September 15, 1944 – November 10, 2019

An obituary is pending with Plumer Overlease Funeral Homes.

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Barbara Jean Nolte, 76, passed away Sunday, November 10, 2019 at Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington. She was born July 31, 1943, in Great Bend, the daughter of Armin F. and Isabelle (Karst) Deutsch. She was united in marriage to Roy Nolte on November 21, 1965, in Hoisington.

Barbara was a lifetime resident of Hoisington and Susank area. She was a member of the Concordia Lutheran Church and the LWML. She loved spending time with her family especially her grandchildren.

Survivors include husband Roy of the home; son Gary Nolte and wife Christina of Wamego; two daughters Christy Henry and husband Kris of Gardner and Cindy Wilborn and husband Brian of Hoisington; mother Isabelle Deutsch Dumler of Hoisington; brother Mel Deutsch and wife Diana of Lawrence; sister Jolene Hindman and husband Paul of Claflin; eight grandchildren Hannah (Colton) Lagerman, Madison, Nolan Wilborn, Tyler and Marly Henry, Charlie, Isabelle, and Jack Nolte, She was preceded in death by her father Armin Deutsch and brother Ronald Deutsch.

Visitation will be Wednesday, November 13, 2019 from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm with family present 6-7 pm with prayer service at 7:00 pm, at Nicholson-Rick Funeral Home. Funeral service will be 10:30 am Thursday November 14, 2019, at Concordia Lutheran Church with Rev Gary Wolf officiating. Burial will follow at St John Lutheran Cemetery in Susank.

Memorials have been established with Concordia Lutheran Church or The Lutheran Hour, in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, Po Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

William M. “Bill” Wright, age 62, passed away on Friday, November 8, 2019 at the Mercy Hospital Springfield, Springfield, Missouri.

He was born on May 14, 1957 in Garden City, Kansas, the son of Milton William & Elsie Faye Wright. Bill was a lifetime resident of Scott City, Kansas until 2017 moving to Strafford, Missouri.

He worked for Scott County Road Department and Concrete Industries until retiring. Bill was an avid outdoorsman, who loved hunting, fishing and trapping. He was a member of First Christian Church in Scott City, Kansas, NRA and National Trappers Association.

Survivors include his Two Daughters – Michelle Nix of Scott City, Kansas, Billie Jo & Kenny Mortimore of Scott City, Kansas, Three Sons – Jarod & Trisha Wright of Bend, Oregon, Remington Wright of McCook, Nebraska, Sterling Wright of McCook, Nebraska, Mother – Elsie Wright of Strafford, Missouri, One Sister – Cindy Oeser of Strafford, Missouri and Nine Grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his Father, One Brother, One Sister, One Son In Law and One Nephew.

Funeral Services will be held at the First Baptist Church in Scott City, Kansas at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, November 16, 2019 with Rev. Kyle Evans presiding.

Memorials can be made out to the William Wright Memorial Fund in care of Price & Sons Funeral Homes.

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. Friday at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Scott City, Kansas.

Marla Gail (Long) Deines was born on April 29, 1955, to James and Margaret (Schneider) Long in WaKeeney, Kansas.

She attended WaKeeney public schools and was a 1973 graduate of Trego Community High School. As an alumna of Fort Hays State University, Marla received Bachelor’s Degrees in German, Spanish, and Psychology, and a Master’s Degree in ESL. She also studied abroad in Germany and Costa Rica, and taught ESL in China.
Marla married Stanley H. Deines on November 17, 1973, in WaKeeney, Kansas. Together, they had three sons: Joshua James, Lucas Herman and Eastin Stanley. Eastin Stanley preceded Marla in death.

Early married life consisted of many long days of work on the farm, as Marla could work cattle and drive combine with the best of them. Marla and Stan traveled many places across the United States to support their sons in their various sports activities. Those long road trips were filled with songs, laughter and pizza. To save a few bucks, they stayed in budget motels. The money saved was quickly spent on Lysol. The best times were family times.

Marla taught school for 30 years in the Ellis and Hays, Kansas public schools. While teaching, she received an Associate Degree in Parish Ministry and served as a minister at Prairie Faith Shared Ministry in Trego and Ellis Counties, Faith Lutheran in Osborne, and First Presbyterian in WaKeeney.

In 2015, Marla and Stan moved to Redondo Beach, California to retire and live near family, especially their beautiful grandchildren, Kai Eastin and Jamie Margaret. With boundless energy in retirement, Marla channeled her love for education and children as an instructional aide at Jefferson Elementary School and volunteered with Beach Cities Health District and Trinity Lutheran Church.

After her battle with metastatic breast cancer, Marla passed away peacefully at home on Monday, November 4, 2019. She is survived by her husband, Stanley; son Joshua and his wife, Belinda; son Lucas and his wife, Michelle; and two grandchildren, Kai and Jamie.

She loved being a teacher and a minister, a wife and a mother, but most of all, a grandmother. Marla, also known as “Gramms,” will be missed.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 23, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1340 11th Street, Manhattan Beach, California.

