Elma Lee Bearley Erickson was the sixth of the seven children of Albert Robert “Bob” and Mary Magley Bearley. A brother, Elmer Leroy, died of pneumonia in March before Elma Lee was born October 11, 1927. The parents named her in his memory.

She was raised in a loving home and enjoyed many family activities—also Erickson activities later. When her sister Emma was in second grade, Mother was called to Eastern Kansas to be with her terminally ill sister. It was then that Miss Imogene Howland allowed Elma to attend class with Emma, and it was also then that Elma decided she wanted to be a teacher, too.

After graduation from Atwood Community High School in 1945, Elma attended summer school at Fort Hays to get the required hours to teach. Her teaching career spanned 40 years—five in rural schools in Rawlins County, five in Oberlin Consolidated School and the remainder at Atwood Grade School where she taught first grade.

In 1980 Elma and Algoth “Al” Erickson were married. They helped in Atwood with Elma’s dad until his death in 1986. They also enjoyed traveling and life on Al’s farm.

Elma was a member of the Atwood United Methodist Church but also attended Al’s church, Herndon Covenant. She was a dual member of Easter Star (Atwood and Oberlin), Delta Kappa Gamma, Honorary Teachers Society, Hello There Hobby Club, and Union Club. She served as a Past Matron for the Atwood Eastern Star.

Besides ones listed and her beloved Al, Elma was predeceased by her mother in 1975; brothers, Willie, Alon and Jack; sister, Marie Watkins; and several brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, and nephews.

Loved ones left behind include sister, Emma Threlkel, 30 nephews and nieces and their families; and many cherished friends.

Funeral Service: Monday, July 10th at 10:30 a.m. at the Atwood United Methodist Church with Rev. Keith Reuther officiating

Burial: Fairview Cemetery in Atwood

Memorial Fund: Hospice of Northwest Kansas

Visitation: Sunday from 1:00-8:00 p.m. at Pauls Funeral Home in Oberlin and Monday after 8:00 a.m. at the church in Atwood

Verlene Lucille Mohler, age 98, passed away on Wednesday, July 5, 2017 at the Park Lane Nursing Home in Scott City, Kansas. She was born on June 1, 1919 in Holt County, Missouri, the daughter of Ernest and Pearl Bender Kurtz. A resident of Scott City, Kansas since 1940 moving from Missouri, she was a homemaker.

She was a member of the Prairie View Church of The Brethren in Friend, Kansas.

On October 6, 1940 she married George L. Mohler in St. Joseph, Missouri. He passed away on December 5, 2007 in Scott City, Kansas.

Survivors include her One Son – Rodney & Kay Mohler of Scott City, Kansas, Four Grandsons – Kevin Mohler of Bellavista, Arkansas, Todd Mohler of Katy, Texas, Darrin Mohler of Chandler, Arizona, Shawn Mohler of Scott City, Kansas, One Brother – Ivan Kurtz of Oregon, Missouri, Ten Great Grandchildren and Five Great Great Grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Parents and Two Brothers – Herbert Kurtz, Emmett Kurtz, and One Grandson – Mark Mohler.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 10, 2017 at the Prairie View Church of The Brethren in Friend, Kansas with Rev. Jon Tuttle presiding.

Memorials may be given and made to Prairie View Church of The Brethren in Friend, Kansas in care of Price & Sons Funeral Home in Scott City, Kansas.

Interment will be in the Prairie View Church Cemetery in Friend, Kansas in Scott City, Kansas.

There will be no calling times.

Ernest F. “Ernie” Wolf, 99, Hays, died Tuesday, July 4, 2017 at Via Christi Village Long Term Care.

He was born July 1, 1918 in Hays the son of Carl and Adelheid (Schmidt) Wolf. He graduated from St. Joseph Military Academy in 1939 and was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus Council #1325.

