Marva Jo Bell, age 77, passed away on May 10, 2017 at the Ness County Hospital, Ness City, Kansas. She was born in Thomas Oklahoma on March 22, 1940 to John William and Edith Isola (Osteen) Dillmon. They then moved to Fay, OK where she attended school from first grade to the first half of her seventh-grade year. Then they moved to Kansas where she attended Ashton Grade School; Rome Grade School; then went to South Haven, Kansas for her High School years, graduating in May of 1958.

She married Jerry D. Bell on November 25, 1959. She was working at Bauersfeld IGA Store as a checker in Wellington. To this union three children were born: Jerry D. Bell Jr., Sonya Ann (Bell) Foos, and John Ray Bell.

They lived in Wellington until April 1968 when they moved to Menlo, KS then in 1969 moved to Winona, KS, in 1970 moved to Idalia, Colorado, in 1972 moved to Alexander, KS where they raised their family and resided until 1996. Marva Jo was Vice President of the Alexander State Bank until 1987. In 1989, she went to work in the business office at Barton County Community College where she retired in 2003 after 15 years. She and husband Jerry traveled to South Texas for the winters for five years until his death in 2008. After husband Jerry died she moved to Ness City, KS to be closer to her children. She continued to travel to South Texas for several years by herself. In 2013, she married an old friend, Arnold Watts and the two of them would winter in South Texas. Arnold passed away in February of 2015.

She was a member of the First Christian Church, Wellington and the Order of the Eastern Star, Dodge City, Kansas. In 1983, she was named in Who’s Who in American Women which was an accomplishment and honor.

She was preceded in death by her parents, infant son J.R. Bell, husbands and two sisters, Roberta Currell of Thomas Oklahoma and Wilma Gibson of Scott City, Kansas.

Survivors are her children J.D. Bell and wife Diane of Ness City, Sonya Foos and husband Kevin of Bazine, Kansas; two step-sons Scott Watts of Keller, Texas and Ryan Watts of Auburn Alabama; four grandchildren: Jason and Danielle Foos, Valarie and Ryan Kraft, Laura and Starsky Bauer, and Olivia Bell; two great grandchildren: Gunner Foos and Oakley Bauer; sister, Jenette Cole of Wellington; two brothers: Robert Dillmon of Lawrence, Kansas and Billy Dillmon.

Family and friends visitation will be held on Sunday, May 14 from 6-8 pm at Fitzgerald Funeral Home.

Funeral service will be on Monday, May 15, 2017, 10:00 a.m. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City followed by burial at 3:30 p.m. in the Prairie Lawn Cemetery, Wellington.

Memorial Contribution may be given to the Shriners Hospitals and Burn Centers.

Sharon Springs resident Stephen Michael Wiedeman, went to join his parents in heaven on May 6, 2017 at the age of 65, at the Presbyterian Saint Luke’s Hospital in Denver, CO.

Steve was an only child born to Lena and Ruben Wiedeman. He was born March 1, 1952, and was a lifelong resident of Sharon Springs, Kansas. Steve graduated from Sharon Springs High School and got his pilot license. He was a farmer along with his parents who bought their homeland in Wallace County in 1977, where Steve and his wife lived before he departed this world.

Steve married Norma Wade from Texas on February 28, 2002 and along with that marriage Steve gained a son Robin Wade whom he loved dearly. Steve loved his animals and loved the beauty of the open spaces on the farm. Steve was one of a kind and loved by many. He had a way of always making a person feel special.

Surviving him in death is his wife Norma Wiedeman, son Robin Wade and wife Bekka, and his 2 grandchildren Roxy and Nick.

He was preceded in death by his parents Lena and Ruben Wiedemen and his grandparents.

Graveside services are Friday, May 12, 2017 at 10:00 AM MT at the Sharon Springs Cemetery with Pastor Seth McGregor officiating. Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 11, 2017 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM MT at the Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Sharon Springs, Kansas.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are designated to the NWKS Animal Shelter and may be left at the services or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.

Online condolences may be left at www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com.

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

Norton resident, Wauneta Elaine Wolters Schemper, passed away, Tuesday, May 9, 2017 at the Norton County Hospital, Norton, KS at the age of 99.

