Larry Henry Wilkerson passed away on Wednesday, June 21, 2017 in Maricopa, Arizona at the age of 77. He was born on January 27, 1940 in Lorraine, Kansas to the late Earl O. and Adelaide (Hertlein) Wilkerson. On August 6, 1960 he was united in marriage to Beverly Bollig at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Plainville, Kansas. They were blessed with four children, Larry, Jr., Billy, Sandra Kay, and Robert.

In addition to being a husband and father, Larry spent most of his life working for several local well services, and then as a self-employed truck driver, until his retirement in February of 2017. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was an avid reader and enjoyed camping and working in his garden. He had a great sense of humor and never passed up an opportunity to make someone smile. He delighted in seeing his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Larry had a very strong relationship with God and was clearly at peace with him.

Larry is survived by his sons Larry Wilkerson, Jr. of Harker Heights, TX, William “Billy” Wilkerson of Zurich, and Robert Wilkerson and wife Paula of Maricopa, AZ; daughter Sandra Kay Goings and husband Robert of Bellefontaine, OH; brother James Wilkerson and wife Rachael; sisters Charlene Jones, and Linda Robbins and husband Gerald; brother-in-law Jack Graves; sisters-in-law Carolyn Wilkerson and Cheryl Dedrickson; nine grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Earl and Adelaide Wilkerson, wife Beverly Wilkerson, daughter-in-law Angela Wilkerson, brothers Don and Gary, sister Joyce, sister-in-law Ann, and brothers-in-law Elvin, and Gordon.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, August 5, 2017 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Plainville. Inurnment will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1:00-4:00pm on Friday at the funeral home with rosary service at 3:00pm, and from 6:00-8:00pm at the church with Prayer Vigil starting at 7:00pm.

Emma Laubhan, 108, of Russell, Kansas, died on Friday, July 21, 2017, at Main Street Manor located in Russell Regional Hospital in Russell.

Emma was born on December 30, 1908, in Russell, Kansas, the daughter of Henry Sr. and Eva Margaret (Becker) Stricker. She grew up in the Bender Hill – Milberger area and attended schools there. She met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Theodore “Ted” Laubhan on November 24, 1946, in Ellsworth, Kansas. From this union Emma and Ted were blessed with their son Frank. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and homemaker. She was a longtime member of St. John Lutheran Church in Russell. She enjoyed needlework and other handwork crafts. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

Surviving family include her son Frank Laubhan and wife Margo of Wamego, Kansas; grandsons Matthew Laubhan of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Mark Laubhan of Tulare, California and Mike Laubhan of Manhattan, Kansas.

She was preceded in death by her husband Ted on September 04, 1997, 4 brothers Gottfried, Henry Jr., John and David and a sister Lydia Boxberger.

A celebration of Emma’s life will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday, August 01, 2017, at the St. John Lutheran Church in Russell, Kansas, with Pastor Roger Dennis officiating. Burial will follow after the church service at St. John Lutheran Cemetery in Russell. Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. Monday, July 31, 2017, at the mortuary. Family will greet guest at the church the day of the service. Memorials may be given to St. John Lutheran Church and sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.

Diana W. (Sanders) Hulse died peacefully at Rock Haven Nursing Home in Janesville, Wisconsin on July 16, 2017 at the age of 86. She had faced a long, hard-fought battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Diana was born to parents, Charlie and Madeline (Hutton) Sanders on April 6, 1931 in Stockton, Kansas. She was the second to the youngest of 6 children; later an older sister to two half sisters and three half brothers.

She married Merle D. Hulse on June 20, 1953 in Stockton, Kansas, and the couple had four children. Diana spent most of her life in Stockton, Kansas; but due to failing health, moved to Chanute, Kansas with her oldest daughter, Lila, in 2003 and then to Wisconsin with her youngest daughter, Tammy, in 2008.

Diana was a loving, selfless and devoted mother to her children. She loved babies, her friends, animals, traveling, writing poetry and laughter. Anyone who knew her loved her. She had a courageous, gentle and grateful heart. Diana proudly told everyone she met that she was a cook for 40 years at the Midway Cafe in Stockton. She was a strong Christian and loved her Savior. Before leaving Kansas, the Baptist Church in Stockton became her sanctuary. Her years there seemed to be some of her best.

Diana is survived by her children; Lila (Alan) Dunning, Sharon Hibbard, Jesse (Denise) Hulse, Tammy (Ken) Williams; 10 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and her sister, Ameita. She was preceded in death by her husband, Merle; her parents, her sisters Marjorie and Zelda, her brothers; Donald and Thornton, her half brothers; Bobby, Marion and Charles, and her half sisters; Rosanna and Roberta.

The family would like to extend a special “thank you” to Ginny Grant, her loyal and loving friend and caregiver. In addition, we would like to thank Agrace Hospice Care for giving Mom, in her final days, comfort, dignity and excellent nursing care. We would also like to thank the staff at Rock Haven Nursing Home for their care of Mom over the last year.

