Dalton Trey Garrison, 21, passed away on July 7, 2017 at Hays Medical Center, Hays, Kansas. He was born on January 4, 1996 in Hays the son of Tad and Laurie (Washburn) Garrison.

He was a construction worker, former employee of the City of Ness City and enjoyed riding motorcycles, hunting, and fishing.

Survivors include his father, Tad Garrison, Ness City; mother, Laurie Garrison, Hays; brothers, Tanner Archer, Avon, CO and Jacey Archer, Hays; grandmother, Marvalee Garrison, Ness City; grandmother, Maryln Rogers, Colby and grandfather, Gerald Washburn, LaCrosse. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Darrell Garrison.

Funeral Service will be on Wednesday, July 12, 2017, 10:00 a.m. at the United Methodist Church, Ness City, Kansas. Burial in the Ness City Cemetery. Please dress casual. Visitation will be on Tuesday, July 11, from 6-8 p.m.

Contributions may be given to the Ness City High School in memory of Dalton.

William Donald Albers, 65, passed away on July 8, 2017 at the Via Christi Medical Center, St. Francis Campus in Wichita, Kansas. He was born on November 20, 1951 in Ransom, Kansas the son of Donald and Marguerite (Seuser) Albers.

Funeral Service will be on Thursday, July 13, 2017, 10:30 a.m. at the Praise Fellowship Church, Ransom. Burial in the Ransom Cemetery, Ransom. Viewing will be at Fitzgerald Funeral Home on Wednesday, July 12, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. with the family present from 6 – 8 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be given to Praise Fellowship Church.

Words of sympathy and support may be left for the family at www.fitzgeraldfuneral.com.

Jeffery Lynn Harris, age 47, of Russell, Kansas passed away Saturday, July 8, 2017 at Russell Regional Hospital due to a traffic accident on I-70 in Russell County. He was born August 14, 1969 in Clay Center, Kansas to Beryl Orin and Janice Jolene (Valeka) Harris. He earned an Associates of Applied Science from Northwest Kansas Technical College in Goodland. He married Cindy (Warren) April 4, 2009 in Lansing, Kansas.

He was working for A & D Towing of Russell and had just started his own transport business, DVB Transport Services. He also did automotive and diesel mechanic work as well as siding and roofing. He enjoyed collecting and repairing trucks, cars and boats, riding and working on motorcycles, woodworking, home remodeling, leathercraft work, drawing, tattoo artist, being outdoors and grilling.

He is survived by his wife, Cindy Harris of Russell; his father, Beryl Harris of Plainville, KS, a son, David Orin Harris of Great Bend; a daughter, Ariel Marie Jager of Great Bend; a step-daughter, Bridgett Reed and husband Nate of Houston, TX; five brothers, David Harris of Texas, Jerry Harris of Pittsburg, KS, Tommy Dowling of Russell, Robert Harris of Russell and Neil Harris of Plainville; two sisters, Bonnie Harris and Rose Hare; two step-sisters, Jodi Wolfe and Starla Conner and two grandchildren, Heaven and Nevaeh Jager as well as his pets, Daisy, Brutus and Violet.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Janice Dowling, and a step-mother, Lori Ann Winslow.

A celebration of life service will be 10:30 AM Tuesday, July 11, 2017 at the Otterbein United Methodist Church in Russell. Private family inurnment will be at a later date.
Memorial contributions are suggested for a Memorial Fund for Jeff Harris.

Arrangements in care of Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.

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

Harry M. Thowe, 96, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Thursday, July 6, 2017 at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas.

