Dateline: Hoisington, Kansas

Larry Lee Klein, 55, of Hitschmann, Kansas, died Monday, January 12, 2016, at his home.

Larry was born on February 12, 1960, in Hoisington, Kansas, the son of Larry and Helen Klein. He grew up and attended school in Hoisington and never strayed far from his Barton County roots.

Larry’s life was a simple one and he enjoyed simple pleasures. A phone call from his precious daughter Larami, or a visit from his dear son Caleb would make his day and he was happiest when talking about his two beloved children. They meant everything to him and his pride in them and love for them was evident in his voice.

Larry was fond of cowboy hats, the larger the better. He appreciated a slightly chilled Keystone, his mom’s good cooking, a pair of broke in boots, well-worn longjohns, and colorful western shirts, the starchier the better.

And trucks. Larry admired trucks and his passion was driving them, the louder the better. He reveled in his work for FedEx and took great delight in traveling around the state of Kansas. Give Larry a warm truck cab, a gallon of coffee, a little country music on the radio, and he could be gone for days.

Finally, Larry loved his parents. He could always count on his mom’s world-class mashed potatoes and giblet gravy and nobody was a better champion for Larry than his dad. Of the seven Klein siblings, Larry was pleased to be the one to share his father’s name and he knew his folks were always in his corner. Larry is with his dad now, surely talking about trucks and the great loves of his life, Larami and Caleb.

A lifetime Barton County resident, Larry was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council #2630, Odin.
On September 9, 1989, he married Carla Burnette Stoss. They later divorced.

He is survived by his two children, Larami Parsons and husband Tom of Great Bend, Caleb Klein of Great Bend; stepchildren, Shelli Schmidt and husband Travis of Claflin, John Stoss and wife Becky of Dodge City; mother, Helen Klein of Great Bend; siblings, Curtis Klein and wife Betty of Canandian, Texas, Mike Klein and wife Terri of Great Bend, Karen Barrow and husband Ron of Great Bend, Tammy Cushenbery and husband Daryl of Fort Worth, Texas, Robert Klein and Todd Klein and wife Dawn, all of Great Bend; grandchildren, Madison, McKenna, Neeley, Audrie, Lexi, and Blaike.

He was preceded in death by his father, Larry Eugene Klein.

Memorial service will be 10 a.m., Saturday, January 16, 2016, at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home Chapel, with Reverend Dick Ogle presiding. Inurnment will follow in Hoisington City Cemetery. Friends may sign the book 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, at the funeral home. Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.  Cremation has taken place. Memorials may be made to the Larry Lee Klein Funeral Expense Fund in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.nicholsonrickefh.net

Garfield – Emma E. Olson, 93, passed away January 12, 2016 at her home in Garfield, Kansas.

Emma Emelia was born February 27, 1922 in Garfield, the daughter of Albert and Esther Peterson Mostrom. A lifetime Garfield resident she worked for the U.S. Post Office as part time clerk in Garfield and Lewis for 15 years. She also worked for Unified School District #495 as secretary of the Garfield School for 17 years.

She attended the Congregational Church and later joined the Swedish Lutheran Church. She was a member of the Lutheran Church Women, American Legion Auxiliary, and the Sewing and Book Clubs, all of Garfield.

After receiving a three year teaching certificate from Fort Hays State College she taught at a country school in Rush County for one year. During WWII, she and her sister moved to Wichita to work at the Boeing Aircraft Factory producing the B-29 bomber. She remembered seeing the first experimental B-29 fly into Wichita from Seattle, Washington.

On February 11, 1945 she married Albert James Dallas of Denver at the home of her parents in Garfield. He died on June 24, 1945. His entire flight crew was killed when their B-25 crashed upon take off from Lowry Field, Denver.

On June 20, 1948 she married a former classmate, John M. (Johnny) Olson in Garfield at the Swedish Lutheran Church. He passed away on April 25, 2014. They were married for 65 years.

