Victoria, Kansas – Mildred M. “Mickie” Brungardt, age 85, died Wednesday, October 11, 2017, at Hays Medical Center, Hays, Kansas.
She was born October 5, 1932, in Loretta, Kansas, to Alois G. and Mary (Weber) Basgall.

She married Paul F. Brungardt on January 22, 1952, at Loretta, Kansas.

She attended Victoria High School, worked at Travenol in Hays and St. John’s Rest Home in Victoria.
Mickie was a member of The Basilica of St. Fidelis, St. Fidelis Christian Mothers and a volunteer on the St. Fidelis Funeral Committee. She was a homemaker and enjoyed gardening, cooking her familiy’s favorite meals, puzzles, crosswords, polka music, reading…especially Volga-German history, and making beautiful crocheted doilies.

Survivors include her husband, Paul F. Brungardt, of the home; one son, Leon Brungardt, Walker, KS; four daughters, Carol Cowger and husband, Chris, Topeka, KS; Lois Yunker, Munjor, KS; Wanda Brungardt and husband, Ron Staab, Victoria, KS; Paula Zwenger and husband, Patrick, Bellevue, NE; one sister, Alvina Engel, Denver, CO; two sisters-in-law, Betty Basgall, Hays, KS, Isabel Basgall, LaCrosse, KS; 11 grandchildren, Cara Cowger, Cory Cowger and fiancé, Erica, Casey Cowger, Aaron Brungardt (Mikala), Jared Brungardt (Nettie), Kris Yunker (Angel), Nick Yunker, Nathan Yunker (Jedel), Sister John Marie Zwenger IHM, Alexandra Fry (Jon), Luke Zwenger; three step grandchildren, Terry Staab (Denna), Kristie Goodwin (Bobby), Jesse Staab and fiancé, Kristina; 12 great grandchildren and 8 step great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two sons, Steve Brungardt and Mark Brungardt; one son-in-law, Tom Yunker; one grandchild, Matt Yunker; one great grandchild, Landon Fry; five brothers, Bernard Basgall, Tony Basgall, Al Basgall, Victor Basgall, A.A. Herman; three sisters, Sister Rita Basgall ASC, Sister Agnes Claire Basgall ASC, and Esther Smith.

Services are at 10:00 A.M. Monday, October 16, 2017, at The Basilica of St. Fidelis, Victoria, Kansas. Burial in St. Fidelis Cemetery.

A vigil service and St. Fidelis Christian Mothers rosary will be at 7:00 P.M. Sunday, at
Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary, 412 Main Street, Victoria, Kansas 67671.

Visitation is from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. Sunday, and from 8:30 to 9:45 A.M. Monday, all at
Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary, Victoria, Kansas.

The family suggests memorials to The Basilica of St. Fidelis or Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Wichita, (KS). Condolences can be left by guestbook at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or
can be sent via e-mail to [email protected]

Hays, Kansas – Ann Arnhold, 95, daughter of Michael and Dora (Fischer) Dechant passed away on Wednesday, October 11, 2017, at the Good Samaritan Society of Ellis.

Ann was born on June 25, 1922, and grew up on farms near Ellis and Plainville. She met her husband, Richard A. Arnhold, at a barn dance shortly after he returned from World War II and they married on November 6, 1946, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hays. They were married for over 60 years when Rich died in 2010. Ann was a farmer’s wife and homemaker. She was happiest on the farm and proud that she and Rich were farmers.

Ann was a member of St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church, Hays, KS, where she often volunteered and was a founding member of the St. Nicholas of Myra Ladies Guild and served as its president . She was a 4-H leader for over 30 years, served for many years on the Ellis County Fair Board and enjoyed exhibiting at the Ellis County Fair. Ann volunteered at the Community Assistance Center and was on the Ellis County Election Board. She loved sewing, being outside in the garden and taking care of her chickens. Ann was an avid pinochle player and belonged to several card clubs.

Together, Ann and Rich raised five children: Don Arnhold, Hays, KS; Dorothy (Jan) Rusch, Victoria, TX; Tom (Joleen) Arnhold Olathe, KS; Ken (Teri) Arnhold, Ellsworth, KS; and Bruce (Darlene) Arnhold, Hays, KS. Ann is survived by nine grandchildren: Leah(Kip) Winterowd, Colleen (Vince) Connealy, Tyler Rusch, Levi Arnhold (Hannah), Kevin (Merritt) Arnhold, Thea (Greg) Reverdiau, Chelsea (Brian) Lewis, Alysia Arnhold and Alayna Arnhold. Ann has seven great grandchildren and two on the way. She is survived by her sister, Katherine Urban.

