Bonny Leah, daughter of George Fultz and Zealia Fay (Stokes) Turner was born April 2, 1926 at Grinnell, Kansas.

She lived all her growing up years in Gove County except the last semester of her senior year, when she moved with her parents and siblings to Dodge City, Kansas. There she graduated with the Class of 1943. Bonny attended Dodge City Community College and graduated with an Associate of Arts Degree in 1945.

After a three-year romance by mail during World War II, she married Walter Andrew Stevenson on Nov. 11, 1945 at Dodge City. To this union two children were born, a son David and a daughter Peggy.

After briefly working for a farmer in Southwest Kansas, the couple purchased the land in Gove County upon which they would reside for the next 62 years, where they raised wheat and cattle.

Bonny sold Avon in the 1970’s and 1980’s to rural Gove County. She also served on the Gove County Historical Association Board of Directors for many years. Bonny was a member of the DAR Front Range Chapter and also the Methodist Church in Oakley.

On Dec. 22, 2017 Bonny passed away at SunPorch of Dodge City (formerly Good Samaritan). She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Walter, in 2008; sisters: Betty, Beula and Beverly; and brothers: Byron and Bryce.

Bonny is survived by her two children, three grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and a brother Beuford in Washington.

Services will be conducted at the Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home at 2 p.m. Tuesday, January 2, 2018. Visitation will be from nonn  to 1:30 p.m. immediately preceding the service. Memorials may be made in lieu of flowers to Gove County Historical Association or Hospice of the Prairie in care of Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home.

Almena resident, Gerald D. Wilson, 79, passed away Dec. 26, 2017 at his home.

He was born April 14, 1938 in Norton County, Kansas, the son of Kenneth and Helen M. (Roeder) Wilson.

He was united in marriage to Jacqueline L. Merryman on April 18, 1965 in Norton. She preceded him in death in 2011. He was also preceded in death by his parents and an infant daughter, Charlotte Sue.

Survivors include a son, David Wilson and wife, Twila of Ellis, Kan.; daughter, Laquita Smith and husband, Travis of Almena, Kan.; his brother, Gene Wilson and wife, Linda of Halstead, Kan.; and five grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 29, 2017 in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, 1115 2^nd St., Phillipsburg, KS  67661, with Rev. Terrill Worthington officiating. Burial will follow in the Mt. Hope Cemetery, Almena, Kan., with military honors conducted by the Roy C. Goodrich American Legion Post No. 304.

Mr. Wilson will lie in state from noon until 9 p.m. Thursday at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, where the family will receive friends for visitation from 7 to 8 p.m. that evening.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Gerald D. Wilson Memorial Fund.

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

Former Goodland, Kan., resident, Johnny Lee Cole of Arvada, Colo., passed in peace Dec. 21, 2017 at the age of 87 at his home in Arvada.

John was born on Dec. 30, 1929 in McDonald, Kansas, to Archie and Electa (Blakely) Cole. He was one of seven children.

John grew up and attended school in McDonald, Kan., graduating from McDonald High School in 1947. He then went on and became a Maintenance Engineer for the Burlington Northern Railroad. He was an avid Denver Broncos fan, and loved to play and watch sports of all kinds. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing and bowling, as well as tinkering with anything and everything. He was a member of the Goodland Elks Club.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife Margie Lou Cole (Rohr), three sisters and three brothers.

John is survived by his son Dwight C. Cole of Bellevue, Neb., and his daughter Dara L. Landoll of Georgetown, Texas; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Services will be held on Friday, Dec. 29, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. MT at the Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland, with Pastor Brian Fugleberg officiating. Visitation will be from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on Dec. 29, 2017. Burial will follow in the Goodland Cemetery.

Memorials in lieu of flowers may be designated to the American Lung Association or the American Cancer Society 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.

Longtime Sharon Springs, Kansas resident Joseph Otto Robben, 90, died Saturday, December 23, 2017, at his home in Sharon Springs surrounded by family.

He was born January 5, 1927, in Sheridan County, Kansas, the son of Otto Herman and Monica Georgina (Mader) Robben. He attended Angelus Consolidated School through the 8th grade.