Survivors include: three daughters, Janet Olson, Garfield, Dr. Norma Olson and husband Dr. Paul Kelly, Underwood, MN, Ruth Peters and husband Reed, Larned; one son, Eric Olson and wife Lisa, Collierville, TN; four grandchildren, Molly Olson-Kelly, Elizabeth Lake Olson, Anna Marie Olson, John William Olson, one great granddaughter, Sophia Grace Olson-Kelly Ramirez and many nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by: a brother, Albert Mostrom and two sisters, Elvira Jellison and Mae Heyen.

Funeral will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday at the Lutheran Church in Garfield, KS with Rita Gagleman, Parish Ministry Associate, presiding. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday and Friday at Beckwith Mortuary, Larned. Burial will be in the Garfield Cemetery following the service.

Memorials may be given to the Garfield Lutheran Church in care of Beckwith Mortuary, P.O. Box 477, Larned, KS 67550. Personal condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com.

Larned – John E. Carlson Jr. 74, passed away January 9, 2016 at St. Lukes Hospital, Country Club Plaza, Kansas City, Missouri.

He was born May 28, 1941 in Dodge City; the son of John E. and Pauline Preston Carlson.
A longtime area resident; he was a truck driver for Doerr Metal Products and also worked at Ralph Baird Motors. He was raised in Jetmore, Kansas and graduated from Jetmore High School.

He was a member of the N.R.A., Tired Iron Show, Larned Antique and Collectible Show and Sale, early morning coffee club, Larned Road Runners motorcycle club and Hodgeman County 4-H; he loved racing motorcycles and going to auctions, watching Nascar races, watching John Wayne movies, hunting, flea markets, spending time with his grandchildren and always had a good joke.

On January 28, 1966 at the First Christian Church, Larned, Kansas he married Bonnie Bunting. She survives.

Other survivors include; a son, Joel Carlson (Justine), Frisco, Texas; a daughter Shanda Perez (Lupe Jr.), Larned; a brother, Carl M. Carlson, Dodge City; six grandchildren, Jessica Bonin, Lauren Barron, Isiah Perez, Baylea Perez, Josef Carlson and Meadow Carlson and two great grandchildren, Gabriella and Makenzy Bonin.

He was preceded in death by; his parents and a brother, Lynn Carlson.

Funeral will be 10:00 a.m. Friday at the Beckwith Mortuary Chapel with Rev. Jack Hopkins presiding. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday at the mortuary. Burial will be in the Garfield Cemetery, Garfield, Kansas.

Memorials may be given to the Tired Iron Show, in care of the Beckwith Mortuary, P.O. Box 477, Larned, KS 67550. Personal condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com.

Dateline: Great Bend, Kansas

Name of Deceased: Ellen I. Baldwin                                                  Age: 79

Date of Death: January 7, 2016

Place of Death: At her home in Great Bend, Kan.

Date of Birth: February 28, 1936 at Wauneta, Neb., the daughter of Jay C. and Olive (Michelson) Hays

 

OBITUARY INFORMATION

She married Harold J. Wiesner. She later married Kent Baldwin April 9, 1983 at Ellis, Kansas.  He survives.

A Great Bend resident since 1967, coming from Ellis, Mrs. Baldwin was a secretary for Dr. Kutina and a clerk at Dillon’s.

She was a member of First Christian Church and RSVP. She enjoyed volunteering at St. Rose Health Center, and the Bloodmobile, as well as golfing and flower gardening.