Ann was preceded in death by two infant sisters and her brothers, Peter Dechant, Zacheus Dechant, Richard Dechant, Henry Dechant, Ralph Dechant and Paul Dechant.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, October 14, 2017, at St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church, 2901 East 13th Street, Hays, Kansas. Burial in St. Joseph Cemetery, Hays, Kansas.

A vigil service and a St. Nicholas Ladies Guild rosary will be at 7:00 p.m. Friday, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday, and from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. Saturday ,all at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays.

Memorials are suggested in her memory to the Catholic Charities of Salina in care of the mortuary.

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

Margery Catherine (Beltz) Pitts was born in Compton, California on April 4, 1925 to Dwight Calvin and Rosa Katherine (Moore) Beltz. She lived there for a short while and then moved with her family back to the farm in Willow Springs, Missouri. She had one brother, Robert “Bob” Beltz, who, along with her parents, preceded her in death.

Her father and grandfather Beltz were farmers and before the Great Depression they also had become skilled, traveling carpenters with California being their greatest travel adventure. From Willow Springs, Mo., her family moved to Bartlesville, Oklahoma where her dad began his long career working for Frank Phillips. Margery loved going to school there and graduated from Bartlesville High School in the top ten of her class. Her parents had already moved to Borger, Texas before her senior year so she lived that year with the family of her best friend, Betty Long.
Her Dad had always encouraged her to go to College, but she was too shy so she chose to go to Business school. Her first career job was working in the business offices of Phillips Petroleum Co. Little did she know, a handsome soldier back from World War II had taken a job nearby working for the same company. Margery met (Linzie) Ray Pitts and they were married on May 30, 1948. They celebrated 50 years of marriage and to this union, three children were born. Mary Pitts, DeeAnn Roberts (Tom), Robert Lynn Pitts (Shelley).

While still a young child, Margery was lead to the Lord by her Grandfather, Frank Beltz, who had been a circuit riding preacher in Northern Kansas. Soon after their marriage, Margie and Ray both felt led to be baptized in the local Borger Baptist Church.

In early 1952 they decided to move to northern Kansas and pursue their dream of having a farm and raising their children in a Christian environment. Margery worked by Ray’s side for 14 years on their dairy farm in Smith County, Kansas. She also grew flower gardens that people traveled for miles to see, and had the best vegetable garden in the community.

While raising their family, Margie and Ray served the Church in Smith Center, Kansas in whatever way God led them. Margery taught the 2 and 3 year olds in Sunday school for over 30 years and also was the church treasurer and then the church clerk. They often invited the pastor’s family and occasional visiting missionary or evangelist to their home for Sunday dinner. They were committed to giving a portion of their garden produce to their neighbors and to their church family.

After leaving the farm and moving to Smith Center in 1967, Margery began working at Smith County Memorial Hospital in the business office and remained there for 23 years until she retired. After retiring in 1990, Margery continued her passion for growing flowers and raising a garden. She even went with Ray rising from time to time but vowed never to clean a fish. She had always sewn and quilted, but after retiring she made some of her most beautiful quilts. She probably made over 100 of them. Everyone in her family has at least one beautiful handmade quilt and she often sent her quilts to missionaries.

After Ray passed away in 1998, Margery moved to Wellington, Kansas to live with her oldest daughter, Mary. She enjoyed reading, doing crossword puzzles and collecting stamps. Mary dedicated the next 19 years to her every need. Margery’s other two children, grandchildren, the spouses and great grandchildren came to visit whenever possible.

Margery Pitts passed from this world into eternity on October 11, 2017. She had a wonderful life and is survived by her children, Mary Pitts, DeeAnn (Tom) Roberts, and Lynn (Shelley) Pitts; grandchildren, Jeff Roberts (Gina), Renee Butler (Will), Amy Denham (Brett), and Cory Pitts (Kaisley); great grandchildren, Lliam, Phinn and Elliot Butler, Levi, Lila and Linkon Denham and Harper Roberts.

Click HERE for service details.

Jeremy “Scott” Lovin, age 41, of Hays, Kansas, died on October 2, 2017 at Hays Medical Center.  He was born in Kansas City, Missouri on October 10, 1975.

