Alvin R. Colbert entered into his earthly life on September 26, 1934. He was the eldest child of Roy and Mildred (Derringer) Colbert.

Alvin married Margaret Bell on October 28, 1956, and together they experienced the joys and they endured the challenges of this world. Alvin and Margaret worked together for many years as janitors of the schools at Morland, Kansas, and, then, continued to work together as the resident managers of Epworth Towers in Hays, Kansas.

After fully retiring, Alvin became the primary caregiver to Margaret, very lovingly provided care to her for approximately 15 years as she suffered with great pain caused by Renaud’s Disease. Alvin will be most remembered for being a humble servant of God and his fellow man. Two children, Stanley and Janet Katherine, were born to the marriage.

Two children, Stanley and Janet Katherine, were born to the marriage. Alvin is preceded in death by his loving wife, Margaret, his parents and his brother, Galen Colbert. He is survived by his children, a son-in-law, John Scott, two granddaughters, Haley and Jamie Scott, a sister, Alberta Colbert and two brothers, Albert, Gerald and Roland Colbert.; sister-in-law, Wilda Wenthe.

He was preceded in death by: parents; wife, Margie November 2, 2018; brother, Galen; sister-in-law Bernice Fountain.

Alvin will be sorely missed, but has joined his Lord and Savior and the love of his earthly life.

Click HERE for service details.

Allison “Al” Francis Davis, 76, of McPherson, KS, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 21, 2019, surrounded by family at the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center, Wichita.

Al was born on December 28, 1942, in Hays, KS, the son of Albert and Florentine (Bieker) Davis. During his early years, he was raised on a farm outside of Schoenchen and graduated from Larned High School. He joined the Army in 1964 and served six years in the National Guard.

On December 28, 1966, Al was united in marriage to Dolores “Dee” Diane Nicholson in Larned, KS. This union was blessed with four children, Chris, Frank, Alicia, & Diane.

Al worked at Safeway as a produce manager, Kit Manufacturing, Pyle Construction as a heavy equipment operator and plumber, and retired from General Air Plumbing and Heating in 2006.

He was a member of American Legion Post #24, McPherson and the British Car Club, Wichita. Being a lifelong car enthusiast, he rebuilt a 1976 MGB, which he and Dolores enjoyed driving coast to coast with the British Car Club.

One of his favorite pastimes was golfing with his brother, Ron, in Sterling. He loved outdoor sports, which included camping, boating, fishing, shooting, and hunting. He especially enjoyed playing with his kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. They will always remember the spur of the moment trips.

Survivors include: his wife, Dolores “Dee” of the home; three children, Frank Davis (Ruth) of McPherson, KS, Alicia Barkhurst (Dave) of Kansas City, MO, and Diane Curtis (Terry) of Moundridge, KS; brother, Ron Davis (Vickie) of Sterling, KS; four grandchildren, Arial Conklin (John) of Newton, KS, Andrew Davis (Arii Weis) of Canton, KS, Dusty Gallope (Andrew Harris) of McPherson, KS, and Myles Davis of Wichita, KS; three great-grandchildren; two special “adopted” granddaughters, Angela Shields and Kaylynn Chick; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family and friends.

He was preceded in death by: his parents, Albert & Florentine Davis; two brothers, Rick Davis and Lynn Davis; and son, Chris Davis.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Wednesday, July 24, 2019, at Stockham Family Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 AM, Thursday, July 25, at Stockham Family Funeral Home with David Nicholson officiating. Burial of cremains with Military Honors will follow at McPherson Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be given to McPherson County Humane Society or the American Legion Post #24 in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 North Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460.

Viola Depperschmidt, 90, Liebenthal, Kansas, died Sunday, July 21, 2019, at Rush County Memorial Hospital Intermediate Swing Bed, La Crosse, Kansas.

Viola was born July 13, 1929, in rural Liebenthal, Kansas, the daughter of Isidore and Albertina (Legleiter) Herrman.  She was a lifelong resident of Rush County, Kansas.  A 1948 graduate of Schoenchen High School, Schoenchen, Kansas, she was an owner/manager of the 1886 Hotel, La Crosse, Kansas, before her retiremen.

She was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, and St. Ann’s Altar Society, both of Liebenthal, Kansas.  She was a religious education instructor in Liebenthal, Kansas, and La Crosse, Kansas, and a 4-H leader in La Crosse, Kansas.