On January 11, 1945, Joseph signed up with the United States Marine Corps, and served during WWII until October 11, 1946. On November 18, 1950, he and Daisy Fay Bloom were married at the Catholic Cathedral Rectory in Denver, Colorado, and they made their home in Oakley. In 1952, they moved to Sharon Springs. He was a loving husband and father. He was a member of the Holy Ghost Catholic Church and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, both in Sharon Springs, KS.

Preceding him in death was his wife Daisy, son Christie Joe Robben; his parents Otto and Monica Robben; two brothers James Mader and Linus Robben; four sisters Nadeen Kaiser, Maxine Flipse, Twila Bishard, and Sharon Gizzi.

Surviving family includes his children Penny Bussen and her husband Jim of Wallace; Trudy Unruh of Sharon Springs; Stanley Robben and his wife Rita of Sharon Springs; Randy Robben and his wife Tammy of Sharon Springs; Bradley Robben of North Platte, Nebraska; Tracy Robben of Sharon Springs; Joy Boyington and her husband Eldon of Goodland; Rodney Robben and his wife Tamara of Sharon Springs; twenty-one grandchildren; thirty-two great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; four sisters Anita Bril, Sylvia Helus, Glennis Hickman and Nyleen Henry; and three brothers Delbert, Pat and Ron Robben.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, December 30, 2017 at 10:30 AM MT, at the Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Sharon Springs, with Father Norbert Dlabal presiding. Burial will follow in the Sharon Springs Cemetery.

Friends may share their respects on Friday, December 29, 2017 from 5:30 to 7:00 PM MT, at Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Sharon Springs. Vigil and rosary will follow at 7:00 PM MT.

Memorials may be designated to the Wallace County Rural Fire Association and EMT’s, and may be left at the services or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main, Goodland, KS 67735-1555.

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

Services are entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Sharon Springs, Kansas.

(January 5, 1967 – December 23, 2017) 

Virginia “Sue” Stroud, 74, died Dec. 24, 2017, at Clara Barton Hospital, Hoisington. She was born July 16, 1943, at Oakley, the daughter of Victor and Irene (Herrman) Schmitt. She was united in marriage to Lloyd Stroud June 11, 1962, at Ellinwood. He died Nov. 18, 2016. A long time Great Bend resident, she worked for USA Gymnastics & Supplies for over 40 years. She loved to sew, garden and take photos.

Mrs. Stroud was a member of Prince of Peace Parish at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church and the Altar Society.

Survivors include son, Eugene “Huie” Stroud and wife Darla of Great Bend; daughter, Debby Stroud of Great Bend; sisters, Shirley Harris and Betty Bender, both of Great Bend; brother, Nick Schmitt and wife Rose of Great Bend; grandchildren, Jamie Stroud and fiancé Scott Johnson, Jessika Stroud and Kyle Stroud; and great-grandson, Hunter Lloyd Johnson. She was preceded in death by daughter, Diana Stroud.

Altar Society Rosary will be at 4 p.m. and Vigil Service will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017 at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 29, 2017 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Great Bend with Father Don Bedore celebrating. Burial will be in Great Bend Cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday Dec. 28, 2017 at Bryant Funeral Home.

Memorials have been established to help with the funeral expense in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Robert J. Staab, 91, passed away Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017 in Tulsa. He was born to Alexius and Celestina Staab in Catherine, Kan., Oct. 26, 1926.

Robert was a veteran and served in the Philippines and Japan during WWII. Robert met Beatrice Schenk in 1950 at Severin School, where his youngest siblings, Ruby and Dennis, attended. Robert and Bea were married June 17, 1952 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Olmitz, Kan. Robert and Bea spent their working and married lives in Kansas, living in Plainville, Salina, Great Bend, Harper, and Wichita before moving on to Lansing, Mich., in the summer of 1974 and retiring to Naples, Fla. in 1986.

After Bea’s death, Robert married Mary Frances (Komarek) Pinkenberg in 1989, at St. Mary Queen of the Universe Catholic Church in Salina, Kan. They enjoyed 14 years of marriage in Salina, where they built great memories with their granddaughters Elizabeth and Cordelia. Robert and Mary Frances enjoyed traveling to Tulsa and Chicago to spend time with their grandchildren Blaise, Zane, Alec, Colton, Matthew and Sophia. Robert was also loved by Mary Frances’ family, including Francis and Linda Komarek, John Komarek, nephew James Komarek, and Gertrude and John Kohn.

