Flanders officiating. Cremation will follow the service.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 28, 2018 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM MT at the Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.

Memorials are designated to the Taylor w. Ratliff 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, KS.

Dolores “Dee” Hutchison was born December 2, 1932 in Joliet, Illinois, to Albert and Esther Wuchte and passed away in Austin, Texas on January 21, 2018, surrounded by her loving family.

On June 5, 1954, she married the love of her life, Ron Hutchison. Ron became an Air Force fighter pilot, thus beginning their travels around the world. Dee was a homemaker and mother of four children. They moved from Texas to France, England, Arizona, Nebraska, Spain and finally Barksdale Air Force Base, Bossier City, Louisiana, arriving in 1971. After retirement from the Air Force in 1975, they made Bossier City their home. After her children were raised, and starting families of their own, Dee joined the work force, following Ron into the real estate business as a receptionist/secretary. She remained in that line of work until her battle with cancer began in November, 2015. She was not ready to retire. Dee loved her work family at Diamond Realty. She did not give into cancer, and over the past two years was able to witness the birth of three more great grandchildren, the wedding of her oldest granddaughter, and had many more travels.

Dee is preceded into heaven by her husband, Ron; her grandson, Trey; and 3 of her 12 siblings.

Dee is survived by her children: Mark (Wendy) of Bossier City, Gary (Tracie) of Mansfield, TX, Rhonda (Sherry) of Lake Claiborne, LA, and Matt (Kelly) of Hays, KS. Her grandchildren: Luke (Britney), Wendy, Chase, Chelsy (Charlie), Chandler, Chad, Hayden, Mattie, Palmer, Aaron, and Shea. Her great grandchildren: Brody, Jake, Hannah, Kaden, Amari and Harper. We are especially grateful for Shirley Gersh, her devoted sister, companion, and caregiver.

Memorial Services for Dee Hutchison will be held at First Baptist Bossier, Faith Chapel, Bossier City, LA, on Saturday, January 27, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in her memory to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or the Shreveport/Bossier Rescue Mission.

Neyla M. “Lila” Kippes, age 83, died Thursday, January 25, 2018, at the Good Samaritan Society of Hays. She was born April 10,1934, on a farm near St. Peter, Kansas, to Adolph and Celestina “Sally” (Rome) Rohr. She married Pius Wildeman on August 3,1953, at St. Peter Kansas. He preceded her in death on October 7, 1966. She then married Eugene “Gene” Kippes on August 19, 1983, at Hays, Kansas.

She worked as a sales clerk at Tempo and Mid-West Drugs in Hays for a number of years. Neyla grew up near St. Peter, Kansas and was a 1953 graduate of Quinter High School. She was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Hays, Kansas and a member of the Sunflower Polka Club. She enjoyed reading, quilting, sewing, vegetable gardening, cooking, baking and spending time with her family and grandchildren.

Survivors include her husband, Eugene “Gene” Kippes, of the home; three sons, Paul Wildeman and wife Connie, Hays, KS; Michael Wildeman, Wichita, KS; Jim Wildeman and wife, Karla, Wichita, KS; two daughters, Amanda Cronn and husband, Harry, WaKeeney, KS; Donna Creel and husband, Greg, Sheridan, WY; one stepson, Ron Augustine and wife, Deb, Hays, KS; one step daughter-in-law, Tina Augustine, Neosho, MO; one brother, Tom Rohr and wife, Kathy, Blue Springs, MO; four sisters, Darlene Wynne, Oklahoma City, OK; Glorie Ann Geisel and husband, Jerry, New Wilmington, PA; Mary Lou Carothers and husband, John, Anthony, KS; Jolene Stinemetz and husband, Chad, Sacramento, CA ; one sister-in-law, Nancy Rohr, Littleton, CO; eight grandchildren; seven step grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren and 15 step great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Pius Wildeman; one infant son, Mark Wildeman; one brother, Don Rohr; one sister, Dora Haughn; three brothers-in-law, Bob Wynne, Ray Fothergill, and Patrick Fahey; and one stepson, Larry Augustine.

