WICHITA — Nicole Lynn Church, 27, entered peacefully into eternal life on Dec. 14, 2017.

She was born July 23, 1990 in Wellington, Kan. and attended Fort Hays State University. Nicole was a wonderful daughter, sister and aunt.

Nicole is survived by her parents Stan and Jane (Koester) Church of Wichita, Kan., brother:  Bryan (Amy) Church and sister Trisha (Tyler) Augustine all of Hays, loving nieces and nephew: Alyssa, Aydan, and Anthony Church, Avery, Ainslee and Afton Augustine.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents: Marion and Doris Koester and Basil and Vivian Church, and her uncle Lester Koester.

She worked at Equity Bank as a commercial loan assistant and also a credit analyst. Nicole loved to spend time with her nieces and nephews at every opportunity.

She also loved to travel with her family and friends.

Rosary: at 7 p.m.Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 with the funeral mass at 10:30 a.m. Monday Dec. 18, 2017 both at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Garden Plain, Kan. Interment will follow in the St. Anthony Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the St. Anthony Catholic Church Choir Fund; Wulf-Ast Mortuary, Garden Plain, Kan.

Rickey Lynn Beltz, age 63, died at his home in Garden City on Dec. 12, 2017.  He was born on Sept. 4, 1954 in Wichita, Kansas the son of Sidney and Evelyn Foos Beltz.

Rickey was an umpire and referee in the Garden City area for high school and college baseball and soccer.  He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Garden City. He graduated from Bazine High School in 1972, St. John’s College in Winfield, Kan., in 1974, and Concordia Teachers College of Seward, Neb., in 1976.

He is survived by his mother, Evelyn Beltz of Bazine; sister, Deanna Michaelis and her husband, James, of Bazine; nieces, Dr. Stacey Dimitt and her husband, Bart, and their daughter, Peyton, all of Smith Center and Melody Ketterer and her husband, Marvin, and their son, Maddox, all of Manhattan; and many cousins, uncles, aunts, and friends.

Rickey was preceded in death by his father, Sidney, and infant siblings.

Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017 at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City with burial in the Bazine Cemetery, Bazine, Kansas. Friends may call at Fitzgerald Funeral Home from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. Friday with the family present from 7 to 8 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Christ Pilot Me Hill and The Lutheran Hour.

Smith Center – Michael Robert Hughes, 62, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017 at his home in Smith Center, Kan.

He was born Sept. 13, 1955 in Smith Center, the eldest of two sons born to Verla Mae (Stanhope) and Robert Duane Hughes.

Mike attended school in Smith Center, graduating from Smith Center High School in 1973.  While in school, Mike helped care for his friend Jeff Alden, who was wheelchair bound with muscular dystrophy.

Mike attended college for one semester and then returned home to work full time in Smith Center. It was during this time that Mike started a long line of community service. He was one of the youngest city council members ever elected at age 19 in 1975, and when he was re-elected, his peers voted him in as council president. Mike later became a member of Jaycees and Kiwanis, and served offices in both clubs. He was also an honorary member of Rotary. Mike was a member of the Chamber of Commerce for several years, serving on the board of directors and also as Chamber president for two terms. Though Chamber he served on various committees such as Retail Trade, Old Settlers and was on the board of directors of Center Theatre for many years.

In 1974, Mike started a part-time career that would have him traveling around the Midwest for many years. He later became the voice of several area race tracks, not only in Kansas but in Nebraska as well. “Huey” as he was known on the racing circuit, received several awards for his service to auto racing.

Mike became the “Voice of the Redmen” as he emceed sporting events at Smith Center Jr.-Sr. High School and did play-by-play for SCTV, the local school channel as well announcing and emceeing other events around the community as needed.

He served as city recreation director for several years working with both the youth and senior citizens of Smith Center. Mike cofounded the 6-Pack, a singing and comedy group that traveled around the area to entertain people of all ages. In his spare time Mike coached girls’ softball and helped with bingo at the Smith Center VFW.

Mike was a member of the New Covenant Church of Smith Center and enjoyed spending time with his church family and helping the church in various capacities. Mike also enjoyed playing cards and bingo, karaoke, dining out, going to movies, attending sporting, school and musical events; and spending time with his family and friends.

He loved to entertain people and loved to make people laugh.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, uncles Mason Stanhope, Lile Goebel and Charles Hughes; aunts Faye Goebel and Maxine Rush; and cousins Paul Goebel and Linda (Hughes) Relihan.

He is survived by his brother Mitchell (Donelle) Hughes of Smith Center; two nieces Alaina (Matt LaBarge) Hughes of Smith Center, Aurielle (David) Berry of Hays; nephew Anden (Sierra) Hughes of Hays; great-nephews Gavin, Justin and Braxton Hughes and great-niece Zaylee Hughes; uncle Donald (Wilma) Hughes of Smith Center; aunt Marilyn Hughes of Smith Center and several cousins and a multitude of friends.