Harry was born March 18, 1921 on a farm south of Alma, KS. His parents were Carl and Anna (Banka) Thowe. He was the oldest of their five children, and helped on the farm through high school and a few years following. His family were members of St. John Lutheran church in Alma where he was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. In 1942 he would have been drafted into the army, but he enlisted first, serving his country in the South Pacific, in Australia, the Philippines, New Guinea, and Admiralty Islands in the Army Signal Corps. After his time in the military, there was no longer good opportunity for him on the farm, so he used the GI bill to go to school in Manhattan studying Industrial Arts. It was there that he met his wife, Viola Dunker. They were married August 29, 1952 and lived in Kansas City where Harry worked for General Motors doing template layout for Korean war jet aircraft. After the war, Harry was transferred to work on the automobile assembly line which he did for a while. After that he got involved with sales, first selling Snap-on tools, then Kirby vacuum cleaners, and ultimately making a long career selling life insurance for Lutheran Brotherhood. In 1976, he and his family moved to Russell, KS. Harry’s favorite pastimes were socializing, fishing, and playing bridge. He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Russell. He also belonged to the Russell V.F.W. Post #6240 and the Russell Senior Center.

Harry is survived by his son Mark Thowe of Hays, Kansas; his two sisters Elsie George of Augusta, Kansas and Anita Herbert of Long Beach, California; and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, his two brothers Leland and Wilmer, his wife Viola, and a long time companion, Leona Lundy.

Celebration of Harry’s Life will be held at 10:30 AM Tuesday, July 11, 2017 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell. Burial will follow at the Russell City Cemetery, where Military Rites will be conducted by the Russell V.F.W. Post #6240 Honor Guard. Visitation will be from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday, July 10, 2017 at the Mortuary, with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. A Memorial has been established with the Russell Senior Center. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.

Benjamin Walter Crouse, 14, of Atwood, was born on April 10th, 2003. He was baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran faith. On July 4th, 2017 Ben’s promise of eternal life was fulfilled, at the age of 14, when he ascended through the gates of heaven due to injuries sustained in an ATV accident. His final days were spent surrounded by his family and some of his closest friends in Wesley Children’s Hospital, in Wichita, KS.

Although Ben’s time on this earth seems much too short, we take solace in the fact that Ben lived his 14 years to the absolute fullest. Ben was a happy young man with a handsome smile that could light up any room he entered. Ben loved to entertain with his fun-loving antics, followed by his contagious laughter. He was strong, sweet, caring, and charismatic. Ben made sure every day he spent on this earth was enjoyable and was a beloved friend of many.

Ben was an adventurous, athletic, and excitable teenaged boy. He spent a great deal of time playing sports, spending time outdoors, or playing games with his siblings. Ben loved football, whether it was playing it or watching the Broncos on Sunday. He wanted to see everything he could that the world had to offer and enjoyed taking trips with his family to California, Alaska and Hawaii.

God had better plans for Ben and he now joins his Grandpas, Fred Crouse and Gerald Heussman, doing the things that the Lord would have them do for Him. He was the type of young man that anyone would be happy to call a son, grandson, brother, or friend and he will be terribly missed by many.

Ben is survived by his parents Sam and Jan Crouse; siblings, Max Mickunas of Horton, KS, Will, Pete and Amy Crouse, all of Atwood; grandmothers, Elaine Heussman, of Atwood, and Donna Crouse, of Dallas Center, Iowa; as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and dear friends. In keeping with Ben’s loving and generous spirit, his final act of kindness was to give the gift of life through organ donation.

Visitation will be Monday, July 10th, from 4:00-7:00 pm at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Atwood. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, July 11th at 9 a.m. at Rawlins County High School Football Field. Memorials can be sent to the Ben Crouse Memorial Fund in care of Baalmann Mortuary, P.O. Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For condolences or information visit www.baalmannmortuary.com

Billy Dean Oliver, age 81, died on July 6, 2017 at the Grisell Memorial Hospital, Ransom. He was born on September 3, 1935 in Utica, Kansas the son of Lester and Edna Nelson Oliver.

He was the Grisell Memorial Hospital and Long Term Care maintenance engineer for 48 years. He was a member of the Ransom EMT and Fire Departments and is well known for his ability to fix and build anything.

