Deborah K. Schmidtberger, 66, Hays, died Monday, June 17, 2019 at her home.

Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced by Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.

Caroline L. Pfeifer, 98, Hays, died Wednesday, June 19, 2019 at Via Christi Village.

She was born March 1, 1921 in Victoria, the daughter of Ben H. and Clara (Linenberger) Schulte. On June 5, 1946 she was united in marriage to Robert A. Pfeifer. They celebrated 53 years of marriage before he preceded her in death on November 9, 1999. Caroline was a homemaker, secretary and bookkeeper for H.E. Hutchison Vending Company for 15 years, did housecleaning, and worked for Al’s Chickenette. She was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, a former member of the Altar Society Christian Mothers, and embroidered baptismal gowns for the church. She enjoyed Bingo, needlework, crocheting, and sewing, and she made many of her own clothes and her children’s clothes. Caroline also made many doilies to share with family and friends. She was an excellent cook, was very punctual, organized, and devoted to family.

Survivors include her son; Alan Pfeifer and wife Roselin of Hays, a daughter; Carolyn Pfeifer of Hays, two grandsons; Aric Pfeifer and Adam Pfeifer, a great-granddaughter; Raegan Pfeifer, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Robert, a daughter Clare Lou Pfeifer, six brothers; Fr. H.J. Schulte, John Schulte, Bob Schulte, Ed Schulte, Benny Schulte, and Denis Schulte, and by two sisters; Georgine Schulte and Edna Dreiling.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 9:00 am on Saturday, June 22, 2019 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church with Fr. Barry Brinkman officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 8:00 on Friday and from 8:00 am until 8:45 on Saturday, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel, 1906 Pine Street. A parish vigil service and rosary will be at 7:00 pm on Friday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to Hospice of HaysMed, Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, or to masses. Condolences and memories of Caroline may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com

Former Brewster, KS resident Carrie “Ruth” Jones, 93, passed away April 10, 2019 at Meadow View Assisted Living in Greeley, Colorado. She was born July 20, 1925 in Goodland, KS to Leslie and Rose (Miller) McClelland. Ruth and her husband Duane were married on June 21, 1946 in Colby, KS. They celebrated 70 years of marriage in 2016.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband Duane, parents, her brothers George, Bob and Jim McClelland, and a sister Marie Edwards.

Ruth has 2 daughters, Linda (Larry) Hoffner and Monn Rose (Mike) Blank, four grandsons; Bradley Hoffner, Eric Hoffner, Aaron Blank and Caleb Blank, as well as nine great grandchildren.

Ruth grew up loving music. She played the piano, clarinet, violin and saxophone. Her family traveled and played at different venues when she was growing up. She was active in 4-H and raised Holstein cattle.

She attended cosmetology school in Denver and had shops in both Goodland and Brewster.

Ruth and Duane lived many years in Brewster, KS. She was a Girl Scout and a 4-H Leader for over 28 years. She was active in the Brewster Senior Center, Methodist Church, VFW Auxiliary and other activities.

Click HERE for service details.

Don Lode, 72, passed away June 17, 2019 in Larned, KS. He was born January 25, 1947 in Great Bend, KS.

Don graduated high school in New Mexico and moved to Larned where he worked for his grandfather at the Don Do Café. Don eventually purchased the Don Do and built a new restaurant across the street in 1984. He volunteered on the Larned Fire Department and Rescue Squad. Don later moved to Colby and was the General Manager of Village Inn. Don had recently retired from the Village Inn in Colby, KS.

Don was a Green Beret in the U.S. Army Special Forces.

Don was an avid golfer and will be missed by his golfing buddies. He often took his family to the lake and loved to camp and fish. Don was quick witted and loved to make people laugh. “Laughter lightens your load and lifts your heart into heavenly places.” (176, Jesus Calling – Sarah Young, June 17)

He is survived by his lifelong friend, Sam Lode; children, Scottie (Ken) Wilson, Kissamic, FL, Misti (Travis) Devine, Larned, KS, Desire-e (Chad) Wark, Rexford, KS, Shaly (Eddie) Niemeyer, Colby, KS; brother, Douglas Lode, California and nine grandchildren.

Private family inurnment will be at a later date.

Memorials may be given to the Pawnee County Humane Society in care of Beckwith Mortuary, Box 477 Larned, KS 67550.

Bernard L. Waldschmidt, 85, formerly of Salina, passed away Friday, June 14, 2019. Mr. Waldschmidt was born Aug. 1, 1933, in Hays, to John G. and Hermenia (Younger) Waldschmidt. He served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955. He worked for the City of Salina retiring in June of 1995. He married Sylvia J. Leiker, Oct. 27, 1962, at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Salina.

He is survived by: daughters, Julie Kippes (Rick) of Lindsborg, Patti Slansky of Chanute, and Susan Gaughan of Kansas City, Mo.; sisters, Bernita Powell, and Janeth Burch; brother, John Waldschmidt; and grandchildren, Emily and Joshua Slansky, and Taylor and Jordan Gaughan.

He was preceded in death by: his parents; wife, Sylvia, in July of 2007; sister, Leveda Peters; and brother, Don Waldschmidt.

Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, June 19, with Rosary-Vigil service at 7 p.m. at Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. Eighth, Salina.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 20, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Salina. Burial will follow in Mt . Calvary Catholic Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

William A. Smith, age 56, passed away Wednesday, June 12, 2019 in Goodland, Kansas.

Bill was a good person and a great friend; he always did his best to help everyone he knew, despite his disabilities from cerebral palsy. He loved building military replica model tanks, vehicles, and planes from the WWII era. He also enjoyed video games, reading sci-fi books and classics like Huckleberry Finn, White Fang and Treasure Island, fishing and visiting spending time with his friends.

He is survived by his sister, Anissa Perkins of Bend, Oregon; his aunt, Leslie Jean Robinson Peterson of Portland, Oregon; and his uncle, Ed Queen of Bend, Oregon.

He is preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.

Memorials may be mailed to Bateman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 278, Goodland, KS 67735. Online condolences and information www.batemanfuneral.com

Clayton D. Williamson, 84, died June 17, 2019, at Almost Home, Great Bend, Kansas. He was born April 24, 1935, in Hoisington, Kansas, the son of Ivan Gilbert and Edith Blanche (Hanson) Williamson.

Clayton graduated from Hoisington High School in 1953. He then served in the United States Army during the Korean War.

On March 11, 1960, he married Teddy I. Fennell in Hugo, Oklahoma.

Clayton was a welder in the oil field, owning his own welding service, Willie’s Welding Service and his own sprinkler and fencing company. He later worked for Epox Poly Fittings for 17 years. He was a designer and engineer for GeoScope Pro, LLC. Later, he was a driver for both Manweiler and Dove Chevrolet, delivering cars all over the country.

He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, where he was a trustee and the treasurer for 17 years. Clayton was an ordained minister, and had the great pleasure of officiating for three of his grandchildren’s weddings. He was the co-founder for the Kansas Association of Inventors, helping to write laws, and a co-founder for the United Inventors Association. Clayton also served as mayor of Hoisington for 15 years.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Teddy I. Williamson of the home; children, Rita Secrest (Dane) of Checotah, Oklahoma, Jettie Zoller (Jeff) of Hoisington, Laura Barnard (Brad) of Hoisington, Karla Weeks of Reno, Nevada; sister, Joy Unruh of Kearney, Misouri; 9 grandchildren, Daneil Secrest, Brance Barnard, Ryan Zoller, Breanna Weeks, Matthew Secrest, Blaine Barnard, Brooke Mann, Jonathan Weeks, and Bailey Streit; 10 great grandchildren, Alyssa Secrest, Maddie & Jaylin Kolas, Braelyn Johnson, Chase Secrest, Branson Barnard, Kenley Secrest, Huntley Streit, Shaylin Barnard and Renley Streit.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Ilomay Darner and brother, John Gilbert Williamson.

Friends may sign the book, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, with family to receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. There will be no viewing as cremation has taken place.

Memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m., Friday, June 21, 2019, at the First United Methodist Church in Hoisington, with Rev. Seong Lee presiding.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Almost Home, Kans for Kids or GPS Kids Club, in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

Phyllis Irene (Harbaugh) Bodine, 94, passed away peacefully on Saturday the 15th of June 2019 in Russell, KS.

Phyllis was born March 27, 1925 on her parent’s farm on Big Creek southwest of Russell. She spent her early years on the farm, until moving to Great Bend in the 7th grade. She married Bob Bodine in 1946, who was an airman stationed in Great Bend during World War II. They lived in Great Bend, followed by service at air bases in Wyoming and Michigan, before Phyllis moved to Colorado Springs in 1958. There she found work at First National Bank of Colorado Springs, where she worked in various roles until her retirement in 1985. She retired to a small house she had moved to the farm of her youth on Big Creek. Later she moved into town, residing for over 10 years at Lincoln Manor in Russell. Phyllis was a faithful member of Trinity United Methodist Church for over 30 years. She enjoyed traveling, gardening, dogs and reading, and was an avid student of the Bible. Although childless, she shared her love and care with countless nieces, nephews, their children, and even their grand children, generously sharing her books, experiences, and love.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, James and Bertha (Ringeisen) Harbaugh, brothers Earnest, Lloyd, James, Willis, Ralph, Richard and Warren, and sisters June and Lillie Jean. She is survived by her younger sister Bonnie. Although childless, she shared her love and care with countless nieces, nephews, their children, and even their grand children, generously sharing her books, experiences, and love.

A graveside memorial service to celebrate Phyllis’ life will be held at 11 A.M. on Friday, June 21, 2019, at the Russell City Cemetery in Russell, Kansas, with Pastor Michael Eurit officiating. Burial of the ashes will follow the graveside service. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary is in charge of the memorial service arrangements.

Karen G. Nicholson, 81, passed away June 17, 2019, at Almost Home, Great Bend. She was born January 18, 1938, at Hoisington to Franklin and Velma (Winter) Herthel. She married Bill Nicholson on August 7, 1960, at Hoisington. They later divorced.

