DeVane Dinkel, 77, of Russell, Kansas, peacefully passed away Monday, July 31, 2017, at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas.

DeVane was born August 3, 1939, in Brighton, Colorado, the son of Alfonse and Magdalen Dinkel. He was raised on a farm outside of Russell and graduated from Russell High School. Post high school he attended Ft. Hays State University on a scholarship for wrestling. He owned and operated a dairy farm in Smith County, Kansas for 18 years. His next career change was working with his brother, Danny, with D&D construction. On June 17, 1983, he was united in marriage to Marilynn (Miller) Stricker. From 1985 to 2008, with Marilynn they owned and operated the Russell’s Inn Motel. In his retirement, he enjoyed being a bus driver for U.S.D. 407 and as a Senior Companion for some of his best friends. DeVane was a member of the St. Mary’s Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus. He was also a member of the Russell Elk’s Lodge and Great Bend Eagles. He served his community as a Russell City Councilman and Past President of the Russell County Chamber of Commerce. He will be remembered as a fun loving and outgoing husband, father and a friend that appreciated fishing, gardening, boating at Lake Wilson, traveling, cooking and just enjoying life.

DeVane’s surviving family include his wife of 34 years, Marilynn of the home; six children, Jeff Dinkel (Holly) of Phillipsburg, Kansas, Cara Dinkel of Denver, Colorado, Susan Stricker (Brook) of Austin, Texas, Jon Dinkel of Russell, Kansas, Jim Stricker (Sharon) of Shawnee, Kansas and Jason Dinkel (Elsa) of Guam; brother, Danny Dinkel (Susie) of Victoria, Kansas; sister, Diane Hart of Russell, Kansas; ten grandchildren; two great grandchildren.

DeVane was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters, Dorothy Jacquez, Donna Goetz, and Dixie Dinkel.

Celebration of DeVane’s Life will be held at 7:00 P.M. Saturday, August 5, 2017 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary with Fr. Michael Elan officiating. Visitation will be from 9:00 A.M. to Service time on Saturday at the Mortuary, with the family present to greet friends from 5:00 P.M. to service time. Memorials have been established with St. Jude’s Children Hospital or Russell County Food Pantry. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.

Ruth N. Stephens, 86, died August 3, 2017, at Clara Barton Hospital, Hoisington. She was born March 15, 1931, on the family farm in rural Coyle, Oklahoma, the daughter of Harry and Josephine (Hoover) Stanbrough.

A longtime resident of Claflin, she was a homemaker.

On December 4, 1949, she married Clifford Lawrence Stephens in Yuma, Arizona. He preceded her in death on December 1, 2006.

Ruth had a great love of wildlife and nature. Clifford and she loved traveling and camping. For many summers they were camp hosts in Colorado. She loved feeding and watching the birds, especially the hummingbirds. In her later years she began crocheting bird’s nests for bird rescue organizations. She was an avid crafter and could craft things from almost anything. She had many artistic talents and loved to crochet, sew, and make ceramics.
Survivors include: son, Roger Stephens and wife Rita of Claflin; daughter Dawn Hinds and huband Randy of Meridan, Iowa; sisters, Wilda Smart Of Mountain View, Arkansas, and Lorena Miller of Lucerne, California; three grandchildren, Shawna Roark and husband Michael of Garden City, Kansas, Eric Stephens of Hays, Kansas, and Elisha Chambers and husband Chad of Leon, Kansas; and two great grandchildren, Mason and Molly Roark.

She was preceded in death by her husband; and infant twins, son, Bobby and daugther, Bonnie; parents, and stepfather, Luther Stanbrough; four brothers, Herman, Harland, Jack and Bill Stanbrough; six sisters, Mildred Jarvis, Annie Ramsey, Blanche Thompson, Barbra Landis, Bonnie Hurst, Izetta Allison; and an infant great granddaughter, Morgan Roark.