Services are at 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, January 30, 2018, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 18th & Vine, Hays, Kansas. Burial in St. Joseph Cemetery, Hays, Kansas.

A vigil service is at 7:00 P.M. Monday, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601. Visitation is from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Monday and from 8:30 to 9:45 A.M. Tuesday all at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays.

In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to Alzheimer’s Association of Central and Western Kansas.

Condolences can be left by guestbook at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or can be sent via e-mail to [email protected]

Robert E. Nicholas, age 86, died Wednesday, January 24, 2018, at the Parkview Care Center, Osborne, Kansas. He was born February 13,1931, in Nebraska City, Nebraska to George E. and Caroline M. (Ellis) Nicholas. He married Faye Anne (Schirer) on June 7, 1958 at Newton, Kansas. She preceded him in death on May 15, 1982.

He was the Librarian at Victoria, Grade School and Victoria High School from 1984 until he retired in 1994. Robert grew up in Omaha, NE and Englewood, CO and was a 1949 graduate of Englewood High School. He receives his BME Degree in music from the University of Colorado at Bolder and his MME Degree in music from Fort Hays State College. He taught music at Jennings, for one year, he taught music and band at Monument for 14 years, then he taught music and band at Stockton for 17 years.

He was a member and played with the Hays Big Band, Hays Symphony Orchestra, Hays City Summer Band, the FHSU Brass Choir and a member of the Kansas Music Educators Association. He was a volunteer with the FHSU High Plains Band Camp and with the Hays Public Library for over 20 years. He also was a statistician for the Victoria High School Athletics Program.

Survivors include three daughters, Patty Nicholas, Hays, KS; Cindy Grieve and husband, Philip, Osborne, KS; Kathryn Nicholas and Justin Thiessen, Lincoln, NE; one nephew, Kent Nicholas, Englewood, CO; three grandchildren, Tiffany Krier (Adam), Dillon Grieve (Meagan), Chelsea Dowell (Brandon); six great grandchildren, Gage Robinson, Alexis Krier, Natalie Krier, Sara Grieve, Allison Grieve and Mason Grieve.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; one brother, Edward James “Jim” Nicholas; two sisters, Doris Nicholas and Ruth Nicholas; and one nephew, James Edward “Eddie” Nicholas.

Services are at 11:00 A.M. Monday, January 29, 2018, at the First United Methodist Church, 7th and Ash, Hays, Kansas. Graveside services are at 3:00 P.M. Monday, at the Stockton Cemetery, Stockton, Kansas.

Visitation is from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M. Monday, at the church.

The family suggests memorials to the Fort Hays State University Department of Music and Theater.

Services are entrusted to Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601.

Condolences can be left by guestbook at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or can be sent via e-mail to [email protected]

Phillipsburg resident Ron Boeve Sr. passed away Thursday, January 25, 2018, at the Phillips County Hospital in Phillipsburg, KS at the age of 85.

He was born September 7, 1932 in Phillips County, the son of Louis & Edith (Bogart) Boeve. Ron married Eunice Goyen on Oct. 2, 1955 in Bonners Ferry, ID. Ron was a funeral director and co-owner of the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel in Phillipsburg for many years.

He is survived by his wife, Eunice, of Phillipsburg; son, Ron, Jr., of Phillipsburg; daughters: Kathy Boeve-Pensabene and Kandy Boeve, both of Omaha, NE and Kelly Leiker of Hays, KS; sister, Shirley Olliff of Phillipsburg; five grandchildren; two step grandchildren; and three step great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Monday, Jan 29, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. in the Huck Boyd Community Center in Phillipsburg, KS with Pastors Joel Hiesterman and LeRoy Herder officiating. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery, Phillipsburg, with military honors by U. S. Air Force.

Visitation will be Saturday, Jan. 27, from 5 – 9 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 28, from noon – 9 p.m. at the funeral home where the family will receive friends from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Sunday evening.

Memorial contributions may be given to the First Christian Church or Phillipsburg Rotary. Online condolences to: www.olliffboeve.com.

Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, is in charge of the arrangements.

