Mary Elizabeth (Boone) Schwindt, 76, Timken, died Thursday, July 7, 2016 at the Locust Grove Village in LaCrosse after a long battle with liver disease.

She was born January 10, 1940 in Wilburton, Oklahoma to Wayne G. and Marie (Harris) Boone, the first of two daughters. A 1957 graduate of Wilburton High School, Mary graduated from Eastern A&M Junior College in Wilburton, from Southeastern State College in Durant, OK, and from Fort Hays State University.

Mary and Gail Schwindt were married November 28, 1963, at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in LaCrosse, KS. Following two years of teaching English at Dodge City Senior High School and completing an MA degree in English at Fort Hays, Mary and Gail moved to northeastern Arizona for a three year stint in teaching English to Navajo children in the public schools in the heart of the Navajo Reservation at Chinle, AZ where their son Jeffrey Boone Schwindt was born. Her life-long love of American and English history and literature led her to love and join the Episcopal Church.

In 1970, Mary and Gail moved to Rush County. They lived first in a rental home east of Rush Center, during which time their daughter Elizabeth Ann Schwindt was born. Nine years later, they built a farm home north of Timken, on what was known as the Kraisinger-Dirks place.

Mary, an accomplished English and journalism teacher for most of her adult life, taught one year in southwest Oklahoma, two years in Dodge City, two years in Chinle, and part time for three years at Barton County Community College. From 1985 until 1987, she taught at Fort Hays State as part of a federal grant preparing migrant students of numerous backgrounds to take the GED to allow them to qualify for further education and better employment. In 1987, Mary began a sixteen year teaching career at Pawnee Heights High School in Rozel. At various times, she taught grades 9 through 12 English, journalism, speech and college level English Composition I and II via interactive television for BCCC. In doing so, she had the wonderful chance to meet students from LaCrosse, Lewis, Hanston, and Otis-Bison. During those years of teaching, Mary touched countless lives in and out of the classroom.

Following Mary’s retirement in 2003, she discovered an interest in the genealogy of the Boone and Harris families and found time to read, to redecorate their home, to travel in the US and Europe and, most importantly, to be Nana to her three grandchildren. Although she retired from her teaching profession, she continued to teach at church, preparing young Christians and adults for baptism and children in the faith of the church.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents and several half-siblings: James T. Bynum, Dorothy M. Hooper, Juanita M. Williams, Wayne G. Boone, Jr., Billy T. Boone, John T. Boone, and their spouses; two nephews: Richard Hooper and Marc A. Boone; and a great niece, Gina D. Houtz.

She is survived by her husband Gail, of the home, her son Jeff and his wife Shelly (Adams) Schwindt of Olathe, her daughter Beth and her husband Ray Cole of Emporia, one sister, Linda S. Boone of Hays, and her three grandchildren, Mallory Hope, Emily Noelle, and Cody Boone Schwindt of Olathe. She is also survived by three sisters-in-law, Patricia Schwindt of Jarrell, TX, Diane Hays of Folsom, CA, and Pamela Pierce of Albany, GA.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm on Monday, July 11, 2016 at the St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, 2900 Canal Blvd., Hays. The family will receive friends from 1:00 pm until service time on Monday at the church. In lieu of flowers, Mary requested memorials to either St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Hays, Saints Mary & Martha Episcopal Church in Larned, or to the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, Alabama, at www.splcenter.org, or in care of the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street, Hays, KS 67601. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com.

HAYS–Odella C. “Della” Bedard, age 92, of Hays passed away Thursday, July 7, 2016 at Via Christi Village of Hays. She was born March 27, 1924 in Damar, Kansas to Arthur and Alice (Thibault) Newell. She married Levi Bedard on November 27, 1941 in Damar, Kansas. He preceded her in death on May 20, 2005.

She was a homemaker and worked for 13 years at Woolworth and 12 years at Travenol. After retiring Della was very active with volunteer efforts at St. Anthony Hospital, St. John’s Auxiliary, Eucharist Ministry, Senior Companion, Christian Mothers, Altar Society and Perpetual Adoration. She enjoyed square dancing with Levi for many years and loved to play cards especially bridge. She was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church of Hays.