Funeral service will be 2 p.m., Saturday, August 5th, 2017, at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Gene Langhofer presiding. Burial will follow in Claflin Cemetery. Friends may call 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, with family to receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Claflin Ambulance Fund or Claflin Library in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

Bernard William “Ben” Kirmer, 85, died August 1, 2017, at Ellsworth County Medical Center, Ellsworth, Kansas.

He was born November 5, 1931, on the farm in rural Odin, Kansas, the son of Andrew A. “Andy” and Stephanie J. “Fannie” (Zorn) Kirmer.

Ben served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War as a Corporal and rifle instructor.
A longtime resident of the Dubuque and Claflin area, Mr. Kirmer was a lifelong farmer and stockman in the Dubuque area and a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He had a great love of farming that he passed down to his children, and he helped on the farm until his recent health issues.

Ben was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Claflin, Kansas, and a former member of St. Catherine Catholic Church, Dubuque, Kansas. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus Odin Council #2630.
On June 14, 1958, he married Shirla A. Moore in Larned, Kansas. She preceded him in death on February 20, 2010.

Survivors include: sons, Gary Kirmer and wife Patricia, Alan Kirmer and wife Kathy, both of Claflin, Kansas, Dennis Kirmer and wife, Jan of Hays, Kansas, and Marvin Kirmer, and wife Bobette of Claflin, Kansas; daughters, Rita Stueder and husband Alan and Lora Zink and husband Joe, all of Claflin, Kansas; a sister, Irene Carlisle of Woodward, Oklahoma; brothers, Andy Kirmer and wife Lyn of Rogers, Arkansas and Richard “Dick” Kirmer and wife Nancy of Hoisington, Kansas; and 19 grandchildren, Rachel Dolechek, Megan Niedens, Brogan White, Norel Kirmer, Carson Kirmer, Brandy Kirmer, Kyle Kirmer, Kalee Kirmer, Sarah Stueder, Cindy Stueder, Tim Stueder, Abby Stueder, Nathan Zink, Neil Zink, Nicole Koelsch, Natalie Bieberle, Drew Kirmer, Kade Kirmer, and Benn Kirmer; and 12 great grandchildren and several more on the way.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, a brother, Edwin Kirmer and a sister, Viola Bennett.
Vigil service followed by Knights of Columbus Rosary will be at 7: 00 p.m. Friday, August 4, 2017, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Claflin.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, August 5, 2017, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, celebrated by Father Terrance Klein. Burial will follow at St. Catherine Cemetery, Dubuque.
Friends may call 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday at the funeral home and after 6 pm at the church.

Memorials are suggested to the Dubuque Heritage Association or Claflin Ambulance Fund in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

Mary H. (Mader) Lang, former Hays, Kansas, resident, age 92, died Tuesday, August 2, 2017 at the Good Samaritan Society-Ellsworth Village, Ellsworth, Kansas.

She was born August 6,1924, in Park, Kansas to Martin and Mary (Basgall) Mader.  She married Melchior Lang on November 12, 1945 in Park, Kansas.  He died July 11, 2002.

She was a homemaker and a cook at the Quinter Hospital for a number of years.  She retired and moved to Hays in 1981.  She moved to Ellsworth, Kansas in 2011.

She was a member of St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church, Hays and a former member of the Ladies Guild.  She enjoyed cooking, quilting, dancing and her family.

Survivors include two sons, Tommy Lee Lang and wife, Jeanette, Atlanta, GA; David James Lang and wife, Kerstin, Ellsworth, KS;  one brother, Alvin Mader and wife, Esther, Quinter, KS; three sisters, Lillian Mc Dermitt and Esther Befort and husband, James, both of Denver, CO; Angeline Denning, Salina, KS; one sister-in-law – Karen Mader, Kansas City, KS; one brother-in-law, Harold Linenberger, Hays, KS; four grandchildren, Melissa Stroud(Gary), Scott Lang, Chelsea Clough (Josh) and Trevor Lang; nine great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; three brothers, Raymond Mader, Sylvanius Mader, Herbert Mader; four sisters, Hildegard Wilderman, Rose Dreher, Josephine Leiker,  Armella Linenberger; one infant brother and sister, Franiksa and Mary Mader; and one great grandchild, Courtney Stroud.