A graveside memorial service will be held at Mt. Vernon Cemetery in rural Stockton at 11:00 A.M on September 2, 2017. The family gratefully declines flowers, but prayers are gladly accepted. Diana spent some of her early years as a nursing assistant at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Hays, Kansas and St. Rose Hospital in Great Bend, Kansas. Memorial donations may be made to the Diana Hulse Nursing Fund in care of the Kellerman Foundation. This fund helps educate young African women in nursing programs in Uganda, Africa. Donations to this fund may be sent to Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 N. First St, Stockton, KS.

Albert “Butch” L. Albers passed away at home on July 22, 2017, at the age of 69. He was born to Donald and Marguerite (Seuser) Albers on December 17, 1947 in LaCrosse, Kansas.

Butch was raised on a farm south of Ransom, Kansas. After graduating from high school in 1965, he attended Fort Hays State University, where he received a BS and MS in Botany.

He married Jeanette Tillitson on August 29, 1970. Butch began working for the U.S. Forestry Service in Range Management while living in Magdalena and Glenwood, New Mexico. He was proud to serve in the Forest Service and keep wildfires under control.

In 1975, Butch and Jeanette returned to Ransom where he worked with his father and brother on their family farm. Butch enjoyed hunting, fishing, carpentry, dirt track racing, antiquing, golfing, and playing music. He was a member of the Praise Fellowship Church, where he played bass guitar and sang for many years.

He is survived by his wife, Jeanette, of the family home; two daughters, Lee Ann and husband Paul Cramer of Scott City, Kansas, and Wendy Pettit of Clay Center, Kansas; three grandchildren, Jordan, Logan, and Emily, all of Scott City; two sisters, Donna and husband Fred Klitzke of Glendale, Arizona, and Linda and husband Stuart Dietz of Hudson, Kansas; sister-in-law, Marlene Albers of Bison, Kansas; mother-in-law, Melba Tillitson of Ransom; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Bill.

Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, July 28, 2017 at Praise Fellowship Church, Ransom. Burial will be in the Ransom Cemetery.

Visitation will be Thursday, from 9:00 to 8:00 p.m. with family receiving friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City.
Memorial contributions are suggested to Praise Fellowship Church or North Ness County EMS.

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

Dr. Herman William Hiesterman, 94, of Quinter, KS died Wednesday, July 20, 2017. 

He was born on May 31, 1923, in Palmer, KS, to Herman and Anna (nee Lindhorst) Hiesterman.  Seven children were born into this family; Herman was preceded in death by brothers, Emil, Edwin, Lawrence and sisters Hilda, Clara and Dorothy. Attending local schools, he transferred to Concordia College, Seward, NE for his senior year of high school.  In 1943, he joined the U.S. Army during WWII where he was in the Army Specialized Training Program, then a second lieutenant in the Medical Administrative Corps.  After the war, he graduated from the University of Kansas in 1948 and the University of Kansas School of Medicine in 1951. 

While attending medical school, he met his future bride, Donna Letha Drees, a church organist at Our Savior’s Lutheran church in Kansas City, KS.  They were married on August 20, 1950.  Herman spent a year of internship at Kansas City General Hospital, where he worked with Carl C Gunter, MD.  Herman and Carl, along with their wives moved to Quinter in July 1952 to begin practice with Dr. Ben Morris.  After one year, Herman and Carl went into practice for themselves.  In 1958, Herman completed a surgical residency in Lincoln, NE.  Herman and Carl remained in practice together until Carl’s retirement in 1984.  From 1985, Herman was in practice with Michael Machen, MD and Victor Nemecheck, MD until his retirement from private practice in 1989.  He continued to practice in the Indian Health Service on a part time basis for 9 additional years until 1998.

Herman was an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Oakley, and was also involved in community and school affairs, serving on the Quinter School Board for 16 years. He served as president of the Kansas Medical Society from 1981-1982. For many years, he was on the faculty of the University of Kansas School of Medicine as a preceptor.  Approximately 170 medical students spent their preceptorship with him and Dr. Gunter.  He was a Charter and Certified member of the American Academy of Family Practice and a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Societies.  In 1984, Herman received Alumnus of the Year Award from Kansas University Medical School and in 1993, from Concordia University in Seward.  Hobbies included sports of all types, fishing, hunting, reading, telling jokes and playing his ukulele.  An avid gardener, Herman was especially known for growing delicious corn and German Volga garlic.  As a frugal farmer at heart, he enjoyed nothing better than figuring out how to fix items using only the parts on hand.  

Herman was married to Donna for 50 years, who preceded him in death in 2001.  Survivors include his son, Grant W. Hiesterman (and wife, Janet) of Bloomington, MN; daughter, Amy L. Peterson (and husband, David) of Wheaton, IL; four grandchildren, Matthew and Luke (and wife, Rachel Poker) Hiesterman, Brian (and wife, Renee) and Curt Peterson; two great-grandchildren, Kingston and Riley Peterson; and many beloved nieces and nephews and other relatives.