She is survived by a son, Dick Bedard (Janelle) of Wichita, KS; four daughters, Carol Bedard of Leavenworth, KS, Michelle Beyer (Greg) of Hays, KS, Jeanette Howerton (Bob) of Aurora, CO and Judy Koerner (Dave) of Lee’s Summit, MO; a brother, E.J. Newell of Hays, KS; two sisters, Priscilla Emigh of Hays, KS and Pat Belisle of Damar, KS; twelve grandchildren, Debbie Bedard, Diane Figge, Scott Bedard, Renee Befort, Jennifer VonFeldt, Melissa Schoepf, Joshua Howerton, Matthew Howerton, Kimberly Howerton, Lindsay Stutzman, Brad Koerner, Brooke Koerner; 13 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Levi; two sons, Dale and Raymond Bedard; a granddaughter, Stephanie Beyer; two brothers, Mitchell and Robert Newell and a sister, Eleanor Bellerive.

Funeral services were at 10 AM on Saturday, July 9, 2016 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Hays. Burial was at 2:00 PM at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Damar, Kansas.

Visitation was Friday 4 PM – 8 PM with an Associates of the Sisters of St. Agnes Prayer Service at 4:30 PM, a Daughters of Isabella rosary at 6:30 PM followed by a parish vigil service at 7 PM and on Saturday 9 AM – 9:30 AM all at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.

Memorial contributions are suggested to St. Joseph’s Church, Hospice of Hays Medical Center or Masses.

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

Mary Elizabeth (Boone) Schwindt, 76, Timken, died Thursday, July 7, 2016 at the Locust Grove Village in LaCrosse after a long battle with liver disease.

She was born January 10, 1940 in Wilburton, Oklahoma to Wayne G. and Marie (Harris) Boone, the first of two daughters. A 1957 graduate of Wilburton High School, Mary graduated from Eastern A&M Junior College in Wilburton, from Southeastern State College in Durant, OK, and from Fort Hays State University.

Mary and Gail Schwindt were married November 28, 1963, at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in LaCrosse, KS. Following two years of teaching English at Dodge City Senior High School and completing an MA degree in English at Fort Hays, Mary and Gail moved to northeastern Arizona for a three year stint in teaching English to Navajo children in the public schools in the heart of the Navajo Reservation at Chinle, AZ where their son Jeffrey Boone Schwindt was born. Her life-long love of American and English history and literature led her to love and join the Episcopal Church.

In 1970, Mary and Gail moved to Rush County. They lived first in a rental home east of Rush Center, during which time their daughter Elizabeth Ann Schwindt was born. Nine years later, they built a farm home north of Timken, on what was known as the Kraisinger-Dirks place.

Mary, an accomplished English and journalism teacher for most of her adult life, taught one year in southwest Oklahoma, two years in Dodge City, two years in Chinle, and part time for three years at Barton County Community College. From 1985 until 1987, she taught at Fort Hays State as part of a federal grant preparing migrant students of numerous backgrounds to take the GED to allow them to qualify for further education and better employment. In 1987, Mary began a sixteen year teaching career at Pawnee Heights High School in Rozel. At various times, she taught grades 9 through 12 English, journalism, speech and college level English Composition I and II via interactive television for BCCC. In doing so, she had the wonderful chance to meet students from LaCrosse, Lewis, Hanston, and Otis-Bison. During those years of teaching, Mary touched countless lives in and out of the classroom.

Following Mary’s retirement in 2003, she discovered an interest in the genealogy of the Boone and Harris families and found time to read, to redecorate their home, to travel in the US and Europe and, most importantly, to be Nana to her three grandchildren.

Although she retired from her teaching profession, she continued to teach at church, preparing young Christians and adults for baptism and children in the faith of the church.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents and several half-siblings: James T. Bynum, Dorothy M. Hooper, Juanita M. Williams, Wayne G. Boone, Jr., Billy T. Boone, John T. Boone, and their spouses; two nephews: Richard Hooper and Marc A. Boone; and a great niece, Gina D. Houtz.

