Vickie Ann Walters Rupp, 68, Hays, died Friday, February 6, 2015 at the Hays Medical Center.

She was born January 15, 1947 in Hays the daughter of Edmund and Lorraine (Withers) Walters. On October 12, 1968 she married Richard A. Rupp in Hays. She was a paraeducator for the gifted program at USD #489 for over thirty years. She was also co-creator of the Ellis County Famous Figures competition. She was a 1965 graduate of Hays High School and attended Fort Hays State University. She enjoyed gardening, cooking and baking, sewing and embroidery, and children. The kitchen was the hub of her home and she was very creative, loved music, history, KU basketball, the Green Bay Packers, and she was very patriotic. She loved orchestra music and was so proud of her grandchildren’s involvement with music.

Survivors include her husband, of the home, two daughters, Kendra K. Vaughn and husband Johnathan of Hays, and Laura R. Wellbrock and husband Christopher of Hays, a brother, Robert “Bob” Walters and wife Barbara of Eudora, KS, five grandchildren, Noah Vaughn, Katie Vaughn, Daylen Vaughn, Savanna Wellbrock, and Lillian Wellbrock, a nephew Ed Walters, and a niece Gayle Franklin, and six granddogs. She is also survived by special friends, Kim Moore and Joyce Jilg.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Funeral services will be at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, February 10, 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 Monday and from 12:00 noon until service time on Tuesday, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Hays Orchestra Boosters, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com.

Bette J. (Schroeder) Bitter, 81, of LaCrosse, Kansas and formerly of Russell, Kansas passed away Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at the Locust Grove Village in LaCrosse.

Bette was born December 22, 1933 in Cornell, Wisconsin, the daughter of Roy and Lillian J. (Rufledt) Schroeder. She grew up in Cornell and graduated from Cornell High School.  She was united in marriage to Samuel Bitter on May 20, 1977 in Las Vegas, Nevada. They made their home in Phoenix, Arizona for a few years before moving to Russell in 1979. Sam preceded her in death on September 23, 2002. She was a Foster Grandparent for many years. She also operated the Sale Barn Café in Russell for over 10 years. She was a member of the Bible Baptist Church of Russell and the Ft. Hays Foster Grandparent Program. She enjoyed quilting, sewing and cooking.

Surviving family include three sons, Michael Schuessler, Verne Schuessler and Scott Schuessler all of Phoenix, Arizona; daughter, Tammie Boreson of Phoenix, Arizona; step children, Roger Bitter of San Jose, California and Jana Anderson of Alta Loma, California; two brothers, Neal Schroeder and Charlie Schroeder both of Cornell, Wisconsin; sister, Dot Wilson of EauClair, Wisconsin; 11 grandchildren and two step grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Sam, son Jeff Schuessler and daughter Vickie Cano.

Visitation will be from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Thursday, February 5, 2015 at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell. A private family burial service will take place after visitation. Memorials have been established with Locust Grove Village and the Ft. Hays Foster Grandparent Program.

Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.

 

Boyd Albert Knackstedt, 81, of Russell, Kansas, died on Friday, January 30, 2015, at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas.

Boyd was the only son of Albert and Viola (Schletzbaum) Knackstedt and was born in Little River, Kansas, on April 30, 1933. He had three older sisters, Bernadine, LaVerta and Joyce. He lived with his family on several different farms in McPherson County, Kansas. When he was almost 6 years old his parents bought a farm in Marshall County, Kansas. The farm was only about half a mile from the town of Bigelow. He grew up on the farm and attended school through 8th grade in Bigelow. Later, he graduated from Frankfort High School in the class of 1951. As a boy he worked very hard helping his father on the farm driving the tractor, bailing hay and working in the grain elevator. The money he earned allowed him to pay his own way through high school. As a boy, he liked to go on all night fishing trips with his family and he was a catcher on the town soft ball team that was known as being a hard team to beat. Boyd continued to work on his father’s farm the summer after graduating high school. Being a bad year for crops his father could not afford to pay him, so he took a job working highway construction in Russell.