On May 15, 1944 he was united in marriage to Venita VonLintel. She preceded him in death on January 29, 2017. Ernie owned a Nash car dealership, a liquor store, worked at Midwest Tobacco and Candy, was a property manager, farmed for Don Pratt, and was a farmer and cattleman. He truly loved to be on the tractor and checking on his cattle daily. He was an active investor who watched the stock market closely, and he enjoyed sports, watching the Kansas City Royals and Chiefs, the St. Louis Cardinals, and KU basketball.

Survivors include two sons; David Wolf and wife Gloria of Windsor, Colorado and Karl Wolf of Hays, a daughter; Barbara Werth and husband Darrell of Hays, five grandchildren; Ashley Hatfield and husband Bob of Dodge City, Angela Chaffin and husband Matt of Dodge City, Christopher Werth and wife Bethany of Overland Park, Kansas, Ryan Werth and wife Sara of Prairie Village, and Jessica Werth of Kansas City, MO, ten great grandchildren; Amanda Hatfield, Payson Hatfield, Kylie Collins, Maleia Chaffin, Cecelia Fisk, Mary Katherine Werth, Aidan Werth, Brooklyn Werth, Atley Werth, and Bennett Werth, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Venita, four brothers; Ferdinand, Marcel, Clarence, and Carl Wolf, and nine sisters; Marge Stenger, Victoria Wolf, Pauline Dechant, Josephine Rupp, Rose Dreiling, Mary Rupp, Clara Antle, Anna Rupp, and Catherine Wiesner.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Saturday, July 8, 2017 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 215 W. 13th. Burial will follow in the St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 pm until 8:00 on Friday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Saturday, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine St. A parish vigil service will be at 6:30 pm followed by a Knights of Columbus Council #1325 rosary at 7:00, both on Friday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested in Ernie’s memory to St. Joseph Catholic Church, TMP-Marian High School, or to St. John’s Chapel at Via Christi Village, all in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com.

Susan Ann (Soapes) Bierman, age 92, passed away July 3, 2017 at the Brookdale Greenwood Village in Greenwood Village, CO. She was born February 26, 1924 in Greeley, CO to Arlan and Winnie (Walker) Soapes.

She is survived by her daughter Denise (Paul) Yourick of Castle Rock, CO; son Dennis (Barb) Bierman of Sunrise Beach, MO; 5 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

Celebration of Life Services will be at 1:00 PM Saturday, July 8, 2017 at Simmons-Rentschler Mortuary.
Burial will follow in the Olive Branch Cemetery, Kensington, KS.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be given to the Susan Bierman Memorial Fund and can be sent in care of the mortuary.

It is with much sadness that we announce Bryan Lynn Smith suddenly passed away on Thursday, June 15, 2017, at his home in Smith Center, Kansas.

Bryan was born in Hill City, Kansas, on November 28, 1956, to Donald Reed and Peggy (Rust) Smith. He attended school in Hill City before moving with his family to Smith Center in 1965 and then to Colby, Kansas in 1970. After high school Bryan’s work took him to many places and he ultimately returned to Smith Center to work at Peterson’s Industries and to help with the care of his parents.
Bryan willingly shared his kind soul and warm heart with his family and friends. He never ended a visit, phone call or message without telling you how much he loved you.

Bryan was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his daughter, Kelsey L. Smith, and his son, Michael Jones, brother Mitchell R. Smith (Emi) sister Cindy L. Hoffman (Tom), nephews Aaron Smith (Melissa), Christopher Smith (Jenny), Dennis Hoffman, David Hoffman, great nephews Caleb, Aidric and Owen Smith, and many relatives and friends.

Services will be held on Friday, July 7th, at 10:00 a.m., at Simmons-Rentschler Mortuary in Smith Center. Burial will be in Germantown Cemetery, Kensington, Kansas.

Memorials contributions can be made to the Bryan Smith Memorial Fund and can be sent in care of the mortuary.