On December 29, 1953 he married Frankie Lee Roths in Ransom. She survives. Other survivors include two sons, Randy Oliver of Ransom and Cody Oliver of Watford City, ND; five daughters, Rhonda and her husband Sam Randecker of Dighton, Sandra and her husband Gary Fehrenbach of Ness City, Pamela and her husband Damon Breit of Hays, DeAnn Oliver of Hays, and Belinda and her husband Mike Martindale of Dighton; 13 grandchildren: Quincy, Amanda, Misty, Cole, Shannon, Shane, Luke, Jesse, Katie, Nick, Randilee, Quintin, and Lance; and 16 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Lester Jr. and James Oliver and great granddaughter, Emalyn Bernbeck.

Viewing at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City will be on Sunday and Monday from 10:00 A.M. until 9:00 P.M. Rosary will be on Monday at 6:30 P.M. followed by the Parish Vigil, 7:00 at Fitzgerald Funeral Home. The funeral service will be on Tuesday, July 11, 2017, 10:00 A.M. at St. Aloysius Church, Ransom. Burial in the St. Aloysius Cemetery, Ransom.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Grisell Memorial Hospital.

Beverly Lou (Dinges) Gross, age 56, of Hays, Kansas passed away Wednesday, July 5, 2017 in Hays. She was born October 18, 1960 in Hays. She graduated from TMP-Marian in 1978.

Beverly was the manager of Musicland for 16 years. She enjoyed making and repairing jewelry, singing, reading going to garage sales and antique shopping.

She is survived by her daughter, Kourtney Gross and fiance William Boos of Hays; two grandchildren, Javon and Leia Searight of Hays; her mother, Alfrieda Dinges of Hays; a brother, Jason Dinges and wife Beryl of Hays; a sister, Karen Staab and husband Pat of Hays; the father of their daughter, Dr. Kirk Gross of Dodge City, KS as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father, Gilbert Dinges and a brother, Kenneth Joe Dinges.

Funeral services will be 10:00 AM Monday, July 10, 2017 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Schoenchen, KS. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be Sunday 5 PM – 8 PM with a combined Daughters of Isabella rosary and parish vigil service at 7 PM all at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.

Memorials are suggested to the St. Anthony Cemetery Fund.

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

Master Sergeant J D Sexton, U.S. Army retired, died July 2, 2017. A native of Crenshaw County, Alabama, he served in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), entering at age 15, serving for two years; was a welder at Gulf Shipbuilding Corporation, Mobile, AL. He was called into the U.S. Army during WW II, where he served in the European Theater of Operations and was a veteran of the Battle of the Bulge. He was spared deployment to the Pacific Theater when the war was ended by the use of the atomic bomb. J D rejoined the Army Reserve in 1957 and retired as a Master Sergeant with 28 years of military service. He worked as an auto body repairman and painter, and later for the Federal Civil Service, 89th U.S. Army Reserve Command.

He is survived by his wife, Melvina (whom he called “Sugar”), a native of Pfeifer, KS, daughter Charlene, Ph.D, LCSW (Joe Hesse); son J. Stan, J.D. a lawyer (Tommye); grandchildren Chris Sexton, Ph.D., developmental psychologist, (Dr. Chris Lominska); Jay, Professor of History, University of Missouri (Julie Wood); Caroline Hesse, MA, bilingual, bicultural educator (Haman Sharma); great-grandchildren Sophie and Benjamin Lominska, and Georgia and Stella Sexton. Also surviving are a devoted niece, Michele Cochran Reese (Kevin); a devoted nephew, Douglas Davis (Allicia); and a true, dear Alabama friend, Grant Vickery.

A memorial Mass will be held at 10:00 AM on July 6, 2017 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 312 N.E. Freeman, in Topeka with visitation at the church at 9:00 AM. A luncheon reception will follow in the church basement immediately after Mass. Inurnment will be at Fort Mitchell National Cemetery, AL, at a future date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Joseph Jesuit Catholic Church, Mobile, AL, or CCC Legacy, in care of Brennan Mathena Funeral Home, 800 S.W. 6th Ave., Topeka, KS 66603.