Alvin Faye Smith, son of Clifford and Emma (Eichenberger) Smith, was born on September 19, 1943, at the family homestead in the Good Hope Community of Norton County, Kansas. He passed away at the Norton County Hospital, on January 19, 2018, at the age of 74.

Alvin grew up on the Eichenberger family homestead, near Clayton, KS and attended Clayton Grade School. He was a Jennings High School graduate of 1961 and later graduated from Fort Hays State University in 1969 with an Industrial Arts Degree.

Alvin married Cheryl Ingram in 1965 and from this union they had three daughters, Tara, Amye, and Jennifer. In 1974 they moved from Salina to the family homestead in Clayton, until moving to Norton in 1979. He remained in the Norton area, moving to the Andbe Home in his final years.

Alvin had a heart of gold and an ornery, generous spirit. He was well known for his wood working and carpentry skills. He enjoyed car races and Oldies music, reading, gardening, fishing, and being surrounded by nature. Most of all, he loved spending time with his devoted daughters, family, and friends.

Survivors include: three daughters, Tara, and husband, Greg Spresser, Hays, KS; Amye, and husband, Bill Jones, Norton; KS; Jennifer, and husband, Daniel Porter, Norton, KS; one sister, Arline King, Phoenix AZ; one sister-in-law, Iris Smith, Norton, KS; 11 grandchildren: Jordan Wahlmeier, Hays; Riley Kaus, Hays; Madison Kaus, Hays; Elley Kaus, Hays; Quinton Porter, Manhattan; Landon Porter, Hays; Courtland and Avery Porter, of Norton; Silas, Eli and Levi Jones, of Norton; 3 step-grandsons; Nathan Spresser, Wichita, KS; Gerid Spresser, Colorado Springs; Thayne Spresser, Hays and one great step-grandson, Hudson Spresser, and four nieces and three nephew.

Alvin was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Jon and Vern; four half-brothers, Bob, Bill, Larry, and Walt Smith.

Per Alvin’s wishes, his cremains will be buried alongside beloved family at Gettys Cemetery. A public visitation will be held on Friday, January 26, 2018 at the Enfield Funeral Home from 5:00 P.M until 7:30 P.M. Memorials can be made to the Alvin Smith Memorial Fund.

William “Bill” Phillip Beer, 91, passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones on January 24, 2018. Bill was a man of very strong faith, a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

Bill was born April 4th, 1926, in WaKeeney, KS to Wenzel and Anna (Honas) Beer. He married Martha Mae Augustine on October 17, 1949, spending the majority of their lives in WaKeeney before her passing on January 5, 2016.

Bill was a devoted, longtime member of Christ the King Catholic Church where he was actively involved as a Eucharistic Minister, member of the Knights of Columbus and became a 4th Degree Knight on October 12, 1958. He started Bill’s Woodworking in the early 1950s and spent the next 60 years building and remodeling homes. Bill was also a partner in WaKeeney Redi-Mix. As his children became involved in activities, Bill served as a Boy Scout Leader, baseball coach, and enjoyed attending athletic and music events. He loved tending to his garden, hunting, fishing and making his delicious BBQ chicken and homemade ice cream for family and friends. He always kept his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren close to his heart and prayed the rosary daily for them. Bill was a wonderful role-model as to the importance of hard work, honesty, and belief in God.

Those left to cherish his memory are his children: Bernadette (Tom) Crayton of La Grande, OR, Arlin (Debbie) Beer of Wichita, KS, Daniel Beer of New York, NY, Sheila (Tim) Shaw of Wichita, KS; six grandchildren: Tadd (Sarah) Crayton of Austin, TX, Shandi (Brian) Ricciotti of Laguna Niguel, CA, Kellen Beer of Pueblo, CO, Connor Beer of Denver, CO, Arisa Shaw of Kansas City, MO, and Casey Beer of St. Paul, MN; four great-grandchildren: Concetta and Valentino Ricciotti, Abigale Crayton and Eden Eberle; along with nieces, nephews and friends who will miss him dearly. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Martha of 66 years of marriage, brothers Joe and Ignatz, and sisters Theresa Aschenbrenner, Mary Bryant, and Elizabeth Heide Stecklein.

