Rilla Lynn (Bishop) Dietz, 70, of Russell, Kansas, died on Saturday, December 03, 2016, at the Russell Regional Hospital.

Rilla was born on June 15, 1946, in Russell, Kansas, the daughter of Harold and Francis (Morgenstern) Bishop. She grew up in Russell, attended local schools and graduated from Russell High School in the class of 1964. She met, fell in love and was united in marriage to LaVerne D. Dietz on August 26, 1985. They were blessed with six children Angela, Eric, Perry, Dale, Grant and Ward. She worked as a dental assistant for Dr. B.L. Schultz and Dr. Michael Jones both in Russell. She was a longtime member of St. John Lutheran Church in Russell. She enjoyed cooking, reading and singing in church. She also enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Rilla is survived by her loving husband of 31 years, Laverne Dietz of the home, daughter Angela Schneider (Shawn) of Russell; sons Eric Pringle of Wichita, Kansas, Perry Dietz (Chris) of Hays, Kansas, Dale Dietz (Ronnie) of Colby, Kansas, Grant Dietz (Rachelle) of Lawson, Missouri, Ward Dietz (Sabrina) of Hutchinson, Kansas; brothers Tracy Bishop (Janet Lee) of Seattle, Washington and Hal Bishop (Sherry) of Fostoria, Ohio; sisters Myra Mitchel of Issaquah, Washington, Janet Toman of Camarillo, California and Teresa Joplin of Scottsdale, Arizona; 11 Grandchildren and 9 Great Grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

A celebration of Rilla’s life will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Wednesday, December 07, 2016, at St. John Lutheran Church in Russell, Kansas, with Pastor Roger Dennis officiating. Burial will follow at St. John Lutheran Cemetery in Russell. Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 8 P.M. on Tuesday, December 06, 2016, at the mortuary with Family greeting guests from 6 P.M. to 7 P.M. Tuesday evening.

Memorials may be given to St. John Lutheran Church and sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in cha

Francis J. “Frank” Riedel, age 86, of Walker, KS, died Sunday, December 4, 2016, at his home. He was born December 5, 1929, in Hays, Kansas to John M. and Catherine (Scheck) Riedel. He married Mabel (Dechant) on September 3, 1955, in Hays, Kansas.

He was a farmer and carpenter for over 40 years in the Ellis county area and retired in 1996. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served during the Korean conflict. He was a lifetime member of the Victoria V.F.W. Post No. 1751 and St. Ann’s Catholic Church Walker, Kansas. Frank was a past church committee member, a past cemetery board member and was tour guide for St. Ann’s Catholic Church. He was an avid coin collector and enjoyed his family and grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Mabel Riedel, of the home; two sons, Glen Riedel and wife, Tammy, Salina, KS; Terry Riedel and wife, Gina, Walker, KS; two daughters, Donna Burgess and husband, Craig, and Tammy Jacobs and husband, Donovan, both of Hays, KS; three sisters, Josie Braun and husband, John, Victoria, KS; Katy Windholz, Quinter, KS; Aggie Leiker, Hays, KS; two sisters-in-law, Zita Riedel, FL; Marilyn Riedel, Overland, Park, KS; nine grandchildren, Kyle Riedel (Renee), Travis Riedel (Annie), Nathan Burgess (Kelsey), Jordan Burgess, Parker Riedel, Layton Riedel, Kinsey Riedel, Jarret Riedel, Connor Jacobs; six great grandchildren, Maggie, Roxy and Mason Riedel; Kinley and Kyron Burgess; and Cambri Burgess.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Herbert, Alvin, Marcellus and John Riedel; one infant brother, Alvin Ray Riedel; four sisters, Amanda Riedel, Evelyn Riedel, Maggie Baumstimler-Johnston and Marie Leiker.

Services are 3:00 P.M. Wednesday, December 7, 2016, at St. Ann’s Catholic Church Walker, Kansas. Burial in St. Ann’s Cemetery Walker, Kansas with military honors by the Victoria V.F.W. Post No. 1751.

Visitation is from 5:00 to 9:00 P.M. Tuesday, and from 1:00 to 3:00 P.M. Wednesday, all at St. Ann’s Catholic Church Walker, Kansas.

A Daughters of Isabella rosary is at 6:30 P.M. Tuesday, a vigil service is at 7:00 P.M. Tuesday and a Victoria V.F.W. rosary is at 7:30 P.M. Tuesday all at St. Ann’s Catholic Church Walker, Kansas.

Memorials to St. Ann’s Catholic Church, St. Ann’s Cemetery and Victoria V.F.W. Post No. 1751.

Maurice E. Dirks, age 80, passed away on Sunday, December 4, 2016 at the Scott County Hospital in Scott City, Kansas. He was born on December 22, 1935 in Hillsboro, Kansas, the son of Albert and Marie Unruh Dirks. A resident of Scott City, Kansas since 1942 moving from Hillsboro, Kansas, he was a farmer.

He was a member of the First Christian Church in Scott City, Kansas.

On November 29, 1959 he married JoAnn Ferguson in Dighton, Kansas. She survives.

Survivors include his Wife – JoAnn Dirks of Scott City, Kansas, One Son – Greg & Debbie Dirks of Scott City, Kansas,

One Daughter – Roxie & Tom Mulville of Dighton, Kansas, One Brother – Floyd & Vivian Dirks of Scott City, Kansas,

One Sister – Willetta Payne of Scott City, Kansas, Six Grandchildren, Two Great Grandchildren and Numerous Nieces & Nephews.

He was preceded in death by his Parents, Five Brothers and Four Sisters.

Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, December 9, 2016 at the First Christian Church in Scott City, Kansas with Pastor Scott Wagner & Pastor Steve Payne presiding.

Memorials may be given to the First Christian Church or City On A Hill in care of Price & Sons Funeral Homes.

Interment will be in the Scott County Cemetery in Scott City, Kansas

Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Wednesday and 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Thursday at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Scott City, Kansas.

Lila Mae Schippers, 73, retired office manager and loving homemaker, passed away and closed her eyes on this earth and opened them to heaven on Sunday, December 4, 2016.

A Texas memorial service will be at 11:00 am, Wednesday, December 7, 2016 at Salem Church, 22601 Lutheran Church Road, Tomball, TX 77377. A Kansas funeral mass will be 11:00 am, Wednesday, December 14, 2016 at Saint Fidelis Basilica, Victoria, KS followed by burial at Saint Fidelis Cemetery, Victoria, KS.

Preceded in death by her Parents, Eugene and Amelia Hammerschmidt; Brother, Dennis Hammerschmidt; Brother-in-Law, Jerry Shapiro.

Survived by her Husband, Norman R. Schippers of The Woodlands, TX; Son, Norman F. Schippers of The Woodlands, TX; Sister, JoAnn Shapiro of Tustin, CA; Brothers, Wayne Hammerschmidt of Galesburg, IL, Neil Hammerschmidt of Bloomington, IN, and Mark Hammerschmidt of Hays, KS; Grandchildren Taylor Schippers and Nicholas Schippers both of The Woodlands, TX; Sisters-in-Law Marilee Hammerschmidt of Galesburg, IL, Carolyn Hammerschmidt of Bloomington, IL, and Bernice Hammerschmidt of Hays, KS; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial has been established with: Salem Ministries, 22601 Lutheran Church Road, Tomball, TX 77377 and Inwood Crossing Memory Care Facility, 808 Inwood Street, Tomball, TX 77375.

Hermine C. Weis was born March 11, 1928, in Park, Kansas, to Robert and Theresia (Werth) Werth. She passed away Friday, December 2, 2016, at the Good Samaritan Society in Oberlin, Kansas, at the age of 88.

Hermine was one of 10 children in her family and was raised on the family farm near Park. She attended grade school in Park and later earned her GED.

On April 12, 1948, Hermine was united in marriage to Leo M. Weis in Park. They made their home in Jennings and Lenora for a time before moving to their farm south of Dresden. Ten children were born to their union, and they were also blessed with 26 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. They were members of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Leoville.

During the years her children were growing up, Hermine was a busy farm wife and homemaker. She later worked for Koerperich Bookbinders in Selden. Hermine had many talents and interests and was known for her wedding cakes, gardening, painting, ceramics, sewing, quilting and crocheting.

Survivors include four sons, John and Carol Weis of Schoenchen, Michael and Emma Weis of Piece, CO, Leon and Angie Weis of Hoxie and Brian and Josie Weis of Colby; four daughters, Karen and Martin Yunker of Fountain, CO, Cindy Weis and John Wilson of Katy, TX, Carol and Mark Richmeier of Norton and Linda Pope of Hoxie; four brothers, Joe and Agnes Werth of Hays, Jerry Werth of Aztec, NM, Marvin Werth of Wichita and Marcellus and Sandra Werth of Wichita; two sisters, Herlinda Small of Garden City and Irene and Leonard Flax of Wright; 26 grandchildren and 25 great- grandchildren; in addition to nephews, nieces, other relatives and friends.

Hermine was preceded in death by her husband, Leo, on December 7, 2014; parents, Robert and Teresa; two daughters, Mary Weis and Charlene Vinquist; son-in-law, Russell Pope; two brothers, Cyril and Ed Werth; and a sister, Genevieve Weis.

Visitation: Sunday from 3:00-6:00 p.m. followed by a Vigil Service at 6:00 p.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Leoville

Mass of Resurrection: Monday, December 5th at 10:00 a.m. at the church in Leoville with Rev. Mark Berland officiating

Burial: Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Leoville

Memorial Fund: In her name

Elmer Joseph Geist, 88, of Oakley, died Saturday, Dec 3, 2016. He was born Aug 2, 1928 to Adam and Lucy (Windholtz) Geist in Gove County. He graduated from Grinnell High School in 1946. Elmer served in the United States Army and was a member of the V.F.W. On April 11, 1956, he married Evelyn M. Albers and to this union ten children were born. Elmer worked as an irrigation system serviceman for thirty years. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, in Oakley.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Elmer Jr. “Joey”; brothers, Alvin, Acquiline, Adrian, Clarence, Gerald and Emmanuel; sisters, Lucy Harris and Viola Pope and three infant siblings.

Survivors include wife, Evelyn Geist, of Oakley; children, Elaine Nitz, of Oakley, Eileen Owen, of Wichita, Ann (Joaquin) Contreras, of Chapman, Ella (Daniel) Call, of Chanute, Tina (Rod) Huffman, of Oakley, Eugene (Paula) Geist, of Goodland, Elden Geist, of Olathe, Estelle Lanning, of Gardner and Erica Geist, of Lawrence; sister, Evelyn Davis; 19 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren.

Visitation will be 4-7:00pm on Thursday, December 8, 2016 at Baalmann Mortuary, Oakley. Vigil service will be at 7:00pm. Funeral Mass will be 10.00am on Friday, December 9, 2016 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Oakley. Burial will follow in the Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery, Grinnell.

Memorials are suggested to St. Joseph School or for masses, in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 204, Oakley KS 67748. Online condolences: www.baalmannmortuary.com.