Vena S. (Higgens) Kleinschmidt passed away Thursday, May 9, 2019 at Redbud Village in Plainville, Kansas at the age of 105. Vena was born in Champion, Nebraska on April 8, 1914 to Fred and Luella (Frederick) Higgins. Vena’s father passed away when her mother was pregnant with their 7th child. She later married Roy Frazier, who brought 5 children of his own into the family. Vena was blessed with even more siblings when Roy and Luella had 6 more children of their own.

Vena married Ernest Kleinschmidt in Russell, Kansas on February 28, 1935. They were blessed with twin sons; Fred and Fredrick. Fredrick died at birth.

Vena is survived by her son Fred Kleinschmidt and significant other Dixie Odum of Plainville; half-brother Elwin Frazier; 3 grandchildren, Michelle Gleason and husband Jim, Rick Kleinschmidt and wife Tara, and Becky Howey and husband Steve; 8 great-grandchildren, Shaun Steen, Cameron Gleason and wife Michelle, Hannah Gleason, Anthony Kleinschmidt, Loren Kleinschmidt and wife Donna, Christopher Kleinschmidt, Tyler Howey, and Allex Howey; and 2 great-great-grandchildren, Eli Kleinschmidt and Olivia Gayanich.

Vena is preceded in death by her parents Fred and Luella Higgins; husband Ernest Kleinschmidt; infant son Fredrick Kleinschmidt; siblings, Victor, Viva, Vivian, Violet, Virgil, and Virtus Higgins; half-siblings, Cora, David, Silva, Arlayne, and Delwin Frazier; and step-siblings, Lloyd, Lyle, Juanita, Leona, and Lucille Frazier.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. at the Codell Community Church in Codell. There will be a viewing from 10:00 a.m. up to service time on Saturday. Burial will be held at 1:30 p.m. in the Plainville City Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to Vena Kleinschmidt Memorial Fund to help the family cover funeral expenses and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 320 SW 2nd, Plainville, KS 67663.

Norman Edmond Newell was born May 24, 1937 in Damar, Kansas to Armond and Ruby Newell. He went home to Jesus, Wednesday evening, May 8th at the age of 81 at the Mitchell County Hospital in Beloit, Kansas. He was one of thirteen children and attended Damar High School. He then went on to attend Fort Hays State University where he obtained a degree in Elementary education and later a Masters degree from Emporia State University.

He met the love of his life, Lyla Hester, and on June 4th, 1960 they were united in marriage. Three beloved children Mark, Chris and Tim were born to this union. They were privileged to spend nearly 59 years together. Their union demonstrated a strong example of love and devotion to each other.

Norman was a dedicated and inspirational teacher in the Beloit school system for 30 years. His entrepreneur mindset led him to owning a restaurant and building and remodeling houses around the area. His love for the outdoors was cultivated in his youth on the farm while spending time with his siblings. This led to many hunting and fishing adventures, in which he developed many friendships. The stories were plentiful and the fish were known to “grow” with each story.

He was a member of The Beloit First Christian Church and later became a Deacon. He enjoyed all components of fellowship before and after church and helping serve during church activities.

Family time was the most important time to Norman. He enjoyed family vacations, fish frys, and giving away fruits of his harvests to those in the community. Norman knew no strangers and befriended anyone he came into contact with. He loved being around positive people and enjoyed talking about farming, fishing, hunting and the weather.

Norman was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers.

He is survived by his beloved wife; Lyla Newell, children; Mark Newell of Las Vegas, NV, Chris (Scott) Robertson of Hesston,KS, Tim (Tamie) Newell of Mt.Vernon, MO; grandchildren; Kayley (Morgan) Franklin, Corey Newell, Weston (EmiLee) Newell, Shelbie (Timothy) Reyer, Shane Newell, great-grandchildren; Korbyn Newell, Jax and Ellie Reyer.

Visitation with family: 3:00 – 8:00 p.m. Sunday, May 12 at Roberts Family Funeral Service, Beloit. Memorial Service: Monday, May 13, at 11:00 a.m. at The Beloit First Christian Church, Beloit. Private family memorial will take place at a later date at the Elmwood Cemetery in Beloit.

Funeral services will be at 11 AM Monday, May 13 at the Beloit First Christian Church. Visitation will be from 3-8 PM with family present from 3-5 PM Sunday, May 12 at the Roberts Family Funeral Home. Memorials may be given to the Church or USD 273 Educational Fund.