Scott was a 1994 graduate of Hays High School.  He went on to work on three degrees from Colby Community College and Fort Hays State University.  He had attained his Master’s degree and was working on his Doctorate.  He loved to learn.  Scott worked as a clerk at different types of businesses.

Family time was one thing Scott enjoyed most in life.  He especially enjoyed his nieces and nephews.  Playing cards, reading a good book, and doing research into many different subjects were among his many hobbies.  He was known as an avid video game player.

Scott is preceded in death by his mother, Carol (Jones) McGuine of Kansas City, Missouri; and his grandparents.  Those left to mourn his passing are his father, Richard D. Lovin and wife, Pat; sisters, Danielle (Joe) Anderson and their children, Isabella and Braiden Anderson, of Ellis, Kathy (Mark) Zahn and their children, Dustin, Logan, and Whitney of WaKeeney; brothers, James (Bonnie) Brungardt, and their children Jimmy, Eric, and Cooper of Victoria, Bill (Skyler) Hankins of WaKeeney; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

His gentle wisdom and gentle laughter will be greatly missed by all.

A family hosted memorial service will be at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 14, 2017 at the United Methodist Church, Ellis.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Jeremy Scott Lovin Funeral Fund, and may be sent to 106 East 10^th St., Ellis, KS  67637.

Della Lucille (Walz) Lamb passed away peacefully in her sleep at Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas on Saturday, September 16, 2017 at the wonderful age of 90.

She was born February 15, 1927 to Ernest G. and Jennie (King) Walz on the family farm southwest of Grinnell. She attended the country school for 2 years and then attended grade school in Grinnell through the 7th grade. Her family moved to Oakley in 1941, where she attended Oakley Schools and graduated from Oakley High School with the Class of 1945. Della worked at Crownover Insurance for 3 years as a secretary to save up money for school. She graduated from Stewarts Beauty School in Salina and became a licensed “Beautician”. She returned to Oakley to operate her own beauty shop, known as Della’s Beauty Shop, for over 12 years.

On June 25th, 1950 Della married Donald Charles Lamb in the old Methodist Church located on Center Avenue in Oakley. They worked hard as young business owners to get ahead with Della in her beauty shop and Don with Don’s Shoe Store in downtown Oakley. After 10 years, Della sold her beauty shop to become a homemaker and mom to her 2 lively children. Della and Don were parents to a daughter Diane and a son Richard (Dick).

She was a great mom and a wonderful cook, providing her family with great home cooked meals every day. Della enjoyed her children and all of their school and summer activities. She was a Girl Scout leader for 5 years and liked to help each summer with day camp at Ottkens Grove. She liked to sew and made lots of their clothes growing up, and even made Prom dresses and Bridesmaid dresses in later years. Della and Don always grew a huge garden in their backyard that provided lots of fresh food, including plenty more for canning. This created an opportunity for a small business for their kids selling fresh veggies to the neighbors. She also enjoyed going fishing with her family. This started at a young age with cane poles, sisters, older brothers and a hike or horseback ride to the Hackberry Creek near their farm by Grinnell. Della, Don and family went to Lake Scott often to swim, fish, have picnics and pick currents and choke cherries (for making homemade jam). Many years of camping and fishing, boating and skiing at Cedar Bluffs, Wilson and Kirwin Lake are happy family memories. Nightly campfires, fried walleye, macaroni & cheese, fresh tomatoes and s’mores were her favorite summer memories at the lake.

Della worked with the Logan County Junior Miss Program for 27 years as a finance committee leader. She enjoyed living in Oakley for most of her 90 long years since it was friendly small town filled with lots of family & friends. She never knew a stranger, liked to tell jokes and laugh and loved to visit.

Della is survived by a daughter, Diane Brown and husband, Bill and a son, Richard “Dick “Lamb all of Hays; 5 grandchildren: Kirsten Dutton Lamb of Oakley; William Cody Brown of Laramie, WY; Sierra Nicole Brown of Lawrence, Jessica Lynn Lamb and Jordan Taylor Lamb both of Waterbury, VT; and one very special great-grandson Cain Mccrae Saint of Oakley. Also surviving is her younger sister, Beula (Boots) Haxton of Scott City, brother-in-law & sister-in-law, Gene and Eunice Lamb of Strasburg, CO and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband Don (2006); sisters and brother-in–laws: Ida & John Suter, Betty & Duane Gibson, brother–in- law Don Haxton, brothers and sister-in-law’s: Ernie & Icie Walz, Christian Walz, Eddie & Marguerite Walz, Floyd & Leah Walz. Also, her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Ivan & Dellar Lamb.