 

SURVIVORS

husband: Kent Baldwin, of the home

one son: Kirk Wiesner and his wife Terri of San Diego, Calif.

step son: Michael Baldwin of Wichita

one daughter: Terri Hughes and her husband Rick of Great Bend

step daughter: Diana Schuster and her husband Stan of Great Bend

two sisters: Donna Kuhn of Hays and Cleo Hockman and her husband Rick of Hill City

three brothers: David Hays and his wife Sharon of Fort Collins, Colo., Jay C. Hays of Kanopolis and Alan Hays and his wife Donna of Ellis

four grandchildren: Brian Hughes and his wife Michelle, Nathan Hughes and his wife Erin, Jay Wiesner and his wife Erin and Alex Webster

six great-grandchildren: Olivia Hughes, Adelynn Hughes, Trenton Hughes, Blakely Hughes, Rowen Hughes and Kathleen Wiesner

three step grandchildren: Brian Schartz and his partner Jeff, Erin Schartz and Abbie Schuster

two step great-grandchildren: Avery Ellison and Brady Schartz

She was preceded in death by her parents, and one sister, Evelyn Schumacher.

 

SERVICE INFORMATION

Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m., Monday, January 11, 2016 at First Christian Church in Great Bend

Officiant: The Reverend Sue Bishop

Interment: Great Bend Cemetery North, Great Bend, Kansas

Visitation:  1:00 to 9:00 p.m., Sunday, with the family receiving friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., January 10, 2016 at Bryant Funeral Home

Memorial Fund: Multiple Sclerosis Society or Kans for Kids or Ronald McDonald House, in care of Bryant Funeral Home

Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net

                      Arrangements by    Bryant Funeral Home         1425 Patton Road       Great Bend, Kansas         67530

Dateline: Hoisington, Kansas

Wilma M. Demel, 80, died January 5, 2016, at Cherry Village Nursing Home, Great Bend, KS.
She was born November 25, 1935, on the farm in northern Barton County, the daughter of John and Lydia (Eichman) Lust. Wilma graduated from Hoisington High School in 1953.
A lifetime resident of Hoisington, she worked as a waitress at the Colonial House Restaurant for many years. Later retiring in 2000 as a cook at Clara Barton Hospital.
Wilma volunteered for the Red Cross Blood Mobile and she was a Pink Lady for the Clara Barton Hospital Auxiliary. Wilma, the great cook that she was, volunteered to cook for many events in the community.
On August 26, 1955, she married Harold E. Little in Alva, Oklahoma. He died May 11, 1977. She later married Dennis L. Demel on January 31, 1988 in Great Bend.
She is survived by her husband of 27 years, Dennis L. Demel; children, Gary A. Little and wife Marilyn of Hoisington, Craig Little and wife Angie of Lawrence, Sheila Thompson of rural St. John, Suzie Little of Hoisington, Denise Schreiber and husband Bob of Hoisington; grandchildren, Jimmy Little, Cory Little, Jason Little, Joshua Little, Chelsey Thompson, Tre Hinds, Shani Stout and husband Kyle, and William Demel; great grandchildren, Coriaunna Little, Blaze Little, Olivia Little, Emma Little, Aiden Little, Ryker Stout and Dahlia Stout.
She was preceded in death by, a husband, Harold E. Little, sons, John “Maynard” Little and Craig Demel, brothers, Roland Lust and Marvin Lust; and a sister, Fern Boger.
Memorial service will be 2:00 p.m., Friday, January 8, 2015, at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Dick Ogle presiding. Inurnment will follow in Hoisington City Cemetery. Cremation has taken place. Friends may sign the book 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and 9 a.m. until service Friday. Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials to the Clara Barton Hospital Auxiliary in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.nicholsonrickefh.net

Great Bend, Kan. — Bernard Richard “Bernie” Schenk, 91, died Jan. 4, 2016 at Clara Barton Hospital, Hoisington, Kan. He was born Oct. 15, 1924 at Olmitz, Kan., the son of William and Emily (Spitzka) Schenk. He married Mary Jo Riedel May 20, 1953 at St. Ann Catholic Church, Olmitz.  They were residents of Olmitz for 36 years, moving to Great Bend in 1989. From 1951 to 1980, Mr. Schenk served as a Rural Mail Carrier at Olmitz. Following his retirement from the postal service, he became Knights of Columbus Insurance Field Agent for the Western Kansas Agency, providing insurance needs to brother Knights for fifteen years.