Services are 9:30 A.M. Saturday, August 5, 2017, at St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic  Church, 2901 East 13th Street, Hays, Kansas.  Burial in  St. Joseph Cemetery, Hays, Kansas.

Vigil service is at 7:00 P.M. Friday, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601.

Visitation is from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Friday, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays and from 8:30 to 9:30 A.M. Saturday, at St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church.

Memorial to St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church.

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

Betty L. Shellito, 93, passed away Monday, July 31, 2017 at Smith County Memorial Hospital – Long Term Care, Smith Center, KS.

Betty was born on December 31, 1923 on the family farm in Smith County, KS, the daughter of Milo and Nola (Sawyer) Hays. On October 21, 1945 she married Raymond O. Shellito in Smith Center, KS, to this union they were blessed with three children, Ray Lee, Barbara and Milo.

Betty was a farmer’s wife through and through, she helped Raymond with building fence, milking cows, taking care of the chickens, hogs, feeding the cattle and anything else they happen to have on the farm. She collected farm toys, tractors, salt & pepper shakers and chickens. Betty and Raymond enjoyed square dancing and did so until they were unable to. Betty loved to cook, grow flowers of any kind, quilting, sewing, embroidering, feeding the birds and any other animals that made their way into her front yard. She enjoyed western movies and would record them for as many hours as possible. Her family commented that she has a large collection of all the western movies she loved to watch. Betty loved to play with Penny their pug and Penny loved when Betty and Raymond would eat any meal because she ate right along with them. Raymond and Betty were inseparable and he will dearly miss her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a half sister Lauraine Rice and her son Milo.

Betty is survived by her husband Raymond Shellito of Lebanon; son Ray Lee (Cindy) Shellito of Smith Center; daughter Barbara (Jim) Sweat of Smith Center; daughter-in-law Sharlyn Shellito of rural Smith County; seven grandchildren, Gunnison R. Shellito of Dallas, TX, Austin A. (Lisa) Shellito of North Lake, TX, Sommer (Damian) Morgenstern of Russell, Laura (Rhett) Kingsbury, Lee Sweat all of Smith Center, Alicia (Lucas) Douglas of Galva, KS and Anthony Shellito of Smith Center; and ten great-grandchildren, Marshall and Henry Shellito, Talia, Ethan and Breely Morgenstern, Sierra, Kinser, Camber and Briggs Kingsbury and Sawyer Douglas.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, August 4, 2017 at All Faiths Funeral Chapel, Smith Center, with Pastor Lance McDowell officiating. Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 3, 2017 from 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. and Friday, August 4th, 8:00 a.m. until service time at the funeral chapel. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, Smith Center, KS. Memorials may be given to the Smith County Memorial Hospital New Building Fund in care of the funeral chapel.

Michael N. “Mike” Sinclair, 67, Plainville, died Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at the Rooks County Health Center after a lengthy battle with cancer.

He was born November 30, 1949 in Springfield, Minnesota the son of Dean N. and Patricia (McCormack) Sinclair. He graduated from Wabasso High School and entered the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged in 1974 with the rank of Sergeant. He received his BS degree in Hospital Administration from Southwest Minnesota State. On January 31, 1981 he was united in marriage to Karen M. Beranek in Libby, Montana. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, a Rural Hospital Coalition, a Blue Cross and Blue Shield panel, and was a tireless advocate for rural health care. He enjoyed spending time with his family and horseback riding.

