Richard Chavez, age 31, passed away on Wednesday, June 7, 2017 at Wichita County Health Center in Leoti, Kansas.   Richard was born June 10, 1985 in Scott City, Kansas, the son of Joe Richard & Debbie (Zamora) Chavez.  A lifetime resident of Leoti, he was an employee in the plastics industry.

Richard’s family includes-

Two daughters-
Tatiana Rosie Chavez- Leoti, Kansas

Erica Ann Chavez-Leoti, Kansas

Mother-
Debbie Chavez-McPherson, Kansas

Five siblings-
Robert L. Chavez-Honolulu, Hawaii
Melissa Chavez-Tribune, Kansas
Daniel L. Chavez-Tribune, Kansas
John Ross Zamora-Salina, Kansas
Shawn Anderson-Wichita, Kansas

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 am (MST) Saturday, June 10, 2017 at the Assembly of God Church in Tribune, Kansas with the Reverend Justin Scherer officiating.

Burial will be in Greeley County Cemetery in Tribune, Kansas

Memorials may be given to the Richard Chavez Memorial Fund in care of the funeral home.

Friends may call from 10:00 am until 8:00 pm Friday at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Leoti, Kansas

Condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at priceandsons.com

Philomena Bertha Agnes (Kreutzer) Berens passed away on Saturday, June 3rd, 2017 at the age of 78, surrounded by her family, in her home in Hickory Creek Texas. She was born on December 22, 1938 in Victoria, Kansas to Fidelis and Philomena (Knoll) Kreutzer. Philomena had fifteen brothers and sisters: Joseph, Georgine, Nicholas, Aloysius, Ludwig, Virgil, Marcellus, Melva, Lillian, Rosie, Irma, Fidelis, Gary, Firma Jean, and Francis. She is survived by her husband, Leroy James Berens, and her five daughters: Michelle Wiora, Hope Berens, Sonja Chuprinko, Laura Pfeil, and Philomena Brady, and eleven grandchildren: Ashley Wiora, Heather (Wiora) LaPorte, Sister Anne Elise (Stephanie Wiora), Kelsey (Wiora) Cox, Shelby Chuprinko, Pierce Chuprinko, Luke Brady, Christian Brady, Rhye Pfeil, Matthew Brady, and Kobb Pfeil, as well as her two great-grandchildren: Layla Cox and Liam Cox.

Philomena, or “Phill”, was a devoted and loving wife to Deacon LeRoy James Berens for 58 years. As a young girl, she was fiercely competitive and gifted athletically, competing in high school track and softball.

Academically, she was a dedicated student and especially loved creative writing. She wrote many poems and short stories and was awarded recognition for them throughout high school. Philomena commented, on many occasions, that it was through the guidance and encouragement of the Nuns at Victoria Rural High School that nourished her love of reading and writing and gave her the courage and inspiration to write. It was in high school that the flaming red haired, beautifully blue-eyed and wonderfully spirited young lady met her husband, Leroy, and they were married on June 9, 1958.

Philomena was an energetic and joyful person, and she committed her life in service to others. During high school she was a house keeper for her neighbor and she also washed dishes and worked as a car-hop. She spent over 35 years in administrative work. When she retired from employment at Richland College she was honored for her dedication and outstanding service. Philomena was always active in her church community, serving as a Lector and Eucharistic Minister and teaching religion classes and Pre marital classes. She was an active member of the Catholic Daughters of America for several years.

Click HERE for service information.

Gilbert Dale Borger, 90, passed away on June 05, 2017 at the Cedar Village Care Center in Ness City, Kansas. He was born on April 17, 1927 at home on the farm South of in Ness City the son of Reinhardt and Amelia “Molly” (Karst) Borger.

He was the Owner – Operator of G and B Dairy Wholesale Foods. He married Phyllis Finnin on Monday, June 13th, 1955, in Ness City. He was a member of the American Legion, Topeka, Kansas

Survivors include his wife, Phyllis Borger of the home; son, Craig (Chandis) Borger, Hays, KS; daughters, Jean (Mike) Munsch, Boise City, OK, Judy (Dan) Parks, Hays, KS , and Joy (Jim) Hord, Olathe, KS; sister, Fay Meyersick; 9 grandchildren, Eric, Lisa, and Brady Borger, Shawna (Garrett) Portenier, Todd, Addison, and B.J. Munsch, Brayden and Sierra Hord; two great grandchildren, Riezlyn Leyser and Waylon Portenier. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Bill, Ruben, Emmanuel and Clarence; sisters, Viola Harmon and Mable Carpenter, and grandson, Cody Munsch.

