Norman Gilbert Staab, age 84, of Hays formerly of Russell passed away Tuesday, December 2, 2014 at Via Christi Village, Hays. He was born December 27, 1929 in Catharine, KS to Alexius and Celestina (Weigel) Staab. He graduated from Hays High in 1948. He was previously married to Jutta Hildegard Gerstner. He then married Cacilie Werle on May 26, 1984 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Hays.

He retired after 34 years from LTV Energy Products Company which is an oilfield supply firm. He was currently in the oil exploration and production business and is the owner of Staab Energy and Leasing. He was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Hays, 4th degree Knights of Columbus Victoria Council. He enjoyed collecting guns, hunting, photography, butchering, and especially spending time with his family.

Norman was a US Army Veteran serving during the Cold war as part of the Army of Occupation. He was a life member of VFW Post 6240 in Russell, KS. During his membership he served at numerous levels including Post and District Commander. Norman served as National Commander-in-Chief of the the U.S. Veterans of Foreign Wars from August 1986 to August 1987, during which time he was blessed to have a private audience with Pope John Paul II in Rome

He is survived by his wife, Cacilie of Hays; a son, David Staab and wife Kate of Arkansas City, KS; a daughter, Kathie Shump of Lawrence, KS; a step son, Andreas Hawthorne of Phoenix, AZ; two step daughters, Linda Dietz and husband Martin and Sylvia Nuss and husband Mark all of Rural Russell, KS; four brothers, Robert Staab of Tulsa, OK, Ervell Staab and wife Arlene of Omaha, NE, Dennis Staab and wife Ruth of Olathe, KS and Roger Staab and wife Verla of Hays; two sisters, Erlene Leiker and husband Joe of Olathe and Ruby Nowak of Russell. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, William Staab; a sister, Sr. Louella Staab and a grandson, Kyle Staab.

Funeral Mass will be 10:00 AM Friday, December 5, 2014 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Hays. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Russell, KS with military honors compliments of the Russell VFW Post 6240.

Visitation will be held Thursday 5-8 PM and Friday 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM at Brock’s – Keithley Funeral Chapel, 2509 Vine St Hays, KS 67601.

A 4th degree Knights of Columbus rosary will be Thursday at 6:30 PM followed by a parish vigil at 7:00 PM all at the funeral chapel.

Memorial contributions are suggested to: Immaculate Heart of Mary Building Fund or the Russell VFW Post 6240. Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or emailed to [email protected].

Samuel James Hill, age 69, of Hays passed away November 27, 2014 at his home in Hays. He was born December 10, 1944 in Manhattan, Kansas to Samuel C. and Frances (Wilkens) Hill. He grew up in Kansas living in Stockton, Clay Center, and Baldwin City. He graduated from Emporia State University.

He was a grade school teacher in the Johnson County, Kansas schools. He was a long time member of University United Methodist Church in Topeka, where he was a faithful volunteer. Samuel moved to Hays in August of 2013 and attended the First United Methodist Church of Hays where he continued his vocation of volunteer service.

He is survived by his brother, Walter Hill and wife Becky of Hays; 2 nephews, Benjamin and Abraham J. Hill and a niece Jodi Hill.

Funeral services will be 10:00 AM Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at Brock’s – Keithley Funeral Chapel, 2509 Vine St Hays, KS 67601. Interment will be in Chapman, Kansas.

Visitation will be Wednesday 9:00 AM until service time at the funeral chapel.

Memorial contributions are suggested to: University United Methodist Church of Topeka or First United Methodist Church of Hays.

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

Edna Mae Stice passed away Wednesday, November 27, 2014 at the Rooks County Health Center in Plainville, Kansas at the age of 85.

She was born May 29, 1929 to Leo and Abigail Beatrice (Green) Tipton. She was united in marriage to Harold Stice on February 1, 1947 in Smith Center, Kansas. They were blessed with three children, Gregory, Diana, & Rhonda.

Edna was a hard working woman of style and class. She worked on the farm, was a housewife and mother, worked at Ann’s Dress Shop in Hays, and owned and operated Maylaines Fashions in Stockton.  She was a member of the St. Thomas Catholic Church in Stockton, The Altar Society, V.F.W. Auxiliary, and the Epsilon Sigma Alpha Sorority.  She loved cooking, and was especially famous for her cookies and fried chicken. She was a great friend and neighbor, but the greatest love of her life was her family.

