Donald Lee Strecker, age 80, passed away at Cedar Village Long Term Care, Ness City, Kansas on December 3, 2015.

He was born on April 25, 1935 in rural Bazine, Kansas, the son of Lawrence and Florence Fech Strecker.

On August 1, 1970, he married Dixie Whitman. She survives.

Other survivors include brothers, Bill (Kathy) Strecker, Carthage, MO, Allen (Brenda) Strecker, Salina, KS; aunts, Martha Schriock, St. John, KS, Rachel Stieben, Great Bend, KS, Arlene (Loren) Schamaun, Great Bend, KS; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded by his parents and aunts and uncles.

Viewing will be at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Saturday December 5, 9 A.M. – 9 P.M. and Sunday December 6, 9 A.M. – 9 P.M. with family present on Sunday 4 – 6 P.M.

Funeral service will be Monday, December 7, 2015, 1:00 P.M. at the Congregational Church, Bazine, KS.

Burial in Bazine Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be given to First Baptist Church, Bazine; or Cedar Village Long Term Care.

Lewis Solomon Thayer passed away Tuesday, December 1, 2015 at the Wilson County Medical Center in Neodesha, Kansas at the age of 35.

He was born on November 3, 1980, in Plainville, Kansas to Patrick and Lorna (Hahn) Thayer. He grew up in the Stockton, Kansas area and graduated from Stockton High School with the Class of 1999. Following high school, he attended Northwest Kansas Technical College in Goodland, Kansas with a focus on Diesel Mechanics.

On April 28, 2007 Lewis was united in marriage to Kathleen Young in Smith Center, Kansas. Later they moved to Cherryvale, Kansas where they made their home for two years before moving on to Neodesha in 2009. Together they went to work for Cobalt Boats LLC in Neodesha where Lewis was a Fiberglass Lamination Team Lead before he became ill.

Lewis enjoyed football and NASCAR, even to the point of developing an interactive website so he and his friends could keep up with each other and create friendly competition, or maybe sometimes not-so-friendly, over the stats and scores of their favorite teams and players. But the greatest love of his life was his family and children. From races to airshows, from model cars to drones, time with the kids was sometimes adventurous, sometimes educational, but always fun. During this past summer vacation, Lewis built a NASCAR-like race track and modified the kids’ bicycles so they could host neighborhood races in their own backyard.

Left to cherish Lewis’s memory are his wife Kathleen, their three sons Zachary Ryan, Isaac Randall, and Vincent Russell, and their daughter Shelby Lynn, all of the home in Neodesha; parents Patrick and Lorna Thayer of Stockton; brothers Aaron Thayer of Stockton, and Clayton Thayer and wife Cammie of Stockton; sister Melissa Saaranen and husband Andy of Stockton; grandmother Imogene Thayer of Stockton; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents Austin Thayer, and Clyde and Meda Rae Hahn.

A loving husband, father, brother, son, co-worker, friend and neighbor, Lewis found the perfect balance in working hard to support his family and spending time with those who were most important in his life. Although he was taken from us way too soon and will be greatly missed, his smile and laughter, his love and dedication, and his heart and spirit will remain with us forever.

A memorial service will be held at the Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home in Stockton at 10:30 am on Saturday, December 5, 2015. A private family burial will be held at a later date.

Donald L. “Donnie” Liggett, 79, Rush Center, Kansas, died Thursday, December 3, 2015, at Hays Medical Center, Hays, Kansas.

Mr. Liggett was born September 15, 1936, in Rush Center, Kansas, the son of Jerry S. and Edna Mae (West) Liggett. He was a lifelong resident of Rush County, Kansas. A 1954 graduate of La Crosse High School, La Crosse, Kansas, he was employed by the Golden Belt Telephone Association, Rush Center, Kansas, before his retirement.

Survivors include: one brother, John Liggett (Rita), Rush Center, Kansas; two sisters, Doris Witthuhn (Bill), Hays, Kansas, and Judy McCoy, Overland Park, Kansas; and many nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Vernon Leroy Liggett, and Duane A. “Jake” Liggett; and two sisters, Sharon Mendenhall, and Lorna Mae Liggett.