A celebration of Mike’s life will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017 at Smith Center High School, 300 Roger Barta Way, Smith Center, with Pastor Mike Gooder officiating. There will not be a public visitation as cremation was chosen. Private family inurnment will take place in Fairview Cemetery, Smith Center at a later date. Memorials may be given to the Mike Hughes Memorial Fund and sent in care of All Faiths Funeral Chapel, 113 S. Madison St., Smith Center, KS  66967.

Charlotte Doris Scott Utley, 87, passed away on Dec. 12, 2017 at Park Lane Nursing Home in Scott City, Kansas, after a long struggle with cancer.

Charlotte was born in Cumberland, Wyoming, on March 18, 1930 to Mary (Perner) and Joseph Houston Scott. She was the second of four daughters raised in Scott County, Kansas.

She attended school in Scott City and graduated from SCHS in 1948. In 1951, Charlotte received her degree from KU School of Nursing in Kansas City and practiced as a registered nurse for over 40 years.

Charlotte married Charles Maclyn Utley on Sept. 11, 1954 at the First Christian Church in Scott City, Kansas. They eventually settled in Duncan, Oklahoma, where they lived for over 50 years. They had three children, six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

She was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church, serving at every level from Sunday School teacher to church elder. Charlotte was an excellent knitter and seamstress. She liked to be busy and knitted countless afghans for family and friends through the years.  After retirement, she took up quilting. She enjoyed the Tuesday Morning Quilting group and with them created beautiful and elaborate quilts.

In 2015, Charlotte moved back to her home town and enjoyed living close to her sisters and their families. She was an avid card player, loved quilting with her friends, working and worshiping with her church family, and spending time with her family, especially if a good game of cards was involved.

Charlotte is survived by sons, David and (Sally) Utley of Columbia, S.C., Kevin and (Beth) Utley of Tucson, Ariz,, and a daughter Cathy and (Charles) Wright of Gering, Neb.; grandchildren Sara Utley, Seth Utley, Clinton Wright, Connor Wright, Christopher Wright, and Catherine Winter, and great-grandchildren Gavin, Evelyn, Samantha and Landon; sisters Madeline Murphy of Scott City and Marvel Hopkins of Scott City. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Charles Utley and sister, Patricia Miller of Leoti, Kansas.  

Services will beat 11 am on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at the First Presbyterian Church, Duncan, Okla. She will be laid to rest next to her husband in Duncan Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to Hospice or the First Christian Church of Scott City. Carter Smart Funeral  home will be overseeing services.

Mary Ann Skolout, 92, Hays, died Tuesday, December 12, 2017 at the Hays Medical Center.

She was born July 14, 1925 on her grandparent’s homestead five miles north of Ludell, Kansas the daughter of Ernest G. and Elizabeth C. (Simminger) Nelson.  She graduated from Atwood High School and on May 8, 1946, she was united in marriage to Frank Skolout in Atwood, Kansas.  He preceded her in death.  She was a farmwife and mother and was an excellent seamstress, and rose and flower gardener.  She enjoyed swimming, needlepoint and latch hook, ceramics, traveling, and reading.  She was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, the Daughters of Isabella Circle #254, and she was a volunteer for many years at the Sternberg Museum and Hays Medical Center.

Survivors include a son; Eugene “Gene” Skolout and wife Inez of Colby, Kansas, three daughters; Marilyn Kopriva and husband Martin of Atwood, Pam Luedke and husband David of Atwood, and Jackie Skolout of Hays, a son-in-law; Glenn Hartnett of Palco, Kansas, twelve grandchildren, and sixteen great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Frank, a daughter Jeanette Hartnett, a brother Karl Nelson, and a sister Rose Miller.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 am on Saturday, December 16, 2017 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 1805 Vine Street, Hays, with Fr. Barry Brinkman officiating.  Burial will be at 3:30 pm in the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Colby, Kansas.  Visitation will be from 10:00 am until 11:00 on Saturday at the church.  A vigil service will be at 10:00 am followed by a Daughters of Isabella rosary at 10:30, both on Saturday at the church. 

Memorials are suggested to Sacred Heart School in Colby, Kansas, in care of the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street, Hays.  Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com.

Phillipsburg resident John W. Gibbs passed away Monday, Dec. 11, 2017 at the Phillips County Hospital in Phillipsburg, KS at the age of 87.

He was born in Delphos, KS on Jan. 9, 1930, the son of Wilbur & Hazel (Pinney) Gibbs. He was an Army Korean War veteran.

He married Joyce Halderson on Dec. 24, 1950 in Glasco, KS. His son, Martin John Gibbs, preceded him in death.

Survivors include his wife, Joyce, of Phillipsburg; son, Randy Gibbs, of Wakeeney, KS; daughter, Melissa McKee of Abilene, KS; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Cremation was chosen. A memorial service will be held Friday, Dec. 15, at 11:00 a.m. in the Zion Lutheran Church, Phillipsburg, with Pastors Lee Bennight and Lorna Paulus officiating.

Friends may sign the book on Thursday, Dec. 14, from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Zion Lutheran Church or Donor’s Choice.