Funeral Service will be on Thursday, June 8, 2017, 11:00 AM, at the Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City. Burial in the Sacred Heart Cemetery, Ness City. Friends may call at Fitzgerald Funeral Home on Wednesday from 9:00 AM until 9:00 PM with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.

Memorial contributions may be given to Cedar Village or Pheasants Forever.

Bessie (B.J.) Josephine Morehart of Quinter, passed away on May 15, 2017, at Gove County Medical Center at the age of 87.

She was born on August 28, 1929, in Falcon, Kentucky to Blackburn and Stella B. (Adams) Conley. She attended school in Falcon, Kentucky completing 8th grade. Bessie was united in marriage to Warnie Salyer, and then later married Dairl L. Morehart in Indiana on August 1, 1953, enjoying 47 years of married life together. B.J. worked as a seamstress, always showing pride in her work. B.J. enjoyed sewing, crafts, cooking, fishing, camping and traveling with Dairl and their poodles, Gypsy and Jasmine.

Survivors include sons Jack (Sharon) Salyers, Quinter; Dairl (Karen) Morehart, Thorton, CO; daughter Brenda K. Chappel, Quinter; five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and her special poodle “Peek-A-Boo”. She was preceded in death by her parents, five sisters and seven brothers and son-in-law Calvin Chappel.

Bessie will be dearly missed by her family and friends.

Memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 10, 2017, at Schmitt Funeral Home, Quinter. Inurnment will take place at a later date.

A time of visitation and remembering will be one hour prior to the service from 10:00-11:00 a.m. at Schmitt Funeral Home, Quinter.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Gove County Medical Center and Walk-A-Thon for Health. Checks made to the organization may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 901 South Main, Quinter, KS 67752.

Helen D. Gardner passed away June 4, 2017 at the Rooks County Health Center at the age of 90. She was born September 27, 1926 to Charles R. and Valeria J. (Wilson) Dittrick in Marshfield, Missouri. The family moved to Great Bend, Kansas in 1933. Helen attended school in Great Bend and graduated from Great Bend High School in 1944.

She attended Fort Hays State University that fall and met Edwin E. Gardner at a school dance. They were married October 6, 1946 at Great Bend, Kansas. They were blessed with three children, Charles, Gayle and Judy.

Helen worked in Plainville as a Bookkeeper and Secretary. She enjoyed gardening, sewing, playing golf with Edwin and was an avid reader. She was a member of the Plainville United Methodist Church and served with the U.M.W. many years. Helen belonged to P.E.O., Alpha B eta Sorority and the Rural Carriers Guild.

Helen is survived by son, Charles (Chuck) Gardner of Plainville; daughters, Gayle Hayter and husband Ed of Valley Center and Judith Lynn Thompson of Stockton; sister, Dorothy Panning and husband Larry of Ellinwood; grandchildren, Jason Hayter and wife Jammi, Clint Lidstrom and wife Suzie, Ryan Gardner and wife Elizabeth, Donna Lamberton, Rachel Angel and Erin Hayter; great grandchildren, Shelbi and Jacob Hayter, Emma, Ellie & Claire Lidstrom, Lindsey Alt, Lauren Gardner, Beau Angel, Faith and Nicholas Gardner.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Ed; parents, Charles and Valeria Dittrick; brother, George Dittrick; and grandson, Cory Lidstrom.

A celebration of life service will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 9, 2017 at Plainville United Methodist Church. Interment will follow in the Plainville Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday from 1:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with family receiving friends from 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

Charles B. Wilson, 83, Hays, died Monday, June 5, 2017 at the Hays Good Samaritan Society.

He was born October 4, 1933 in Augusta, Kansas the son of Aubrey and Myrtle (Breshere) Wilson. He graduated from Bunker Hill High School. On February 12, 1966 he was united in marriage to Loretta M. Vratil, a union that would endure over 51 years. Charles worked for Home Stake in the oil fields for several years, holding many positions. Later he would become an independent contract pumper.

