Virgil Lee Wittig, age 80, passed away on Tuesday, September 5, 2017 at Greeley County Hospital in Tribune, Kansas.

Virgil was born October 21, 1936 in Pawnee County, Kansas, the son of Victor & Martha (Scheck) Wittig. A resident of Leoti, Kansas since 1976 moving from the Larned area, he was a retired road grader/ technician for the Wichita County Road Department.

Virgil was a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Scott City, Kansas.

On May 26, 1978 he married Harriet Bertha McLean at Larned, Kansas.

Virgil’s surviving family includes-

His Wife-
Harriet B. Wittig-Leoti, Kansas

Ten Children-
Tammy Banta-Independence, Kansas
Connie Stiles-Independence, Kansas
Sharon Paxman-Tribune, Kansas
Janie Hammons-Fort Gibson, Oklahoma
Rick McLean-Beggs, Oklahoma
Marvin Hammons-McAlester, Oklahoma
Gary Hammons-Arkansas
Donnie Hammons-Caddo County, Oklahoma
Dell Hammons-Great Bend, Kansas
Kenny Hammons-Carnegie, Oklahoma

A Brother-Glen Wittig-Pratt, Kansas

Twenty-seven grandchildren, forty-four great grandchildren, One great great grandchild.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 am Thursday, September 7, 2017 at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Leoti, Kansas with the Reverend Warren Prochnow officiating. Burial will be in Leoti Cemetery in Leoti, Kansas.

Friends may call from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm Wednesday and until services time Thursday at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Leoti.

Alfred John Hammeke, 86, died Sept. 1, 2017, at Ellinwood District Hospital, Ellinwood. He was born March 21, 1931, at Claflin, the son of Joseph and Mary (Heinz) Hammeke.

Alfred married Linda Sue Simpson April 23, 1957, at Kansas City, Mo. A lifetime Claflin resident, Alfred was a longtime Barton County farmer. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, obtaining the rank of CPL, from April 1953 to May 1955.

He belonged to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Claflin, Ellinwood St. Joseph Council 1187 Knights of Columbus, and the American Legion, Hoisington. Alfred enjoyed hunting, fishing, pitch, and was a self-appointed “Lord of the Bottoms.” He also served as a volunteer for the Claflin police department and a bouncer at Kimbo’s.

Survivors include his wife, Linda Sue Hammeke, of the home; seven daughters, Kathy Hines and husband Daniel of Ellinwood, Anne Basgall and husband Alan of Hays, Margaret Frisbie and husband Richard of Claflin, Patty Sager and husband Geoff of Brighton, Colo., Loreen Leyshock and husband Brad of Littleton, Colo., Coreen Skaggs and husband Troy of Chapin, S.C., and Molly Stout and husband Richard of Littleton, Colo.; 17 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, Norman Hammeke, Rev. Gerald Hammeke and Dennis Hammeke; and one sister, Geraldine Buehler.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 5, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Claflin. Vigil and Rosary Service will be at 7 p.m. Monday at the church with Father Terrence Klein, officiant. Interment will be at Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Ellinwood, with Military Rites Conducted by Ft. Riley Honor Guard. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Monday at the church. Memorial donations the Sts. Peter and Paul Heritage Association may be sent in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home.

Linda Kay (Zahradnik) Janda passed away on Friday, September 1, 2017 at her home in McPherson, Kansas at the age of 69. She was born on August 5, 1948 in Ellsworth, Kansas to the late Charles and Ethel (Steiner) Zahradnik. She grew up in the Kanopolis, Kansas area and graduated from Kanopolis High School with the Class of 1966. On September 2, 1966 she was united in marriage to Ivan K. Janda in Wilson, Kansas. They were blessed with two sons, Mike and Dustin.

Linda was a hardworking woman and eventually retired from the Fuller Brush factory in 1998 after more than 20 years of service. She was a huge fan of the Kansas State Fair and spent many years taking her children and enjoying all of the events, entertainment, vendors, and exhibitors. She enjoyed garage sales, playing Bingo, and solving crossword puzzles, often working several puzzle books at one time. But the greatest love of her life was her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and her little dog Speck.

Linda is survived by her sons Mike Janda and wife Teresa of McPherson, and Dustin Janda and girlfriend Diana Shreve of McPherson; brother Delorn Zahradnik of Salina; sister Kathy Sneath and husband Marty of Kanopolis; grandchildren Ashley, Skyler, Brittnay, Caitlin, Casandra, and Mersadys; and great-grandchildren Bentley, Easton, and Adeline.

She was preceded in death by her parents Charles and Ethel Zahradnik, and husband Ivan Janda.