Mr. Schenk was a World War II United States Navy veteran, serving aboard the USS Leyte from 1946 to 1948. He was a member of St. Ann Catholic Church, Olmitz, until he moved to Great Bend and transferred his membership to St. Patrick Catholic Church. He was a member of Knights of Columbus Council #2100, Olmitz, where he served as Grand Knight in 1957 and 1958, and was then appointed as District Deputy from 1961 to 1967. He was a life member of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus Coronado Assembly. Mr. Schenk also served on the Barton County Farm Bureau board, was a member of the Thomas More Prep Parent-Teacher Association, and was treasurer for the USS Leyte Reunion Committee for ten years. He was also a clerk for Pat Keenan Auction.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Jo Schenk, of the home; three sons, Richard Schenk and his wife Annie of Great Bend, Brother Mark Schenk, OFM Capuchin of Rome, Italy, and Greg Schenk and his wife Kim of Great Bend; one daughter, Denise Hunt and her husband Pat of Laguna Hills, Calif.; one brother, Harold Schenk of Great Bend; nine grandchildren, Allyce Hansford, Amanda Pfannenstiel, Briana Schenk, Matthew Schenk, Jessica Kelly, Sarah Smith, Theo Hunt, Tim Hunt and David Hunt; and four great-grandchildren, Kolter Pfannenstiel, Kimber Pfannenstiel, Colson Kelly, and Emma Smith. He was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Geralyn Schenk; two sisters, Christina Steiner and Magdalene Steiner; and three brothers, William Schenk, Edwin Schenk and Robert Schenk.

Vigil Service with Knights of Columbus Rosary will be at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016 at Bryant Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m., Friday, Jan. 8, 2016 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Great Bend. Burial will be at 2 p.m., Friday, Jan. 8, 2016 at St. Ann Cemetery, Olmitz. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016 at Bryant Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials are requested to Capuchin Province of Mid-America or Holy Family School, in care of Bryant Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net

 

Arrangements by    Bryant Funeral Home         1425 Patton Road       Great Bend, Kansas         67530

Dateline: Great Bend, Kansas

Name of Deceased: Helen Rose Wagner                                           Age: 94

Date of Death: January 4, 2016

Place of Death: The Cedars, McPherson, Kansas

Date of Birth: September 15, 1921 at Liebenthal, Kansas

Parents Name: John and Anna Margaret (Geist) Heronema

 

OBITUARY INFORMATION

She married Patrick J. Elliott, Sr. August 8, 1939 at Liebenthal, Kansas.  He died January 7, 1983. She married Ernest H. Wagner in April 1968. He died September 22, 2009.

She was a homemaker.

She was a member of Prince of Peace Parish at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Altar Society, and Daughters of Isabella, all of Great Bend.

 

SURVIVORS

three sons:, Patrick J. Elliott, Jr. and his wife Mary of Highland Village, Texas, William W. Elliott and his wife Wilma of Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas, and Thomas A. Elliott and his wife Linda of McPherson, Kan.

four step sons, John Wagner and his wife Janice of Russiaville, Ind.,, Donald Wagner and his wife Vickie of Wichita, Kan., Eugene Wagner and his wife Robin of Foley, Ala., and Myron Wagner and his wife Linda of Otis, KS

two step daughters, Julianna Miller and her husband Vic of Offerle, Kan., and Mary Jane Wagner of Kansas City, Mo.

one sister: Dorothy Reed of Farmington, NM

Grandchildren: Twenty

Great-grandchildren: Twenty-Eight

She was preceded in death by two brothers and five sisters.

 

SERVICE INFORMATION

Altar Society Rosary will be at 4:00 p.m. and Vigil Service with Daughters of Isabella Rosary will be at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 6, 2016 at Bryant Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, January 7, 2016 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Great Bend. Burial will be in Great Bend Cemetery, Great Bend, Kansas. Friends may call from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 6, 2016 at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorials are requested to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

 

Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net

                      Arrangements by    Bryant Funeral Home
1425 Patton Road       Great Bend, Kansas         67530