Mike joined Rooks County Health Center in 2009 and under his guidance the hospital experienced exceptional growth and he used his leadership abilities to establish a team culture. He unified relationships throughout the hospital as well as the county, creating a culture that was one of teamwork with the mindset that health and safety should be first and foremost in all initiatives. He oversaw the opening of the Stockton Medical Clinic and was vital to the recruiting of providers to staff the clinic. He broadened RCH’s footprint even further, beyond the county’s borders, with the opening of Doctors Without Delay, the first daily walk-in clinic offered in Northwest Kansas. Most recently he lent his foresight to unify the county’s pre-hospital care to be coordinated via one Emergency Medical Services provider rather than through separate entities for each city. During his tenure, RCH earned national recognition being named one of the Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals in the United States by Becker’s Hospital Review. RCH received the Kansas Healthcare Collaborative 2017 Leadership in Quality Award of Merit for innovation and quality improvement, one of only three Kansas Hospitals honored. He was instrumental in numerous hospital and service expansions at RCH including Doula and Lactation services, on-site MRI and Nuclear Medicine services, Physical Therapy and Cardiac Rehabilitation, and a new zero-entry pool and walking track for the community.

Survivors include his wife; Karen Sinclair of the home in Plainville, a son; Nolan Sinclair of Plainville, two daughters; Ann Klein and husband Chad of Portland, OR and Christine Dial and husband Skylar of Idaho Falls, ID, three brothers; Patrick Sinclair and wife Dorothy of St. Louis, MO, Dean Sinclair and wife Mary Jane of Tallahassee, FL, and Kevin Sinclair and wife Joan of Wabasso, MN, a sister; Sheila Snyder and husband Elvin of Junction City, OR, his father-in-law; George Beranek of Hays, two grandchildren; Alexandra and Braxton Dial, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister; Sandra Fuhr, and his mother-in-law; Marie Frances Beranek.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 am on Monday, August 7, 2017 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Plainville. Private family inurnment will be at a later date. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm on Sunday and from 9:30 am until service time on Monday, all at the church. A vigil service will be at 6:00 pm on Sunday at the church. Memorials are suggested in Mike’s memory to Rooks County Health Center Foundation or to the Plainville Cardinals Booster Club, in care of the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com

Martha Martin, age 86, of WaKeeney, passed away Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital – Long Term Care, WaKeeney. She was born April 3, 1931, in Stoneham, Colorado, to Jerome Camelius and Emma Anna Marie (Cnockaert) Dupont.

Martha was a graduate of Stoneham High School in Colorado. On October 14, 1950, she was united in marriage to Edward J. Martin, Sr., in Sterling, Colorado. He passed away on December 10, 2006. They enjoyed 66 years of marriage together. She was the first Madam President of the F.O.E. #3774. Among her many hobbies, Martha enjoyed reading a good book, keeping up with current events by reading the paper from cover to cover, crocheting, embroidering, and sewing. She and her family were very musically inclined. She enjoyed playing the accordion in the family band. Famous among family and friends for her talent in the kitchen, fried chicken was one of her favorite dishes. Martha will be dearly missed by many.

Survivors include her three children, Edward Joseph (Marlene) of Great Bend, Patricia “Pat” Kay (Richard) Lovin of Ellis, and Anthony “Tony” Wayne (Lucy) of WaKeeney; nine grandchildren, Erin Rochele (Jonathan) Martin, Kathleen “Kathy” (Mark) Zahn, James A. (Bonnie) Brungardt, Scott Lovin, Danielle (Joe) Anderson, Bill Lee (Skyler) Hankins, Richard (Erin) Martin, and Kimberly “Kim” (Terry) Jukes; numerous great-grandchildren; three brothers, John Dupont of Ft. Lupton, Colorado, James L. Dupont of Sequim, Washington, and Donald J. Dupont of Montevallo, Alabama; and multiple nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ed; an infant daughter; a brother, Ernie; and a sister, Margaret.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Monday, August 7, 2017, at Schmitt Funeral Home, WaKeeney. Burial will be in the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery, WaKeeney.