She was born November 12, 1917 in Phillips County, Kansas the daughter of Herman and Elizabeth (Tillema) Wolters.
She married Robert “Bob” Schemper on February 23, 1937 in Phillipsburg, Kansas. He preceded her in death in 1990.
She was also preceded in death by her parents; son, Gary; granddaughter, Teresa Schemper; great granddaughter, Chassidy Breese; 2 sisters, Hazel Jansonius & Marilyn Whitsitt; and a brother, Alden Wolters.

Survivors include her 3 sons, Jan & Kenny, both of Prairie View, and Douglas of Long Island; 2 daughters, Carolyn Tien of Prairie View and Sandra Dole of Almena; daughter-in-law, Joyce Schemper of Kearney, NE; 2 sisters, Dolores Walcott of Albuquerque, NM & Rose Erickson of Phillipsburg; 17 grandchildren; 30 great grandchildren; and 12 great great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 15, 2017 in the Prairie View Reformed Church, Prairie View, KS, with Pastor Aaron Rust officiating. Burial will follow in the Prairie View Cemetery.

Mrs. Schemper will lie in state from Noon until 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday with the family receiving friends Sunday evening from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. for visitation in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, 1115 2nd Street, Phillipsburg, KS 67661.

Memorial contributions may be made to the church or Long Island Library.

Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences: www.olliffboeve.com.

Gilbert Von Lintel, 89, Hays, died Thursday, March 2, 2017, at Good Samaritan Society of Hays. He was born Sept. 4, 1927, in Walker to Henry and Clementine (Dreher) Von Lintel. He was a 1947 graduate of Victoria High School.

He married Vera Mae (Stang) on Oct. 27, 1951, in Victoria. She preceded him in death March 26, 2005. After the war, he returned to Walker to farm. In 1960 they moved to Victoria.

Although he continued to farm, his day job was construction. He worked for Hunter Construction, Pierce and Schippers Construction and Allied Construction. He was proud of his contribution to the construction of many buildings on Fort Hays State University campus including Gross Memorial Coliseum, and Forsyth Library, he also built most of the buildings on the Barton County Community College and St. Anthony Hospital in Hays.

He retired in 1991. He was a U.S. Marines veteran and served during the Korean Conflict.

He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Hays. He enjoyed his family and they enjoyed listening to his stories about the Walker Airbase and being a member of a large family and life in the olden days. He loved gardening, playing pinochle and doing word search puzzles.

Survivors include a son, Glenn Von Lintel, Mesa, Ariz.; a daughter, Gail Brack and husband, Mark, Ellis; a brother, Otto Von Lintel and wife, Rita, Hays; two sisters, Catherine Pfannenstiel, Hays, and Joanna Murta, St. Charles, Mo.; a brother-in-law, Ernest Wolf, Hays; a sister-in-law, Blanche Von Lintel, Hays; five grandchildren, Brittany McCoy and husband, Michael, Aaron Von Lintel and wife, Kayla, Sarah Dreiling and husband, Joe, Todd Walker, Christy Schoenthaler and husband, Devin; and five great-grandchildren, Michael and Miles McCoy, and Elizabeth, Eli and Emmitt Dreiling.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; a son-in-law, Jerry L. Walker; twin girls, Mary and Ann Von Lintel; two brothers, Lawrence and Norbert Von Lintel; a sister, Venita Wolf; two half-brothers, Bernard and Linus Von Lintel; seven half-sisters, Angela Richmeier, Appoliona “Lonie” Huser, Agnes Brungardt, Thecla Brungardt, Mary Rohleder, Regina Brungardt and Sophie Stecklein; three step-sisters, Anna (Hertel) Werth, Josephine (Hertel) Leiker and Elizabeth (Hertel) Schmidtberger.

Services will be at 11 AM, Saturday, May 13, 2017 at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Inurnment will be in St. Fidelis Cemetery, Victoria with military honors.

Memorials are suggested to St. Fidelis Cemetery Fund in care of Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 E. 22nd, Hays, KS 67601.

Condolences can be left by guestbook at or can be sent via e-mail to [email protected]

Krista Charise Dietz, 46, passed away unexpectedly, Sunday, May 7, 2017 at her home in Westminster, CO. She was born in WaKeeney, March 1, 1971 to Dean Dietz and Linda Hicks.

Krista married Vahid Sheydaei. They were blessed with a son Chase. They later divorced.

