WaKeeney, Kansas, resident Don Wilkinson passed away at his residence, on Wednesday, August 28, 2019. He was 77 years of age. Don was born April 4, 1942, in Collierville, Tennessee, to Mark S. and Mary Davis (Humphreys) Wilkinson.

Don attended Mt. Pleasant Elementary and Slayton High School, in Mississippi. In 1963, he moved to the San Fernando Valley, in California. Don met Karen Seran there and they were united in marriage August 29, 1964, in Las Vegas, Nevada. To this union, two children, Kim and Don, were born. In 1973, they moved to Colorado, where they enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing, and weekend farming. He worked as a welder for thirty years. His last place of employment, before retirement, was Fisher Imaging. In 2003, Don and Karen moved to WaKeeney to enjoy retirement and time with family.

He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years; daughter, Kim (Kenny) Schmidt of Ellis, Kansas; son, Don Jr. (Tracy) of Waverly, Iowa; grandchildren, Scott (Shelby Plank) Fuller of Lawrence, Kansas, Seth (Sierra Cunningham) Fuller of Ellis, and Spencer Fuller of Lawrence; and sisters, Alliene, Sandra, and Flora. He was preceded in death by parents; brothers, James, Joe, Mark Jr.; and sister, Nora.

Funeral service will be 10:30, Tuesday, September 3, 2019, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, WaKeeney. Burial will take place at WaKeeney City Cemetery.

Visitation will be Monday evening, from 5:00 to 7:00 at the funeral home in WaKeeney.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Hospice Services, Inc. Donations to the organization may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th Street, WaKeeney, KS 67672.

Joyce Dee (Hays) Richardson, daughter of Otto and Pearl (Strutt) Hays, was born on August 24, 1936, on a farm southwest of Alton, Kansas, in Mt. Ayr Township in Osborne County, Kansas. She passed away on August 28, 2019 at Solomon Valley Manor in Stockton, Kansas, at the age of 83.

Joyce received her elementary education at Pleasant Plain School, Osborne County. She attended Natoma Rural High School graduating in 1954. The summer before she was a senior she began working at the Do-Drop Inn restaurant in Stockton. She continued working there on weekends until she graduated and then began working there full time, however, she decided that wasn’t what she wanted to do with her life. She returned to the farm and began working for her uncle and aunt, Van and Marjorie Strutt. In March of 1955 she began working for the United States Department of Agriculture, in the ASCS office in Osborne. She then worked in the County Treasurer’s office, the County Agricultural Extension Office, back to the County Treasurer’s Office as Deputy County Treasurer and then became County Treasurer of Osborne County. She then began working in Stockton as the Deputy County Treasurer of Rooks County. In 1966 she began working as secretary in the Stockton school system until her retirement in 1995.

She was married to Donald L. Richardson, July 14, 1962, at the First Methodist Church in Osborne. They moved to Stockton in August of 1963 living in their mobile home at the Maddy Trailer Court. In August of 1965 they purchased their home at 211 South 12th Street. After Don passed away February 17, 2011, Joyce remained living there until June of 2014 when she moved to Stockton Estates. In October of 2017 she moved to Solomon Valley Manor.
Joyce loved genealogy and has scrapbooks for all of her family. They include parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, nieces, and nephews.

Her greatest accomplishment of all her work about her family was becoming a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution; something she had worked on most of her adult life. Joyce also enjoyed playing her guitar, oil painting, reading, traveling (especially to the mountains), and shopping.

Joyce is survived by nieces and nephews Robert (Carol) Parker of Plainville, Mary (Robert) Miller of Stockton, Jill (Michael) Roth of Savannah, MO, Edward (Nancy) Brummer of Natoma, Connie (Tracy) Brummer of Stockton, Jennifer Brummer of Plainville, Jeanette (Jason) Miller of Hutchinson, Elizabeth “Betsy” (Jarrod) Selenke of Peyton, CO, Peggy (Benney) Wise of Stockton, Sandra Staton of Webster, Becky Shunn of Stockton, Richard Neushafer of Salina, Mark Neushafer of Enterprise, and Pamela (Rich) Sexton of Denver, CO; sister-in-law, Colleen Richardson of Webster; brothers-in-law, Edward Brummer and Ben Neushafer of Enterprise, Kansas; and many great-nieces and great- nephews.

Joyce is preceded in death by her husband Donald Richardson; parents, Otto and Pearl Hays; sisters, Loretta Parker and Bertha Brummer; and brothers-in-law Harry Parker, Junior Velgruth, and Earl Richardson; and sisters-in-law, Ann Neushafer and Viola Velgruth.

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, September 3, at 2:00 P.M. at Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home in Stockton with burial to follow at the Stockton Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, September 3, 2019 from 12:00 P.M. until service time at 2:00 P.M.

Memorials are suggested to Solomon Valley Manor and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 North First, Stockton, KS 67669.

