Dateline: Hoisington, Kansas

Virginia Ruth Adams went home to be with herLord on March 6, 2015. She passed away at home in Hoisington, Kansas. She was born October 23, 1924, in Oklahoma, the daughter of Harry and Elon (Seaborn) Mills. She resided in Hoisington, KS and later in Great Bend, KS. Ruth was active in church. She was a Boy Scout Den Mother when they resided in Liberal, KS. Ruth was a lifelong singer. Mom enjoyed singing in groups and many styles of music, mainly Gospel. She participated in prison ministry.
On September 5, 1948, she married Robert T. Adams, Jr., in Hoisington.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Robert T. Adams, Jr. in 1994, while they resided at Whitewater, Kansas; four brothers, Eugene Mills, Harry Mills, Jr., J.D. Mills, and Benjamin Mills; and one sister-in-law, Mildred Mills.
Ruth is survived by her children; Robert “Russ” Adams and wife Lora of Hoisington, KS, Danny Adams and wife Diane of Bellevue, NE, and Kay Warren and husband Roger of Norman, OK; six grandchildren, Rob Adams, Marcus Adams, Ralph Meyermann, Dana Warren, Vicki Maldonado, and James Warren; ten great grandchildren, Jaymes Adams, Jeremy Seguna, Lawrence Adams, Marcus Adams, II, Robert Adams, Brianna Adams, Madison Meyermann, Adalyn Rowe, Orly Warren, and Benny Maldonado; and three sister-in-laws, Edna Mills, Merna Mills, and Ferne Mills.
Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, 2015, at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home Chapel, with Pastor Dwight D. Dozier presiding. Friends may call Monday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. with family to receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Interment will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, at Resthaven Memorial Cemetery, Shawnee, Kansas. Memorials may be made to the LCMHF Inmate Benefit Fund for Prison Ministry in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, P.O. Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

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

Dateline: Great Bend, Kansas

Name of Deceased: John R. Keenan                                                    Age: 74

Date of Death: March 5, 2015

Place of Death: Autumn Hills Retirement Home, Riley, Kansas

Date of Birth: May 16, 1940 at Great Bend, Kansas

Parents Name: Russell S. and Mareeta Ann (Rohrer) Keenan

OBITUARY INFORMATION

He married Ersa L. Koelsch May 23, 1966 at Great Bend, Kansas.

A lifetime Great Bend resident, Mr. Keenan was a retired baseball scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Mr. Keenan was a member of Prince of Peace Parish at St. Patrick Catholic Church, where he was an usher for many years, Knights of Columbus Council #862 life member, B. P. O. Elks Lodge #1127, Kansas Baseball Hall of Fame, Greater Midwest Scout Association, Professional Baseball Scouts Association, and Past President of the Cougar Booster Club.

SURVIVORS

Wife: Ersa Keenan, of the home

one son: Mike S. Keenan of Manhattan, KS

one brother: Micheal Keenan of Larned, KS

SERVICE INFORMATION

Vigil Service with Knights of Columbus Rosary will be at 7:00 p.m., Sunday, March 8, 2015 at Bryant Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m., Monday, March 9, 2015 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Great Bend with Father Don Bedore celebrating. Private family interment will be at Lakin-Comanche District Cemetery, Ellinwood, Kansas. Friends may call from 1:00 to 9:00 p.m., Sunday, March 8, 2015 at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorials are requested to American Legion Baseball, 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: Barbara Beth Adams                                         Age: 91

Date of Death: March 4, 2015

Date of Birth: April 22, 1923 at Ellinwood, Kansas

Parents Name: Wilbur Floyd and Hilda Leola (Christiansen) Bryant

OBITUARY INFORMATION

She married Harry Hugh Adams October 11, 1946 at Great Bend, Kansas.

A resident of Great Bend since 1946, coming from Ellinwood, Barbara was an office clerk for the State of Kansas Agriculture Office and was a homemaker.

She was a volunteer for the USO during World War II. She was a member of First Christian Church, Great Bend. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend.

SURVIVORS

Husband: Harry H. Adams, of the home

two sons: Kent Adams of Hutchinson, KS, Lynn Adams of Bison, KS

two daughters: Brenda Ybarra of Mound Valley, KS, Gale Adams Briscoe of Wichita, KS

one sister: Lucille Kurtz of Larned, KS

Grandchildren: Eight

Great-grandchildren: Twelve

She was preceded in death by one brother, Leo Bryant, one sister, Ruby Wilson, and one grandson, Kyle Tomey.

SERVICE INFORMATION

Funeral Service: Saturday, March 7, 2015

Time of Service: 1:00 p.m.

Place of Service: First Christian Church in Great Bend

Officiant: The Reverend Joshua Leu

Interment: Lakin-Comanche District Cemetery, Ellinwood, Kansas

Visitation:  Noon to 9:00 p.m., with the family receiving friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Friday, March 6, 2015 at Bryant Funeral Home

Memorial Fund: In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to First Christian Church or Alzheimer’s Association, 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: St. John, Kan.

Name of Deceased: Dale May                                                                Age: 79

Date of Death: February 27, 2015

Place of Death: Via Christi St. Francis Regional Medical Center, Wichita, Kansas

Date of Birth: February 12, 1936

Parents Name: Carl & Flossie May

OBITUARY INFORMATION

He married Judy on October 7, 1974 at Macksville, Kansas.

He worked for Edmiston Oil Company as a Superintendent

He enjoyed cowboying, camping, hunting, fishing, golfing, gardening, and four-wheeling.

