M. Richard Grabbe, age 78, of Hays, passed away Monday, July 20, 2015 at his home. He was born March 13, 1937 in Munjor, KS to John C. and Josephine (Quint) Grabbe. He graduated from St. Joseph Military Academy in 1955. He married Alta Roth November 17, 1956 in St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hays.

Richard was the owner of Hays Mack Sales & Service for over 20 years until his retirement. He was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Schoenchen where he was a former member of the parish council, 3rd Degree Knights of Columbus St. Anthony Council # 4166. He was also one of the originating members of Rural Water District 1-C.

He is survived by his wife Alta of the home; a son, Michael Grabbe and wife Deborah of Hays; a daughter, Anne Lang and husband Brian of Hays; a brother, Paul Grabbe of Hays; two sisters, Patricia Allen of Denver and Rosemarie Fischer of St. Louis; four grandchildren, Matthew Grabbe, John Grabbe, Christopher Lang and Brent Lang; 5 great grandchildren as well as several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services will be 10:00 AM, Thursday, July 23, 2015 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Schoenchen. Burial will follow services at St. Anthony Cemetery in Schoenchen.

Visitation will be Wednesday 4 PM – 8 PM and Thursday 9 AM – 9:30 AM at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.

There will be a St. Anthony Council 3rd Degree Knights rosary at 6:30 PM followed by a parish vigil at 7:00 PM at the funeral chapel

Memorial contributions are suggested to Hospice at Hays Medical Center or Masses.

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

John J. Befort, age 67, of Hays passed away Saturday, July 18, 2015. He was born June 21, 1948, in Hays, Kansas to Edmund and Albina (Pfeifer) Befort. He graduated from Hays High in 1966.

John was a retired farmer and stockman. He was an avid animal lover who was especially fond of his cats. He enjoyed riding his 4 wheeler and farming. Calving season was his favorite time on the farm because he was able to care for the calves.

He is survived by his parents, Edmund and Albina Befort of Hays; three brothers, Albert Befort and wife Peggy of Shawnee, OK, Thomas Befort and wife Connie of Wichita and Pete Befort and wife Amy of Hays; two sisters, Marilyn Billinger and husband Robert of Victoria and Mary Hanway of Claremont, CA; and his nephews and nieces, Logan Befort, Kenneth Befort, Andrea Befort, Max Befort, Marissa Befort, Michael Billinger, Amanda Billinger, Darren Hanway, Kurt Hanway, and Larissa Hanway.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Joseph Befort and a brother-in-law, Derek Hanway.

Funeral services will be 11 AM Wednesday, July 22, 2015 at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel & Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601. Burial will follow in Mt. Allen Cemetery in Hays.

Visitation will be Tuesday 6 PM – 8 PM and Wednesday 9:30 AM until service time all at the funeral chapel.

Memorial contributions to the Humane Society of the High Plains.

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

John J. Befort, age 69, of Hays passed away Saturday, July 18, 2015.

Funeral services will be 11 AM Wednesday, July 22, 2015 at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel & Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.

Visitation will be Tuesday 6 PM – 8 PM and Wednesday 9:30 AM until service time all at the funeral chapel.

A complete obituary is pending.

Ricky C. Cox, age 69, passed away at his home on July 16, 2015. He was born on August 1, 1945 in Ransom the son of Leslie and Hanna Gross Cox.

He was a farmer and stockman and a member of the American Legion Olin Cole Post 392, Bazine, Kansas. He was a United States Army Veteran having served in Korea during the Vietnam War.

On May 4, 1968 he married Linda Wasinger in Ness City. She survives, of the home. Other survivors include: four sons, Darrin Cox, Ness City, Brandon and Travis Cox, Wichita, Jarrod Cox, Denver, Colorado; one daughter, Kayla Cox, Wichita; one brother, Merlyn Cox, Wichita; four grandchildren and one great grandson. He was preceded in death by a son, Justin Cox, and a granddaughter, Courie Cox.

Visitation will be at Fitzgerald Funeral Home on Friday, July 17, 2015 from 4:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M. with the family present from 7-9 P.M. Funeral service will be on Saturday, July 18, 2015, 10:30 A.M. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City. Burial will be in the Bazine Cemetery at 11:30 A.M., those who can not attend the funeral are invited to come to the cemetery for the committal service.

Memorial contributions to the Ness County EMS or the Wounded Warrior Project.

Gorham, Kansas – Alex D. Dreher, age 90, died Thursday, July 16, 2015, at the Russell Regional Hospital Russell, Kansas. He was born December 26,1924, near Hyacinth, Kansas, to Alexander and Rosa (Befort) Dreher. He married Anna B. (Graf) on November 19, 1945, in Hyacinth, Kansas. She died September 5, 2013.

After they married, they lived north of Hays before moving to the Bemis Ranch on the Saline River where Alex worked. That’s where he experienced his first plane ride checking cattle. They moved to Hays for a short time later before moving to Gorham where they resided from 1953 to 2014. Alex then moved to Vintage Place, an assisted living facility in Russell, to spend the remaining years of his life.

He worked for Julian Oil and Royalty when he began his career in the oil fields. This company became Jones-Shelburne-Farmer, and then John O. Farmer, Inc. Alex retired in 1987 after working 34 years for the Farmer family. He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus both of Gorham.

After retirement, he began woodworking projects in his shop. He drew plans and built 25 Grandfather’s clocks, also roll-top desks, chairs, tables, headboards, bookcases and many other types of clocks. Alex is known for his unconditional love, which was reflected in his “Heart” clocks, being one of his favorite projects. He enjoyed spending time with his family, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Survivors include three sons, Dean Dreher and wife, Agnes, Amarillo, TX; Dale Dreher and wife, Carolyn, Wichita Falls, TX; Val Dreher and wife, Melissa, Russell, KS; three daughters, Diane Dinkel and husband, Ron, Victoria, KS; Laura Boxberger and husband Tim, Great Bend, KS; Wanda Hanzlicek, and husband Todd, Wilson KS; 21 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; one son, Don Dreher; one daughter, Cindy Soukup; four great-grandchildren, Shelbie Alvis; Dakota, Hunter and Landon Marek; three brothers, Philip, Isadore and Joe Dreher; four sisters, Isabella Honas, Louise Krajewski, Marty Schmidtberger, and Berty Urban.

Services are at 10:00 a.m. Monday, July 20, 2015, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Gorham, Kansas. Burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Gorham, Kansas.

A Gorham Knights of Columbus rosary is at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, followed by a vigil service at 7:00 p.m. Sunday, both at Cline’s Mortuary, 412 Main Street, Victoria, Kansas 67601.

Visitation is from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Sunday at Cline’s Mortuary in Victoria, and from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. Monday at St. Mary’s Church, Gorham, Kansas.

Memorials to St. Mary’s Cemetery Fund, Gorham, Kansas. Condolences can be sent via email to [email protected].