She is survived by her husband Gail, of the home, her son Jeff and his wife Shelly (Adams) Schwindt of Olathe, her daughter Beth and her husband Ray Cole of Emporia, one sister, Linda S. Boone of Hays, and her three grandchildren, Mallory Hope, Emily Noelle, and Cody Boone Schwindt of Olathe. She is also survived by three sisters-in- law, Patricia Schwindt of Jarrell, TX, Diane Hays of Folsom, CA, and Pamela Pierce of Albany, GA.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm on Monday, July 11, 2016 at the St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, 2900 Canal Blvd., Hays. The family will receive friends from 1:00 pm until service time on Monday at the church. In lieu of flowers, Mary requested memorials to either St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Hays, Saints Mary & Martha Episcopal Church in Larned, or to the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, Alabama, at www.splcenter.org, or in care of the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street, Hays, KS 67601. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com.

HAYS–Richard James Froelich, age 64, died Friday, July 8, 2016, at Hays Medical Center Hays, Kansas.

He was born May 13, 1952, in Russell, Kansas to Harold James and Betty (Hammersmith) Froelich. He married Barbara Jean (Unrein) and she died on March 29, 2008.

He was a driller supervisor for Karst Water Well Service and has been with the company for 34 years. He attended Gorham High School and lived in Gorham and Hays. He enjoyed fishing, cooking, his grandchildren and family.

Survivors include two sons, Jeff Unrein and wife, Amanda, Gorham, KS; Brandon Unrein, Hays, KS; two daughters, Rachel Froelich and fiancé Andrew Buckner, Hays, KS; Jenny Hunter, Blue Springs, MO; his father, Harold J. Froelich and wife, Debbie, Colfax, NC; his mother, Betty Froelich, Hays, KS; three brothers, Harold Froelich; Kansas City, MO; Stewart Froelich, Greens Boro, NC; Steve Froelich, Hays, KS; three sisters, Deb Lewis, Hays, KS; Audrey Campbell and husband Curt, Cimarron, KS; Dee Dee Froelich and Dave Rupp, Hays, KS; one half-brother, Brett Froelich, NC; six grandchildren, Thomas Unrein, Addie Unrein, Skylee Unrein, Paxton Buckner, Christopher Hunter, Nathan Hunter.

He was preceded in death by his wife.

Services are at 10:30 A.M. Tuesday, July 12, 2016, at Keithley Funeral Services Inc./Cline’s Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601. Inurnment will be at the Winterset Cemetery south of Gorham, Kansas.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Monday, and from 10:00 to 10:30 A.M. Tuesday, all at Cline’s Mortuary of Hays. Memorial to the Froelich family. Condolences can be sent via e-mail to [email protected].

Lifelong Gove county resident, Marshall Powers, died Tuesday, July 5, 2016 at Wesley Medical Center, Wichita, as the result of a motor vehicle accident near Gove, Kansas. He was born May 13, 1970, in Quinter, Kansas to Franklin C. and Mona Ferol (Dawson) Powers.

Marshall was a graduate of Wheatland High School, with the class of 1990. He worked several jobs, part time, in Gove. Marshall delivered senior citizen meals several years, and helped his mother at the Senior Center. He loved his nieces and nephews, often surprising them with a gift. He was fond of his little dog, Chelsie. He was often seen carrying her around on his shoulder while riding a bicycle. Marshall loved the outdoors, and was known for smoking and grilling meat with his brother, Brian. He suffered the loss of a younger brother, Eric, 28 years ago. Marshall will be missed by the Gove and surrounding communities and his many friends and family.

He is survived by his parents of Gove; three brothers, (1)Jim (Judy) of Quinter, and their three children, Dustri (Lance) Brown, and their daughters, Evahri and Eiyah – Dayna (Brenton) Pennington, and their children, Miley, Carter, and Jordyn – Austin (Breanne) Powers and son, Riley, (2)Mike Powers of Oakley, and (3)Brian Powers of Gove. He was preceded in death by his brother, Eric Powers.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Monday, July 11, 2016, at Gove Community Bible Church, Gove.

Burial will be in the Gove Cemetery.

Visitation will be Sunday evening from 5:00 to 7:00 at the funeral home in Quinter.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Marshall Powers Memorial Fund.