The Proverbs writer reminds us that a woman of noble character is “worth far more than rubies.” Linda was a woman who lived every day of her life, showing us by the example of her character, how to work hard, take care of her family, and love without finding fault. Indeed her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren “will arise and call her blessed” for generations to come.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30am on Thursday, September 7, 2017 at Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home in Wilson. Burial will follow in the Wilson City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2:00-8:00pm on Wednesday at the funeral home with family receiving friends from 6:00-8:00pm.

Keith Adams, 82, passed away Friday, September 1, 2017 in Ellsworth. He was born November 19, 1934 in Nemaha Co. to Loren and Bethel (Page) Adams.

Living in Ellsworth since 1987, after moving from Oberlin, Keith was a retired school superintendent and teacher. He was also a member of the Ellsworth First United Methodist Church and the Ellsworth Kiwanis Club. He married June Conyers on August 20, 1955 in Detroit, MI. She preceded him in death in 1998. He married Lu Cottingham January 2, 1999 in Ellsworth. She survives him.

Keith is also survived by his daughter, Brenda Henke of Osborne; son, Jim Adams of Manhattan; daughter, Lisa Matson of Grimes, IA; son, John Adams of Wamego; nine grandchildren and six great grandchildren; and brother, Bruce Adams of Ham Lake, MN. He was preceded in death by his first wife, June; a granddaughter, great grandson, and sister, Anita Jean Guffy.

Memorial Service: 10:30 a.m., Friday, September 8, 2017 at Ellsworth First United Methodist Church with inurnment following in Ellsworth Memorial Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Keith Adams Kiwanis Scholarship, Ellsworth County Medical Center, J.H. Robbins Memorial Library, or the Salina Rescue Mission, c/o, Parsons Funeral Home, PO Box 45, Ellsworth, KS 67439.

Ray Howell Welch, age 86, of Hays, passed away on Friday August 25th at Via Christi Nursing Home in Hays, KS. He was born June 29th, 1931 in Cherokee Oklahoma to Silas “Olen” and Thelma Welch. He graduated from Cherokee Oklahoma High School. Ray married Virginia (Dupus) Welch November 24th, 1951 and had two children Ronnie and Randy.

Ray and Virginia owned and operated Welch’s Flowers & Greenhouse in Plainville Kansas for almost 50 years. In his early flower shop years Ray helped plant and pick 5 acres of Peony plants by hand for graves on Memorial Day. Their flower shop & greenhouse was next to the fire department so when the fire whistle blew, Ray would open the garage doors to firehouse to save the fire fighters time. Even though he was scared of the height, as a young man Ray traveled the country painting grain elevators. At first, he told his employer he would only help until they got 50 foot off the ground, but once they got that high he kept telling them “I’ll go two more feet” until he ended up at the top.

He is survived by and will be missed greatly by grandsons, Heath Welch of Manhattan, KS & Trinten Wille and wife Melissa of Salina, KS; granddaughters Tiffany (Welch) Becker and Husband Shaun of Logan, KS & Tristina Herl and Husband Bryan of Hutchinson, KS and great grandchildren Graysen, Clayton and Reagan Becker. He was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia; sons, Ronnie & Randy; a grandson Lucas.

Cremation was completed and a private burial will take place in Plainville at a later date.

Thanks to everyone from Via Christi Village and Hospice for being so good to him.

Arrangements are by Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel & Crematory, 2509 Vine St., Hays, KS 67601. To share a memory or to leave condolences, please visit www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or via email at [email protected].

Verna Agnes (Hoffman) Befort, age 86, of Mechanicsburg, PA, and formerly of Hays, KS, died at The Bridges at Bent Creek on Thursday, August 31, 2017, after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. Verna was born on Thursday, April 16, 1931, in Victoria, KS to the late Conrad Hoffman and Christina (Geist) Hoffman. Verna is preceded in death by her ten siblings: Clara Goetz, Mary Hammerschmidt, Leona Manor, Ervin Hoffman, Angie (Huckleberry) Burk, Edwin Hoffman, Elmer Hoffman, Hubert Hoffman, Ernest Hoffman, and Edwin Hoffman.

Verna’s survivors include her husband of 63 years, Vernon “Vern” Sylvester Befort; her three sons: Howard Befort and his wife, LaDonna, Bruce Befort and his wife, Kathy, Brian Befort and his wife, Angie; her eight grandchildren: Tammy, Kassandra, Britton, Michelle, Maggie, Brice, Brandon, Brooke; her two great-grandsons: Brendan and Ethan; two siblings: Henrietta Windholz, Leroy Hoffman; and 38 nieces and nephews.