Marvin “Red” Wycoff of Shawnee, KS passed away Monday, May 6, 2019.

Marvin was born in Radium, KS to Estol and Golda Wycoff; he was the youngest of five children. Marvin grew up in Radium, KS but moved to Huntington Park, CA for five years with his family when he was a teenager, before returning to Kansas. He graduated from Radium High School and attended Fort Hays State University in Hays, KS. Marvin served in the Army from 1954 to 1956; he was the Secretary to the General at the 225th Station Hospital in Garmisch, Germany.

In 1958 Marvin purchased the Varsity Bowl Drive In in Hays, KS, which he operated until 1992. The Varsity Bowl was a popular place for teenagers to hang out and “Red” was liked and respected by many of his customers and former employees. He also sold real estate in Hays, KS for Ellner-Bickle Realty (Dean Ellner Realtors) and in Kansas City with JD Reece (Reece-Nichols). In his retirement, Marvin also worked for Enterprise and made many good friends there.

Marvin married the love of his life, Mary Trimble, on December 18, 1960. He is survived by his wife, Mary, Shawnee, KS; his daughter and son-in-law Kim and Chuck Pisano and his beloved grandson, Adam Pisano, all of Lenexa, KS. He is also survived by his sister in law May Wycoff and many loving nieces and nephews. Marvin was preceded in death by his siblings, Arlys (Margaret) Wycoff, Otis Wycoff, Vivian (Marty) DeSantis and Lloyd Wycoff.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 1 at 11:00 a.m. at the Shawnee United Methodist Church 10700 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, KS 66203. A luncheon will follow at the Village Cooperative 12830 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, KS 66216.

Albert Edward Newton passed away May 4, 2019, at the age of 94, in Hutchinson. He was born January 27, 1925, near Dexter, to William W. and Jennie Belle (Rosenberry) Newton.

During World War II he served as a medic on a transport ship that carried troops across the Pacific into combat and brought home the wounded. Albert was an elementary school teacher and coach at Nashville, Shallow Water, Brookville, Cambridge, Carlton, White City and Benton, all located in Kansas. In 1969, after earning his masters degree from Emporia University, Albert became a grade school principal at Northern Valley School District. Albert later served as Superintendent of Grinnell, El-Saline and Conway Springs school districts, where he retired in 1985.

He married Barbara Ramsey in 1950, in Arkansas City. She survives. Other survivors include: sons and daughters-in-laws, Chris and Janet, Hutchinson, Craig and Kristy, Decatur, TX, and Clint and Joann, Salina; seven grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; and one great-great- grandson.

Graveside service will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday, May 25, 2019, at Hope Cemetery, Arkansas City. A reception will follow at Saint Paul’s Church in Arkansas City. Memorials may be made to Arkansas City Retired Teachers’ Scholarship Fund, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 6750

Dennis Biel, passed away May 9, 2019 at his home after a long illness. Dennis was born on July 19, 1953, the son of Eugene and Billie Biel and was raised in Leoti, KS. He graduated from Wichita County High School in 1971. Before his retirement, Dennis worked as an electrical lineman at various locations across the United States.

Dennis is survived by his wife, Dorothy “Jean” Kipp-Biel, two sons, Cameron and Aaron Biel, Pleasanton, CA; step daughter, Andrea Petit, Colchester, United Kingdom; three grandchildren; his parents, Eugene and Billie Biel, Leoti, Kansas; his sisters, Geri Appel of Wichita, KS, Jeannine Ross, Leoti, KS, and Rebecca Carter, St. Johnsville, NY; his brother, Paul Biel (Anita), Hutchinson, KS; sister in law, Carol Biel, Wichita, KS and brother in law, Mark Swift, Ferandino Beach, FL. Dennis was predeceased by a brother Dale Biel, in 2011, a sister, Tina Swift, in 2012, and a brother in law, Kenneth Lerman, in 2014.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2019 at 1:00 pm at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Marienthal, KS.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Anthony’s of Padua in Leoti or the Wichita County Amusement Association.

Jacob “Jake” Kelling, 85, passed away Thursday, May, 9, 2019 at Smith Center Heath & Rehab, Smith Center, KS.