Boyd met, fell in love and was united in marriage to June Price on June 26, 1954, in Russell at the Otterbein United Methodist Church. From this union Boyd and June were blessed with 4 children Buddy, Nancy, Dennis and Barbara. Along with their own children they helped raise two nephews James and Robert Oliva. In 1957 Boyd went to work for Kansas Power and Light and worked for them for nearly 35 years. He retired on his 59th birthday, April 30, 1992. He and June are both longtime members of the Otterbein United Methodist Church in Russell. He enjoyed working as a Boy Scout Master for troop #106 for several years. He enjoyed camping, fishing and was rather famous for his blueberry pancakes. He also enjoyed playing card games, bridge and Yahtzee. Most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife June of the home, son Boyd W. “Buddy” Knackstedt of Russell, daughter Nancy J. Woodyard (Wayne) of Chanute, Kansas, son Dennis R. Knackstedt (Beth) of Winfield, Kansas, daughter Barbara A. Volle (Mark) of Axtell, Kansas; nephews James H. Oliva of Topeka and Robert C. Oliva of Ely, Minnesota; grandchildren Gregory, Elsabeth, Anna, Darcey, Bridgett, Brett, Gabriel, Matthew & Bradford; great grandchildren Chloe and Landon.

He was preceded in death by his parents and 3 sisters Bernadine Corbin, LaVerta Fore and Joyce Lord.

A celebration of Boyd’s life will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Friday, February 06, 2015, at the Otterbein United Methodist Church with Pastor Earl Haggard and Pastor Jim Alexander officiating. Burial will follow the service at the Russell City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 8 P.M. on Thursday, February 05, 2015, at the mortuary with family present to greet guests from 6 P.M. to 7 P.M. Thursday evening. Memorials may be given to the Russell Food Pantry and sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.

Helen M. Kohl, age 94, of Ellis, passed away Wednesday, February 4, 2015 at Hays Medical Center.

She was born April 3, 1920 in Ellis, Kansas to Joseph L and Catherine (Jacques) Weber. She graduated from Ellis High School in 1938. She married Alex Kohl March 2, 1943. He preceded her in death April 9, 1986.

Helen was a homemaker and a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church. The church was a large part of her life where she was a member of the church choir and cantor for over 30 years. She served on Home and School serving as president and secretary, participated in many bake sales for the church, and she also participated in various farm organizations including NFO.

She is survived by a son, Kenneth Kohl and wife Diana of Ellis; a daughter, Ann Pfannenstiel and husband Kenneth J. of Hays; a daughter-in-law, Jackie Kohl of Ellis; a brother, Joseph F. Weber of Ellis; a sister, Rose Marie Blasing of Topeka; 10 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a son, James Kohl; two brothers, Alfred and Francis Weber and two sisters, Theresa Weber and Katherine Flagler.

Funeral services will be 10 M Monday, February 9, 2015 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Ellis with burial to follow in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be Sunday 5 PM – 8 PM and Monday 9 AM – 9:30 AM all at Keithley Funeral Chapel 400 E 17th Ellis, KS 67637. A combined vigil and rosary service will be Sunday at 7 PM at the funeral Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to St. Mary’s Church.

Elinor Ann Wilson, age 83, of Quinter, passed away Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at Gove County Medical Center, Quinter.  She was born November 9, 1931, in Quinter, to Clifford and Ethel (Johnson) Bland.

Until recent years, Elinor lived in Gove.  She graduated from Gove High School.  On August 19, 1951, Elinor was united in marriage to Lawrence Elmer Wilson in Gove.  They enjoyed 57 years of marriage together.  Lawrence passed away February 28, 2009.  She was very active with the Gove Community Bible Church Womens’ Group, having generously volunteered her time and talents.  She loved quilting and gardening.  Elinor also enjoyed reading a good book, or simply spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  She will be missed by many.

