Catharine, Kansas – Melvina Walters, age 93, died Wednesday, September 20, 2017, at Hays Medical Center, Hays, Kansas.

She was born June 16, 1924, on the family farm north east of Catharine, Kansas to Leo and Ida (Polifka) Walter.

She was a homemaker and worked at Travenol Labs. for 16 years. She attended school in Catharine. She was a member of St. Catherine Catholic Church and St. Catherine Christian Mothers/ Altar Society. Melvina lived her last year on the family farm at Catharine, with her niece, Pam and her husband Will and family. She enjoyed cooking, sewing, quilting, embroidering and being independent for herself.

Survivors include two brothers, Leo A. Walter and wife, Jean, Hays, KS; Melvin R. Walters, Tulsa, OK; one sister-in-law, Sophia Walters, Victoria, KS; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Ralph Walter; two sisters, Bertha Pfeifer and husband, Willie; Edna Schumacher and husband, Richard; two sisters-in-law, Betty Walter and Ellen Walters.

Services are 10:00 A.M. Saturday, September 23, 2017, at St. Catherine Catholic Church, Catharine, Kansas. Burial in St., Catherine Cemetery, Catharine, Kansas.

Visitation is from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M. Saturday, at the St. Catherine Catholic Church. Memorial to St. Catherine Catholic Church, Catharine, Kansas. Services are entrusted to Clines-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 E. 22nd, Hays, KS 67601. Condolences can be left by guestbook at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or can be sent via e-mail to [email protected].

Delmar Emil Chrisler, 81, of Natoma, Kansas, passed away Monday, September 18, 2017 at his daughter’s home in Victoria, Kansas.

Delmar was born June 5, 1936 in Hays, Kansas, the son of H. Don and Leona (Jantzen) Chrisler. He grew up in Ellis County near the Saline River and the Fairport area. He graduated from Natoma High School and then attended Ft. Hays State University. Delmar served his country in the U.S. Army. After his service he returned to the Fairport area.

Delmar was united in marriage to Myra Ann Pfortmiller on June 1, 1963 in Natoma. This union was blessed with four daughters; Michele, Kimberly, Tammy Jo and Brenda. They made their home on the farm near Fairport. Myra preceded him in death on December 2, 2013.

Delmar was a farmer and rancher most all of his life. Also in his lifetime, he was a cattle truck driver, steer wrestler, rodeo clown, the owner and operator of the Plainville Livestock. Delmar was a man who took pride in his farm and especially his daughters and grandchildren.

Delmar’s surviving family include his four daughters, Michele Meier (Kenneth) of Victoria, Kansas, Kimberly Pfanenstiel (Curt) of Victoria, Kansas, Tammy Jo Hammersmith (Todd) of Gorham, Kansas and Brenda Miller (Joe) of Austin, Texas; brother, Gene Chrisler (Dorene) of Natoma, Kansas; five grandchildren, Scott Chrisler, Jasper Chrisler, Gus Pfanenstiel (Ciera), Brooke Pfanenstiel and Cooper Pfanenstiel; and two great grandchildren, Gage and Riggens Pfanenstiel.

Delmar was preceded in death by his parents, wife Myra, brothers, Eldon “Huck” Chrisler and Ralph Chrisler; and sister, Ellen Ruth Strang.

Celebration of Delmar’s Life will be held at 10:00 AM Friday, September 22, 2017 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell. Burial will follow at the Fairport Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Thursday, September 21, 2017 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. A Memorial has been established with the Fairport Cemetery Fund. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.

Doris Crippen, long-time resident of Hill City, Kansas, passed away peacefully September 17, 2017, at Evergreen Care Center in Owasso, Oklahoma, at the age of 87. She was born January 27, 1930, in Hays, Kansas, to the late Jess and Theresa (Feit) Binder.

Doris grew up in Hays and later married Donald E. Crippen, July 15, 1951. They were married for 55 years before Don passed away October 9, 2006. Their marriage was blessed with three sons: Galen, Jerry, and Jeff. Doris was a full-time mom while completing her degree in education at Fort Hays Kansas State College.

After graduation Doris taught special education and first grade at Hill City Elementary School for many years. Her love, kindnesss, and genuine compassion for her students is her legacy as an educator. Others who were fortunate enough to know her recognized those same heartfelt traits. Often when she saw former students, they mentioned how much they loved her telling “Rin Tin Tin” stories to them. In her spare time and after retirement she enjoyed playing bridge or pinochle, solving crossword puzzles, and drinking coffee or tea with her friends.

Doris was preceded in death by her parents Jess and Theresa Binder Martin and her husband, Don.

Survivors left to cherish her memory are her children: Galen Crippen and his wife Sheryl of Sharon Springs, Kansas; Jerry Neeb-Crippen and his wife Ursula of Cologne, Germany; and Jeff Crippen of Owasso, Oklahoma; her eight grandchildren: Jason Crippen and his wife Katie of Wichita, Kansas; Matthew Crippen and his wife Tara of Wichita; Robert Crippen of Phoenix, Arizona; Juliane Neeb-Crippen and Janita Neeb-Crippen of Cologne, Germany; Hannah Lemon and her husband Tom of Kansas City, Kansas; Todd Crippen and his wife Valerie of Kansas City, Kansas; and Nicholas Crippen of Manhattan, Kansas; her six great grandchildren: Brennan Crippen, Ellie Crippen, Serena Crippen, and Ben Crippen all of Wichita; Rose Lemon and Meredith Lemon of Kansas City, Kansas; her sister Mildred Rosell of Seattle, Washington; and eleven nieces and nephews.