Funeral service for Herman will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 28th in the Brethren Church, Quinter, with family receiving friends at 9:30 a.m. until the time of service.  Rev. Michael Brockman of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Oakley, KS will be officiating. Burial will be in the Baker Township Cemetery, Quinter.

Memorial donations are suggested to the Gove County Healthcare Endowment or Quinter Senior Citizen’s Center. Donations made to the organization may be sent to Schmitt funeral Home, 901 South Main, Quinter, KS 67752.

Condolences may be left for the family online at www.schmittfuneral.com.

Wilfred Glenn “Wilf” Jacka, age 88, of Oakley, died Friday, July 21, 2017, at the Logan County Manor, Oakley. He was born December 4, 1928 in Utica to Glenn Ivan and Mabel Rose (Hoctor) Jacka. He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving as a Master Sgt. and a Paratrooper.

On July 11, 1953, he married Jessie Brown. To that union were born 5 children. On March 5, 1970, Wilf married Erma (Scott) Sheaks in Scott City. She preceded him in death in 2008.

Wilf was a resident of Oakley since 1991, moving from Scott City. After retiring from Miller Gearhead and Pump, Scott City, he began a second career as a farm hand for Larry Berkgren, until he retired again in 2002. Wilf was a long time member of the American Legion in Scott City. He enjoyed gardening, fishing, and his family.

Survivors include his stepdaughter, Joyce Holzmeister and husband John of Oakley, son, Bill Jacka of Truth or Consequences, N.M.; daughters, Marquita Jacka of Wichita and Joni Brack and husband Ron of Willowdale; 12 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren; and sister, Ardith Linsacun of Snohomish,Washington.

Wilf was preceded in death by his wife Erma, (2008), sons: Tracy and Glenn Jacka; son-in-law, Billie Riggs: stepsons, Shawn and Fred Sheaks; stepgrandson, Zachary Riggs; stepbrother, Darrell Holmes, half-brother, Rudy Jost; and half-sister, Anna (Jost) Haag.

Graveside service will be at 10:00 a.m., Friday, July 28, 2017 at Gove Cemetery, Gove with Pastor Timothy Braun officiating. Service will include Military Honors and inurnment will follow. No visitation. Memorials to: Wilf Jacka Memorial Fund, may be sent to Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, P.O. Box 221, Oakley, KS 67748.

Online Guestbook www.kennedykosterfh.com

Bennett Dee Miller, “Dee” age 77, died July 21, 2017 at the Good Samaritan Center in Goodland. Dee was born on March 22, 1940 in Benkelman, NE to Henry Bennett Miller and Joy Geneva Hester Miller.

Dee attended school in Goodland and graduated from Sherman County High School in 1958. He served in the army from 1958-1961. Dee worked as a federal aviation air traffic controller for 25 years, retiring in 1990. In his retirement, he farmed and did many odd jobs.

Dee married Shelby Hunt at Pilgrim Holiness Church in Goodland on June 22, 1962, and recently celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary. They made their home in Goodland for many of their years together.

Dee loved to tailgate in the K-State “Fan-bulance” and attend K-State games in Manhattan. He supported Goodland athletics by attending games, both home and away. He was very active in Topside Tipoff for years. He loved helping with the fourth-grade Circus trips made possible by the Shriners. He was a Mason and was active in the Elks lodge for several years. Dee also had many hobbies including: fishing, bowling, cards, and fantasy sports.

He is survived by his wife, Shelby of the home, sister Judy (Bob) Hill, Cleo Springs, OK; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, great-great-nieces and nephews, and a host of friends.

He was preceded in death by his son, Chad Miller; his parents, Bennett and Joy Miller; and a half brother and a half sister.

Visitation will be Monday, July 24, 2017 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM MT at Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland. Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, July 25, 2017 at 10:30 AM MT at the Harvest Evangelical Free Church. Interment will follow in the Goodland Cemetery, Goodland, KS with Military Honors provided by the Goodland VFW Post 1133.

Memorial contributions may be designated to the Topside Tipoff or to the Goodland Regional Medical Center Auxiliary and may be left at the services or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.

Online condolences for the family may be left at www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com.

Funeral service arrangements were entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.

Douglas L. Kirchhoff, age 60, passed away Friday, July 21, 2017 at the Mosaic in Beatrice, NE. He was born May 24, 1957 in Smith Center, KS to Lovelle and Verla (Engelke) Kirchhoff.

Doug was preceded in death by his grandparents Willie & Erna Engelke, Dick & Alwina Kirchhoff, his mother Verla Kirchhoff and a niece Erin Rietzke.

Doug is survived by his father Lovelle (Elzene) of Smith Center, KS; sister Kimberly (Vincent) Rietzke of Kensington, KS; brother Todd (Christina) of Athol, KS and many nieces and nephews.

Click HERE for service details.