Survivors include six sons; Dennis McLaughlin and wife Debbie of Schoenchen, Galen McLaughlin of Hays, Terry Wilson and wife Dana of Parshall, ND, Craig McLaughlin and wife Chris of Hays, Mark Wilson of Hays, and Monte Wilson of Hays, grandchildren; Angela Frank and husband Clint, Miki Jenkins and husband Rob, Ryan Fagan, Daniel Fagan, Trent McLaughlin and wife Amber, Trevor McLaughlin and wife Kara, Jessie McLaughlin, and Amber Holm, and great grandchildren; Trenton, Kyler, Madyson, Cole, Ethan, Dylan, Darren, Taj, Kingston, Kamden, Kynleigh, Shanti, Jailysa, Danasia, and Daishon.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a son; Randy Dale Wilson, and 3 brothers; Johnny Kenny, William “Bill” Wilson, and Larry Gene Wilson.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 am on Friday, June 9, 2017 at Cornerstone Southern Baptist Church, 29th and Indian Trail, Hays. Burial will follow in the Gorham Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:30 am until service time on Friday at the church.

Memorials are suggested in Charles’ memory to the Cornerstone Southern Baptist Church, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com

Betty Lou Collins, 80, of Plainville, Kansas, died Saturday, June 3, 2017, at Red Bud Village in Plainville.

Betty was born February 10, 1937, in Pawhuska, Oklahoma the daughter of Sam and Stella Snook Casey. She was a long time Lyons and Plainville resident. Betty attended Chase High School. She was a homemaker. Betty was a member of the Assembly of God Church in Lyons and Plainville. She was also a member of the Pink Ladies at Hadley Regional Medical Center in Hays.

On February 14, 1981, Betty was united in marriage with John B. Collins in Ellis, Kansas. He preceded in her death on March 20, 2006.

She is also preceded in death by her parents; two daughters, Debbie Tolliver and Janie Sneath; brother, Sam Casey; four sisters, Wanda Blankenship, Dora Holliday, Joyce Brady, and Sharon Stahl.

Betty is survived by son, Gene Sneath, Plainville; daughter, Sherry and Dan Clopine, Springfield, Missouri; brother, Lawrence Casey, Hutchinson; four sisters, Mary Brady, Chase, Elizabeth Rinehart, Miami, Oklahoma, Karen Saunders, Plainville, and Jeanie May, McPherson; four grandchildren, Ashleigh Meyer, Matt Clopine, Sam Sneath, Sara Sneath; and seven great grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M., Tuesday, June 6, 2017 at Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons. Graveside funeral services will be 10:30 A.M., Tuesday, June 6, 2017 at Lyons Municipal Cemetery. Memorials can be made to Red Bud Village, Plainville in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons.

Dr. LTC Ret. William Harold Thesing II, age 80, resident of rural Ft. Scott, KS, died Monday, May 29, 2017, at Medicalodge of Ft. Scott. He was born February 11, 1937, in Hays, KS, the son of William and Frances Honas Thesing. He was a graduate of Trego-Wakeeney High School. He obtained his B.S.N. degree in 1963 from Saint Mary’s of the Plains College in Dodge City, KS. He served in the United States Army as a Nurse Anesthetist, retiring after 20 years of service. William was a Vietnam Veteran and received the Legion of Merit Medal, which was presented to him by President of George W. Busch. He obtained his Ph. D. in Healthcare in 1993 and another Ph. D. in Education in 1997 both from Cambridge International University, Rainbow City, AL. In 2004, he received his Legal Nursing Consulting Diploma. In addition to all his years in the health care field, Dr. Thesing was an accomplished pipe organist with many performances throughout the United States and Europe while on active duty. He also played for church services and was a vocal tenor for church music performances. While in Oklahoma, he also co-owned Jim’s Restaurant for 15 years. In Fort Scott he was involved in several organizations including a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, American Legion, and the V. F. W.

Survivors include two sisters, Eleanor Skroh and husband Wilbur, Montpelier, ID, and Berniece Shank, WaKeeney, KS; and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. He was preceded in death by a sister, Beatrice Thesing; two brothers, Henry and Leonard Thesing; and his parents.

Father Robert Wachter will conduct the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 AM Monday, June 5th, at the Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church, Ft. Scott. The Rosary will be prayed at 10:00 prior to the service. Burial will take place at 1:00 PM Wednesday, June 7th, in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Ellis, KS. Military Honors will be provided by the United States Army Honor Guard. Memorials are suggested to the Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.