Larned – Victor Thurston Caro, 59, passed away October 11, 2015 at the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center, Wichita.

He was born October 8, 1956 in Denver, Colorado. The son of Vincent Taylor Sr. and Shirley M. Patterson Caro; a lifetime area resident he was owner and operator of his own auto mechanic shop in Wichita.

He was a member of the American Legion.

Survivors include; a son, Victor T. Caro, II, Wichita; a daughter, Natalie Jacobson (Benjamin), Solon, Iowa; a brother, Vincent Caro Jr.(Gwen), Larned; a sister, Venice Mitchell, (David), Midwest City, Oklahoma and two grandchildren, Zoii and Zane, Aunt Sheila Davis, Milwaukee, WI and Uncle Robert Caro, Phoenix, AZ and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday at the Beckwith Mortuary Chapel with Pastor David Mitchell presiding. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday and Friday at the Mortuary. Burial will be in the Larned Cemetery, Larned, Kansas.

Personal condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com.

Dateline: Norman, Oklahoma

Betty Jane Welch Gruber, was born on the 27th of January, 1926, to Elmer and Inez Jane Welch. She married her best friend, Arthur Gruber in Hoisington, Kansas, on the 22nd of November, 1944. The traveled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where Art (in the US Navy) was in a water tender school. After the school they traveled by troop train (the only woman onboard) to San Francisco, CA, where they stayed until he shipped out. Orders came fast and he called her to tell her he was leaving in a matter of hours. She bought a train ticket home to Hoisington, KS, traveling by herself where she waited for his return. He was gone one year and never saw her during her pregnancy or the birth of their first child who was born one day before their first anniversary.

She and Art lived all over the world. Because of his work they moved frequently living in Kansas, Arkansas, Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Venezuela, South America, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Tokyo, Japan and Cairo, Egypt. She was an active bridge player wherever they lived and made lifelong friends from all over the world. The retired in Norman, OK, to be near their children.
She was the loving wife of Arthur Gruber and mother of Cindy, Kent, and Chris.

She is survived by her husband Arthur Carroll Gruber of their home in Norman, OK. Also by her daughter Cynthia Jane Gruber Standridge and husband Roy of Lindsay, OK, and sons William Kent Gruber and wife Annette of Albuquerque, NM, Chris Jay Gruber and wife Kim of Gridley, CA.

She is also survived by; six grandsons, Scott Standridge & wife Shanna, Jay Standridge & wife Anna, Matthew Gruber, Jason Gruber & wife April, Lee Standridge & wife Ashley, and Kyle Gruber; and eight great grandchildren, Allie Standridge, Jake Standridge, Rex Standridge, Garet Standridge, Ryan Standridge, Tate Standridge, Rhet Standridge, and Knox Standridge; two brothers, Bob Welch and Jack Welch and wife JoAnn, all of Frankfort, KS; sisters-in-law, Barbara Welch of Pensacola, FL, and Thelma Brack and husband Glenn of Hoisington, KS; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Inez Jane (Jackson) Welch; one brother, Jim Welch; and one sister, Delmoine Welch Capps.

She was a member of the Eastern Star, a graduate of the Menninger Bible Course, an excellent seamstress, knitter, and homemaker. She was a Life Master Bridge Player. Betty was an active member of the McFarlin Methodist Church. She will be missed by all who knew her.

Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, October 12, 2015, at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, Hoisington.

Burial will be in the Hoisington City Cemetery.

Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Sunday, October 11, 2015, at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the McFarlin Methodist Church, Norman, OK, in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington KS 67544.

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

Dateline: Great Bend, Kansas

Name of Deceased: Anna M. Cole                                                       Age: 88

Date of Death: September 29, 2015

Place of Death: Country Place Senior Living, Hoisington, Kansas

Date of Birth: September 24, 1927 at Willowdale, Kansas

Parents Name: Ignatz and Magdalena (Wagner) Goetz

OBITUARY INFORMATION

She married Calvin Keith Roberts January 27, 1948 at Cunningham, Kansas. Divorcing in 1969, Calvin then passed away January 2, 2007. She then married Jack K. Cole February 14, 1978 at Great Bend, Kansas.  He died December 11, 1988. A Great Bend resident since 1947, coming from Willowdale, Mrs. Cole was a self-employed seamstress working also for Star Cleaners and Brentwood, Ltd.

She was a member of Prince of Peace Parish at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, the Altar Society, Fort Zarah Club, and a former Girl Scout leader and Boy Scout den mother, all of Great Bend. She enjoyed playing bridge, gardening, canning, cooking, and was very accomplished at wheat weaving, furniture re-upholstering, and crafts.  She treasured time with her kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids, striving to build lasting memories.

