Ruth Ann Benander, 86, of Russell, Kansas, died on Wednesday, December 21, 2016, at the Russell Regional Hospital.

Ruth was born on August 29, 1930, in Alliance, Ohio, the daughter of Henry E. and Dorothy (Eels) Pierce. She grew up in Alliance, Ohio, and graduated from Alliance High School. She worked as a silk finisher for a dry cleaning company. She met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Jack Benander on May 31, 1991, in Denton, Texas. She attended the Baptist Church and was a member of the V.F.W. Auxiliary. She enjoyed taking care of her cats and dogs and spending time with her family.

Surviving family include her husband Jack of Russell, Kansas; daughter Judy DeSilva (Ken) of Pawnee, Illinois, son Robert Kunkel (Melva) and daughter Tara Wass all of Denton, Texas and son Michael McFadden of Roundrock, Texas and 6 grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, son Gerald Kunkle, brother Henry A. Pierce and sister Hazel Pierce.

A memorial service to celebrate Ruth’s life will be held at 10:30 A.M. Thursday, January 05, 2017, at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell with Mr. Richard Fobes officiating. Cremation has been selected by the family and inurnment of the cremains will take place at the Russell City Cemetery immediately following the memorial service. Memorials may be given to the V.F.W. Auxiliary Scholarship Fund and may be sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.

Leon W. Beagley, 74, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Thursday, December 29, 2016 at Russell Regional Hospital in Russell.

Leon was born July 26, 1942 in Hutchinson, Kansas, the son of William Edgar and Florence Gertrude (Rush) Beagley. He grew up on a farm near Geneseo, Kansas and attended country school. He then graduated from Geneseo High School. He worked a short time at the Lyons Salt Mine before enlisting. He served his country in the U.S. Army during Vietnam. After his tour he returned to the Geneseo area.

Leon met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Margaret Marston on March 12, 1967 in Canton, Kansas. This union was blessed with two sons; David and Terry. They made their home in the Geneseo area.

After the war, Leon started working for the Geneseo Grain Company. He later started working for Clinton Oil as a pumper and when he retired he was a Foreman of production. Then Leon and his boys purchased a farm south of Wilson where he farmed and raised cattle. He also worked for White Energy in Russell for a short time. He enjoyed fishing, being outdoors, playing dominoes and cards with family and friends, and drinking coffee with his buddies. However he had a true passion in watching and playing with his grandchildren. He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church. He was a life member of the Russell V.F.W. Post 6240.

Surviving family include his wife of 49 years, Margaret of the home; two sons, David Beagley (Natalie) and Terry Beagley (Lesah) all of Russell, Kansas; four grandchildren, Madison, Mason, Braden and Regan. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Ermon Beagley.

Celebration of Leon’s Life will be held at 10:30 AM Tuesday, January 3, 2016, at Trinity United Methodist Church of Russell. Burial will follow at the Russell City Cemetery where Russell V.F.W. Post 6240 Honor Guard will be conducting Military Rites. Visitation will be Monday, January 2, 2016 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary from Noon to 8:00 PM, the family will be present to greet friends from 6 PM to 7 PM at the mortuary. A Memorial has been established with Trinity United Methodist Church. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.

Ruth Phyllis Timmerman Decker, 88, longtime resident of Junction City, Kansas, died Thursday, Dec. 29, 2016, at the Good Samaritan Society in Hays, Kansas. Mrs. Decker was born Nov. 21, 1928, to Ernest and Anna (Lohse) Timmerman in Mills County, Iowa. She grew up and attended school in and around the Glenwood, Iowa, area.

Mrs. Decker received an emergency teaching certificate from Omaha University at age 17 and took great pride in being a one-room country school teacher for several years. She married Drexel Donald Decker on April 26, 1947, in Clarinda, Iowa; and the couple had three daughters, Barbara Georgiadis, Campbell, Ohio; Beverly Wilkens, Salina, Kansas; and Belinda Venters, Wichita, Kansas.

Mrs. Decker also was very proud of being a homemaker and military wife. For a number of years she was a Wal-mart employee in Junction City. Mrs. Decker was a member of the First Baptist Church, its Priscilla Circle; the American Cancer Society, including her work with the Relay for Life and Daffodil Days; The Retired Enlisted Association and Zeta Phi Sorority, all of Junction City. She also was a Sunday School Superintendent at the Fort Riley Morris Hill Chapel, a Girl Scout and 4-H leader, and an Auxiliary Life Member and past commander of the Disabled American Veterans. Her recognitions included being named Protestant Woman of the Year, donating in excess of 800 hours of chapel work while at Fort Riley, and receiving her five-year pin for volunteering with the Big Red 1. Her family was her focus, but Mrs. Decker also enjoyed quilting, embroidering, scrapbooking, reading and traveling.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband of 45 years, sisters: Darlene Stille, Glenwood, Iowa; and Dorothy Benincosa, Galena, Illinois; infant granddaughter (Cobb), grandson, Michael Georgiadis; and son-in-law, Peter Georgiadis.

She is survived by her three daughters, son-in-law, Kent Venters, Wichita, Kansas; and five grandchildren, Jodi Suglio, Seattle, Washington; Julee Cobb, Bennington, Kansas; Nick Georgiadis, Campbell, Ohio; and Christian and Caeden Venters, Wichita, Kansas.