Viola loved gardening and taking care of her chickens.

On May 30, 1949, she married Alfred “Fritz” Depperschmidt at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Liebenthal, Kansas.  He preceded her in death November 1, 1984.

Survivors include:  five sons, James Depperschmidt (Theresa), Sylvia, Kansas, Mark Depperschmidt, Langdon, Kansas, Neil Depperschmidt, Liberal, Kansas, Melvin Depperschmidt, Topeka, Kansas, and Paul “Beau” Depperschmidt, Liebenthal, Kansas; two daughters, Cheryl Ann Resner (Gerald), Great Bend, Kansas, and Ruth Schaffer, Arvada, Colorado; seven grandchildren, Jennifer Gunder (Bob), Claflin, Kansas, Thomas Depperschmidt (Tammy), Sylvia, Kansas, Emma Albert (Justin), Milton, Kansas, Jacob Resner (Ashley), Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Matthew Resner (Stacie), Great Bend, Kansas, Casey Schaffer (Jenice), Arvada, Colorado, and Lori Schaffer, Arvada, Colorado; 20 great grandchildren; one brother, William “Bill” Herrman, La Crosse, Kansas; and three sisters, Henrietta Haselhorst, Hays, Kansas, Mary Catherine Dreher, Plainville, Kansas, and Georgiana Herrman, Great Bend, Kansas.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; one son, John Depperschmidt (September 7, 1980); one son in law, Terry Schaffer; one brother, Michael “Mike” Herrman; and one sister, Lillian Leiker.

Visitation will be Sunday, July 28, 2019, from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at the Janousek Funeral Home, La Crosse, Kansas.  A vigil service and rosary will be at 7:00 P.M. 

Church visitation will be Monday, July 29, 2019, from 9:00 A.M. to 9:50 A.M. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Liebenthal, Kansas.

Funeral service will be Monday, July 29, 2019, at 10:00 A.M. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Liebenthal, Kansas, with Father Stephen Dabanka officiating.  Interment will be in the La Crosse City Cemetery, La Crosse, Kansas.

In lieu of flowers or plants, the family requests memorials to the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Steeple Fund, Liebenthal, Kansas.

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 Street, P O Box 550, La Crosse, Kansas 67548, 785/222-2517.

Alma Marlene “Molly” Brin, age 80, of Hays, Kansas passed away Saturday, July 20, 2019 at Via Christi Village, Hays. She was born April 30, 1939 in Dresden, Kansas to Julius and Mae (Weaver) Diederich. On April 22, 1961 she married Carrol Brin at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Hays.

Molly was a RN at the Graham County Hospital, St. Anthony Hospital, Hays Medical Center where she retired from and St. John’s Nursing Home. She was a member of St. Joseph’s catholic Church and she enjoyed sewing, quilting, gardening, the lake and family outings.

She is survived by her husband, Carrol of Hays; two sons, Richard (Connie) Brin of Hays, Rodney (Verda) Brin of Hays; a daughter, Rhonda (Scott) Stults of Hays; two brothers, Dale Diederich of Olathe, Kansas and Dennis Diederich of Colby; three sisters, Leona Clark of Colby, Janet Levenstein of Hoxie and Darla Zerr of Hoxie; five grandchildren, Cameron Brin, Meagan Brin, Kaylee Brin, Liam Stults and Alec Stults.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Jerome “Gabby” Diederich.

Funeral services will be 10 AM Thursday, July 25, 2019 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Hays. Burial will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Hays.

Visitation will be Wednesday 4 PM – 8 PM with a combined parish vigil and rosary at 7 PM and Thursday visitation will be 9 AM – 9:30 AM all at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.

Memorial contributions are suggested to St. Joseph’s Church, TMP-Marian or donor’s choice.

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

Lloyd Howard Ellis, age 92, passed away on July 21, 2019, at his home in Bixby, Oklahoma, surrounded by his loving family. Howard was born June 4, 1927, in Elkhart, Kansas, the son of Lloyd and Louise ( Davis ) Ellis. Howard farmed with his father prior to joining the United States Navy in World War II. Upon his return, he continued farming, and later worked as telephone line technician, journeyman electrician, agricultural irrigation sprinkler installer, and numerous entrepreneurial endeavors.

