Betty L. (Brendel) Gottschalk, age 69, of Hays, Kansas passed away Sunday, July 9, 2017 in Hays. She was born August 12, 1947 in Hays to Mitt and Evelynn (Rupp) Brendel.

She was a homemaker and she enjoyed puzzles, playing cards,

She is survived by her husband Robert L. Gottschalk of the home in Hays; two sons, Jerry Lee Simonton and Kevin Lee Simonton and his significant other Angela all of Hays; two step-sons, Roger Gottschalk and wife Pam of Northglenn, Colorado and Jeff Gottschalk and wife Tammy of Holcomb, Kansas; a grandson, Christian Lee Simonton; 6 step-grandchildren; and a niece, Darla Ridnour and husband Nile.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Gary Lee Brendel and a nephew, Darren Lee Brendel.

Graveside services will be 11 AM on Saturday, July 29th at St. Joseph Cemetery in Hays. Arrangements in care of Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601

Memorials are suggested to Hospice at Hays Medical Center.

Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or emailed to [email protected]

Anton B. “Tony” Schmeidler, 83, Hays, died Thursday, July 20, 2017 at HaysMed.

He was born April 13, 1934 in rural Catharine the son of Anton and Anna (Sander) Schmeidler. He was a class of 1954 graduate of Hays High School.

Anton was a farmer, oilman, and worked in construction, working for Pierce-Schippers Construction of Hays, Buck’s Well Service, and Bill’s Well Service and Construction, both of Plainville. He was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. Anton was hard working, loved spending time with his friends and family, and he enjoyed gardening, playing cards and Bingo, putting together picture puzzles, and he loved all of his animals, especially his dog.

Survivors include a brother; Lawrence and wife Dolores Schmeidler of Catharine, four sisters; Sophia Walter of Catharine, Lillian Fisher and husband Victor of Hays, Anna Marie Lessor and husband Laverne of Great Bend, and Gloria Ann Vonlintel and husband Robert of Vincent, a sister-in-law; Elsie Schmeidler of Hays, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers; Edwin Schmeidler and wife Alfreda, and Ralph Schmeidler, a sister; Irene Dreiling and husband Fred, and a brother-in-law; Ralph Walter.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Tuesday, July 25, 2017 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 1805 Vine. Burial will follow in the St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 8:00 on Monday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Tuesday, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine St. A combined parish vigil and rosary will be at 6:30 pm on Monday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested in Anton’s memory for masses, to Via Christi Village, or to Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, all in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com

Gary George Helget, age 69, of Schoenchen, Kansas passed away Wednesday, July 19, 2017 in Schoenchen. He was born July 29, 1947 in Hays, Kansas to George and Alberta (Huber) Helget. He graduated from Ellis High School in 1965.

Gary was a truck driver for APAC for 30 years and worked for Travenol for 10 years before that. He also worked with Bob Munsch Auction as well. He was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church, Schoenchen 3rd degree Knights of Columbus and the Bishop Cunningham 4th degree Knights of Columbus, Sons of the American Legion post 173 and the American Legion Riders post 173. He enjoyed playing guitar with Johnny and the Rebels and also various other area polka bands, riding motorcycles especially his Tri-Glide and hunting with his son.

He is survived by his son, Wade Helget and wife Amy and children, Kevin, Robin, Peyton and Ethan Helget all of Rose Hill, Kansas; a brother, Bob Helget and wife Bernie of Hays and a sister, Gloria Wilson of LaCrosse, Kansas.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother-in-law, BJ Wilson.

Funeral services will be 10 AM on Monday, July 24, 2017 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Schoenchen. Inurnment will follow in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be Sunday 6 PM – 8 PM with a parish vigil at 7 PM followed by a combined Schoenchen Council 3rd degree and Bishop Cunningham 4th degree Knights of Columbus rosary service all at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions are suggested to the Harold Dorzweiler Cancer Memorial Fund.

Condolences amy be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or emailed to [email protected]

Dorothy B. Graham, age 76, of Quinter, passed away Wednesday, July 19, 2017, at Hays Medical Center. She was born October 14, 1940, to Philip A. and Helen Mae (Trowbridge) Ross in Short Hills, New Jersey.

She was part of a family of seven brothers and sisters. She grew to high school age at a generational family home in Short Hills, New Jersey. She completed high school at Washington High School following a move to western New Jersey.

Following high school, Dorothy and a girlhood school friend made a move to Denver, Colorado. There she met Roland Graham at a Church Young Adult group. They were united in marriage on June 6, 1964, at her family home church the White Oak Ridge Chapel in Short Hills, New Jersey.

After the wedding, they made a cross country trip to an oil company job transfer site for Roland. They spent a year, part of which was just north over the rim of the San Fernando Valley, following a time just east of Oakland and San Francisco in northern California.

After a year in California, there then was a move to western Kansas to join in family farm life with Harry and Gladys Graham.

They welcomed and raised their children Tyler Graham and Amy McCornack south of Quinter. Their family also shared their home for a number of childhood years with a guardianship daughter, Deb.

