Joe Edwards Smith, age 87, passed away on Sunday, August 16, 2015 at Wallace County Community Care Center in Sharon Springs, Kansas.

Joe was born August 29, 1927 in Scott City, Kansas, the third child of A.E. & Margaret ( Murphy ) Smith. Joe attended primary school at Greeley County Elementary and graduated from Kemper Military School at Booneville, Missouri in 1945. In June of 1945, Joe enlisted in the United States Navy where he served in Subic Bay, Philippines as a motor machinist mate. He then attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado and graduating in 1950 from Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Husbandry.

Joe was a member of the United Methodist Church and a lifetime member of the V.F.W. Post 7521 in Tribune, Kansas. He was also a 65-year member of the Anthem Masonic Lodge # 284 in Scott City, Kansas, Isis Shrine Club in Salina, Kansas, the Scottish Rite in Wichita, Kansas and the York Rite of Goodland, Kansas.

Joe was a lifelong farmer and rancher in Greeley County, Kansas. He was a 60-year plus member of the Kansas Livestock Association and a lifetime member of the National Cattleman’s Beef Association.

On June 17, 1951 he and the former Joan Ray married in Doon, Iowa. They returned to Tribune to work the family farm along with his brothers until 1995 and then in a farming partnership with his sons. Joe and Joan raised four sons and therefore became very involved in the Boy Scouts of America. He and his sons attended camps and jamborees, including trips to Japan, and together completed requirements for badges and thus earned the rank of Eagle Scout with all four boys. Joe was past president of the Santa Fe Trail Council in Garden City, Kansas and a lifetime board member of the National Boy Scouts. He received the Silver Beaver, the Silver Antelope and was a member of the Vigil of the Order of the Arrow.

Joe’s biggest passion was flying his Cessna Twin 310. He logged over 3000 flight hours during his time as “Airplane Joe”. He and Joan were avid travelers and visited many domestic and international destinations through Joe’s membership with Kansas Livestock Association.

Joe’s surviving family includes

His wife-

Joan Smith – Sharon Springs, Kansas

Four sons-

Mark & Cindy Smith- Wallace, Kansas

Brett & Carol Smith- Frederick, Colorado

A. Bradford & Jennifer Smith- Sharon Springs, Kansas

Ray Smith- Sharon Springs, Kansas

Two siblings-

Don & Jeri Smith- Tribune, Kansas

Myra S. Hyde- Amarillo, Texas

Eleven grandchildren-

Angela Smith- Sharon Springs, Kansas

Valerie & Oscar Smith-Rivera- Wallace, Kansas

Meghan & Matthew Smith-Ghiloni- Erie, Colorado

Andy & Valerie Sweet- Aurora, Colorado

Ben Sweet- Erie, Colorado

Preston Smith- Sherman, Texas

Alicia Smith- Tribune, Kansas

Nick Smith- Hays, Kansas

Lindy Smith- Sterling, Kansas

Taylor Sprinkle- Colorado Springs, Colorado

Corbin Smith- Sharon Springs, Kansas

Four Great Grandchildren-

Natalie Sweet- Aurora, Colorado

Ryan Sweet- Aurora, Colorado

Ashlynn Ghiloni- Erie, Colorado

Aiden Ghiloni- Erie, Colorado

His parents, a brother, Bob Smith and a daughter-in-law , Lauri Smith preceded him in death.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. ( MST ) Saturday, August 22, 2015 at the United Methodist Church in Tribune, Kansas with the Reverend Paul McNall officiating.

Burial will be in Greeley County Cemetery with Masonic Rites and Full Military Honors.

Friends may call from noon until 8:00 pm Thursday and from 10:00 am until 8:00 pm Friday at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Tribune, Kansas.

Memorials may be given to the Santa Fe Trail Council of the Boy Scouts of America or Greeley County Library in care of

Price & Sons Funeral Home

PO 301

Tribune, Kansas 67879
– See more at: https://priceandsons.com/tribute/details/1606/Joe_Smith/obituary.html#sthash.eEZuzriv.dpuf

Victoria, Kansas – Paul North, age 62, died Saturday, August 15, 2015, at his daughter’s home in Hays, Kansas. He was born April 15, 1953 in Hays, Kansas to Albert L. and Eunice Lavon (Irvin) North.