Survivors include a son, Cliff and wife Sharon of Edmond, Oklahoma; two daughters, Lisa and husband Butch Minium of Hoxie and Jeanne Daniels of Gove; three grandchildren, Cody Minium of Colby, Ashley Minium of Overland Park, and Jonathan Daniels of Denver; two great-grandchildren, Tori Daniels and Alexis Daniels, both of Overland Park; one brother, Don Bland of McPherson; one sister, Marie Beesley of Quinter; and one sister-in-law, Barbara Bland of New Hampshire.  She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; son, Bruce Wilson; grandson, Justin Daniels; brothers, Clifford and wife Dora, Kenneth and wife Mae, and Wayne; brother-in-law, Gail Beesley; and sister-in-law, Berneice Bland.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, February 7, 2015 at Gove Community Bible Church, Gove.  Burial will be in the Gove Cemetery.

Visitation will be Friday, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home in Quinter.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Gove Community Bible Church or the Gove City Library.  Checks made to the organization may be sent in care of Schmitt Funeral Home, 901 South Main, Quinter, KS  67752.

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

Anna Jean Marx Ford, 99, Hays, died Tuesday, February3, 2015 at the Sterling House in Hays.

She was born December 3, 1915 in Columbia, Missouri, the daughter of Harry S. and Regina (Thompson) Marx.

She was raised in Montana, Canada, California, Great Bend and Ellis. After graduation from Ellis High School she attended Kansas State University and then returned to the Ellis Telephone Company as operator and bookkeeper. It was there that she met her husband, who came to do an audit of the company.

On August 20, 1939, she married Gerald J. “Jerry” Ford in Ellis, Kansas, and soon moved to Hays. He died April 6, 1998. She was a homemaker and a member of the First Presbyterian Church, the PEO, and the DAR. She loved to sew, cross stitch, needlepoint, and was an excellent cook.

Survivors include a son, James E. Ford and wife Pat of Santa Maria, CA, a son-in-law Floyd Klein of Victoria, KS, seven grandchildren and twenty one great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her step mother Florence Sheets Marx, an infant child, a daughter Susan Ford Klein, and a half-brother Edward Marx.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm on Saturday, February 7, 2015 at the First Presbyterian Church, Hays. Burial will follow in the Mt. Allen Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:00 pm until service time on Saturday at the church. Memorials are suggested to the First Presbyterian Church in memory of Anna Jean.

Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com.

Hays, Kansas – John M. Gross, age 85, died Tuesday, February 3, 2015, at Hays Medical Center Hays, Kansas.

He was born November 20, 1929, in Joppa, Maryland to Walter and Alberta (Parks) Gross Sr. He married Joan (Shively) on November 26, 1948 in Elkton, Maryland.

He was a maintenance service planner for 22 years for Frontier Air Lines and nine years for Continental Air Lines.  He retired in 1996, then moved to Hill City from Denver, CO.  He has lived at Via Christi Village Care Center in Hays for two years and was a member of the Christian Church of Hill City.  He was very devoted to his family, he had a great sense of humor and always had honey buns and candy ready for the grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Joan, of 66 years, of the home; four daughters, Ann Gross, Golden, CO; Susan Olezene, Littleton, CO; Terri Woods and husband, Randy, Denver, CO; Candace Juntenen and husband Brad, Westminster, CO; three grandchildren, Carissa Olezene, Beth Juntenen, Nolan Juntenen; one sister, Ruth Sutherland, Cockeysville, Maryland; one brother, Roy Gross and wife, Louise, Alexander, Virginia; and one sister-in-law, Thelma Gross, Aberdeen, Maryland.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Walter Gross and Earl Gross.
A memorial service will be at a later date and a private family inurnment will be in Colorado.  Memorial to The Christian Church of Hill City in care of the mortuary.  Cline’s Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601 is in charge of arrangements.