Myron Joseph Sander, 59, of Collinsville, OK passed away Saturday, July 1, 2017 in Collinsville. He was born December 24, 1957 in Hays, KS to Daniel F. Sander and the former Alexia M. Schmidt. He started as a Police Officer for the Hays Police Department in 1988 where he was the Firearms instructor and the Sharp Shooter for their S.W.A.T. team. He had been with the Campus Police for Jenks Public Schools since 2001. He was an avid outdoorsman, hunting waterfowl, deer and fishing. He was also a member of the N.R.A.

Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 5, 2017 at the Collinsville Dolton Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Thursday, July 6, 2017 at the Collinsville Dolton Funeral Home Chapel with Father Sylvanus Amaobi officiating.

Survived by: his wife: Ruth Sander of the home. 2 children: Molly Lynn and her husband David of Tulsa and Joseph Sander and his wife Amber of Owasso. 8 grandchildren: Preston Lynn, Alexia Lynn, Delilah Lynn, Lorelei Lynn, Spencer Lynn, Calvin Lynn, Evelyn Sander and Dahl Sander. 3 sisters: Mary Rose Peterson and her husband George of Topeka, KS, Dorothy Klaus and her husband Alex of Hays, KS and Cecelia Sander of Manhattan, KS. 2 sisters-n-law: Gerry Cole of Owasso and Elsie Linenberger of Collinsville. 2 brothers-n-law: Gilbert Linenberger, Jr. of Blue Grass, IA and Arthur Cole of Owasso. Several nieces and nephews also survive him.

Services are under the direction of Collinsville Dolton Funeral Home.

Margerete Virginia (Howard) Lowe passed away on Saturday, July 1, 2017 at her home in Stockton, Kansas at the age of 95. She was born on April 2, 1922 on a farm south of Woodston, Kansas to the late Carl and Eva (Bemis) Howard. She always held special memories of going to school and growing up around Lenora, Kansas. Eventually the family moved to Stockton where she graduated from Stockton High School with the Class of 1939. On June 13, 1939 she was united in marriage to N. Efford Lowe in Stockton. They were blessed with five children, Darlene, Virginia, Nick, Cindy, and Kim.

As a waitress and salesclerk, Margarete worked in the Stockton Hotel Restaurant, Bob’s Café, Webster’s Peter Pan/Supermarket, Smith’s Gift Shop, and nineteen years at Cindy Lou’s Main Street Café. To say that she liked to remain busy would be an understatement. Always community minded she was affectionately known by one of her daughters as “Miss Stockton.” She was a member Main Street Christian Church, Epsilon Sigma Alpha, VFW Auxiliary, Century Club, Rooks County Historical Society, Stockton Alumni Association, and the Red Hat Society.

Of the many jobs and responsibilities Margerete had, what she loved the most was being a devoted homemaker, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend, and neighbor. As a young woman she and Efford enjoyed dancing the jitterbug to their favorite big band swing music. A great cook in her own right, her family often said, “She loved us with food.” And when it came to taking care of grandkids, spoiling them, spending time with them, loving and encouraging them, nobody did it better than her. Indeed, her family and friends were her life.

Margerete is survived by her son Nick Lowe and wife Angie of Stockton; daughters Darlene Hartzler and husband Duane of Tucson, AZ, Virginia Angelovic and husband Bob of Loveland, CO, and Cindy Turnbull and husband Tony of Elk City, OK; fifteen grandchildren; twenty-seven great-grandchildren; thirteen step-grandchildren; and twenty-one great-step-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents Carl and Eva Howard, husband Efford Lowe, daughter Kim Ray, and sisters Lucille Zwonitzer and Celia Howard.

It has been said, “Angels live among us. Sometimes they hide their wings, but there is no disguising the peace and hope they bring.” A lover and collector of angels, Margerete was also an angel who lived among us. Her love, devotion, friendship, and caring will live in our hearts for generations here, and for eternity hereafter.