Robert loved his retirement days in Salina. He became a lifetime member of Saint Mary’s Knights of Columbus Council 8196. Robert spent most afternoons at the Salina Senior Center, playing cards and hanging out with his friends. He loved Texas Hold ‘em, Pitch, and Pinochle, and he loved to bake birthday cakes for his fellow card players. His own birthday parties were events he looked forward to celebrating with friends and family. He marked his 90th year with a helicopter ride to celebrate both his birthday and the medical school graduation of his granddaughter, Dr. Cordelia Staab Whitlatch, with the help of his grandsons-in-law, David Van Deusen and Michael Whitlatch.

Robert moved to Oklahoma Methodist Manor in Tulsa, Oklahoma in January 2013, just in time for the birth of his great-grandson, Samuel Robert W. Van Deusen. He enjoyed spending time with Sammy and watching him dance along to the tunes of Lawrence Welk; a smile never left his face when they were together.

Robert is survived by: children, Mike of Winnetka, Ill., Alan of Tulsa, Eric of Topeka, Kan., and Mary Ann of Keller, Texas; daughters-in-law, Jenni Holt, Sharon Voskuhl, and Rae Kary Staab; siblings, Ruby Nowak, Erlene Leiker, Dennis Staab, and Ervell Staab; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by: his parents; his first wife, Beatrice (Schenk) Staab; his second wife, Mary Frances (Komarek) Pinkenberg Staab; and siblings, William Staab Sr., Louella Staab, Norman Staab, and Roger Staab.

Visitation: 4-8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 28, at Ryan Mortuary, Salina, with a vigil service at 5 p.m.

Funeral Mass: 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 29, at St. Ann’s Church, Olmitz, with internment in St. Ann’s Cemetery, Olmitz.

Memorials to: St. Catharine Catholic Church, 1681 St. Joseph, Catharine, KS 67627.

“O Holy Mother of God, pray for us that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.”

Longtime Phillipsburg resident, Edith Lucille Simmons passed away Monday, December 25, 2017 at the Phillips County Hospital in Phillipsburg at the age of 84.

She was born April 12, 1933 in Lenora, KS the daughter of Albert & Marie Isabelle (Cox) Simmons.

Survivors include her sister, Eleanor Simmons of Phillipsburg; 3 brothers, Raymond of Ellenwood, KS, Bob & wife, Jo Ann of Goodland and Allen of Phillipsburg.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, December 30, 2017 in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with Pastor Lew Van Der Wege officiating. Burial will follow in the Marvin Cemetery, Glade, KS.

Miss Simmons will lie in state from Noon until 9:00 p.m. Thursday and 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Friday in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Logan Manor or Phillipsburg High School Alumni Association.

Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, 1115 2nd Street, Phillipsburg, KS 67661 is in charge of arrangements.

Online condolences: www.olliffboeve .com.

Vivian Inez Osborn February 22, 1921 – December 23, 2017

Visitation: Wed., Dec. 27, Stinemetz Funeral Home, 522 N. Pomeroy, Hill City, KS 67642

Funeral: Thu., Dec. 28 at 11 a.m. at Hill City Christian Church, 122 N. Pomeroy Ave., Hill City, KS 67642

Burial: Memorial Lawn, Hill City, KS 67642

Leon Sample, 74, passed away Monday, December 25, 2017 at his home in Hoxie, Kansas. He was born September 22, 1943 to Benjamin Leslie and Dorothy Henrietta (Epler) Sample.

He married Barbara Deibert, December 10, 1961, and shared 56 years of wonderful married life. They were blessed with three children, Dana, Darrel & Mike.

Leon attended school at the Tasco Grade School and graduated from Hoxie High School. He was always known as an honest and hard working person. He enjoyed many jobs from a very young age; farming for Rodney Martin, helping Uncle Fred on the farm, Don’s Alignment & Foster Lumber Company. When his father retired, he was proud to purchase the family business, “Sample Oil Company.” He owned and operated this business until 1978 when he accepted an offer to manage the Studley Coop. He held this position until his retirement in May, 2005. He rarely missed a day of work other than an annual trip to the state wrestling tournaments to watch his sons and nephews wrestle. After retiring he enjoyed riding along with Mr. P on his truck runs and helping Archie, Rick and Don Moss with corn harvest.