Jake was born March 3, 1934 in Cedar, KS, the son of Allen S. and Lena M. (Genthe) Kelling. On February 12, 1954 he married Donna Gayle Miller in Kensington, KS, to this union they were blessed with three children, Theresa, Mike and Dawn. Donna and Jake were able to celebrate 62 years of marriage together before her passing on October 9, 2016.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Donna, two sisters, Ruby Tomlinson and husband Jack, and Fern Balsam and husband Jim, and a son-in-law Gunnar Hall.

Jake is survived by one son, Mike Kelling & wife Mable of Amarillo, TX; two daughters, Theresa Hall of Atwood and Dawn Schmalzried & husband Rory of Castle Rock, CO; one sister, Mavis Parnell and husband Chuck of Solomon, KS; six grandchildren, Katrenia Sankovich, Jake Kelling, Heath Schmalzried, Tyler Schmalzried, Jack Schmalzried & wife Ashley, Hope Payne & husband Norris and six great-grandchildren, Creighton and Addie Sankovich, Rhys and Tate Schmalzried, Owen and Lucas Schmalzried and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Jake’s life will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 14, 2019 at All Faiths Funeral Chapel, Smith Center, KS. Visitation will be held on Monday, May 13, 2019 from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with family present to greet friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral chapel. Memorials may be given to Smith Center Library and can be sent in care of the funeral chapel.

Sharon B. Price, 79, of Larned, Kansas, was welcomed into the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on May 10, 2019 at Country Living of Larned.

She was born September 22, 1939 in Rozel, Kansas, the daughter of Alfred and Mildred Bruntzel. Growing up in Rozel, she met and married her high school sweetheart, Larry Price on January 14, 1956. They celebrated 47 years together before Larry preceded her to heaven on May 30, 2003. Together they had two children, a son Gene Price (Sharon) of Larned, Kansas and daughter Tonya Burton (Rusty) of Medicine Lodge, Kansas. She has five grandchildren, Anna Connell (Matt), David Price, Joseph Price, Michael Price, Jennifer Burton, and three great grandchildren, Aubrey Burton, Ethan Connell, and Zoey Connell, as well as, Many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her brother, Eldred Bruntzel and sister JoAnne (Simmons) Selzer. To her family and friends, she was faithful and never wavered in her belief in our Lord Jesus. She had many accolades, of which, she cherished being a wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother most.

Funeral services are to be held at Beckwith Mortuary, Saturday, May 18th at 10:00 a.m., with Pastor Roger and Elaine Alford presiding. Following the service, dinner for family and friends will be provided at the First Christian Church fellowship hall, the corner of E. 8th Street and Topeka. Visitation is to be Friday, May 17th from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. with family present from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the mortuary. Burial will be in the Larned Cemetery, Larned.

Memorials may be given to the American Cancer Society or the Roger Alford Ministry in care of Beckwith Mortuary, Box 477 Larned, KS 67550.

Lillian Rose (Williams) Rosenberg, passed away May 10, 2019, at Kansas Heart Hospital, Wichita. She was born Sept. 22, 1923, in Phillips County, Kan., to Claude and Emma (Schippert) Williams. On June 22, 1945, Lillian married Verlyn Rosenberg in Jewell. He passed away Oct. 28, 2004. They were blessed with 59 years of marriage.

Lillian was a 1940 graduate of Alma High School, later pursuing her teacher’s certificate from Kearney Normal School, then teaching first through eighth grades in a one room school in rural Nebraska. Lillian had been a Great Bend resident since 1952, coming from Phillips County, having owned and operated, with Verlyn, Rosenberg Engine Service, where Lillian faithfully served as vice president and secretary for 33 years.

Lillian was a member of First Assembly God Church, Great Bend. Lillian and Verlyn traveled the U.S. extensively, also having visited Italy and the Holy Land.

Survivors include two sons, Rex Rosenberg of Hoisington and Neil Rosenberg and wife Carolyn of Fraser, Col.; two daughters, Joyce VanCamp of Great Bend and Kay E. Cook and husband David of Tulsa, Okla.; 16 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren and 9 great great grandchildren. She was preceded in passing by her husband; two sons, Douglas Rosenberg and Mark Rosenberg; and one daughter, Barbara Casey.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 14, 2019, at First Assembly of God Church, with Pastor Dwight Dozier. Interment will follow at Great Bend Cemetery, Great Bend. Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Monday, May 13, 2019, with the family receiving friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., all at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorials may be given to First Assembly of God, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.