Obituaries

Sep 1, 2024

Sammie Lea Perkins, 85, passed away September 1, 2024 in Wichita.

She was born May 28, 1939 in Larned, the daughter of Samuel Lytle and Thelma Rose Caro Shepherd.

A lifetime area resident, she was a bakery supervisor in the production unit at Larned State Hospital. She was an active member of Escue Chapel CME...

Sep 1, 2024

William "Bill" Martin Walker, 89, passed away September 1, 2024 at his home in Larned.

He was born July 29, 1935 in Larned, the son of Robert H. Walker Sr. and Ruth G. (Row) Walker.  A lifetime area resident, he was a mechanic.

He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Larned.  He enjoyed...

Sep 1, 2024

Larned – Wesley Joe Johnson, 56, passed away September 1, 2024 at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis in Wichita.

He was born July 4, 1968 in Larned, the son of Marvin Dean and Linda L. Belt Johnson.

A lifetime area resident he was a federal engineer for the United States Army and served two tours...

Aug 30, 2024

Larned – Jack D. Smades, 89, went to his heavenly home August 30, 2024 at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, Larned.

He was born December 22, 1934, in Tribune, Kansas, the son of Bob and Helen Kean Smades. Jack grew up in rural Leoti, KS, and for a short time in Wichita, KS, during the war. Jack became...

Aug 24, 2024

Ida Mary Smrcka, 93, passed away August 24, 2024 at Diversicare of Larned.

She was born March 28, 1931 in La Crosse, the daughter of Clarence and Anna Irish Morrison.

A lifetime Rush County resident, she was a homemaker. She loved cooking, sewing, gardening, and working alongside her husband on the farm. Her greatest joy...

Aug 23, 2024

David J. Moore, 69, passed away August 23, 2024 at Great Bend Regional Hospital, Great Bend, Kansas.

He was born June 3, 1955 in Pratt, the son of Gerald and Barbara Chase Moore.  A longtime area resident; he worked at Doerr Metal and later worked at Larned Juvenile Correctional Facility as a Corrections Officer.

He...

Aug 22, 2024

Kelly Scott Hendrickson, 69, formerly from Hanston, Kansas, passed away on August 22, 2024, at the Hays Medical Center. He was born on September 15, 1954, in Larned, Kansas to Lawrence and JoAnn (Law) Hendrickson.

Kelly is survived by his brother Rick (Leanna) Hendrickson, Hays, KS; sisters Roxann (Ralph) Fuchs, Wellington, KS; Shawn (Roger) Hoff, Scranton, KS;...

Aug 18, 2024

Hanston – Dean Alan Hoagland, 75, passed away August 18, 2024 at his home in Hanston.

He was born February 17, 1949 in Broken Bow, NE, the son of Darrell Wayne and Elsie Marie Wilson Hoagland. A lifetime area resident, he was a farmer and laborer.

He was a member of the Hanston United Methodist...

Aug 13, 2024

Shirley Ann Patterson, 86, passed away August 13, 2024 at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, Larned.

She was born April 25, 1938 in Larned, the daughter of John Albert and Lucille Kathryn Young Franz.

A lifetime area resident, she was of the Baptist faith and a past member of the First Baptist Church of Rozel.  She...

Aug 13, 2024

Jetmore - Chester "Larry" Berger, affectionally known as Coach B, 81, passed away August 13, 2024 at Hodgeman County Health Center ISB, Jetmore, Kansas.

He was born January 4, 1943 in Spearville, Kansas as the only child of Chester M. and Opal M. (Spreier) Berger. As a youth, Larry lived in four different homes, all near the...

Aug 7, 2024

Julee Ann Buckman, 63, passed away August 7, 2024 at Lifecare Center of Grandview, Grandview, Missouri.

She was born July 21, 1961 in Larned, the daughter of Harold and Alma "Amy" Ringeisen Bauer.

Growing up in Larned and later moving to Conway Springs, she was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Conway Springs and...

Aug 7, 2024

Jetmore – Jeffrey Kenneth "Jeff" Cole, 60, passed away August 7, 2024 at Hutchinson Regional Hospital, Hutchinson.

He was born May 7, 1964 in Hays, Kansas, the son of Kenneth R. "Ken" and Phyllis Jean Naylor Cole.  A lifetime area resident, he was a Professor of Diesel Technology for Dodge City Community College.

He was...

Aug 4, 2024

Jetmore – Donna Ruth Salmans, 85, passed away August 4, 2024 at her home in Jetmore.

She was born April 2, 1939 in Dodge City, the daughter of George Henry Herman and Leona "Ruth" (Harms) Harms.  A lifetime area resident, she was an EMT for over forty years and was a Bus Driver and Transportation Director for...

Jul 31, 2024

Larned  - Sandra Sue Viegra, 81, passed away July 31, 2024 at her home in Larned.

She was born July 7, 1943 in Larned; the daughter of Edward and Alma Buzard Kimmel.  A lifetime area resident she was a woman of many talents and was a cook.

She married Joseph Viegra in July of 1960...

Jul 23, 2024

C. Yvonne Lane, 76, passed away on July 23, 2024 at her home in Larned, Kansas, surrounded by loving family.

Yvonne was born on April 2, 1948 in Richland Center, Wisconsin, the daughter of Lawrence and Bernadine (Schmitz) McKenzie.

A Larned resident for over 50 years, Yvonne began her career as a music therapist at...

Jul 21, 2024

Robert Alan Sallee, 84, passed away July 21, 2024 at his home in Larned.

He was born June 25, 1940 in Great Bend, the son of Marvin and Ange Wright Sallee.

A lifetime area resident, he was a retired funeral director at Beckwith Mortuary. He was a Member of Larned United Methodist Church, Wet/Dry Routes...

Jul 20, 2024

Kenneth E. Price, 82, passed away July 20, 2024 at Harry Hynes Hospice, Wichita.

He was born November 2, 1941 in Larned, the son of Lester Kenneth and Aline Clarabel Irion Price.

Kenneth was a lifetime resident of Garfield, Kansas. He grew up on the Price Farm, a Holstein Dairy Farm, northwest of Garfield, in...

Jul 15, 2024

Carolyn Sue Hunt, 79, passed away July 15, 2024 at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, Larned.

She was born February 16, 1945 in Larned, the daughter of Raymond and Margaret Wagaman Swartz.

A longtime area resident Carolyn was a daycare provider and later a mental health aide at Larned State Hospital. She was a member of...

Jul 13, 2024

Larned – Melba Lucille Woods, 95, passed away July 13, 2024 at Diversicare of Larned.

She was born March 4, 1929 in St. John, the daughter of Charles W. and Anna C. Schmer Schmidt.

An area resident since 1953, she was a hairdresser for forty-four years. She enjoyed attending numerous churches and was a member...

Jul 13, 2024

Ronald N. Wilson, 67, died July 13, 2024 at Hays Medical Center, Hays, Kansas.

He was born May 8, 1957 in Dodge City, the son of Ray L. and Rowena Kay Sorem Wilson.

A lifetime area resident he was a farmer and rancher. He graduated from Fort Hays State University in 1979 with a Bachelors...