SURVIVORS

wife: Judy May, of the home; two sons: Jeff and Greg; one daughter, Melinda; one brother: Ted May and his wife Robin, and numerous nieces and nephews.

SERVICE INFORMATION

Memorial Service: 2:00 p.m., Saturday, March 7, 2015 at Bryant Funeral Home

Officiant: The Reverend Dick Ogle

Visitation:  None as cremation has taken place

Memorial Fund: Good Shepherd Hospice or Alzheimer’s Association or Medical Lodge of Goddard, 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 –Dale Dean Lucas, 84, passed away Friday, February 27, 2015 at the Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, Larned, KS. He was born January 15, 1931 in Macksville, KS to Howard and Dorothy Shute Lucas.

He attended Macksville schools, participating in basketball, football, American Legion baseball, and was a member of the track team for the Kansas Relays in Lawrence. He also participated in band and was the Senior Class President. Dale married Grayce Bock, Macksville and raised two sons, Daryl and Myron. Dale was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Rotary and the First Presbyterian Church. He also served on the Board of Directors for the First State Bank. His hobbies included playing golf, hunting and antique cars. Dale loved traveling with his family to Cancun, Hawaii, Washington D.C., Disney Land & Disney World, Yellowstone Park and Alaska.

He started college at Kansas State University and then entered the United States Air Force, serving four years. Dale transferred to Wichita State University where he earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree. His education continued at Emporia State, receiving his Master of Education and then a Doctorate of Education from the University of Wyoming. Post doctorate education was taken at Vanderbilt University. While attending college Dale belonged to Phi Delta Kappa and Kappa Sigma Fraternity.

Dale started as a classroom teacher in the Wichita Public Schools. His administrative duties began when he became a junior high principal in Cody, Wyoming. He then was appointed to the Wyoming State Department of Education to serve as Assistant Superintendent in charge of data collection and all federal programs. Dale was offered the position as aide to the State Superintendent and later was designated as the Deputy State Superintendent. During Dale’s term as deputy, he was selected as the chairman of the committee for the State Superintendents to write, compile, and review the National Educational Polices. Dale also worked closely with the Wyoming Legislature and the Wyoming State School Board. During this time Dale was able to take a group of Wyoming educators to India on a United States grant to help India modernized their teaching & curriculums. During this trip, they were also able to visit Hong Kong, Greece, and many other countries around the world.

Dale’s next administrative duty was at Ogallala, Nebraska as a high school principal before returning to Wyoming, to became the Superintendent of Powell Wyoming schools. Dale moved to Larned, Kansas in July of 1987 to become Superintendent of USD 495 school district.

Dale suffered a stroke in March of 1992 and worked hard at trying to overcome the serious difficulties he experienced.

Survivors include: his wife Grayce, Larned; two sons, Daryl and wife Sandy Macksville and Myron and wife Cindy, Garden Plain, five grandchildren, Christopher, Mackenzie, Emily, Nickolas and Sebastian; two great grandchildren Kenli and Kaybri.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Kent and Troy Lucas.

Dateline: Pawnee Rock, Kansas

Name of Deceased: Jason Wayne Green                                           Age: 33

Date of Death: February 26, 2015

Place of Death: Wesley Medical Center, Wichita, Kansas

Date of Birth: November 1, 1981 at Terre Haute, Indiana

Parents Name: Buck and Sally Green

OBITUARY INFORMATION

Married Brandie Bunch March 23, 2013 at Larned, Kansas.

He was kitchen manager for Gambino’s Pizza.

Mr. Green was a Pawnee Rock, Kansas resident.

SURVIVORS 

Wife: Brandie Green, of the home

one sister: Tracy Goings of Terre Haute, IN

father and mother-in-law, William Franklin & Tammy Bunch

several aunts and uncles

SERVICE INFORMATION

Interment: Pawnee Rock Cemetery, Pawnee Rock, Kansas

Visitation:  2:00 to 4:00 p.m., Monday, March 2, 2015 at Bryant Funeral Home

Memorials are requested to the Jason Green Funeral Expense Fund, 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

Eugene H. Bitter, 84, died February 22, 2015, at Clara Barton Hospital, Hoisington, Kansas. He was born March 30, 1930, on the family farm near Susank, KS, the son of Julius and Emilie (Schmidt) Bitter. A lifetime resident of Hoisington, Eugene was a farmer, stockman and fisherman.
He was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church where he was on the Church Council for many years. Other memberships include the School Board District #62, TWSP Board Wheatland, Barton County Soil Conservation District for 21 years, Rural Water District for 12 years, Fieldman for ASCS for 14 years, and Wheatland TWSP Road Grader for 30 years.
On November 18, 1951, he married Virginia Luerman in Susank. She died March 17, 2011.
Survivors include a sister, Ruth Howard and husband D.D. of Ransom; sister–in-law, Irene Bitter of Great Bend; nieces and nephews, Kenneth Bitter, John Ochs, Tom Ochs, Leonard Ochs, Marlene Hord, Hardy Howard, Randy Killian, Rick Killian and Renae Baker.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Harry Edwin Bitter, and two nephews, Fred and Greg Bitter.
Friends may call 12 to 8 p.m. Tuesday with family to receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. A prayer service will follow at 7 p.m. Tuesday February 24, 2015, at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home. Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, February 25, 2015, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 1101 N. Vine, Hoisington, KS, with Pastor Laura Smith officiating. Interment will be in Hoisington City Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Emmanuel Lutheran Church in care of the funeral home.

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