Survivors include her daughter, Rhonda Al-Otaibi and husband Saad of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; son, Greg Stice and wife Carol of Tonto Basin, Arizona; sisters, Merna Poore of Stockton and Pat Hansen and husband Wally of Goodland; 6 grandchildren, Corey Stice, Angela Stice-Ruiz, Sami, Nabil, Sara, & Nora Al-Otaibi; and 5 great-grandchildren.

Edna was preceded in death by parents, Leo & Abigail Tipton, Husband, Harold; daughter, Diana Kaye; brothers, Wayne and Robert Tipton; sister, Delores Mangold and infant sister, Anna Louise Tipton; and brother-in-law, Harold Dean Poore.

Edna had the true heart of a servant.  She was greatly loved because she loved us so greatly.  Although we will miss her greatly, we rejoice with the angels in heaven as she now hears the voice of her Lord, “Well done good and faithful servant.  Enter into your Father’s rest.”

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, December 4, 2014, at 10:30 A.M. at the St. Thomas Catholic Church in Stockton, Kansas with Father Joshua Werth officiating.  Burial will follow at the Stockton Cemetery.  Visitation will be Wednesday 2:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. with a Vigil Service at 6:00 P.M. at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to Solomon Valley Manor or Alzheimer Foundation and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 N. 1st, Stockton, KS  67669. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.plumeroverlease.com.

Joanna Aubel Johnson, 78, Hays, died Friday, November 28, 2014 at Via Christi St. Francis Hospital in Wichita.

She was born March 3, 1936 in Uniontown, Kansas the daughter of Clifford and Addie (Swink) Typer. She was a real estate broker and owner of Aubel Realty. On March 29, 1986 she married William “Bill” Aubel in Hays. He died September 26, 2008. She married Toby Johnson on August 7, 2010 in Colorado Springs, CO. She was a member of the Hays Board of Realtors, the Hays Arts Council, the Hays Medical Center Foundation, the Wilson Lake Association, the Smoky Hill Country Club, and was a member of the Difference Makers organization at Fort Hays State University. She loved playing bridge, cooking, reading, traveling, and helping others.

Survivors include her husband, of the home in Hays, a son Joel Mollohan of Hays, a daughter Sue Ross and husband Roger of Edmond, OK, a step son James Aubel and wife Mara of Lawrence, KS, two brothers, Donald Typer of Hesston, KS and James Typer and wife Leigh of Oklahoma City, two granddaughters, Leah Fiore and husband Andrew of Prescott, AZ, and Lacey Sudik and husband Cody of Oklahoma City, and four step granddaughters, Vivian Aubel and Gabriella Aubel of Lawrence, Forrest Aubel of Maryland, and Ashley Aubel of Topeka.

Memorial services will be at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at the First Presbyterian Church, 2900 Hall Street in Hays. Private family inurnment will be in the Mt. Allen Cemetery, Hays.

Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm on Tuesday at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street, and on Wednesday from 1:00 pm until service time at the church. A recitation of the rosary will be at 6:00 pm on Tuesday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested in Joanna’s memory to the St. Joseph Food Pantry, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com.

Ronald Dean Davis, age 79, passed away on Saturday, November 29, 2014 at the Park Lane Nursing Home in Scott City, Kansas. He was born on November 29, 1935 in Ree Heights, South Dakota, the son of Edison and Bernice Witte Davis. A resident of Healy, Kansas for over 30 years moving from Washington State, he was a seed cleaner foreman.

He attended grade school at Orient, South Dakota and graduated from high school at Miller, South Dakota where Ron was active in high school sports including football, track, and boxing. After graduation he worked for several years at Wilbers Seed Company in Miller, South Dakota. He worked for a time in Oregon and Washington as a overhead power line clearance tree trimmer and finally he went to Healy, Kansas to join the Sharp Brothers Seed Company where he was welcomed into the Sharp seed family until he retired.

He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Healy, Kansas.