Visitation will be Saturday, December 5, 2015, from 10:00 A.M. to 1:50 P.M. at the United Methodist Church, La Crosse, Kansas, with the family receiving friends from 12:30 P.M. to 1:30 P.M.

Funeral service will be Saturday, December 5, 2015, at 2:00 P.M. at the United Methodist Church, La Crosse, Kansas, with Pastor Alice Koech officiating. Interment will be in the Locust Hill Cemetery, Rush Center, Kansas.

Memorials are suggested to the Rush County EMTs.

Condolences or remembrances may be left for the family at www.charterfunerals.com/locations/janousek-lacrosse.php.

Arrangements were by Janousek Funeral Home, 719 Pine, P O Box 550, La Crosse, Kansas 67548, 785/222-2517.

Leonard W. Purinton, 92, died Saturday, November 28, 2015 at Good Samaritan Society, Ellis.

He was born August 4, 1923 on a ranch south of Collyer to Ray and Leona (Ward) Purinton. He attended Banner Grade School and was a 1941 graduate of Trego Community High School.

Leonard married Irene C. Royce on September 15, 1946 in Smith Center. She preceded in him in death on August 13, 2012. He was a lifelong farmer/rancher and had a passion for collecting fossils, many of them found on the family farm. He cherished time with family and friends, collecting antiques and traveling with Irene across the entire United States, Canada and Mexico. He was a U.S. Army Air Force veteran, serving during World War II.

Leonard was a member of the First United Methodist Church, WaKeeney, American Legion Post 197, WaKeeney Masonic Lodge 148 and Wakeeney Eastern Star.

Survivors include four sons, Wayne Purinton and wife Sandy of WaKeeney; Chuck Purinton of Lincoln, CA; Ron Purinton and wife Cindy of Citrus Heights, CA; Ed Purinton and wife Debby of WaKeeney; three grandsons, two granddaughters; four great grandsons; seven great granddaughters and two sisters, Leulla Kephart and Hazel Rocco (Sam). He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Ruby Cue (Elmer).

Funeral Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 7th at First United Methodist Church, WaKeeney. Interment to follow at Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery, WaKeeney. Visitation on Sunday, Dec. 6th with family receiving friends from 5-7p.m. at Schmitt Funeral Home, WaKeeney.

In lieu of flowers, memorial are suggested to First United Methodist Church, WaKeeney, or Trego County Historical Society in care of Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 N. 12th St., WaKeeney, KS 67672.

Emogene L. Harp, age 81, passed away on Saturday, November 28, 2015 at the Scott County Hospital in Scott City, Kansas. She was born on April 16, 1934 in Wichita County, Kansas, the daughter of Walter A. and Gladys M. Lehman Wood. A lifetime resident of Wichita County and Scott County, Kansas, she was a homemaker.

Emogene grew up in the Pleasant Valley Church, attending with her parents and sisters Alta Mae and Vera Marie every Sunday. She also grew up in the Pleasant Valley 4-H Club and learned to cook and sew there.

She attended grade school in Wichita County, Kansas and was the only one in her grade 1-4. Then there were 3 in her grade 5-8. She was salutation in Wichita County and attended high school in Scott City, Kansas. She loved playing her saxophone and play a solo for the annual May Fete.

She got a job after school and weekends waitressing at the Airliner restaurant where she met Otto. Otto came into the restaurant, took her home after work and was there every night when she got off work to take her home. She received an engagement ring at Christmas when she was 16. She finished high school and was married 2 weeks later on June 8, 1952 at the First Christian Church in Scott City, Kansas. They were both baptized at the First Christian Church one week before their wedding.

Their first home was an upstairs apartment in the old hospital at 901 Court Street. After a couple of moves to rental houses and after one child, Debra Lynne, they purchased a home at 603 Jackson St.

Their first born, Debra Lynn, had a burn accident and passed away December 12, 1960. Emogene’s world was gray until they moved to their new home on the farm Memorial Day Weekend, 1971 when it took on a rosy hue. By this time they had three more children, Richard Duane born March 27, 1957, Denise Michelle born December 30, 1960 and Devoe Eugene born on October 1, 1963.