Memorials are suggested to Main Street Christian Church and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 N. First Street, Stockton, KS 67669.

Click HERE for service details.

Paul William Olson of Stockton, Kansas, passed away on July 3, 2017 at Parkview Care Center in Osborne, Kansas at the age of 84. He was born on January 7, 1933 in Jamestown, North Dakota to the late Bert and Ella (Bergman) Olson. When Paul was 7 years old, his father was killed in an auto accident. Paul, his younger brother Donald, and their mother went to live with Uncle Paul Bergman on his farm southeast of Bottineau, North Dakota. He helped with the farm work and attended country school, where he enjoyed playing the ocassional trick on the teacher.

On November 26, 1960 Paul was united in marriage to Joan Knutson from McKenzie, North Dakota. They bought the farm near Bottineau, where they raised their five children. In 1983, they sold their farm and bought the KOA campground in WaKeeney, Kansas where they enjoyed hosting campers for 4½ years. They sold the campground and moved back to Bottineau then Bismarck, North Dakota,. Upon retirement they settled in Stockton, Kansas.

Paul loved working the soil and bringing in the harvest. A “jack-of-all-trades,” he worked part-time as a welder, electrician, and other odd jobs. But his main hobby was woodworking. He helped build the new Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Bottineau, participated in many church activities, and was always a patient, fun-loving father, husband, and friend.

He will be greatly missed by his wife Joan Olson of Stockton; sons Robert Olson and wife Tammy of Bottineau, ND, Michael Olson and wife Brenda of Minot, ND, and Timothy Olson and wife Patricia of Colorado Springs, CO; daughters, Kathleen Clark and husband Kevin of Inman, and Paulette Wildeman and husband Mark of Stockton; grandchildren Kristin Friesen and husband Eric, Dylan Clark, Tyler Olson, Miranda Wildeman, Hannah Wildeman, and Josh Olson; greatgrandson Hunter Clark; brother Donald B. Olson and wife Inez of Fargo, ND; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents Bert and Ella Olson.

It is the hands of a carpenter that hold our todays and tomorrows. Paul has layed aside his working tools today, and the cares of this world for tomorrow, in order to take up the joys of life eternal with the carpenter who is his Lord and saviour. No doubt our hearts can rejoice with his as he hears the words, “Well done, good and faiuthful servant. Enter now into your heavenly rest.”

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, July 7, 2017 at the United Methodist Church in Stockton. A private family inurment will take place at a later date in Oak Creek Cemetery in Bottineau, ND. There will be no visitation. Memorials are suggested to Shepherd’s Hill at the Cross Roads or Alzheimer’s Association and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 N. First, Stockton, Kansas 67669. Words of comfort may be sent to the family at www.plumeroverlease.com

 

Betty Evelyn Henry, age 92, died on July 3, 2017 at the Lane County Hospital, Dighton. She was born on July 23, 1924 in Wichita, Kansas the daughter of Harry and Lydia Roberts Poe.

She grew up two miles from Milton on a small farm. She gradutated from Milton High School in 1942, attended Southwestern College in Winfield for a semester and then transferred to St. Francis School of Nursing in Wichita. She married Lyle J. Henry on September 16, 1947 in Bazine, Kansas. He preceded her in death on August 10, 1969.

She is survived by her daughter, Kathleen Delaney and her husband Dean of Dighton; two sons, Alan Henry of Eureka and Dale Henry of Hays; two grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by four sisters, one brother, one sister-in-law and two grandchildren, Shelly Delaney Wesley and John Earl Henry.

Funeral service will be on Thursday, July 6, 2017, 10:00 A.M. at the United Methodist Church, Ness City. Burial in the Ness City Cemetery. Friends may call on Wednesday from 9:00 A.M. until 9:00 P.M. with the family present from 6-8 P.M. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City.

Memorial contributions may be made to the United Methodist Church and the State of Kansas Talking Books, in care of Fitzgerald Funeral Home.