Diana Gaylene (Irby) Stagner, 69, Bogue, Kansas, passed away in her home, August 20, 2019. Gaylene, as she was called, was born May 9, 1950 in Hays, Kansas to Harold and Lenor (Manny) Irby. She grew up and attended schools in Bogue, surrounded by her eight siblings: Iona, Norma, Roger, Ronald, Randy, Leroy, Kevin and Luana.

In 1968, following graduation from Bogue High School, she attended college at Salt City Business College, Hutchinson, to complete a degree in bookkeeping and accounting. These business skills provided employment at Windom Grain Elevator, Johns Manville in McPherson, St. Francis Boys’ Home in Salina, Anderson Drilling in Hill City, and Graham County; also working for a time as a nurses’ aid at Sandstone Heights Nursing Home in Little River. Gaylene moved back to her hometown in 2007 and purchased a house across the street from her mother and father.

Although she had no children of her own, she loved and raised the kids and grandkids from a previous marriage. Later, her dogs became “her kids” and she loved them dearly. First there was Fancy, followed by Cindy and finally her Mandy. They were her constant companions and she would talk to them as if they were her kids and they appeared to understand every word. In fact, Mandy would even “talk” back to her and Gaylene seemed to understand her too.

Gaylene had a special relationship with the Lord; loved Christian music and had an extensive collection of that genre.

On many days, one could find her fishing at local ponds. She was always ready and willing to fish with anyone who wanted to go. She had a wonderful sense of humor; even when the joke was on her. She was often teased about losing her false teeth while opening a gate at a local fishing hole!

She was always ready to play cards, especially Pinochle, even if it was online. There were a varying variety of things that Gaylene loved to do and do very well. She was famous for her chicken fried steak, loved canning peaches and corn, raised sheep and even sheered them herself. However, in her later years she was plagued with many health problems.

She was preceded in death by her father Harold and one sister, Luana Croomes.

Leaving to mourn her passing are: her mother Lenor, Salina; sisters: Iona (Bob) DeLaney, Salina, Jeannie Taylor (Fred), Aurora, Colorado; brothers: Roger (Martha) Irby, Aurora, Colorado, Ronald (Marcia) Irby, Gainesville, Florida, Randy (Susan) Irby, Queen Creek, Arizona, Allen Irby, Pflugerville, Texas, Kevin (Nancie) Irby, Goodyear, Arizona, many nephews, nieces, other relatives, friends and her faithful dog and buddy, Mandy.

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Ruth May Butler Dyson, 82, passed away August 26, 2019, at Medicalodges of Great Bend. She was born on September 12, 1936, at Lakin to Lewis and Mary (Forge) Moore. She married C.W. Butler on June 21, 1953, at Lakin, and later divorced in 1973. She then married Loren Dyson in 1989, at Wichita. He died in August, 1997.

A Great Bend resident since 2015, Ruth previously lived in Lakin, Topeka and Wichita. She was a long time dedicated telephone operator for Southwestern Bell. She enjoyed square dancing and traveling the world.

Survivors include two sons, Curtis Butler and wife Norma of Great Bend and Keith Butler and wife Brenda of Parsons; two brothers, Charlie Moore of Arroya Grande, Calif., and Frank Moore of Kennewick, Wash.; five grandchildren, Dr. Matthew Butler and wife Maggie, Marisa Butler and husband Lucas Hannah, Dr. Caitlin Butler, Christina Butler Raz and husband Aran Raz and Angelina Butler; two great grandchildren, Christian Butler-Francis and Bentley Hannah; and one step great grandchild, Gabby. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Loren Dyson; three brothers, Robert Moore, George Moore and Dick Moore; and a sister, Fern Weachter.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 to 9:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 4, 2019, at Bryant Funeral Home, Great Bend. Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, September 5, 2019, at Garnand Funeral Home in Lakin, with Reverend Bill Johnson. Interment will follow at Lakin Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to The American Lung Association, in care of Bryant Funeral Home, 1425 Patton Rd., Great Bend, or Garnand Funeral Home, PO Box 91, Lakin, KS 67860.

Arthur E. Huslig, 83, passed away in Elinwood, KS on August 26, 2019. Born in Great Bend, KS on January 14, 1936 he was the son of Anton F. and Louise (Maneth) Huslig. He graduated from Cunningham High School in 1953 and later married Mercedes Hoffman in Great Bend, KS on April 27, 1963. She preceded him in death on July 16, 2016. Art was an Ellinwood resident since 1957 where he truly enjoyed his work as an auto mechanic.

Memberships include St. Joseph’s Church and St. Joseph Council 1187 Knights of Columbus and former member of the Ellinwood Fire Department and Ambulance crew. He also donated time as a scout leader for the local boy scouts.

Survivors include son, Eugene G. Huslig & wife, Chelle, Manhatten, KS; daughter, Christina D. Befort & husband Steve, Lacrosse, KS; brothers, Paul Huslig, Great Bend, KS, Jerome Huslig, Ellinwood, KS, and Charles Huslig, Ellsworth, KS; sisters, Mary Ann Wondra, Great Bend, KS and Helen Schnitther, Kingman, KS. Other survivors include grandchildren, Makenzie, Ezekiel, Finn, Rebecca, and Heather. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mercedes Huslig; brothers, Lawrence, Ervin & Marcus.