Verna loved to bake and cook. With three growing sons and a large extended family, she enjoyed hosting dinners or picnics in the backyard. There was never a shortage of good food and homemade desserts. Verna loved to eat popcorn. Many times she would make it the old-fashioned way on the stove top. Any occasion was a good reason to enjoy her favorite snack; and she would often make popcorn balls during holidays and on special occasions for her grandkids. Verna’s big bowl was always close by as she watched her Colorado Rockies and Denver Broncos play on TV. An avid sports fan, Verna’s favorite team to watch and follow was her Rockies. On many summer evenings, she could be found in her chair with her popcorn, rooting on the players and saying colorful things about the coaching.

While raising three active sons, Verna was always at a field or gym. It was a comfort to her boys to know that they could look “over there” and count on their parents to be sitting in the bleachers or on lawn chairs. After games, Verna was always there to encourage her boys’ efforts and to help them handle disappointments and adversities. Their comforting presence did not end with their sons’ events; Verna and Vern traveled many miles and spent countless hours watching their grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and children of their nieces and nephews. Verna and Vern enjoyed traveling; and some of their fondest memories and greatest stories were their adventures with George and Lidia, traveling in a van through the U.S. and Canada.

Family history was especially important to Verna. Together with the help of her nieces and nephews, they published the Hoffman family history book to be enjoyed by generations for years to come. In 2003, it all came together as over 200 relatives gathered for a Hoffman Family Reunion in Westminster, Colorado, to celebrate their loved ones, both past and present. The phone was a part of her life, as Verna loved to talk to family and friends, and always keep up on everyone’s news. Always very generous with their time and love for family; throughout the years, Verna and Vern opened their home and hearts to nieces, nephews, and elders who needed special care, support, and love.

All are welcome to join Verna’s family at her visitation and gathering of family and friends on Sunday, September 10, 2017, from 4:00 p.m. until time of recitation of the Rosary by the Daughters of Isabella at 6:00 p.m. at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel, 2509 Vine Street, Hays, KS 67601. Verna’s family invites everyone to her Mass of Christian Burial on Monday, September 11, 2017, beginning at 11:00 a.m. at The Basilica of St. Fidelis, 900 Cathedral Avenue, Victoria, KS 67671; with Fr. Harvey P. Dinkel celebrating. Burial will follow in St. Francis of Assisi Cemetery in Munjor, KS followed by a time of food and fellowship at the VFW Ft. Hays Post 9076, 2106 Vine Street, Hays, KS 67601.

Contributions in celebration of Verna’s life can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, D.C. 20090, or www.ALZ.org. Verna’s family has entrusted her care to Myers – Buhrig Funeral Home and Crematory in Mechanicsburg, PA, (717) 766-3421.

Read Verna’s full obituary, view her memorial video and portrait, and sign her official guest book at Buhrig.com.

SMITH CENTER – Ardyus E. Burgess, age 104, passed away Monday, September 4, 2017 at the Smith County Long Term Care in Smith Center.

Arrangements are pending. Click HERE for additional service details.

Brian Mark Atwell, 56, Hays, died Friday, September 1, 2017 at his brother and sister-in-law’s home in Hays.

He was born May 15, 1961 in Ransom, Kansas the son of Merritt Charles and Thelma Janice (Stutz) Atwell. He attended elementary and middle schools in Utica and graduated from Utica High School in 1979. He received his Associate’s Degree in Business from Garden City Community College and his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Fort Hays State University.

Brian was the Director of Living Independently in Northwest Kansas (LINK, Inc.) for twenty-seven years and was on the State and National Advocacy Committees for improving the lives of those with disabilities. He has advocated with the Kansas Legislators in Washington, D.C., the Kansas Legislature, Hays Chamber of Commerce, and numerous other groups for changes in policy for bettering individuals. His growing up years on the farm led him to great work ethics and compassion for others. Brian was a member of the Longbeards NWTF group and enjoyed the youth day showing of turkey calls. He enjoyed his Celebration Church family in Hays as well as his Utica, Kansas Christian Church family and friends.

Survivors include two brothers; Dennis Atwell and wife Jennie of Hays, Courtney Atwell and wife Paula of Utica, a sister; Merritta Combs of Pamona, Kansas, nine nieces and nephews; Thad Combs and wife Marisa, Theron Combs, Thane Combs and wife Dana, Jason Atwell, Justin Atwell and wife Trina, Jeff Atwell and wife Jamie, Brooke Nech and husband Justin, Taylor Atwell and wife Jessica, and Danee’ Langer and husband Jeremy, and fifteen great nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

A celebration of Brian’s life will be at 11:00 am on Wednesday, September 6, 2017 at Celebration Community Church, 5790 230th Ave., Hays. Inurnment will be at a later date in the Utica Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00 pm until 7:00 on Tuesday at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street. The family encourages donations in Brian’s memory to the Brian Atwell Memorial Scholarship for youth endeavors, in care of the funeral home. He liked to “pay it forward” to better his community and America. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com