Krista graduated from Goddard High School with the class of 1989 and continued on to earn a Bachelor’s degree at Kansas Newman. She taught school in Wichita and later moved to Denver where she worked in the financial field. At the time of her death she was working as a Lead Customer Service Rep/Operations Specialist at TransAmerica in Denver.

Her favorite pastimes were raising Chase and her pets. Her life revolved around her family.

Left to mourn her passing is a son, Chase of the home; mother, Linda of Wichita; father, Dean (Cindy Schoen) of Wyandotte, OK; sisters, Erin Dietz of Euless, TX, Shannon Fagen of Wichita; niece Ava of Wichita; and cousins and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Wilfred and Nina Dietz and Harlan and Emma Hicks.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, May 13, 2017 at Schmitt Funeral Home, WaKeeney with Pastor Randy Gibbs officiating. Burial will be in the City Cemetery.

There will be a short visitation from 9 a.m. until service time at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Krista Dietz Memorial Fund and sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 N 12th St, WaKeeney, KS 67672. Contributions may also be sent to your local humane society in her honor.

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

Eugene “Gene” French, passed away May 8 at the VA Hospital in Grand Island, NE at the age of 95. He was born August 18, 1921 in Phillips County, KS, the son of Leo and Gladys (Witham) French.

Survivors include his daughters, Joyce Fix & Margene Taylor of Grand Island, NE; 6 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren & 2 great great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Friday, May 12 at 11:00 a.m. in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery with military honors by the Ft. Riley Honor Guard.

Visitation will be from 9:00 to 9:00 Thursday at the funeral home.

Memorials have been established to the Agra American Legion.

Judith Ann Herbster of Falls City, Nebraska, passed away May 2, 2017 in Falls City. She was born April 2, 1955 in WaKeeney, Kansas to Robert E. Wagg and Doris A. (Armbruster Wagg) Peterson. Judy spent her childhood in Ogallah, Kansas.

Judy loved children, and was a daycare provider upon her 1973 graduation from Trego Community High School in Wakeeney, Kansas until she became a Conklin Company distributor in 1979. Little did she know, her decision to join Conklin would change her life forever.

Meeting her husband, Charles W. Herbster, through the company she already loved, on June 26, 1982, they were married at Christview Christian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

To say Judy was passionate about Conklin was an understatement. She was a champion of the business and paved the way for women in the company. Judy was the first woman President’s Club member in 1980; the first female Director in 1982; the first Conklin Director to develop 5 directors in one year; and the first lady to receive the “Director of the Year” Award in 1985. A role model for many, Judy became the first and only woman president of the Conklin company in its 48-year history. Seeing the potential in the corporation, Charles W. Herbster and Judy purchased the company in 1992. Soon after, she was appointed as President and Chief Operating Officer and served as such until her passing.

In addition to her involvement with Conklin, she worked hand in hand with Charles at their companies: Herbster Angus Farms, Inc. and Carico Farms, Inc., Falls City, Nebraska. All three operations are rooted deeply in agriculture, and Judy was dedicated and instrumental to their unparalleled success.

Judy said recently, “Live everyday with no regrets.” She put her heart into everything including cooking meals for the farm family, inspiring corporate excellence and caring for those in need. Judy was a dear friend and uplifting mentor who demanded perfection, pushed for greatness and jubilantly celebrated success. Judy’s legacy of hard-work, desire to serve and devotion to excellence will remain in the lives of every person she met. From her humble youth in WaKeeney to becoming the President and Chief Operating Officer of nearly a 100 million dollar company, she lived the American Dream!

Judy was a member of Bible Baptist Church at Lincoln, Nebraska and the American Angus Association.

Judy is survived by her husband, Charles W. Herbster of Falls City, parents, Robert E. Wagg of Falls City and Doris A. Peterson of Platte City, MO, a brother, Duane Wagg of Platte City, sisters, Sandy Schaben and her husband Jim of Columbus, NE, Anna Cooper and her husband Mark of Platte City, MO, Sherri Willgohs and her husband Dan of Liberty, MO, and 7 nieces and nephews and 10 great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a sister in infancy, Jeanne.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 11, 2017 at 1:30 PM at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, N 64068, 1600 MO-291, Liberty, MO 64068.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 6-9:00 PM at Dorr and Clark Funeral Home, 2303 Harlan St., Falls City, NE 68355.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Judith A. Herbster Foundation which gives aid to hard-working students with financial need. Donations can be sent to: Herbster Angus Farms, PO Box 549, Falls City, Nebraska 68355.