Leon was an avid Royals baseball fan through good times and bad. He was able to visit 20 major league stadiums and 2 minor league stadiums with his wife. He loved watching car races and flying remote controlled airplanes with his flying buddies and gained the nickname “King Pin“ for his bowling skills. He was a regular visitor at the Howard Cass home and enjoyed the tales he heard there. And he sure enjoyed that first tomato from his garden each summer.

He always enjoyed having family visit. He loved and was proud of his three children and the adults they have become and loved every grandchild as if they were his own. He instilled in each of them good values to live by and an excellent example of how to love.

He continued the practice of date night and supper out with his wife once a week, and they shared a love for the birds that gathered daily in their back yard for food and water. He was a good provider for his family and the rock we all leaned on.

Leon knew Jesus as his Lord and Savior and had a personal ministry of spreading kindness wherever he went, never turning down anyone in need. He will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Lyle Sample; sister, Doris Rachau; sister-in-law, Nettie Richmeier; brothers-in-law, Tom McClain & Ken Deibert; and his Epler and Sample Grandparents.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara, of the home; daughter, Dana Sample, Columbia, MO; sons, Darrel Sample & wife Hana, Highlands Ranch, CO; Mike Sample and wife Ann, Lindsborg, KS.; brother, Leo Sample & wife Eileen, Hoxie; sister, Donna McClain, Aurora, CO.; mother-in-law, Peggy Allen; sister-in-law, Sandra Reitcheck and husband Gary all of Hoxie and Brother-in-law Terry Deibert and wife Cyndi of Bartlesville, OK.

He is also survived by grandchildren Chris Chase, Holly Hickam, Megan Sample, Haileah Chase, David & Dylan Sample, Breahna Wright, Ashtyn Chase and Rocco Hickam. Also among survivors are nieces, nephews and friends too numerous to mention.

Memorials are suggested to the Wounded Warriors Project, and may be sent in care of Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, PO Box 987, Hoxie, KS 67740.

Visitation will be December 29, 2017, from 1:00 until 6:00, with family receiving friends from 5:00 PM until 6:00 PM at Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home.

Services will be December 30, 2017, at 10:30 a.m. at Christian Fellowship Church with Pastor Micah Howery officiating.

Mary Lou Matzke, age 69, of Ellis passed away Monday, December 25, 2017 in Ellis.

Funeral services will be 10 AM Tuesday, January 2, 2018 at North Oak Community Church 3000 Oak Street in Hays. Burial will be at 2:30 PM Mountain time at the Armel Cemetery rural Wray, Colorado.

Visitation will be Monday 5 PM – 8 PM at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601. Tuesday visitation will be 9 AM until service time at the church.

A complete obituary is pending.

Virgil Lynn Hamm, 81, Hays, died Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017 at Via Christi Nursing Home, Hays.

He was born July 23, 1936 in Fort Scott, Kansas. He married Allura (Steely) Hamm on Aug. 15, 1954.

He was employed as an assistant manager at Otasco in Wichita before moving to Hays in 1963. He became the manager/owner of the Hays Otasco store (Coast to Coast, Hamm’s True Value) for almost 50 years. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and watching the K.C. Royals. He especially loved spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Allura; three daughters, Brenda Epperson and husband Scott, Owasso, Oklahoma, Julia Kuntz and husband Andy, Hays, and Nikki Hamm, Enid, Oklahoma; three grandchildren, Heather Schmitz and Joshua Kuntz, Hays, and Garrett Epperson, Owasso, Oklahoma; two great-grandchildren, Savannah and Elijah Schmitz, Hays.

Condolences and visitation may be made in person to the family Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at North Oak Community Church, Hays.

Services will be at 9:00 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017 at North Oak Community Church, Hays. Viewing and burial services will follow at 2:00 p.m. at Old Mission Funeral Home, 3424 East 21st Street in Wichita.

Survivors include her sisters: Joan Thimesch of Kingman, Kan., and Catherine Haack of St. Louis, Mo.

Alice was preceded in death by her parents and sisters: Margaret Colburn and Theresa Mika.

Visitation will be 9-10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 29, 2017, followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 10:30 a.m., both at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Oakley.

Interment will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Memorials to: Cardinal Glennon Hospital, St. Louis, Mo., in care of Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, P.O. Box 221, Oakley 67748.

Condolences:  www.kennedykosterfh.com.