Survivors include one son: Ken Roberts and his wife Diana of Great Bend; two daughters, Carla Hanson and her husband Rick of Liberal, Kan., and Audrey McLain and her husband Topper of Kremlin, Okla.; step-son, Doug Cole and his wife Lucille of Fairfield, California; two step-daughters, Elaine Felke and her husband Joe of Great Bend, and Cathy Cole of Sedan, Kan.; one sister: Christina Bohrer of Pratt, Kan.; 13 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by five brothers, Eugene Goetz, Anthony Goetz, Vincent Goetz, Phillip Goetz, and Paul Goetz; three sisters, Alvina Casper, Cecilia Schoenecker, and Yvonne Beat; one grandson, Matthew Hanson and a great grandson, Kellan Soukup.

Altar Society Rosary will be at 4:00 p.m. and Vigil Service will be at 7:00 p.m., Sunday, October 4, 2015 at Bryant Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m., Monday, October 5, 2015 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Great Bend with Father Louis Trung Dinh Hoang celebrating. Burial will be in Great Bend Cemetery, Great Bend. Friends may call from 1:00 to 9:00 p.m., Sunday, October 4, 2015 at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorials have been established with Prince of Peace Altar Society, 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: Ellinwood, Kansas

Name of Deceased: June Evelyn Buczinski Billinger                 Age: 91

Date of Death: October 1, 2015

Place of Death: Woodhaven Care Center, Ellinwood, Kansas

Date of Birth: June 25, 1924 at Wichita, Kansas

Parents Name: James E. and Ethel (McDonough) Smith

OBITUARY INFORMATION

She married Lawrence Buczinski July 11, 1945 at Tulsa, Oklahoma.  He died April 26, 1997. She then married Charles J. Billinger October 23, 1999 at Great Bend. He died April 24, 2000. A long-time Great Bend and Ellinwood resident, she was a secretary for Beech Aircraft, Wichita, Holland Engraving and IRS in Kansas City, and Fryberger Mortuary. She was co-owner of Miracle Water, Great Bend.

She was a member of St. John Episcopal Church and American Legion Post 180 Auxiliary, both of Great Bend; Heritage Club and Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, both of Ellinwood; Sweet Adelines and Red Hat Society.

SURVIVORS

two sons: Larry J. Buczinski and his wife Marilyn of Great Bend, KS, and Daniel J. Buczinski and his wife Diana of Goddard, KS

two daughters: Christina Gonzalez and her husband Sam of Crosby, TX, and Diana Rightmire and her husband Warren of Kansas City, MO

ten grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren and step-grandchildren

two step-sons, Charles Buczinski and Charles Billinger

five step-daughters, Geneva Spotz, Mary Richardson, Toni Schneweis, Mary Charles and Cecelia Conrad

She was preceded in death by one brother, James E. Smith, Jr., and one sister, Jean Griggs.

SERVICE INFORMATION

Funeral Service: Monday, October 5, 2015

Time of Service: 2:00 p.m.

Place of Service: St. John’s Episcopal Church in Great Bend

Officiant: The Reverend Phyllis Brannon Flory

Interment: Great Bend Cemetery, Great Bend, Kansas

Visitation:  1:00 to 9:00 p.m., with the family receiving friends from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., Sunday, October 4, 2015 at Bryant Funeral Home

Memorial Fund: Heritage Club, 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

Larned – Charlotte Jeanne Haraldson, 71, passed away September 28, 2015 at her home in Larned.

She was born December 25, 1943 in Jefferson, Iowa, the daughter of Otha and Flora Fister Kendall. Living in Larned for over 30 years, her occupation was in Public Service. She attended the Pawnee Rock Christian Church in Pawnee Rock, Kansas.

She is survived by a daughter, Carie Perez and husband Allen, Larned; two sons, Gail Toyne, Salina, Duane Toyne and wife Angie, Taylor, Tx; three sisters, Joann Schuette, Branson, Mo, Dolly Leatherman, Hollister, Mo, Diann Earll, Branson, Mo; two brothers, William L. Kendall, Jefferson, Iowa and Robert O. Kendall, Junction City, Ks; six grandchildren, Brittany Haney, Ryan Lemuz, Maci Perez, Mason Perez, Janice Pace and Jeffrey Toyne; three great grandchildren, Alivia and Averi Haney and Brayden Pace.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Arlie and Pete Kendall; one grandchild, Tylor Toyne.

Cremation has taken place, no services are planned at this time.

Memorials may be given to Pawnee County Humane Society in care of
Beckwith Mortuary, P.O. Box 477, Larned, KS 67550.
Personal condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com.