Dolores “Dee” L. Howe, 83, of Russell, Kansas, died on Saturday, May 06, 2017, at the Main Street Manor of Russell Regional Hospital in Russell, Kansas.

Dee was born on June 09, 1933, in Ashland, Kansas, the daughter of Howard L. and Doris (Fox) Burton. She lived for a short while in Ashland, Kansas, before moving to Wichita where she attended and graduated from the East High class of 1951. She met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Richard K. “Keith” Howe on February 14, 1955, at the Palm Beach Air Force Base in West Palm Beach, Florida. From this union Dee and Keith were blessed with two daughters, Cindy and Melanie. The family lived in a variety of locations due to Keith’s employment until making Wichita their home in the 1960s. Dee enjoyed her career as a legal secretary for many years, then as a full time homemaker, wife and mother to her family. Her and Keith moved to Russell in 1991, to be closer to their daughters. She enjoyed watching old classic black and white movies, reading and collecting books, word puzzles, New Mexico, and art by Georgia O’Keefe and Robert Carver. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Surviving family include her husband Keith of the home, and daughters Cindy Smith & husband Harry of Hot Springs Village, AR and Melanie Hamel and husband Mark of Russell; 5 grandchildren, Chris Winkler and wife Aubrae and family of Inola, OK, Ashley Simmons and husband Troy and family of Goddard, KS, Karie Florian of Salina, KS, Drew Hamel and wife Erika and family of Russell, KS and Taylor Hamel and fiance Nick Williams of Garden City, KS and 8 great grandchildren, Andrew Florian and Alexa Florian of Hays, KS, Olivia, Sophia and Boston Winkler of Inola, OK, Hunter and Brooke Simmons of Goddard, KS and Grace Hamel of Russell, KS.

She was preceded in death by her parents, step-father Wright Myers and sister Joan Myers.

A memorial service to celebrate Dee’s life will be held at 1 P.M. on Friday, May 19, 2017, at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell, Kansas, with Pastor Henry Hartman officiating. The family has selected cremation, so there will be no public viewing. Family will be greeting guests from 11 P.M. to 1 P.M. the day of the service at the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.

Hays, Kansas – Nancy Jane Bates, age 78, died Saturday, May 6, 2017, at her home in Hays, Kansas.

She was born November 18, 1938, in Beloit, Kansas to Chester and Lorena (Irey) Fink. She married Donald M. Morehead in 1958 and they had a daughter, Theresa, and then married Harry L. Bates on August 20, 1964, in Beloit, Kansas. Harry died October 28, 2005.

She was the Administrative Secretary for 26 years at the First United Methodist Church in Hays and retired in 2013. She was raised in Downs, she graduated from Downs High School in 1956 and attended Fort Hays State College. Nancy moved to Hays in 1971 from Downs and was very active in the church and community. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, Church Choir, P.E.O., Delta Zeta, Bridge Club, Hays Senior Center and The Sweet Adeline Chorus.

Nancy was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She loved the Lord and tried to live her life as a disciple of Christ. Music was a very important part of her life and she loved to sing until her health no longer permitted.

Survivors include one son, Stephen Bates, Overland Park, KS; two daughters, Theresa Averack, Cheshire, CT; Tracey Bates, Hays, KS; one brother, Roger Fink and wife, Jean, Smolan, KS; three grandchildren, Amanda Jane Langer and husband, Dr. Peter; Danielle May Bates and Aidan Neal Bates.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; one granddaughter, Emily Lorena Averack; and one brother, Rev. Stephen C. Fink.

Services will be at 1:30 P.M. Saturday, May 13, 2017, at the First United Methodist Church, 7th and Ash Hays, Kansas. Inurnment will be at 4:00 P.M. Saturday, in the Downs Cemetery Downs, Kansas.

The family will receive friends from 12:30 to 1:30 P.M. Saturday, at The First United Methodist Church.
Memorials are to: The First United Methodist Church Hays, KS, Hays Senior Center, United Methodist Church Downs, KS, or Hospice of Hays Medical Center.

Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd, Hays, Kansas 67601 is in charge of arrangements. Condolences can be left by guestbook at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or can be sent via e-mail to [email protected]