Roger M. Hendershot, age 89, of WaKeeney, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family, Sunday, December 10, 2017 at Good Samaritan Society, Ellis, Kansas. He was born June 14, 1928, in Deerfield, Kansas, to Arthur and Edith (Cafferty) Hendershot.

Roger graduated from Trego Community High School and attended Fort Hays State University. He went to serve our country in the U.S. Army for a short time until discharged for medical reasons. On March 17, 1952, he was united in marriage to Betty Irene Bradley Riedell in WaKeeney. They enjoyed 65 years of marriage together. Roger loved his children, “grands,” and “greats” and cherished each hug and kiss. He worked for many years as a Standard Bulk Agent, a WaKeeney policeman, and the WaKeeney Bus driver, working for 20 years until he was 85, helping young and old alike with shopping, errands, and school. Roger enjoyed kids of all ages and always had a joke for all. Roger was a devout Kansas City Chief fan, “helping” them win their most recent game.

Roger is survived by his loving wife, Betty; his children, Chuck Riedell of Hays, Colleen (Richard) Wolf of Larned, Tracey (Terry) Berry of WaKeeney, and Ginny Parker (Randy Schmitt) of Hutchinson; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and a sister, V. Ann Wright of Shreveport, Louisiana. He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Jim Riedell, and a sister, Liza Beth Deines.

Memorial services will be 2:00 p.m., Monday, December 18, 2017 at Schmitt Funeral Home, WaKeeney. There will be no visitation as cremation was chosen. Inurnment will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to WaKeeney General Transportation Bus Fund. Contributions made to the fund may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th St., WaKeeney, KS 67672.

Fox was born September 30, 1940 in Sharon Springs, Kansas to Walter Ray & Esther M. (Hurt) Still. He attended school in Sharon Springs and graduated in 1960.

He joined the US Navy in 1962 and was assigned to the USS Constellation as a Boiler Technician (BT) during Vietnam. He was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon Bar, and Good Conduct Medal. After the end of his service, he returned to Sharon Springs and later was married to Anita Louise Thummel. To this union two sons were born; Shane Paul and Travis Ray. In 1972 he met Sharon (Fairchild) Still and the two were married in 1974. To this union two children were born and one unborn; Windy Ranae and Yancy Lee.

Throughout the years he was employed at Cowles Motor Company, Wallace County Co-op, and T & S Construction. Then took a part-time job working for the City of Sharon Springs with Ron Weehunt as his relief as City Night Marshall until Weehunt resigned. Fox then was hired as Chief of Police. After retiring as Chief, he continued to work for the Wallace County Sheriff’s Office part-time until 2012.

His hobbies included hunting, woodworking, fishing, metal detecting, sculpting, drawing, playing cards, and riding motorcycles. He taught his children the love of hunting and shooting bow & arrow; passing it down to his son-in-law and grandchildren. Fox loved when his children and grandchildren would come to spend time. He was always up to helping with coloring Easter eggs with special $5.00 ones and helping hide them. At Christmastime he would play jokes on the kids such as gifts of coal and old found hot wheels cars, which were later retaliated on him when the kids got older. He made his yard art which was a local attraction bringing people from far and near; especially the children of the community.

He is survived by his wife Sharon of the home, sons Shane (Susan) of Yulee, Florida, Travis of St. Anthony, Idaho, Yancy of Sharon Springs, Kansas, and daughter Windy (Ryan) McClung of Ellis, Kansas; grandchildren Tristan, Samuel, Brooklyn, Kristin, Taylor, Rae, Tabasco, Chloe, Piper, Journey, Hunter, Destany, Justice; great granddaughter Cora; sister Wilma Willham of Eugene Oregon; nephews Shannon and Trent; and niece Sue.
He was preceded in death by his parents Walter Ray and Esther M. Still and an infant child.

Funeral services for Fox will be held on Thursday, December 14, 2017 at 11:00 AM MT at the Wesleyan Church in Sharon Springs with Pastors Seth McGregor, Paul McNall and Chad Pritchett officiating. Burial with Military Honors will be held at the Sharon Springs Cemetery in Sharon Springs, KS.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 13, 2017 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM MT at the Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Sharon Springs.

Memorials are designated to the Raymond Still Scholarship 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 service arrangements were entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Sharon Springs, KS.

Kathryn L. Speck, age 70, passed away on Saturday, December 9, 2017 at the West View Manor Nursing Home in Derby, Kansas. She was born on January 10, 1947 in Wichita, Kansas, the daughter of Floyd James Speck and Ronna Mae Struth. Kathryn was adopted and very dearly cared for by Robert Struth, Sr.

She was a member of the Midway Baptist Church in Wichita, Kansas.

Survivors include her Mother – Ronna Struth of Rose Hill, Kansas and One Nephew – Robert Struth III and wife Kristen of Sterling, Virginia.

She was preceded in death by her biological father, adopted father – Robert Struth, Sr., and One Brother – Robert Struth, Jr.

Services will be held at the Scott County Cemetery in Scott City, Kansas on Saturday, December 16, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. with the Rev. Robert Nuckolls presiding.

Memorials may be made to Kathryn Speck 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 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Friday at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Scott City.