Della’s Memorial Service will be Sunday, October 15, 2017 at 2:00 pm at Kennedy Koster Funeral Home, 217 Freeman Ave, Oakley.

Family and friends gathering after the service will be at the Buffalo Bill Cultural Center, 3083 US Hwy 83, Oakley.

Memorials to Della Lamb Memorial Fund may be sent in care of Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, P.O. Box 221, Oakley, KS 67748.

Online guestbook: www.kennedykosterfh.com

Jeremy “Scott” Lovin, age 41, of Hays, Kansas, died on October 2, 2017 at Hays Medical Center. He was born in Kansas City, Missouri on October 10, 1975.

Scott was a 1994 graduate of Hays High School. He went on to work on three degrees from Colby Community College and Fort Hays State University. He had attained his Master’s degree and was working on his Doctorate. He loved to learn. Scott worked as a clerk at different types of businesses.

Family time was one thing Scott enjoyed most in life. He especially enjoyed his nieces and nephews. Playing cards, reading a good book, and doing research into many different subjects were among his many hobbies. He was known as an avid video game player.

Scott is preceded in death by his mother, Carol (Jones) McGuine of Kansas City, Missouri; and his grandparents. Those left to mourn his passing are his father, Richard D. Lovin and wife, Pat; sisters, Danielle (Joe) Anderson and their children, Isabella and Braiden Anderson, of Ellis, Kathy (Mark) Zahn and their children, Dustin, Logan, and Whitney of WaKeeney; brothers, James (Bonnie) Brungardt, and their children Jimmy, Eric, and Cooper of Victoria, Bill (Skyler) Hankins of WaKeeney; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

His gentle wisdom and gentle laughter will be greatly missed by all.

A family hosted memorial service will be at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 14, 2017 at the United Methodist Church, Ellis.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Jeremy Scott Lovin Funeral Fund, and may be sent to 106 East 10th St., Ellis, KS 67637.

Lillian Kathryn (Bauer) Rusch, 88, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Thursday, October 5, 2017 at the Hays Med Center in Hays, Kansas.

Lillian was born May 12, 1929 in Wakeeney, Kansas, the daughter of John Jacob (Jake) and Eva K. (Bauer) Resley. She was baptized as an infant at the Zion Lutheran Church of Trego Center. She was confirmed in the Lutheran Faith at St. John Lutheran Church in Russell. She attended Russell schools and graduated with the Class of 1947 from Russell High School.
On August 14, 1949, she married Louis A. Rusch at Hoisington, Kansas. They lived in Russell before moving out to the family farm in 1966. They had two children, Connie Lynn and Louis Alan. Her husband preceded her in death on July 21, 1987 after a long illness. In 1997 she sold the family farm and moved back into Russell.

Lillian started working in the Russell community at about 1943. She worked for the Dream Theater and Mecca Theater as a ticket taker and Box office cashier. She was working at the Dream at the time of the fire, worked there until October, 1950. She then worked several years as a waitress at Bonnie’s Steak House, Eat in Time Café and the Tower Café. She then went to work for the A.L. Duckwall Store as head cashier. In April of 1966, she went to work for the Home State Bank as a bookkeeper and teller. She was there when the bank changed hands in March of 1988. She worked for Sunflower Bank until her retirement in 1990.

Lillian was very active in the American Legion Auxiliary. She served her unit as President four times. She was elected 6th District President for the year 1999-2000 here in Russell. She served on many chairmanships on the unit, District and Department level. She was Girl State Chairman for her unit for many years. She was a member of the Past Presidents Parly and a VIM (Life) member of the American Legion Auxiliary and a member of the V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary.

Lillian’s surviving family include her daughter, Connie Klein of Russell, Kansas; son, Alan Rusch of Russell, Kansas; four grandchildren, Tiffinie Mai (Monty), Tammie Becker, Mersadi Rusch and Alexis Rusch; three great grandchildren, Lane Mai, Braden Mai and Bailey Kilian, and a great great grandson, Brantley John Kilian. Freida Bauer sister in law San Diego, CA and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Louis and brother, Vernon Bauer.

A Private family service will be held on Wednesday, October 11, 2017. Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Tuesday, October 10, 2017 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. A Memorial has been established with American Legion Post #99 Auxiliary. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.