Condolences can be sent via email to [email protected].

Martina A. Bieker, age 89, of Hays passed away Tuesday, February 3, 2015, at Hays Medical Center.

She was born February 9, 1925 in Emmeram, Kansas to Joseph and Elizabeth (Hoffman) Kuhn. She graduated from Victoria High School. She married Daniel F. Bieker on August 12, 1946 in Emmeram. He preceded her in death on March 30, 1981.

She was a homemaker and furniture upholsterer. She enjoyed many activities including gardening, crocheting, making rosaries, playing pinochle and having cookies and coffee with family and friends. She was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Hays.

She is survived by four sons, Francis and wife Sheila of Papillion, NE, Deannie and wife Janice of Kansas City, Kenny of Salina and Danny Jr. and wife Diane of Kansas City; two daughters, Jeanette Bieker of Catharine and Janice Bieker and husband Bradley Sanderson of Paola, KS; a brother, Warren F. Kuhn of Victoria; two daughter-in-laws, Karen Bieker of and Debbie Storer of Hays; 19 grandchildren and 32 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by three sons, Tommy, Stanley and Stevie Bieker; 8 brothers; 7 sisters; 1 grandchild and 2 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be 2 PM Thursday, February 5, 2015 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Hays. Burial will follow services in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Hays.

Visitation will be Wednesday 5 PM – 8 PM and Thursday 1 PM – 1:30 PM all at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.

A rosary service will be Wednesday at 6:30 PM followed by a parish vigil at 7 PM all at the funeral chapel.

Memorials are suggested to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Building Fund. Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or emailed to [email protected].

Margaret M. Hassett, 84, Hays, died Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at the Hays Medical Center.

She was born July 1, 1930 in Missouri Valley, Iowa the daughter of Charles and Chloe Hazel (Hatcher) Moriarity.

On September 22, 1951 she married Gerard R. Hassett in Missouri Valley.  He died November 27, 2009.  She was a registered nurse and graduated from nursing school at Creighton University. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, a former member of the To Jesus Through Mary Prayer Group and the Altar Society Christian Mothers, and was a former Pink Lady at Citizens Medical Center in Colby, Kansas.  She loved playing cards, volunteering and delivering meals on wheels, and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

Survivors include two sons, Roger Hassett and wife Mary Rita of Concorde, CA, and William Hassett of Manhattan,KS, three daughters, Teresa MacDonald and husband Paul of Hays, Cathy Bryan and husband Ken of Centennial, CO, and Mary Pat Cross of Manhattan, a brother Bill Moriarity and wife Ruth of Hays, twelve grandchildren, Dr. Jennifer Clark and husband Dr. Christian Clark of Tulsa, Stacey MacDonald of Denver, Calley Conley and husband Brett of Topeka, Shannon MacDonald and fiancée Brad Komen of Kansas City, MO, Katy Sheehy and husband Jason of Littleton, CO, Kristin Reed and husband Aaron of South Bend, IN, Amy Strickland and husband Ian of Greeley, CO, Dominic Hasset, Erin Hassett, and Danny Hassett of Concorde, CA, Haleigh Cross and Melisa Cross, of Manhattan, great grandchildren, Allison, Emily, Elyse, Cian, Claire, Chloe, Callen, and Connor.

She was preceded in death by her husband, brothers Maurice and Edward Moriarity, a sister Catherine Ziegler, and great grandsons Luke and Zach.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 am on Thursday, February 5, 2015 at the St. Joseph Catholic Church, Hays.  Burial will be in the church cemetery.  Visitation will be on Thursday morning from 9:00 am until 9:45 at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine.

A rosary by the To Jesus Through Mary Prayer Group will be at 9:00 am on Thursday at the funeral home.  Memorials are suggested to the St. Joseph Catholic Church, the DeLaSalle High School, or to the Capuchin Province of Mid America, in care of the funeral home.

Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com.