Rosary will be at 9:00 a.m., visitation at 9:30 a.m. and the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 27th, at Christ the King Catholic Church, WaKeeney, KS. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorials made to Christ the King Catholic Church or Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice in Wichita, KS. Donations made to the church or hospice may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 N. 12th Street, WaKeeney, KS 67672.

The family would like to thank the staff at Chaucer Estates Assisted Living and Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice for the wonderful care and compassion provided.

Floyd Eldon Trail, born December 22nd, 1933, passed away January 23rd, 2018, in Atwood, KS.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 3rd, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. in the First Christian Church, 210 South 6th Street, Atwood, with Rev. David Todd officiating.

Inurnment will take place at a later date.

Baalmann Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Naomi (Mangus) Windell, 90, resident of Kanorado, passed away Monday, January 22, 2018, at the Goodland Regional Medical Center in Goodland, KS.

She was born on November 18, 1927 to Mamie Day Mangus and George Washington Mangus, in the home built by her father in Kanorado, KS.

She completed 12 years of schooling in Kanorado, graduating in 1945. After graduation she attended Fort Hays State University and earned her teaching certificate. She became a member of the Kanorado Methodist Church in her teens, was an active member of the Youth Group and as President for several years.

She met Lester Windell in March of 1945. It was love at first sight and she was overjoyed when he asked her on their first date. They became engaged in December of 1945. On October 5, 1946, they decided to elope. No one else knew that they went to Goodland and found the Justice of the Peace to marry them.

Naomi had taught elementary school at Prairie View country school for 2 years before her marriage. She had to complete summer school each year to keep her teaching certificate. After she was married, she decided she was not going to teach anymore, so she did not attend summer school. The school board begged her to teach another year. They didn’t care if she completed schooling or not, they just wanted her to teach. She agreed and 1947 was her last year of teaching.

Les and Naomi spent their lives in Kanorado on the farm built by her father. They farmed and raised livestock. Les also worked drilling irrigation wells. They were blessed with 3 sons, Rickie, Michael and Robert. They worked hard, but they also made time to spend together as a family. They took camping and fishing trips to Lake Superior, the Badlands and the Black Hills of South Dakota. They were also blessed with many grandchildren, and loved spending time with and spoiling them.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Les Windell, 11 half-brothers, 3 half-sisters; 1 sister Della Nagel; 2 grandchildren Billy Jacobs and Brad Figgins; and 2 great grandchildren Faith Figgins and Raphael Windell.

She is survived by her son Rickie (Victoria) Windell of Kanorado, KS, son Michael (Kelly) Windell of Goodland, KS; son Robert (Diane) Windell of Kanorado, KS; 9 grandchildren, Leanna Windell, Shaina Jacobs of Westminster, CO; Brandie (Lee) Ihrig of Goodland, KS; Tomi (Chance) Price of LeVeta, CO; Spencer (Cassie Murray) Windell of Goodland, KS; Brian Windell of Kanorado, KS; Denny (Delci) Windell of Kanorado, KS; Mathew Windell of Kanorado, KS; Andy (Ellie Dinkle) Windell of Sharon Springs, KS; 16 great grandchildren; Garrett (Rachel) Figgins of Norwalk, OH; Kaitlyn Figgins of Westminster, CO; Sydney, Rylie and Zachary Jacobs; Bryson, Logan Emmitt and Lydia Ihrig; Truit and Sawyer Price; Jayden, Brinley, Presley and Emberly Windell; and Adalyne Windell; and 2 great-great grandchildren; Gwyneth and Evelyn Figgins.

Funeral services for Naomi were held on Thursday, January 25, 2018 at 10:00 AM MT at the Kanorado United Methodist Church in Kanorado with Pastor Gordon Pettibone officiating. Burial followed in the Kanorado Cemetery. Visitation was held on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM MT at the Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland, KS.

Memorials may be designated to the Kanorado United Methodist Church or to the Kanorado Senior Citizen’s Center 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 were entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland, KS.