Donations made to the fund may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 901 South Main, Quinter, KS 67752.

Condolences may be left online at www.schmittfuneral.com.

Dick R. Compton, 76, Hays, Kansas died July 6, 2016 at home in Hays. He was born January 31, 1940, to Gilbert “Gib” R. and Thelma Mary (Cain) Compton at Lake City, Kansas in Barber County.

He moved to Atwood in January of 1960 as manager of an oil field supply store. There he met and married Leora “Lefty” (Domsch) on April 23,1961 at Atwood, Kansas.  The two lived in Atwood until relocating to Hays in 1968. They had no children.

He moved to Atwood in January of 1960 as manager of an oil field supply store. There he met and married Leora “Lefty” (Domsch) on April 23,1961 at Atwood, Kansas.  The two lived in Atwood until relocating to Hays in 1968. They had no children.

Dick was baptized into the Lutheran faith December 25, 1960, and confirmed March 26, 1961, both at Grace Lutheran Church, Atwood.  He attended elementary schools in Lake City, and graduated from high school at Sun City, Kansas in 1958.

Following his employment by an oilfield supply firm Dick was later employed by Central Kansas Power (CKP) in Atwood. He began at CKP (now Midwest Energy) as a serviceman/lineman and later served in a number of executive capacities in Hays. These included New Business Representative, General Commercial Manager and Director of Governmental Affairs. He left Midwest Energy in late 1989. He then partnered in chartering a successful economic development tax consulting firm whose clients were many of Kansas’ major manufacturing and retail industries.

During Dick’s career he was a member of and participated in a number of business, community and civic activities. He served on the board of directors of the Kansas Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Kansas Industrial Developers Association. He was an active member of and served as congregation Chairman of Messiah Lutheran Church. He served on the Board of Directors of Smoky Hill Country Club. He served on the Board of Directors of Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas and served as Fund Drive Chairman for the Ellis County United Way.

Dick was a member of and served terms as President of both the Hays Jaycees and the Hays Chamber of Commerce. He was one of five Hays business men that chartered Ellis County Economic Development, Inc. (now Heartland Development Corp.) He led the effort that culminated in establishing the Hays industrial park and constructing a speculative industrial building on city owned property at the Hays airport. He also led the Hays community effort that culminated in locating Yuasa-Exide Corporation (now Enersys) in the former Baxter Laboratories facility northwest of Hays.

Dick is survived by his wife, Lefty, of the home; a brother Raymon Compton and wife, Vera,  Pratt, KS;  a brother-in-law, Rusty Lake, Lake City, KS; numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Dick was the fourth of five children. Four were boys. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Dale Compton and Dalton Compton and a sister, Mary Dell Lake.
Services will be at 11:00 A.M. Monday, July 11, 2016 at Messiah Lutheran Church, 2000 Main, Hays, KS.  A graveside inurnment will be held at a later date in the Fairview Cemetery in Atwood, Kansas.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M. Monday  at the Messiah Lutheran Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to Messiah Lutheran Church or Ellis County United Way in care of Keithley Funeral Services/Cline’s Mortuary of Hays 19019 East 22nd Street Hays, Kansas 67601.

Tracy Dawn Mintzmyer, 41, Victoria, died Wednesday, July 6, 2016, at Hays Medical Center.

She was born November 14, 1974 in Kearney, Nebraska, the daughter of Lloyd E. and Karen (Schluntz) Mintzmyer.

She graduated from Hays High School in 1993 and received her BS and MS degrees in Counseling from Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina. She was a Wal-Mart employee for many years and was a member of High Plains Baptist Church. She enjoyed traveling, Breyer horses, Lion King Memorabilia, flowers and plants, and the outdoors. She was also a Sunday school teacher for many years at High Plains Baptist Church.

Survivors include her mother, Karen Mintzmeyer of Victoria, two sisters; Jody Mintzmyer and Katie Mintzmyer, both of Victoria, an aunt; Arlene Mintzmyer of Alma, NE, and an uncle; Tom Schluntz of Huntley, NE., and numerous cousins.