He was a law enforcement officer and a farmer. He attended school in McCracken and the Hutchinson Police Academy. He was an Ellis County E.M.T., a police officer at the City of Victoria for 11 years and has been a Ellis County Reserve Deputy for 21 years. He enjoyed farming and ranching with his sons, camping and spending time with his family and grandchildren.

Survivors include two sons, Travis North and wife, Ava, McCracken, KS; Joshua North and wife, Kayla, Hays, KS; one daughter, Cindy Zadina and husband, Chris, Hays, KS; his mother, Eunice North, Ellis, KS; two brothers, Arlyn North and wife, Jan, McCracken, KS; Daryl North and wife, Linda, Ellis, KS; two sisters, Jolene Showalter and husband, Jesse, Normal, IL; Janice Basgall and husband, Daniel, McCracken, KS; six grandchildren, Breonna, Abigail and Natalee North; Julia, Chase and Ben Zadina.

He was preceded in death by his father, Albert L. North and one sister, Joan North.

Services are 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, August 19, 2015 at Cline’s Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601. A private family inurnment will be at the McCracken Cemetery at a later date.

Visitation is from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. Tuesday, and from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, all at Cline’s Mortuary of Hays.

Memorial to the Dreiling-Schmidt Cancer Center Hays, Kansas. Condolences can be sent via email to [email protected].

Pauline Neill, age 97, passed away at Cedar Village Nursing Home, Ness City on August 14, 2015. She was born on September 28, 1917 in rural Ness County the daughter of Robert Byron Kerr and Zilpha Jones Kerr.

On May 29, 1939 she married Vernon Jones Neill. He preceded her in death.

She is survived by her four daughters, Margaret Susan Maulin, Sally Jo Murphy, Sharon Elizabeth Rupp, and Catherine Louise Hull; nine grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her sister Marybel Stokes.

Funeral service will be Tuesday, August 18, 2015, 2:00 P.M. at the United Methodist Church, Ness City with burial in the Ness City Cemetery. Viewing will be at Fitzgerald Funeral Home on Sunday and Monday from 9:00 A.M. until 9:00 P.M. with the family present on Monday from 6-8 P.M.

Memorial contributions may be given the the United Methodist Church, Ness City.

Mary Klaus, age 86, of Schoenchen, KS passed away Thursday, August 13, 2015 at her home. She was born June 7, 1929 on a farmstead west of Schoenchen to Jacob and Geneva (Zimmerman) Randa. She married Julius Klaus in LaCrosse on September 22, 1947. He preceded her in death October 3, 2001.

Mary was a homemaker and farm wife. She was a member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Schoenchen and St. Anthony Altar Society. She was an excellent cook and she enjoyed playing bingo and cards with family and friends. She also loved polka music, dancing and KU Basketball.

She is survived by two sons, Richard “Dick” Klaus and wife Mona of Schoenchen and Darrell Klaus of Hays; a brother, Elmer Randa of WaKeeney; two sisters, Jenny Rebel and Berniece Holmes both of Ness City; a half-sister, Mabel Schmidt of Hays; two grandchildren, Kristy Campbell of Salina and April Klaus of Hays as well as 7 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Gerald “Dick” Randa; six half-brothers, Eugene “Lefty” Werth, Severin Werth, Sylvanus Randa, Victor Randa, Edwin Randa and Rich Randa and seven half-sisters, Loretta Dinges, Eleanor Pfannenstiel, Irene Herrman, Edna Dinges, Bertha Munsch, Sally Mills and Leona Wagner.

Funeral services will be 10 AM Monday, August 17, 2015 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Schoenchen with Inurnment to follow in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be Sunday 4 PM – 8 PM with a St. Anthony Altar Society rosary at 6:30 PM followed by a parish vigil service at 7 PM all at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.

Memorials are suggested to the St. Anthony Cemetery Fund or Donor’s choice.

Michael Joseph Kraus, age 72, died Wednesday, August 12, 2015, at Grisell Memorial Hospital, Ransom, Kansas.

He was born on April 20, 1943, in Arnold, KS, the son of Hugo and Alice (Hilmes) Kraus.