Otto drove a truck for Shallow Water Refining Company and was gone or sleeping much of the time . He was always a good provider. After moving to the farm, they again attended Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church.

Emogene was a fair weather school bus driver (when the weather was too bad for Otto to work in the field, he drove the bus). The school bus job provided health insurance and groceries for our family. Otto started raising soybeans and Emogene became a volunteer spokesperson for the Kansas Soybean Association. She traveled to various place in Kansas educating people about the many uses for soybeans. Then she opened the SoyBin, a commercial kitchen. Emogene was shipping gift boxes coast to coast. She wasn’t ready to retire when they sold the farmstead and moved to Scott City, Kansas in 1998.

Emogene was very active in the community and spent many years volunteering for the Town & Country 4-H Club, Pleasant Valley Boosters 4-H, Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church and the First Christian Church.

Emogene and Otto would spend a few winter months in Fredricksburg, Texas and July and August in Salida, Colorado in their motor home and with their many friends. Emogene had a hobby of making quilts until she could no longer see to sew. In 2013 she was diagnosed with Progressive Supra Nuclear Palsy. It is very rare, only 1 in 100,000 get it. No one knows why Emogene is the 1! She quit driving then.

Survivors include her Husband – Otto Harp of Scott City, Kansas, Two Sons – Richard & Alicia Harp of Garden City, Kansas, Devoe & Kim Harp of Longview, Texas, One Daughter – Denise & Tim Murphy of St. Charles, Missouri, One Sister – Vera MacArthur of Churubusco, Indiana, Five Grandsons and One Granddaughter.

She was preceded in death by her Parents, One Daughter – Debra Harp, One Sister – Alta Mae Yardley and One Infant Sister.

Funeral Services will be held at the First Christian Church of Scott City, Kansas at 2:00 p.m. Friday, December 4, 2015 with Rev. Scott Wagner and Steve Payne presiding.

Memorials in Lieu of flowers may be given to the First Christian Church in care of Price & Sons Funeral Home in Scott City, Kansas.

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

Visitation will be from 1:00 p.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.

Charles M. Rupp, 80, Hays, died Thursday, November 26, 2015 at the Hays Medical Center.

He was born January 8, 1935 in Hays the son of Ben M. and Agnes Louise (Younger) Rupp. On October 3, 1953 he married Viola Frances “Ollie” Dinkel in Russell. They celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary this year.

He was a service man for Ben Dreiling Motors, was a roughneck with Dreiling Oil, and worked for the City of Hays Street Department. He also was a custodian for many years at Sunflower Bank and Astra Bank. He was a hard worker, and loved to clean his house and cars, and take care of the laundry and dishes. He was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church and was very faithful and enjoyed going to church and praying the rosary daily with his wife and family members. He loved his family, and especially loved when his grandchildren, or “the cowboys” as he called them, would come over to visit.

Survivors include his wife, of the home, two sons; Bernie Rupp of Hays and Vernon Rupp and wife Mellisa of Kansas City, MO, two sisters; Diana “Dottie” Windholz and Melvia Jane Leiker, both of Hays, four grandchildren; Lauren Minick-Rupp of Daytona Beach, FL, Landon Rupp of Kansas City, Danielle Marie Bornholdt and husband John of Hutchinson, and BJ Rupp and wife Dena of Hays, three great grandchildren; Laine Werth of Hutchinson, and Kinley and Madison Rupp, both of Hays, a niece Ruth Dreher and nephews Curtis Leiker and Kyle Leiker.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter Deborah Ann Marie “Debbie” Rupp, two brothers-in-law Delmar Windholz and Donald Leiker, and a niece Kayla Augustine.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 am on Saturday, December 5, 2015 at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 1805 Vine Street, Hays. Inurnment will follow in the St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 until 8:00 pm on Friday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Saturday, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street. A rosary and vigil service will begin at 6:30 on Friday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church or to masses, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com.