She was preceded in death by her father, Lloyd Mintzmyer, paternal grandparents Ed and Rose Mintzmyer, and maternal grandparents Pete and Katie Schluntz.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 am on Saturday, July 9, 2016, at the High Plains Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the Fort Hays Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00 pm until 8:00 on Friday at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home and from 10:00 am until service time on Saturday at the church. 

Memorials are suggested for missions at High Plains Baptist Church, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com.

Alza G. “Al” Keller, 75 died Monday, July 4, 2016 at St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City.

He was born May 25, 1941 in Hays, Kansas the son of Frank J. & Hanora M. (Henderson) Keller.

Al grew up as a child in Wakeeney, Kansas. He later moved with his family to Ellis, Kansas where he attended high school. Al continued to live in Ellis until 1967 when he moved to Topeka, Kansas. He then moved to Garden City in 1969 and has lived in Garden City since.

While living in Ellis, Al worked in the oil fields. He later worked at the Good Year Tire Plant in Topeka. After moving to Garden City, he worked for Oswalt Manufacturing Co., Electron Way, and for the last 41 years he has worked as a salesman for Texas Refinery Corporation.

On October 22, 1960 he married Nora Wiesner in Ellis, Kansas. She survives. Other survivors include three children Connie & husband Michael Hoffman of Garden City, Mitchell Keller of Ellis, Ks., and Michael Keller of Garden City; 4 sisters Margaret Brack of Ellis, Ks., Virginia Sproul of Ellis, Ks., Judy Kuhn of Hays, Ks., and Deanna Wellbrock of Hays, Ks.; 5 Grandchildren Audra Bogard, Kelsi Pfannenstiel, Adam Hoffman, Justin Keller, and Jason Keller; and 7 Great Grandchildren Laine, Maya, Miden, Sabina, Danika, Jace, and Jordy.

Al is preceded in death by his parents and a brother Darrell Keller.

Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 9, 2016 at Garnand Funeral Home in Garden City with Von Hunn officiating. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July 11, 2016 at Mount Hope Cemetery in Ellis, Kansas. Friends may call from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday and from 9:00 a.m. to service time Saturday all at Garnand Funeral Home in Garden City.

The family request memorials given to the Laine Durler Special Needs Fund in care of Garnand Funeral Home.

Kenneth Allen Sell passed away on Tuesday, June 7, 2016 in Phoenix, Arizona at the age of 61. He was born on October 15, 1954 in Hays, Kansas at Hadley Regional Medical Center to Kenneth and Betty (Slansky) Sell.

After high school, Ken went on to graduate from Vocational/Technical School in Garden City in Garden City, Kansas and later completed his Associate’s Degree. He worked as the Chief Engineer for WRIC-TV in Richmond, Virginia before setting up the station and becoming Chief Engineer at KPPX-TV51 in Phoenix.

Ken is survived by his sisters Rita June and husband Tim Piltz, and Ruby Sell; brother Darrel Sell and wife Kelly; sister-in-law Rita Rae Sell; nieces and nephews Stephen Sell, Connor Sell, Carolyn Sell, Brandon Sell, and Megan Daveluy and husband Brendan; great-nieces and nephews Derrick Sell, Wyatt Sell, Aiden Peace, and Hayden Daveluy.

He was preceded in death by his parents Kenneth and Betty Sell, brother David Sell, nephew Tyler Sell, and great-nephew Cohen Daveluy.

Ken was laid to rest in the Plainville Cemetery in Plainville, Kansas. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, July 9, 2016 at the First Christian Church in Plainville, Kansas.

Gove — Marshall Powers, of Gove, passed away Tuesday, July 5, 2016.

Schmitt Funeral Home, Quinter, is handling arrangements.

Odella C. “Della” Bedard, age 92, of Hays passed away Thursday, July 7, 2016 at Via Christi Village of Hays.

Funeral services will be 10 AM on Saturday, July 9, 2016 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Hays.

Visitation will be Friday 4 PM – 8 PM with a Daughters of Isabella rosary at 6:30 PM followed by a parish vigil service at 7 PM and on Saturday 9 AM – 9:30 AM all at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.

A complete obituary is pending.