Obituaries

Nov 2, 2021

Thomas Gene “Tom” Cook, 63, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, November 2, 2021 at Wheatland Nursing Center in Russell.

Tom was born September 7, 1958 in Russell, the son of Bob and Norma Jean (Tomlin) Cook.  He lived all of his life in Russell.  He attended Bickerdyke Special Education Class and received a diploma from Russell...

Nov 2, 2021

Herbert David Kraft, 92, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Tuesday morning, November 2, 2021, at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell.

Herbert was born January 11, 1929 on the family farm south of Russell.  He was one of twelve children born to David and Emma (Steinert) Kraft.  He grew up and attended country schools in Russell County....

Oct 31, 2021

Geary Gene Schafer, 80, of Gorham, Kansas, died on Sunday, October 31, 2021, at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell, Kansas.

Geary was born on June 10, 1941, in Milberger, Kansas, the son of Elmer and Esther I. (Nuss) Schafer.  He grew up in the Milberger, Galatia, Russell and Gorham, Kansas area and attended Milberger Rural Schools. ...

Oct 30, 2021

Terri J. Rather, 65, of Salina, Kansas, died on Saturday, October 30, 2021, at the Eaglecrest Retirement Community in Salina, Kansas.  God blessed Terri with a holy death and took her home to rest in the arms of Jesus to await the resurrection of the dead.

God gave to Terri (Pfortmiller) Rather the gift of earthly life...

Oct 21, 2021

Anthony Henry “Tony” Witt, Jr., 90, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Thursday, October 21, 2021.

Born in Hays, Kansas on September 23, 1931, to parents, Anthony Henry, Sr. and Ethel Mae (Waudby) Witt, Tony grew up in Russell, Kansas and graduated from Russell High School in 1949.  Following high school, he received his Bachelor of Science in...

Oct 14, 2021

Gladys Louise Baird, 87, of Bunker Hill, Kansas, died on Thursday, October 14, 2021, at her home in Bunker Hill.

Gladys Louise (Lange) Baird was born August 12, 1934, at the family home North of Bunker Hill, Kansas. Her parents were Frank and Alma (Frick) Lange. Her elementary school years were at the Success and Cedar Creek...

Oct 7, 2021

Martha Grace Smith-Kennedy was born March 18, 1940 in Dodge City, Kansas to Floye and Joe Leonard. She departed this life on October 7, 2021, after a brief illness, in Woodland Park, Colorado.

Martha is survived by siblings Steve Rohrbaugh (Raylene), Linda Rohrbaugh Diede (Gary), Bill DeGarmo (Randi), Barbara DeGarmo Lohmeier (Patrick), and Laurita DeGarmo Moyer, (Jerry);...

Sep 29, 2021

Dora Imogene (Chain) Purvis, 68, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, September 29, 2021 at Wheatland Nursing Center in Russell.

Dora was born September 11, 1953 in Hominy, Oklahoma.  She was the daughter of Fredrick Henry and Alberta Jula May (Byrom) Chain.  She grew up and attended schools in Cleveland, Oklahoma.  She graduated from Cleveland High School....

Sep 20, 2021

Tianna Dawnae Bays-Broils, 44, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Monday, September 20, 2021, at the Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

Tianna was born June 9, 1977, in Russell, Kansas.  She was the daughter of Henry and Shayne (Humes) Reinhardt.  She grew up and attended schools in Russell and graduated from Hays High School.  She attended...

Sep 16, 2021

Mary Elizabeth (Betty) Young, 97, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, September 16, 2021 at Homestead of Auburn, Kansas.  Betty, as she was known to everyone, was born May 5,1924 in White City, Kansas to Lester and Mildred Dean. She was the second child to this union as her brother Robert was born two...

Sep 15, 2021

Donald Ray “Don” Farmer, 53, of Russell, Kansas and formerly of Colorado, passed away Wednesday, September 15, 2021, at the Pratt Regional Medical Center in Pratt, Kansas.

Don was born July 11, 1968, in Cincinnati, Ohio.  He was the son of Ron, Sr., and Dianne (Vaughn) Farmer.  He grew up in Ohio and graduated from Mt. Healthy...

Sep 14, 2021

Dorothy Jane Nielsen, 80, of Russell, Kansas, died on Tuesday, September 14, 2021, at the Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Lawrence, Kansas.

Dorothy was born on February 18, 1941, in Russell, Kansas, the daughter of Herman and Ella (Wasemiller) Steinert.  She grew up in Russell, Kansas and graduated from Russell High School and lived in Russell most all...

Sep 10, 2021

Betty M. Jane Gibbs, 98, of Russell, Kansas, died on Friday, September 10, 2021, at the Wheatland Nursing Home in Russell.

Betty was born on September 09, 1923, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania the daughter of Walter and Mary (Chambers) Mason.  As a young girl she moved to Jamestown, New York, where she attended local schools and graduated from...

Sep 9, 2021

Mary V. Craig, 97, of Russell, Kansas, and died on Thursday, September 09, 2021, at the Main Street Manor in Russell, Kansas.

Mary was born on July 05, 1924, in Shattuck, Oklahoma, the daughter of Jacob and Lydia (Kraft) Long.  She grew up in Ransom, Kansas, and graduated from Ransom High School in 1942.  After high school...

Sep 7, 2021

Alvin L. Matheson, 82, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, September 7, 2021 at the Russell Regional Hospital with his family by his side.

Alvin was born October 4, 1938 in Hays, Kansas.  He was one of four children born to Raymond and Frances (Terry) Matheson.  He grew up on the farm one mile west of Natoma...

Sep 5, 2021

Glenn H. Weathers, 91, of Russell, Kansas, died on Sunday, September 05, 2021, at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell, Kansas.

Glenn was born on August 13, 1930, Skiatook, Oklahoma, the son of Carl Glen and Marjorie (Dutton) Weathers.  He grew up in the Skiatook area and graduated from Skiatook High School.  After high school he served...

Sep 4, 2021

Clorice Ann (Cooley) Blank, 93, of Natoma, Kansas, died on Saturday, September 04, 2021, at the Rooks County Health Center in Plainville, Kansas

Clorice was born March 3, 1928, on the family farm in rural Mount Ayr, Kansas, to Rollin and Beulah (Boultinghouse) Cooley where she was the third of eight children.  Clorice attended primary grades at...

Aug 25, 2021

Ann Marie (Pieschl) Swander, 58, of Sylvan Grove, Kansas and formerly of Salina, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, August 25, 2021.

Ann was born October 30, 1962 in Liberal, Kansas.  She was the daughter of Michael and Jeanette (Dreiling) Pieschl.  She grew up in Salina, Kansas and graduated from Sacred Heart High School.  She then attended and obtained...

Aug 24, 2021

Liria Lee (Herman) Adams, 52 of Catharine, Kansas, passed away August 24, 2021 at her home with her family by her side.

Liria was born August 26, 1968 in Russell, Kansas.  She was the daughter of Rudolph James and Donna Faye (Lansford) Herman.  She grew up in Russell and graduated from Russell High School in the Class...

Aug 22, 2021

Donald Raymond Gideon, 69, of Lovington, New Mexico and formerly of Guymon, Oklahoma, passed away Sunday, August 22, 2021 at his home with his family by his side.

Donald was born July 31, 1952 in Russell, Kansas.  He was the son of Herman and Helen (Wagner) Gideon.  He grew up in Russell and graduated from Russell High...