Bernard Michael Brown, 83, of Hays, passed away Saturday, November 19, 2016, at Hays Medical Center. Born September 28, 1933 in Hays, KS, he was the fifth child of Lawrence L. and Mary Brungardt Brown. He graduated from St. Joseph Military Academy and attended Fort Hays State University. He married Phyllis Ann Beilman on October 28, 1953.

He was the retired general manager of KBSH TV (the successor of KAYS TV), where he worked from 1960 until 1993. Prior to that, he worked in his father’s barber shop on Main Street from 1953 until 1960. From 1976 until 1999, he and his family owned Professor Pittewurst’s restaurant. A member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, he enjoyed Kansas City sports teams, golf, watching the stock market, reading newspapers and magazines, tinkering around the house, watching the rosary and mass on EWTN, helping family members and others when they needed it, selling things on Nex-Tech, working puzzles in the newspaper, and playing Scrabble daily with Phyllis. Bernie was a positive thinker and viewed Jesus as his partner in life.

Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Phyllis Ann Beilman Brown of Hays; one son, Mike, and his wife Cyndi of Prairie Village, KS.; one sister, Mary Alice Carroll, Phoenix, AZ; one brother, Gerald A. Brown, New York, NY; in-laws, Jim Gragson, Springfield, MO, Jim Fuchs, Cincinnati, OH, JoAnn Brown, Hays, KS, Joan and Fred Scott, Russell, KS, and Karen and Ron Diehl, Hays, KS.

He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Flora Lee Fuchs, Lawrence F. (Red) Brown, Bette Gragson, Bill Brown, and Theresa Brown.

Funeral services will be Saturday, November 26, 2016 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hays. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery.

Visitation will be 5 PM – 8 PM Friday with a combined parish vigil and rosary at 7 PM and Saturday 9 AM – 9:30 AM all at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.

Memorials are suggested to the Rectory Remodeling Project at St. Joseph’s Church or the Cancer Council of Ellis County.

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

Lifelong Goodland, Kansas, resident Steven L. Colby, 43, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, November 17, 2016 at his home in Goodland.

Steven was born on June 12, 1973 to Darryl and Marilyn (Musalek) Colby in Goodland. He was one of 5 children. The family eventually moved to Kensington, Kansas, where Steven graduated from Kensington High School in 1992. He later went on and received his associate’s degree at the Northwest Kansas Technical College in Goodland.

On July 16, 1994, Steven married Stacy Diane Terry in Goodland. To this union, two children, Xavier and Xzaren were born.

Steven worked as a manager for McDonald’s until his health declined. He enjoyed bowling, stock car races and spending time with his family and friends. He was a member of the Calvary Gospel Church where he helped with Kids for Christ and Royal Rangers. He was willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need.
Preceding him in death were his father Darryl Colby, one son Xzaren, a sister Susan Colby and his grandmother Francis Musalek.

He is survived by his wife Stacy of the home in Goodland, one son Xavier of Colby, Kansas, his mother Marilyn Colby of Hays, Kansas, three brothers Scott and his wife Stacie of Layton, UT, Shawn and his wife Melissa of Manhattan, Kansas, Stacey and his wife Melissa of Smith Center, Kansas, and one sister Sherri Smith of Hays, Kansas. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Services for Steven will be held on Tuesday, November 22, 2016 at 10:30 AM MT at the Calvary Gospel Church in Goodland with Pastor Randy Payne officiating.

Memorials may be designated to the Steven Colby Memorial Fund and may be left at the service or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main St., Goodland, KS 67735.

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

Service arrangements have been entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.

Wilcid Bernard Racette, 96, of Oakley, died Friday, November 18, 2016 at the Logan County Hospital, in Oakley. He was born May 27, 1920, in St. Joseph, KS, to William and Mary (Chavey) Racette. Wilcid spent 44 months in the United States Army during WWII, serving as a member of the Army Air Corp and Military Police. Wilcid married Dorothy (Martin) Flax on June 2, 1955 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Oakley and they enjoyed 61 years of marriage. Wilcid had built elevators across Kansas, as a crew chief. He also farmed and was a cattle man. He served as a member of the State Board of Ag for Logan County and was a member of the V.F.W. He enjoyed watching sports on TV, especially Royals baseball and KU basketball. Hearing about his grand kids always brought a smile to his face and a tear to his eye.

Wilcid was preceded in death by his parents; son, William Joseph Flax; brothers, Gerald, Luke and George and sisters, Ruth Baalman, Rita Ribordy and Delores Adams.

He is survived by his wife Dorothy; children, Mary (Larry) Heier, Colby, Steve (Diann) Racette, Oakley and Helen (David) Herl, Grainfield; sisters, Thelma Beckman, Phyllis Zerr, Betty Zimmerman, Harriet Schroeder and Geneva Robben; brothers, Wilbur and Daniel; grandchildren, Sarah Heier Peter Heier, Joseph Heier, Regina (Trent) Chriestenson, Micheline (PD) Huffman, Brent Ratzlaff, John Racette, Jennifer Racette, Janell Racette, Shawn Beagley, Dexter Herl, Derek (Kelsie) Herl, Kimberly (William) Kinderknecht, Darius Herl and Chase Herl; fourteen great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

Visitation is 5-7:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 22, 2016 at Baalmann Mortuary, Oakley, with a Vigil at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, November 23, 2016 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Oakley, with burial to follow at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to St. Joseph School, in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 204, Oakley, KS 67748.