Karen Marlene Froetschner, 82, passed away November 9, 2019, at County Living of Larned.

She was born March 26, 1937, to Hugh Francis and Mary Jane “Irene” Davidson Riegel at Dodge City. A lifetime area resident, she was a farmwife.

She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, First Presbyterian Women, Gem Gals, Sunflower Red Hats, PVCH Auxiliary, and she was a community 4-H leader.

On November 29, 1958, she married Kyrle Froetschner at Belpre, he preceded her in death on April 19, 2019.

Survivors include two sons, Kraig (Amy) Froetschner, Larned and Kerry (Donna) Froetschner, Rozel; a sister, Sharon Wheeler, Augusta; two grandchildren: Chelsea (Tyson) Steffen and Andrew (Erica) Froetschner; five great grandchildren: Addison Townsend, Paisley and Camille “Millie” Steffen; Karver and Palmer Froetschner, all of Larned. She was “Beautiful Aunt Karen” to many nieces and nephews

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.

Funeral service 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel, Larned with Pastor Bill Stapleton presiding. Visitation 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. with family present from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, Beckwith Mortuary, Larned. Burial in Larned Cemetery, Larned.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the PVCH Auxiliary or the Pawnee County 4-H Foundation in care of Beckwith Mortuary, PO Box 477, Larned, KS 67550. Personal condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com.

Harriet “Roberta” Wierman, 93, of McCracken, Kansas passed away November 8, 2019 at Rush County Memorial Hospital Long Term Care in Lacrosse. She was born April 17, 1926 in Rush County to John & Olive (Buzzard) Kittle.

Roberta was a homemaker where she enjoyed cooking, gardening, sewing, and arts and crafts. She was a member of St. Mary’s Altar Society.

Roberta married Francis Wierman on Nov. 23, 1948 at Sacred Heart Church in Ness City. Roberta is survived by her children: daughters, Rita Brethowr of Park City; Marilyn Sommers (George) of Silver Lake; son, Ray Wierman (Laura) of Bennington. She is also survived by 5 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews; and sisters-in-law, Wanda Wierman of Minneapolis and Eula Kittle of Liberal.

Her husband of 67 years, 11 months, passed away October 8, 2016. She is proceeded in death by siblings, Alverna Humburg, Dean Kittle, Fred Kittle and infant Robert.

We’ll never forget the lessons she taught, the things she stood for……they are her gifts and our legacy.

Viewing will be on Monday, November 11, 2019, 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City. Parish Rosary/Vigil services will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Monday at St. Mary’s Heritage Church, McCracken. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Tuesday, November 12, 2019, 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Heritage Church, McCracken. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, rural McCracken.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to McCracken St. Mary’s Heritage Church or Rush County Long Term Care, in care of Fitzgerald Funeral Home, PO Box 96, Ness City, KS 67560.

Phillipsburg resident Matthew Thomas Merklein passed away Nov. 6, 2019 at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Neb., at the age of 19.

He was born Oct. 19, 2000, in Hays, KS, the son of Shawn and Rebecca (Smith) Merklein.

Survivors include his parents, Shawn & Rebecca of Phillipsburg; his paternal grandparents, Dennis Merklein of Prairie View & Ryan & Cindy Horner of Phillipsburg & his maternal grandparents, Fred & Jaci Smith of Englewood, CO.

Cremation was chosen. A Memorial Service will be held Monday, Nov. 11 at 10:30 a.m. in the Huck Boyd Community Center, Phillipsburg, with Pastors Lee Bennight and Lorna Paulus officiating.

Visitation will be from 12:00 to 9:00 Sunday at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with the family receiving friends from 6:00 to 7:00.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Matthew Thomas Merklein Memorial Fund.

Karla J. Neiman, 56, died November 6, 2019, at Salina Regional Health Center. She was born May 22, 1963, in Great Bend, Kansas, the daughter of Sylvester and Shirley Ann (Smith) Straub.

A lifetime Barton County resident, Karla worked in her early years at Great Bend Packing, and Fuller Brush for several years. She also managed her family’s business, Great Bend Gymnastics, before she went on to work at Coastal Mart, in Hoisington. It was here she found her niche and worked for twenty years, through several ownership changes, as Bird Express and finally CERVS, in both Hoisington and Great Bend. She was a great manager and had many employees that worked for her for many years and she loved to interact with the customers, making many lifelong friends. Her greatest love though was her family and especially her grandchildren.

On January 21, 1981, she married Jimmy Roat. They were married for many years before divorcing in 2005. She then married Mike E. Neiman, the love of her life, on March 22, 2008. They were married in Chase, Kansas, by her brother Pastor Larry Weatherman.

She is survived by her husband Mike Neiman of the home; son, Jesse Roat and companion Brittany Van Sycoc of Hoisington; daughter, Kayla Godfrey and husband James of Hoisington; stepchildren, Rachel Dove and husband Trent and Michael J. Neiman and wife Alicia, all of Great Bend; three siblings; and 10 grandchildren, Preston and Adley Roat, Klara and Jayda Godfrey, Justin Dennis, Braydon and Treyton Dove, and Matthew, Andrew, and Zachary Neiman; and her fur babies, Twinkie and Sadie.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, a son, Travis Roat; and her beloved dog, Fancy.