He was a crude oil truck driver for many years. After retiring from truck driving, he worked for Simpson Farm Enterprises.

On June 3, 1989 he married Mary (Moeder) Frusher.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Kraus, Ransom; son, Sean (Emilee) Kraus, Russell; daughter, Monica Kraus, Las Vegas, NV; step-daughters, Teresa (Jarad) Allen, Hays, Sarah Frusher, Salina; grandchildren, Jacob, Andrew, and Sydney Kraus; brothers John (Susan) Kraus, Ransom, Patrick (Kay) Kraus, Ransom, Mark Kraus, Arnold; sisters, Nancy Foust, Victoria, Jeanette (Fred) Flax, Ransom, Annette (Brian) Lang, Solomon; and brother-in-law, Marvin Kramer, Cimarron.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Father David Kraus; and sister, Julie Kramer.

Viewing will be at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City, KS, Thursday, August, 13, 11:00 A.M. – 9:00 P.M. and Friday, August 14, 9:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.

Vigil will be at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Ransom, Friday, August 14, 7:00 P.M.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Saturday, August 15, 2015, 10:00 A.M.

Burial in St. Aloysius Cemetery, Ransom.

Memorial contributions may be given to Father William Kraus, OFM Cap (for Father Bill’s work with seminarians, future priests and brothers).

Brandi Lee Stejskal Walker, 34, Atwood, died Wednesday, August 12, 2015 at her home.

She was born November 20, 1980, in Hays the daughter of Donald J. and Tina (Smith) Stejskal.

On November 3, 2001, she married David Lee Walker in Hays. She was a homemaker and loved camping, living on the farm, music, playing games with her children, loved big dogs and animals, and spending time with family and friends.

Survivors include her husband David, of Atwood, her parents Don and Tina of Hays, daughter Taylor Seib of Atwood, two sons Dawson and Hunter Walker of Atwood, a brother Jack Stejskal of Ft. Worth, TX, grandparents Nancy Chestnut of Hays and Bud Smith of Colby, KS, a niece Brianna Stejskal of Ft. Worth, TX, sisters in law Cherri Younger and husband Dennis of Ellis and Tina Schmidt of Greensburg, KS, and numerous aunts and uncles.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 am on Saturday, August 15, 2015 at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine. Burial will be in the St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00 pm until 8:00 on Friday and from 9:00 am until service time Saturday, all at the funeral home. A parish vigil service will be at 7:00 pm on Friday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested in Brandi’s memory to her children’s education. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com.

Elmer Harley Heckert, age 95, passed away on Friday, August 7, 2015 at Greeley County Hospital in Tribune, Kansas.

Elmer was born December 30, 1919 in Wakita, Oklahoma, the son of E.H. & Vera (Bishop) Heckert. A resident of Greeley County since 1931, moving from Harper County, Kansas, he was a 1937 graduate of Greeley County High School. Elmer proudly served his country in the United States Army during World War Two in the Eastern Theater of Operation and was engaged in the D-Day Invasion of Normandy, battles in Marthem, France, the German Campaign, Rhine River Crossing and the Battle of the Bulge. Following his service, he returned to Greeley County as a farmer and stockman.

Elmer was a member of the United Methodist Church, V.F.W. Post # 7521 of Tribune, Kansas and the American Legion in Garden City, Kansas.

On June 25, 1943 he and Dolene Buske were united in marriage at Anson, Texas.

Elmer’s surviving family includes-

His wife-

Dolene Heckert- Tribune, Kansas

Three daughters and their husbands-

Joyce & Mike Hageman- Las Cruces, New Mexico

Sue & Stephen Shull- Ogallala, Nebraska

Jo & Steve Lobmeyer- Tribune, Kansas

One sister and her husband-

Helen & Dean Sloan- Farmington, Utah

Seven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren

His parents, a half sister, Hattie Heckert, Two brothers, Eugene Heckert and Carl Heckert and a daughter, Gloria Penner precede him in death.

Funeral services will be held at a later date in Tribune, Kansas with burial in Greeley County Cemetery with military honors.

There will be no calling times.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to Wounded Warriors in care of Price & Sons Funeral Home, PO 301, Tribune, Kansas 67879.

Condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at priceandsons.com.