A lifetime Hoisington and Great Bend resident, Karen was a teacher for USD 428, retiring in 1998 after 36 years of teaching. Karen was a graduate of Hoisington High School Class of 1956. She attended Kansas State University, where she received her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Elementary Education and Fort Hays State University, receiving her Master’s of Education degree. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, PEO, Retired Teacher’s Association, and Kappa Kappa Gamma Social Sorority. Karen enjoyed traveling, teaching, her grandchildren, her social groups, and spending time with family and friends.

Survivors include, one son, Michael Nicholson and wife Tammy of Great Bend; and four grandchildren, Ryan Nicholson, Drew Nicholson, Addy Nicholson, and Ben Nicholson. She was preceded in death by her parents; step-father, Ivan Beetz; one daughter, Becky Nicholson; and one brother, Doug Herthel.

Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Thursday, June 20, 2019, at Bryant Funeral Home, with family receiving friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, June 21, 2019, at First United Methodist Church in Great Bend, with Pastor Morita Truman presiding. Interment will be in the Hoisington Cemetery.

Memorials have been suggested to Almost Home, Inc. or the Becky Nicholson Scholarship/Kans for Kids, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Dr. Gene Deutscher, of North Platte, passed away at Linden Court on Saturday, June 15, 2019, at the age of 78, following a battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Deutscher was Professor Emeritus of UNL Dept. of Animal Science and the Research Center at North Platte.

Gene was born December 12, 1940, on the family farm west of Ellis, Kansas. He was the youngest of six children born into the German Christian family of Emil and Jennie Deutscher. Gene played basketball and graduated with honors from Ellis High School in 1958 then served two years in the U.S. Army in a Supply and Transportation Company.

In 1963 Gene married Karen Lofstead in Ellis and had three children, Deborah Jo who died at birth, Krystal and Brett. After his divorce in 1987, Gene met and later married Judy Bostwick on August 19, 1989, at the First Lutheran Church in North Platte where they made their home.

Gene’s formal education continued when he attended Kansas State University and graduated with a B.S. in Animal Husbandry. He later entered graduate school in 1968 at Oklahoma State University, earning his Master’s Degree in 1970 and Doctorate Degree in 1972, both in animal breeding and reproductive physiology. Dr. Deutscher went on to accept an Assistant Professor position at South Dakota State University as a beef cattle research scientist. In 1978, after six years at SDSU, he moved his family to Nebraska and joined the University of Nebraska West Central Research and Extension Center at North Platte as the first beef cattle reproduction and breeding specialist.

Dr. Deutscher’s research and extension programs emphasized the improvement of cattle production through reducing calving difficulty and calf losses, heifer development, estrous synchronization and new breeding programs, including sexed sperm. His research on using heifer pelvic measurements and calf birth weights to reduce dystocia was internationally acclaimed. Dr. Deutscher went on to become a popular guest speaker at conferences across the U.S., was a consultant in Argentina and Australia, supervised several graduate students as they went on to complete their degrees, and authored a beef handbook bulletin. Over 150 scientific and extension publications resulted from his research.

Dr. Deutscher retired in 2000 and at his University retirement celebration was quoted as saying, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Gene cared about people and always tried to do research and education programs that would help ranchers improve cattle production.

In 2013 he established the Gene Deutscher Fellowship in Beef Cattle Reproductive Physiology Fund at the University of Nebraska Foundation, which with the help of others, will fund one or more fellowships to Animal Science graduate students participating in research being done at the West Central Research and Extension Center.

Gene was a committed believer and Christian throughout his life. He was an active member of Messiah Lutheran Church where he served on church council and the finance committee, was treasurer of the building fund, organizer of the stained glass window project and Endowment Fund Chairman. While a member of First Lutheran Church, Gene served 11 years in Christian Education. He was also Scholarship Chairman of Elks Lodge #985 for 10 years and a member of the American Legion.

During his retirement years, Gene liked raising and selling Gelbvieh-Angus cattle and enjoyed driving his pick-up through pastures just to check on them. He also enjoyed tending to his vegetable garden and sharing his produce. Gene looked forward to attending Husker football games with his family and friends and liked taking vacations with Judy and their kids and grandkids.

Along with all his work, research and dedication to beef reproduction, Gene will be remembered as a loving, caring and compassionate Christian man.

Gene is survived by his wife, Judy, of North Platte; children, Krystal (Jak) Konrad, of Phoenix, Arizona and Brett (Mary) Deutscher, of San Jose, California; grandchildren, Devynn and Cassidy Deutscher; sisters, Alberta Breit and Hermine Burg, both of Long Beach, California; as well as other family.

He was preceded in death by his parents; infant daughter; brothers, Verlin and Emil, Jr. Deutscher; and sister, Carol Keller.

Funeral Service will be 10 a.m., Tuesday, June 18, 2019, at Messiah Lutheran Church with Reverend Rebecca Mangelsdorf officiating. Burial will follow at Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday with family greeting friends from 4-6 p.m. at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Gene Deutscher Fellowship in Beef Cattle Reproduction Fund or Messiah Lutheran Church Endowment Scholarship Fund to help others. Online condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com.