His greatest lifetime accomplishment was his legacy. On August 14, 1946, he married Eunice Mae Burch in Tribune, Kansas. Howard and Eunice’s family includes seven children: Larry Howard Ellis (deceased), Diana and Larry Davis, Bob and Deb Ellis, Donna Storeim and Robert Ferem, Debbie Holt, Dixie Ireland, and Dana and Leo Graves; 13 Grandchildren and 19 Great Grandchildren. Howard is survived by four siblings: June Burch, Ruby Stein, Duanita Garvis and David Ellis.

Howard is preceded in death by his wife, Eunice (January 29, 2012), and son, Larry (February 17, 1950).

Graveside services will be held on Saturday, July 27th, at 2:00pm in the Leoti Cemetery, Leoti, Kansas with Pastor Gary Salmans officiating and Military Honors provided by the United States Navy.

In lieu of flowers, family requests donations be sent to:

Silent Angels
931 West County Road “J”
Leoti, Kansas 67861

Immediately following the graveside services, the family invites you to join them at the Baptist Church in Leoti for coffee, dessert and appetizers.

R.H. “Dick” Taggart, age 95, formerly of Hays, Kansas passed away Monday, July 1, 2019 at the Wheatland Nursing Center in Russell, KS.

Dick was born on a farm near Olpe, Kansas to Logan Coyd and Dessie Almira (Oakley) Taggart on April 7, 1924. The family moved to Wichita, KS in 1935 where he attended public schools. He served three years in WWII as a Radar Technician with the 310th Bomb Group 57th Wing 12th Air Force of the United States Army Air Corps in Europe.

He obtained a degree in Electrical Engineering after attending WSU and K-State and moved to Hays, KS in 1950 to work for the Central Kansas Power Company until his retirement in 1986. He was a member of the American Legion, VFW, Hays Masonic Lodge #195 A.F. and A.M., the United Methodist Church and was a charter member of the Hays Optimist Club. He was active in community programs for the Boy Scouts of America, youth baseball, and softball. His hobbies were golfing, fishing, hunting and woodworking.

He married Margaret Louise Parham on December 27, 1946. They later divorced. Together, they had four children. He later married Esther Jane Owen on November 22, 1967, with four children.

Dick is survived by four sons: Thomas (Janet) Taggart, Bunker Hill, KS; R. Bruce (Germaine) Taggart, Hays, KS; Lonnie R. (Annie) Hill, Kipp, KS; William P. Hill, Tallahassee, FL; four daughters: Connie S. Taggart, Shawnee Mission, KS; Phyllis L. (Steve) Shipley, Gladstone, MO; Tamara K. (Joseph) Vega, Pueblo, CO; and Theresa F. Hill (Ty Rupp), Ellis, KS. Fifteen grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Esther, and brothers: D. Coyd, Dale L. and William A. Taggart.

Memorial services will be 10 AM on Saturday, August 3rd, 2019 at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory, 2509 Vine, Hays, KS 67601. Inurnment with Military Honors provided by Hays VFW Post No.: 9076 will follow the services in the Fort Hays Memorial Gardens, Hays, KS.

Memorials are suggested to the Hays Community Assistance Center.

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

David Franklin Shearrer, 89, passed away July 20, 2019 at his home in Pawnee Rock.

He was born September 29, 1929 in Wagoner, Oklahoma to David L. and Edna Wiley Shearrer. A longtime area resident he was a baker and a painter.

He was of the Christian faith. He was a member of the V.F.W., Larned and served in the United States Army.

He is survived by; two sons, Amos (Donna) Shearrer, Larned, Steve (Jessica) Shearrer, Pawnee Rock; five grandchildren; and numerous great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by; his parents; five sisters, Osie Mulinaeux, Wholline Ganner, Lottie Mae Leach, Audrey Bridges, Sue Greathouse; two brothers, Charles Leon Shearrer, and Wincle O. Shearrer.

Funeral will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel, Larned with Tonya Andrews Ledesma presiding. Visitation 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel, Larned. Burial in Larned Cemetery, Larned with military graveside rites.

Memorials may be given to the V.F.W. in care of Beckwith Mortuary, PO Box 477, Larned, KS 67550.

Charles E. “Chuck” Harmison, 63, died on Friday, July 19, 2019 at St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City. He was born on August 18, 1955 in Russell, Kansas the son of George and Helen (Untereiner) Harmison. He married Donna Mazanec on August 13, 1988 in Colby, Kansas.