Friends may call Sunday 1-5 p.m., and Monday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., with family to receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., all at the funeral home.

Funeral service will be 2 p.m., Tuesday, November 12, 2019, at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Denny Lewis presiding. Burial will follow in Hoisington City Cemetery.

Memorials can be made to the Karla J. Neiman Funeral Expense Fund, in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

Ramona Hutchinson, 78, of Russell, Kansas, died on Monday, November 04, 2019, at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell, Kansas.

Ramona was born on January 27, 1941, in Kansas City, Missouri, the daughter of Phillip and Ruth (Schooling) Lopez. She grew up in Waldo, Kansas, and graduated from Waldo High School in the class of 1959. After high school, she attended the University of Kansas and graduated in 1963, with a bachelor’s degree in Latin American Studies and Spanish. She was united in marriage to Ralph Bauman in June of 1963, and from this union Ramona and Ralph were blessed with a son Marc. She lived most of her life in Washington State and worked as an administrative assistant for over 20 years with Battelle Pacific Northwest National Laboratories. Ramona found love a second time and was united in marriage to Thomas J. Hutchinson on December 20, 2007. She was a longtime member of the Bible Baptist Church in Russell. She enjoyed playing the piano starting with lessons in Osborne. She accompanied vocal groups in school, played for churches and individuals. Also, Ramona enjoyed the outdoors, her cats and was a big University of Kansas sports fan. She loved being Grandma Mona to her grandkids James and Emma, playing with them when they were young, watching them while their parents traveled, and attending their activities as the distance allowed.

Surviving family include her mother Ruth Elder of Russell, Kansas; brother Carlos Lopez and wife Barbara of Clarkesville, Georgia; son Marc Bauman and wife Lisa of Kirkland, Washington; grandchildren Emma and James Bauman; stepchildren Sheryl and Steven Corn of Great Bend, Kansas; Randle Hutchinson and wife Stephanie of Falun, Kansas and Bruce Hutchinson and wife Angela of Kansas City, Missouri; 10 step grandchildren and many step great grandchildren. Ramona is also survived by an aunt, cousins step-siblings and many Baumans. She was preceded in death by her father.

A celebration of Ramona’s life will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday, November 12, 2019, at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas with Pastor Dale Lane officiating. Burial will be in Grand Center Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 6 P.M. on Monday, November 11, 2019, at the mortuary with family greeting guests from 4 P.M. to 6 P.M. Monday evening. Memorials may be given to the Bible Baptist Church of Russell, Kansas and can be sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.

Ruth Alice (Jacobs) Holdren, age 100 & 11 months, entered into rest on, Wednesday, November 6, 2019 at Residential Care Center, Beloit, Kansas. She was born on December 1, 1918 in Washington Township, KS to Verne and Lulu (Powell) Jacobs.

Ruth graduated from Montrose High School in 1937. She taught school for 2 years in rural Jewell County. On May 1, 1939, Ruth married her best friend and love of her life Edwin Holdren. She was a homemaker.
Edwin and Ruth were blessed with four children, Walter, Mary, Betty, and Janet.

Ruth was a member of Montrose Community Club, Farm Bureau, she served on the Election Board, and was a writer for Jewell County Record.

She enjoyed crocheting, quilting, going to auctions, sewing for her grandkids and most of all spending time with her family, friends and especially her loving grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

She is survived by her 3 daughters, Janet Wilcox (David), Beloit, KS.; Betty Meis (Bill), Hays, KS.; Mary Folsom, Independence, MO.; daughter-in-law, Vergaline Holdren, Mankato, KS.; a brother, Hugh Jacobs, Arvada, CO.; 2 sister-in-laws, Jean Jacobs, Tucson, AZ. and Jane Jacobs, Jamestown, KS.; 10 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Edwin, a son, Walter Holdren, parents, great-grandchild, Cheryl Carpenter, 2 brothers, George and Leo Jacobs, 2 sisters, Ila Rose Sheahan and Leta Hodgins.

Pallbearers for Ruth’s service will be Jennifer Simms, Megan Wilcox, Beth Wolsieffer, Brian Meis, Roxanne Kimminau, Rebecca Holdren, Crystal Vacura, Debra Folsom, Susan Folsom and Eric Folsom.

Funeral service will be held 2:00 p.m., Friday, November 8, 2019 at Melby Mortuary, Mankato, Kansas with Pastor Robert Cartwright officiating. Burial will follow in the Pleasant View Cemetery, Montrose, Jewell County, Kansas. Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 7, 2019 from 1:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., with the family receiving friends from 6-8 p.m. at Melby Mortuary in Mankato.

The family suggests memorials to Solomon Valley Hospice in care of the funeral home. For online condolences, please visit www.melbymortuary.com.