Survivors include: One Daughter, Brenda & Mark Steckman of Centennial, Colorado; Two Sons, Rodney & Marsha Davis of Miller, South Dakota, Michael & Vonda Davis of Gillette, Wyoming; Two Brothers, Russell Davis of Miller, South Dakota, Gary Davis of Miller, South Dakota; Two Sisters, Shirley & Jack Jones of Kearney, Nebraska, Donna Welch of Pierre, South Dakota; Nine Grandchildren; Five Great Grandchildren; One Great Great Grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his Parents, One Son – Ricky, One Brother – Roger,

One Sister – Diane, One Brother In Law – Bob Hague and One Sister In Law – Joan Davis.

Graveside Services will be held at the Healy Cemetery in Healy, Kansas at 11:00 a.m. Friday, December 5, 2014, with Rev. Bud Tuxhorn officiating.

Memorials may be made to the Healy United Methodist Women % Price & Sons Funeral Home.

Interment will be in the Healy Cemetery, Healy, Kansas.

VICTORIA — Velma Leiker, age 90, died Friday, November 28, 2014, at Country Place Senior Living in Kansas City, Kansas.

She was born July 8, 1924, in Walker, Kansas to George H. and Margaret C. (Schrant) Robben.
She married Robert Leiker on November 29, 1958 in Hays, Kansas.  He died November 13, 2013.

She attended school in Walker and was a graduate of Victoria High School.  She was a homemaker and worked at Victoria Lumber Company, Service Pipe Line and Ellis County Soil Conservation.  She was a member of the Basilica of St. Fidelis, St. Fidelis Daughter of Isabella and Christian Mother, all of Victoria, Kansas.

Survivors include one son, Steve Leiker and wife, Sue, Kansas City, KS; three grandchildren, Courtney Maloney (Shawn), Olathe, KS; Chris Leiker (Autumn), Hays, KS; Brianna Leiker, Lawrence, KS; two step grandchildren, Jackie Schumacher (Chandler) and Taylor Leiker (Sara) both of Hays, KS; seven great grandchildren, Shane Maloney, Blake Stieben, Giana and Mia Schumacher, Jarett L, Kynzie and Jace Leiker; one sister, Vera Rohr, Hays, KS.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; three brothers, Ralph Robben, Phillip Robben, Ken Robben; two sisters, Dorothy Hyde and Rita Robben.

Services are at 10:00 A.M. Monday, December 1, 2014 at the Basilica of St. Fidelis, Victoria, Kansas with burial in St. Fidelis Cemetery, Victoria, Kansas.

A Daughters of Isabella/ Christian Mothers Rosary will be at 6:30 P.M. Sunday, followed by a vigil service at 7:00 P.M. Sunday, both at Cline’s Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601.

Visitation is from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. Sunday, and from 8:30 to 9:30 A.M. Monday, at Cline’s Mortuary of Hays. Memorial to the Basilica of St. Fidelis.  Condolences can be sent via e-mail to [email protected].

Norma J. Ferland, 88, Wichita, died Tuesday, November 25, 2014 at the Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice Center in Wichita.

She was born December 10, 1925 in Zurich, Kansas the daughter of Sylvio and Claranda (Burton) Thyfault. On May 1, 1945 she married Raymond V. Ferland in Zurich. He died April 25, 1999. She was an elementary school teacher for two years and was co-owner with her husband and bookkeeper for Ray’s Tank Service. She was a former member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Zurich and was active in the church altar society and other church activities. She was a member of St. Jude Catholic Church in Wichita.

Survivors include a son, Donald R. Ferland and wife Carmie of Marlow, OK, three daughters, Madonna Patterson and husband Dean of Wichita, Janet Reed of Ellsworth, KS, and Deborah McElroy and husband Larry of Wellington, CO, a sister Twila VanLeeuwen and husband Rod of Hot Springs, AR, a sister in law, Anita Thyfault of Hays, fifteen grandchildren and twenty eight great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a brother Kenneth Thyfault, and a son in law Marty Reed.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 pm on Saturday, November 29, 2014 at the St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church, Hays. Burial will be in the St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 until 8:00pm on Friday and from 12:00 noon until 1:15 pm on Saturday, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine. A parish vigil and rosary will be at 6:30 pm on Friday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice or to St. Jude Catholic Church, both in Wichita and in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com.