Funeral Mass will be 10:30 AM, Friday, August 30th at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Ellinwood, KS with Father Klein officiating. Interment will follow at Lakin-Comanche District Cemetery in Ellinwood. Visitation will be Thursday, August 29th from 1-6 PM at Minnis Chapel in Ellinwood, KS with K of C Rosary/Vigil at 7 PM that evening at the church. In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to St. Joseph’s School Endowment Fund or Ellinwood Fire Dept. in care of Minnis Chapel, PO Box 246, Ellinwood, KS 67526.

Martha Maxine Martin, 98, passed away August 28, 2019 at Diversicare, Larned.

Born August 12, 1921 to Thomas Benton and Erma Konita Searcy Salmans on their farm; most of her childhood and teen years were spent on the farm.

She attended Zook Consolidated School from grades first through twelfth and was quite active in 4-H. At eighteen she was Pawnee County Health Champion and was awareded a trip to the American Royal in Kansas City as a 4-H delegate. She was very proud of this award and met her future husband at the Pawnee County 4-H fair that year.

Later, she worked at the Larned High School as the superintendent’s secretary from 1950-1956. In 1956 she went to work at Larned State Hospital as a reimbursement officer until her retirement in 1985. She was a member of Easter Star, and swerved as Worthy Matron in 1978. She was active in her pursuit of her family genealogy and was a member, and one time secretary, of the local Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). She was a member of the Episcopal Church, Larned, and served a number of years as church treasurer.

On August 27, 1941 she married George Earl Martin at Iuka. He preceded her in death on March 12, 1972.

Survived by a son, Robert “Bob” (Janet) Martin, Prairie Village; six grandchildren; sixteen great grandchildren; and close friend, Dolores Wren

Preceded in death by; her parents; husband; two sons, George Dennis Martin, Thomas Leslie Martin; three brothers, Lawrence Salmans, Kenneth Salmans, Robert (Bob) Salmans; four sisters, Lois Ellis, Helen Vratil, Clara Thorpe, Dorothy Mead-Schmidt.

Funeral service 1:00 p.m. Saturday at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel, Larned with Father Mark Cowell presiding. Visitation 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday, Beckwith Mortuary, Larned. Interment in Larned Cemetery, Larned.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to Larned EMS or Pawnee County Humane Society in care of Beckwith Mortuary, PO Box 477, Larned, KS 67550.

November 11, 1979 ~ August 24, 2019

An obituary and services are pending at Bateman Funeral Home, Goodland.

Johnita F. Haines, age 87 of Stockton, passed away on Sunday, August 25, 2019 at the Rooks County Health Center in Plainville. Johnita was born on August 21, 1932 to Joseph and Clara Cink (Gallagher) in Hays, Kansas.

Johnita attended Stockton High School and graduated with the class of 1950. She was a member of the St. Thomas Catholic Church. Johnita enjoyed flower gardening and the animals on the farm.

She is survived by her sons, Gerald Hays and wife Sandy of Augusta, Kansas, Mark Haines of Stockton, and Glenn Hays of Larned; and grandchildren, Tiffany and Devon.

Johnita is preceded in death by her husbands, Carl Hays and Cecil Haines; parents, Joseph and Clara Cink; and siblings.

Private family services have been chosen.

Harvey Joseph Fry, age 73, of Woodston, Kansas, passed away on Tuesday, August 27, 2019 at his home in Woodston. He was born on July 31, 1946 in Stockton, Kansas to Ernest and Famy Elizabeth (Butler) Fry. Harvey grew up in the Rooks County area, graduating from Woodston High School with the class of 1964. He was united in marriage to Linda (Beck) Fry on November 26, 1968 in Washington.

Harvey spent 28 years of his life serving our country in the United States Airforce. He was a Vietnam, Korean, and Japan veteran. After his faithful service to our country, he retired from the Airforce and started farming for the Jones Family Farms and helping Larry Lala.

Harvey was a member of the Baptist Church in Stockton and a lifetime member of the VFW Post #8873 in Stockton as well as a lifetime member of Pheasants Forever and Ducks Unlimited. He had a love for hunting pheasants, ducks, and quail and especially loved to garden.

Those left to cherish Harvey’s memory is his wife Linda Fry of the home; sisters, Edna Stithem of Stockton and Ernestene Kee and husband Jim of Stockton; nieces, Doris Willey, Darlene Walker, Dorothy Bretton, Dixie Dibble, Carol Kimball, and Lela Glatz; and nephews, Mike Stithem and Alan Beck.

Harvey is preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Elizabeth Fry; a niece, Alva Beck, and brother-in-law Jerry Stithem.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, August 30, at 10:30 A.M. at Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home in Stockton. Visitation will be held on Thursday 2:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to the Stockton Baptist Church or the V.F.W Post #8873 and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 North 1st St, Stockton, KS 67669.