Visitation will be Sunday evening from 5:00 to 7:00 at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Martha Martin Memorial Fund. Donations made to the fund may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th, WaKeeney, KS 67672.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.schmittfuneral.com.

Phillip “Phil” Grady Krueger passed away Sunday, July 30, 2017 surrounded by family at Havasu Regional Medical Center, Lake Havasu City, Arizona. He was 58.

Phil was born May 24, 1959 to Marilyn Louise Krueger in Russell, Kansas. He grew up on a ranch in rural Woodston, Kansas and later moved to Stockton, Kansas, where he graduated high school in 1977. Phil attended Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas before transferring to the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas where he completed a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.

He met and married Lisa Quakenbush in Hays in 1982. They moved to Topeka, Kansas in 1983 where Phil entered law school at Washburn University, earning his Juris Doctor degree in 1986. They moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1987, Parker, Arizona in 1988, and Lake Havasu City, Arizona in 2001.

Phil practiced law from 1988 until his retirement in January. He worked in Parker with the Law Office of John Churchill from 1988–2000. He opened his own firm in Lake Havasu City in 2000.

Phil was a board member for the Lake Havasu Historical Society, and during his time in Parker was President of the La Paz County Respite Foundation. He loved his Kansas University Jayhawk basketball team and was a lifetime Kansas City Chiefs fan. The Krueger family had its origins in the independent oil production industry and this was also a passion throughout his lifetime.

Survivors include wife, Lisa; daughter, Kimberley (David)Rome; grandchildren, Tyler Barrett, Ashley Barrett, Hayden Rome, and Colton Rome, all of Lake Havasu City; sister, Michelle (Leon) LeSage, Pretty Prairie, Kansas; brother, Kelley Chesney, Wichita, Kansas; several aunts, uncles, cousins, and dear friends. He was preceded in death by his mother, grandparents, Harold and Yvonne Krueger, aunts, Cynthia Krueger and Patty Krueger, uncle and aunt Vance and Mildred Paschal, and cousins Lane Miller and August Krueger.

A celebration of life of Phil’s life will be held Saturday, Aug. 5, 10 a.m. in the Convention Center at London Bridge Resort.

Services were placed in the care of Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home. Thoughts and condolences can be sent to the family at www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.com. To send a free card to the family, go to www.sendoutcards.com/lietzfraze.

Darrell Duane Javens, 60, of Russell, Kansas, died on Wednesday, July 26, 2017, at the Russell Regional Hospital Emergency Room in Russell, Kansas.

Darrell was born on November 04, 1956, in Oroville, California, the son of Melvin D. and Ruth M. (Willis) Javens. He grew up in Oroville, California and graduated from Oroville High School. He attended Butte College and was trained in firefighting. He was a member of the United States Army and served in the Vietnam War. He worked as a firefighter for most of his life and reached the rank of Chief. He was united in marriage to Dolores L. Charter on July 18, 2003, in Reno, Nevada and moved to Russell in 2007. He was a member of the 2nd Baptist Church in Russell. He enjoyed woodworking, driving, being in the mountains, outdoors, cooking and helping people in need in his community. He was a loving father who enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandkids and great grandkids.

Surviving family include his son Leslie Javens of Russell, Kansas; daughters Malissa Pacheco (Jesus Depaz) of Houston, Texas, Kathy Moss (Brian) and Kristina Javens all of Oroville, California; son Brandon Kervin (Misty) Oroville, California, step-daughter Sheila Ogilvie-Funk (Clarence) of Russell and step-son Paul Corwin of Russell and numerous grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers Johnny and Terry Javens and stepson Brian Brackenbury.

A memorial service to celebrate Darrell’s life will be held at 1 PM on Saturday, August 05, 2017, at the 2nd Baptist Church in Russell. Cremation has preceded the service and burial of the cremains will take place at the Cherokee Cemetery in Cherokee, California at a later date. Memorials can be given to the 2nd Baptist Church in Russell and sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the arrangements.