A graveside memorial service will be held at the Fort Riley Cemetery on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017, at 11 a.m. Attendees need to enter Fort Riley at the Marshall Air Field entrance at exit 301 off of U.S. Interstate Highway 70 and gather in the parking lot of the Visitor Control Center, Building 885, promptly at 10:45 a.m. Mrs. Decker’s favorite color was red, so please feel free to add it to your attire that day.

After the service, family and friends are invited to meet for lunch. A room has been reserved at Bella’s Italian Restaurant at 605 N. Washington St. in Junction City from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials in Mrs. Decker’s name to the Dorothy Bramlage Public Library, 230 W. 7th St., Junction City, Kansas 66441; or the Central and Western Kansas Alzheimer’s Association at 1820 E. Douglas Ave., Wichita, Kansas 67214, https://www.alz.org/cwkansas/.

Brock’s North Hill Chapel of Hays, Kansas, has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be left at https://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com/.

Charles E. Pfannenstiel passed away December 28, 2016 at his home in Hays.  He was born February 28, 1941, on his family’s farm just south of Ness City, Kansas, to Adolph and Blanche (Corrigan) Pfannenstiel.  Charles was 75 years of age.

Charles was a 1959 graduate of Ness City High School.  He went on to earn his Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics at Kansas State University, a Master’s Degree in Education and an Educational Specialist degree at Fort Hays State University.  He retired after 33 years of teaching in the Kansas public school system.  He was very patriotic and felt honored to have served in the military for 26 years, (2 yrs active duty, 12 yrs. USAR, 12 yrs. KSNG) retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.  Charles cherished the time he spent with family including fishing, attending K-State football games, and family gatherings.  He loved to dance Polka’s, Waltz’s, Jitterbug’s and the Twist.  He enjoyed telling jokes and making people laugh.  Exercise was not just a hobby, but a way of life for Charles. He had a lifelong passion for learning including mathematics, history and current events. He was a lifetime member of the Retired Teachers Association, the American Legion and the Military Officers Association of America.

Survivors include his loving wife, Gloria, of the family home; two sons, Michael, of Hays, Kansas, and Brian and wife Ryan of Hays; three grandchildren, Ben, Ethan, and Hayden Pfannenstiel of Hays; a brother, Wayne and wife Nancy, of Quinter; and three sisters, Mary and husband Jerry Whipple of Jetmore, Betty and husband Dennis Hatch of Superior, Nebraska, and Tammy and husband Dennis Langer, of Ness City.  He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Shirley Turner.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, January 3, 2017, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Ness City.  Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Viewing will be Monday, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.  Family will be present for visitation, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.  A parish vigil service and rosary will take place at 7:00 p.m.  All will be at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Masses (preferred) or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  Contributions may be sent in care of Fitzgerald Funeral Home, 207 N Pennsylvania Ave, Ness City, KS  67560.

Dorothy Lea Fulton, 69, Hays, died Tuesday, December 13, 2016, at Via Christi-St. Francis in Wichita.

Memorial services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 28, 2017, at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street. The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until service time.

A complete obituary will follow.

Vera Wyatt, 94, Norton, formerly of Hays, died Monday, December 26, 2016 at the Andbe Home in Norton.

Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced by Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.

Jane Short Ellis, 79, Hays, died Thursday, December 29, 2016 at the Willow House in Hays.

Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced by Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.

George M. “Mike” Ferguson, age 66, of Hays, passed away Tuesday, December 27, 2016, in Hays. He was born February 20, 1950, at the Great Lakes Naval Air Station in Great Lakes, IL to Ormand Gates and Bonnie Jean (Cook) Ferguson.

Mike was a talented musician; he played several instruments and sang with various area bands. He taught music and was very active with the Hays Public Library, having served several years as a board member.

He is survived by his longtime companion and friend, Sandy Shupe of Hays and two sisters, Patricia Ferguson (Norman Strahm) of Glenview, Illinois, Valerie (Bruce) Ewart of Broomfield, Colorado, nieces Yasmin Pave, Leila Pacifico, Rima Bencal and Katie Ewart, nephew Kody Ewart, 10 great-nephews, 4 great-nieces, and one great-great nephew.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, January 2, 2017, with family and friends present from 10:30 a.m. until service time, all at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory, 2509 Vine, Hays, KS 67601.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Hays Public Library.

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

Ruth Decker, age 88, of Hays, passed away Thursday, December 29, 2016, in Hays.

Arrangements are pending with Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory, 2509 Vine, Hays, KS, 67601.

George M. “Mike” Ferguson, age 66, of Hays, passed away Tuesday, December 27, 2016, in Hays.

Celebration of Life services will be Monday, January 2, 2017, at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory, 2509 Vine, Hays, KS, 67601.

A complete obituary will follow.

Chevy Cain Sheffer, newborn son of Misty Harcrow and Darin Sheffer, was born and passed away December 24, 2016, in Hays.

He is survived by his parents Misty and Darin; two brothers, Jebediah and Zachary; two sisters, Zoe and Jasmin; grandparents, Gregory Harcrow, Maria Harris, Debbie Ford and Derek Sheffer as well as his great grandparents, Richard and Maryann Harcrow.

Funeral services will be 10 AM Saturday, December 31, 2016, at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory, 2509 Vine, Hays, KS 67601.

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