For condolences or information visit www.baalmannmortuary.com.

Viola Ruth Burditt, age 92, died on November 17, 2016 at Cedar Village, Ness City.  She was born on April 19, 1924 in Ness City the daughter of Harvey C. and Kathryn Nonnast Musbach.

She was a lifelong resident of Ness County and a member of the First Baptist Church, Ness City and enjoyed attending the Leisure Years Activities.  Her life revolved around her family and she loved making quilts, dolls, and afghans for her children and grandchildren.

On June 6, 1948, she married Merle Bondurant.  She later married Earl Burditt on December 3, 1965 in Ness City.  Earl preceded her in death.

Vi is survived by her sons, Russell Burditt, Kansas City, Missouri, Kenny and his wife Bobbi Burditt, Wichita, and Keith and his wife Anita, Ness City; three daughters, Jan Tittel, Olathe, Carol Straub and her husband, Clete, Oklahoma City, and Shari Schweitzer, Olathe; sister Arlene Miller, Ness City; 11 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Earl, brother, Allen Musbach, and her sister Irene Stenzel.

Funeral service will be on Monday, November 21, 2016, 10:30 a.m. at First Baptist Church, Ness City with burial in the Ness City Cemetery.  Viewing will be at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. with the family present on Sunday from 7 until 9:00 p.m.

Memorial contributions to the First Baptist Church.

Alma, Neb., resident Geraldine R. Schmid, age 91, passed away Friday, November 18, 2016 at the Good Samaritan Colonial Villa in Alma.

She was born December 2, 1924 in Phillips County, KS the daughter of Paul & Blanche (Burton) Bradley.

She was married to Walter F. Schmid on May 15, 1942 in Phillips County, KS. He preceded her in death on April 5, 1997.

She was also preceded in death by her parents; infant daughter, Charlotte, daughter, Linda; son, John; grandson, John Paul Schmid; brother, Donald Bradley; and sister, Elaine Del Lozier.

Survivors include her son, James Schmid of Thornton, CO; Daughter, Wanda Fink of Kensington; 9 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; and 5 great great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 23, 2016 in the Heartland Worship Center, Agra, with Pastor Jay Brandon officiating. Burial will follow in the Germantown Cemetery, Smith County, KS.

Mrs. Schmid will lie in state from noon until 9 p.m. Monday & again Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, 1115 2nd Street, Phillipsburg, KS 67661.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alma Free Methodist Church.

Robert Francis Weber, age 87, of Ellis passed away Tuesday, November 15, 2016 at Parkwood Village in Pratt, Kansas. He was born September 26, 1929 in Ellis, Kansas to Ambrose and Eugenia (Baumgartner) Weber. He graduated from Ellis High School. He married Betty Augustine June 7, 1954 in Ellis, Kansas.

He was a retired Rural Mail Carrier with the Ellis Postal Service. He was a US Army Veteran serving during the Korean War. He was a member of St. Mary’s Church and the Ellis VFW. He enjoyed metal detecting, fishing and gardening.

He is survived by his wife, Betty; Children: Renee Rust (Doug) of Cypress, TX, Pam Strack (Dan) of Ridgeland, MS, Alan Weber (Sally)of Lenexa, KS, Kelly McDermeit (Mike) of Pratt, KS, Susie Nulton (Mike) of Salina, KS; grandchildren: Steven and James Rust, Blake, Cody and Chelsea Strack, Ross Weber and Jaclyn Dougan, Paige Prater and Brooke McDermeit, Savannah and Tanner Nulton and greatgrandchildren, Jude and Mila Dougan, and Emily Rust and a sister, Rosie Neuburger of Hays.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Mark Weber; sisters, Regina Weigel and Mary Erbert.

Funeral services will be 10 AM Monday, November 21, 2016 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Ellis. Burial with military honors will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Visitation will be Sunday 6 PM – 8 PM at Keithley Funeral Chapel 400 E 17th Ellis, KS 67637

Memorial contributions are suggested to St. Mary’s Church in Ellis, KS or Parkwood Village in Pratt, KS

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

Alvin LeRoy Acheson Jr., 65, of Russell, Kansas, died on Sunday, November 06, 2016, at his home in Russell.

Alvin was born on June 07, 1951, in Russell, Kansas, the son of Alvin L. , Sr. and Norma Lee (Kuntzsch) Acheson. He grew up in the Russell area and attended local schools. He was married to Terry Craven on May 22, 1981 and later divorced. He worked as a welder and enjoyed hunting and fishing.

He is survived by his mother, sons Justin Acheson of Russell and Aaron Acheson and wife Deana of Russell; daughter Tammy Pellant of Wilson, Kansas; brothers Donald Acheson of Gorham, Kansas, Dan Acheson and wife Peggy of Salina and Terry Acheson and wife Peggy of Salina; 5 grandchildren Joshua, Taylen, Emma, Colton and Joleigh; ex-wife Teri Helwer.

He was preceded in death by his father and brother Robbin Acheson.

A private service will be held at a later date. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.