Doris was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, trusted confidant and true friend and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Click HERE for service details.

Leland T. Opliger, age 78, passed away Monday, September 18, 2017 at his home in Fairview, KS.

He was born June 12, 1939 in Glade, KS the son of Harry S. & Della (Stevens) Opliger.

Survivors include his daughters, Kathy Bush (Rhonda Gillette) of Pleasant Hill, Iowa and Kay Lyn (Carl) Carlson of Glen Allen, Virginia; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Pauline Opliger of Adrian, Michigan and Lila Bailey of Belleville, KS.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, Sept. 23 at 11:00 a.m. in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with Pastor Mark McGregor officiating. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery, Phillipsburg.

Mr. Opliger will lie in-state on Thursday, Sept. 21, from noon – 9 p.m. and again Friday from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. at the funeral home, with family visitation on Saturday prior to the service from 9:30 a.m. until service time.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Saving Death Row Dogs of Topeka, KS. Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, P. O. Box 563, Phillipsburg, KS 67661. Online condolences: www.olliffboeve.com.

Jerry Monroe Van Osdol, 64, died at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017. He was born on Dec. 6, 1952, in Hays, Kansas, to Perry H. and Hazel I. (North) Van Osdol.

Jerry graduated from Buhler High School in 1971, and was the senior class president. He was one of those rare people who stayed in touch with his school friends. After high school, Jerry attended Hutchinson Community College before relocating to Vail, Colorado, where his love of skiing eventually translated into a long, rewarding career in the ski industry. His career choice never lost its appeal and allowed him to travel across the United States. Jerry also had a lifelong interest in anything with wheels. His happiest times were on the road or skiing.

All the men in the Van Osdol family pursued the rank of Eagle Scout through the Boy Scouts of America. Jerry not only achieved this goal, but was awarded his Eagle badge by Bob Dole, retired United States Senator from the State of Kansas.  In 1969, Jerry and several of his scouting friends attended the Boy Scout National Jamboree in Idaho.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Perry and Hazel Van Osdol, and by his sister, Mary E. (Van Osdol) Rich. He is survived by two sons; Jebadiah M. Van Osdol of Hutchinson, Kansas, and Clay L. Van Osdol of Sacramento, California; granddaughter Kenzy Van Osdol of Hutchinson, Kansas; siblings Perry Van Osdol of Overland Park, Kansas, and Sherry (Van Osdol) Eales of Edmond, Oklahoma.  There are also first cousins and numerous nieces and nephews that mourn his passing as he was known as “Funcle” Jerry. Jerry is also survived by his beloved Pomeranian, Oscar, who traveled thousands of miles with his owner. The two were not often separated.

As per his wishes, Jerry will be cremated, and a Celebration of Life will be scheduled at a later date. This is a fitting remembrance of a  man who ended every conversation with “Life is Good.” Memorials may be designated to Buhler High School or the ASPCA, through Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS  67501.

Thomas Alan “Tom” Walters of Lindsay was born on January 10, 1951 in Hays, Kansas to Albert Walters and Wilhelmene (Graf) Walters. He passed away on Saturday, September 9, 2017 in Lindsay, Oklahoma at the age of 66 years.

Tom grew up in Hays, Kansas and graduated from St. Joseph Military Academy in 1970. He had been a resident of Lindsay for the last 27 years, moving here from Garden City, Kansas. He worked as the Sanitation Truck Driver for the Town of Maysville. Tom enjoyed hunting, fishing, reading, playing bingo, and going to the casinos with his wife, Mary, before her passing. He was a member of the National Rifle Association. He loved professional wrestling and watching the Oklahoma Sooners. He was a member of the Lindsay Church of Christ and he will be dearly missed by his family and friends.

His survivors include his son: Thomas Michael Walters and wife Kayleen of Hays, Kansas. Daughter: Crystal Birch of Hays, Kansas. Stepsons: Dale Root of Lindsay, Willis Keith of Norman, Kerry Keith of Norman, and Dana Gofforth and wife Linda of Garden City, Kansas. Stepdaughters: Tammy Banks and Phillip Hewes of Lindsay, Rose Morrison of Kansas, Corena Henson of Lindsay, and Karol Church of Ohio. Sisters: Darlene Walters of Hays, Kansas, Margie McGivern and husband Jack of Topeka, Kansas, and Becky Morris and husband Roger of Plainville, Kansas. Grandchildren: Chantel Walters, Thomas Michael Walter, Jr., Tayshaun Birch, and McKaylla Walters. 12 step grandchildren and 10 step great grandchildren.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Wilhelmene Walters and his wife Mary Walters.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 am, Wednesday, September 20, 2017 at the Church of Christ, Lindsay, OK with Josh Howe officiating. Cremation arrangements were entrusted to Winans Funeral Home, Maysville, OK. Words of comfort may be sent to the family at www.winansfuneralhome.com