Roland and Dorothy raised their family attending the Reformed Presbyterian Chuch and later spent time together in Study Class fellowship at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church.

Dorothy’s profession of faith has been a trust and stand of the scripture John 14:6. A quote of Jesus Christ the Son of the living Creator God. “I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man comes to the Father except through me.”

Following years of care of a young family and homemaking, there were years of working in town, which included Waldo McBurney’s Tax Service and Honey Processing, The Quinter Clinic/Bluestem Medical, Children’s Neighborhood, Quinter Museum and Caregiving Services.

Survivors include son Tyler Graham (Jackie) of Wichita, KS; daughter Amy McCornack (Kurk) of Piedmont, OK; grandchildren Jake Graham, Jordan, Baylor, Kennedy and Caden Hendren and Dakota McCornack; one brother Donald (Carol) Ross of Tolland, CT, and one sister Kathy (Larry) Bouchard of California.

She was preceded in death by husband Roland, brothers Phillip Ross, Pete Ross, Jack Ross and Sanford Ross; and one sister Gladys Russell.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, July 24, 2017, at Schmitt Funeral Home, Quinter, KS. Burial will be in the Baker Township Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Monday, July 24, 2017, at Schmitt Funeral Home, Quinter, KS

Memorial contributions may be made to Gideon’s Bible Ministry or Quinter Museum Historical Society. Checks made to the organization may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 901 South Main, Quinter, KS 67752.

Hays, Kansas – Phyllis A. Strecker, age 81, died Thursday, July 20, 2017, at Hays Medical Center.

She was born June 25, 1936, in Henryetta, Oklahoma to Troy and Luretha (Guthrie) Hopkins. She married Forrest K. Strecker on September 4, 1954 at Wilson, Kansas. He died October 8, 2014.

She was a Corporate Financial Manager for Beneficial Finance and Western Credit for many years and retired in 2009. She had lived in a number of communities in Kansas including Victoria, Topeka and moving to Hays in 1992. She grew up in Henryetta, Oklahoma and Russell, Kansas. She was a 1951 graduate of Russell High School. She was a member of the First Baptist Church and the American Business Women’s Association. She was named Business Women of the Year in 1974.

Survivors include two daughters, Susan Nebel, Hays, KS; Barbara Strecker-Guadreau and husband, James “Bucky”, Topeka, KS; two brothers, Charles Hopkins and wife, Pat, Gilbert, AZ; Troy Hopkins Jr., Aurora, CO; six grandchildren, Jonathan Burd, Christian Burd, Cameron Gaudreau, Alexis Gaudreau, Caleb Nebel and wife, Grecia, Mariah Nebel; and six great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and one sister, Mildred Hopkins.

Services are 11:00 A.M. Monday, July 24, 2017, at The First Baptist Church, 12th and Fort, Hays, Kansas. Burial in St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery Russell, Kansas.

Visitation is from 6:00 to 9:00 Sunday, at Clines-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601 and form 10:00 to 11:00 A.M., Monday at the First Baptist Church.

Memorials to Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas or The First Baptist Church of Hays. Condolences can be left by guestbook at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or can be sent via e-mail to [email protected]

Farron Lee Leiker, 45, Hays, died Wednesday, July 19, 2017 at The University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City.

He was born September 13, 1971 in Hays the son of Herman J. and Rose Marie “Rosie” (Walter) Leiker. He was a class of 1990 graduate of TMP-Marian High School. On June 6, 1998 he was united in marriage to Amy Sue Gottschalk in Hays. Farron worked in the oilfield for Total Lease Service and was a volunteer fireman with the Ellis County Rural Fire Department Company 9. He was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Munjor, formerly serving with the church council, and was also a member of the 3rd Degree Knights of Columbus Council #11492 of Munjor. He enjoyed riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle, riding trails in his Polaris RZR, playing Pinochle, and going to all of his children’s activities.

Survivors include his wife Amy, of Hays, a son; Thomas J. Leiker of Hays, two daughters; Brianna R. Leiker and Morgan L. Leiker, both of Hays, his parents; Herman and Rosie Leiker of Munjor, his father and mother-in-law; Darrell and Shirley Gottschalk of WaKeeney, his grandmother; Sophia Walter of Catharine, two brothers; Francis Leiker and fiancé Susan Case of Hays, and Fabian Leiker and wife Linda of Mt. Pleasant , SC, three sisters; Kathleen Huser and husband Kevin of Victoria, Kayleen Knoll and husband Shawn of Omaha, NE, and Kolleen Dome and husband Aaron of Hays, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by grandparents; Romuald and Genevieve Leiker, Frank and Katie Pfannenstiel, and Ralph Walter.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Monday, July 24, 2017 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Munjor. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 until 8:00 pm on Sunday and from 9:00 am until service time on Monday, all at the church. A parish vigil service will be at 6:30 pm followed by a Knights of Columbus rosary at 7:00, both on Sunday at the church.

Memorials are suggested to St. Francis Catholic Church, St. Francis Cemetery, or to his children’s education fund, all in care of the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com of via email at [email protected]