Chuck was a longtime Dighton resident and a jack-of-all-trades having worked as a mechanic for Bretz for many years, owning his own welding business and running a local salvage yard of sorts, to running the family farm south of Dighton. He was a member of St. Theresa Catholic Church and a member of the NRA. He was an avid hunter and enjoyed spending time at the lake with his family.

He is survived by his wife, Donna. His daughters Helena (Wesley) Bunch of Dighton, Loretta (Wyatt) Russell of Great Bend, and Rebecca Harmison of Emporia; sisters Patsy (Harl) Burdick of Scott City, Mary Hammond of Pratt, Eileen (James) Hollis of Meade, and Margaret “Beth” (Craig) Collins of Dighton; brother George (Diane) Harmison of Texas; and granddaughters Kynzlee Bunch and Emersyn Bunch. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Vigil Service will be at 7:00 PM Wednesday July 24, and Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 AM Thursday July 25 at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Dighton with Father Matthew Kumi as Celebrant. Burial will be at Dighton Memorial Cemetery. Friends may call from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Wednesday at Boomhower Funeral Home in Dighton. Memorials are suggested to the Chuck Harmison Memorial Fund in care of Boomhower Funeral Home.

Ralph Francis Albers, a lifelong western Kansas farmer, cattleman and resident of Oakley, KS, died Friday, July 19, 2019 at the age of 90 years. He was born on September 6, 1928, in Sheridan County, KS to Joseph Anthony and Veronica (Beckman) Albers.

In his early years, Ralph attended Oakley schools until he graduated the eighth grade. During this time, while Ralph’s older brothers were serving their country in WWII, he took on the responsibility of helping run the family farm as the remaining son at home. These times were when Ralph built a foundation for his decades-long career in agriculture. Ralph retired from farming in the fall of 2018 after planting his final wheat crop. Six days before his death, he witnessed the harvesting of the same crop, which resulted in the highest yield of his farming career.

At the young age of 20 years, Ralph met the love of his life, Marcella Ribordy, at the skating rink in Oakley. The two were married on November 24, 1948 in Grainfield, Kansas during the one of the largest blizzards western Kansas had seen for decades. The two built their lives together on the farm and were blessed with eight children, Eulalia, Marvin, Vickie, Elaine, Stan, Sandy, Chris, and Lynn. In 2009, Ralph reluctantly moved from the farm and into town at Marcella’s wish. They spent the remainder of their days there enjoying life in town until Marcella’s passing in March of 2018. In all, the couple were married sixty-nine years.

Family was always a priority for Ralph. Even in the lean years, he always provided for his family. As a father, Ralph laid a solid foundation for his children teaching them the value of hard work. He also made time for activities like hunting, fishing, camping and family trips. As a grandfather, Ralph held a special place in his heart for his grandchildren. He loved spending time with them on the farm, especially when they rode along in his John Deere tractors and combines or on his infamous yellow Kawasaki three-wheeler.

Ralph and Marcella loved to be around people and host large gatherings, whether they be for the holidays with the family or seasonal events such as opening weekend for pheasant season, where they often had over 60 guests. Together, they knew no strangers and welcomed everybody as “family” in their home. Outside of bringing people into their home, they enjoyed social events like playing cards, going to dances, and keeping up with their grandchildren and their life endeavors.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents; wife Marcella; brothers, Joe, George, Bernard and Arnold; sister Eulalia Albers; granddaughter Stacy Taylor; great-grandson Elijah Lampe and grandson-in-law Noah Favaregh.

He is survived by his children, Eulalia (Gary) Muschik, Union Bridge, MD, Marvin (Bette) Albers, Oakley, Vickie (Rich) Farney, Wilson, KS, Elaine (Ken) Ptacek, Colby, KS, Stan Albers, Hoxie, KS, Sandy (Monty) Moore, Monument, KS, Chris (Terri) Albers, Oakley and Lynn (Vivian) Albers, Pagosa Springs, CO; 23 grandchildren and 43 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Visitation is 5-7:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 23, 2019 at Baalmann Mortuary, Oakley, with a Vigil at 7:00 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be Wednesday, July 24, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Oakley, with burial to follow in the church cemetery. Memorials are suggested to St. Joseph Catholic School or Logan County Healthcare Foundation in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 204, Oakley, KS 67748. For condolences or information visit www.baalmannmortuary.com