Larned – Troy Lee Fox, 50, passed away May 18, 2014 at Emporia, KS.

He was born October 29, 1963 in Hastings, Nebraska. The son of Galen and Charolette “Sue” Cambron Fox; he was a Larned resident for 25 years moving from Garden City. He was a Diesel Mechanic for Doonan Truck.

He was a member of The Fathers House, Larned.

On August 26, 2000 he married Theresa Muehlenkamp at Larned. She survives.

Other survivors include; two sons, Nathan Fox and Joshua Fox, both of Larned; a daughter, Aubree Fox, Larned; his mother, Sue Fox, Emporia; a brother, Dan Fox, Lebo; a sister, Lana Russell and Tracy, Lawrence and a half brother, Cory Powell, Cheyenne, Wyoming.

He was preceded in death by his father, Galen Fox.

Graveside service will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Larned Cemetery with Pastor Mike Pfortmiller presiding. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday at the Beckwith Mortuary, Larned. Burial will be in the Larned Cemetery, Larned.

Memorials may be given to the Troy Fox Children’s College Fund, in care of the Beckwith Mortuary, P.O. Box 477, Larned, KS 67550. Personal condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com.

Barbara Louise Knupp Lucas passed away Wednesday January 1, 2014 at Life Care of Collegedale, TN. She was 83 years old.

She was born in Larned, Kansas on November 21, 1930 to the late E. V. Knupp and Irene Hall Knupp. She was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years John K. ‘Pete’ Lucas as well as an infant daughter Kelly Jo Lucas. She was survived by her son Grady Lucas of Baltimore MD, a daughter Nancy Senn (Ron) of Cleveland TN, sisters Alberta Cousino of Ann Arbor MI, Jan Trowbridge (Wayne) of Wichita, KS and brother Daniel Knupp (Linda) of Wamego KS.

Barbara graduated from Larned High School with the Class of 1948. It was in Larned that Barb married Pete in the summer of 1948. The Lucas Family made homes in Kansas, Maryland, Colorado, Michigan, Tennessee and Louisiana where Barbara was a resident of Slidell for over 30 years before moving in 2010. She was a loving mother and wife and was an excellent bridge player. In addition to enjoying her pets she loved Coca Cola and chocolate.

In lieu of flowers we ask for donations for Alzheimer’s research to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
www.omrf.org/about-omrf/reasearch-targets/alzheimers-and-brain-disease
And follow the link to Make a Gift, or feel free to mail your contribution to 825 N.E. 13th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73104

Memorial service will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 24, 2014 at the Beckwith Mortuary Chapel with Rev. Bethann Black presiding. Visitation with family present will be from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Saturday. Private family inurnment will be in the Larned Cemetery, Larned, Kansas. Arrangements by Beckwith Mortuary, Larned. Personal condolences may be left for the family at www.beckwithmortuary.com

Wichita – Michael J. Dreiling, 66, passed away May 15, 2014 in Wichita.

He was born July 14, 1947, in Great Bend, the son of Ralph and Anna Marie (Peg) Turner Dreiling. Living most of his life in Wichita, he was the owner of Dreiling Liquor.

He was a member of the St. Rose Catholic Church, Great Bend. He served in the National Guard and graduated from Great Bend High School.

Survivors include: a son, Bradley (Maria) Dreiling, Fort Worth, Tx; a daughter, Annette Dreiling, Derby; three brothers, Bill (Patty) Dreiling, Missoula, MT, Tim (Janelle) Dreiling, Lake Kiowa, TX, Doug (Denise) Dreiling, Scott City; four sisters, Nancy (Dan) Peschka, Great Bend, Judy (Jim) Damm, Debra Robinson and Diane Walker, all of Larned; three grandchildren, Christian Dreiling, Derby, Brianna Dreiling, Fort Worth, TX. and Mike Countryman, Lincoln, NE; three great grandchildren, Cali, Kingston and Christian, and his beloved dog Skyy.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Katherine Hoge.

Vigil will be at 7 p.m. Sunday at Beckwith Mortuary, Larned. Memorial Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Larned, with Father Warren Stecklein presiding. Cremation has taken place and friends may sign the register book from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday at Beckwith Mortuary, Larned. Inurnment will be in the Larned Cemetery.

Memorials may be given to the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in care of Beckwith Mortuary, Box 477 Larned, KS 67550. Condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com.

Norton – Alta Lee Dutton, 92, passed away May 13, 2014 at Diversicare of Larned.

She was born May 9, 1922, in Norton County, the daughter of LeRoy and Leo May Hager Ritter. She was a resident of Larned, moving from Norton 3 years ago. She was a payroll clerk at the Norton County Hospital.

She was a member of the United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, the Wesleyan Service Guild, was a Sunday School Clerk and ran the church thrift shop for many years, all of Norton. She was an avid gardener, loved to sew and do crafts.

In June of 1948, she married Richard Karl Dutton. He passed away January 31, 2009.

Survivors include: one son, Patrick Dutton, Norton; four daughters, Susan Cranston, Ness City, Marsha Rogers, Seldon, Karen (Rod) Martin, Garden City, Karla (Dan) Sanneman, Larned; six grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Verle Ritter and three sisters, Bethel Wicker, June Holeman and Cleta Smiley.

Memorial Graveside service will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, May 23, 2014 at the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery in Wakeeney, Ks. Friends may sign the register from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at the Beckwith Mortuary, Larned. Cremation has taken place and inurnment will be in the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery, Wakeeney, Kansas.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to the Norton United Methodist Church or the Norton Community Library both in care of the Beckwith Mortuary, P.O. Box 477, Larned, KS 67550
Beckwith Mortuary, Box 477 Larned, KS 67550 is in charge of local arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com.

Kenneth L. Ford, age 87, died Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at Woodhaven Care Center in Ellinwood, Kansas. He was born March 23, 1927 at Newton, Kansas the son of John and Hazel B. (Spangler) Ford.

Kenneth, a lifelong resident of the area, worked for Shirer Well Service for over thirty years until his retirement. He served his country in the United States Army and was a member of Hoisington V.F.W. Post #7428, American Legion and Hoisington Bible Church all in Hoisington. On June 19, 1950 he married Wanda Beams at Great Bend, Kansas. She preceded him in death on September 25, 2007.

Survivors include three daughters, Jacquette Ford, Melissa Tittel and husband Richard, and Lisa Wrench all of Hoisington; one brother, Keith Ford of Oglethorpe, Georgia; one brother-in-law, Ray Beams of Green Bay, Wisconsin; nine grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one daughter, Joyce M. Ford, two sons, Kenneth R. Ford, and Steven L. Ford, and brother-in-law, Byron Beams.

Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 16, 2014 at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington, Kansas with Reverend Gary Clark officiating. Burial will follow at Hoisington Cemetery. Friends may call Thursday, May 15, 2014 from 1:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Kans for Kids in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO box 146, Hoisington, Kansas 67544.
Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.nicholsonrickefh.net

Larned – Karen Kay Stokes, 77, passed away May 7, 2014 at her home, Larned.

She was born February 20, 1937 in Kansas; the daughter of Raymond and Vera K. Brewer Branyan. A lifetime area resident she was retired from AT&T.

Karen was a self published novelist, publishing 6 or 7 novels in Kansas. She was also an airline stewardess and a model.

Survivors include; a son, Raymond Douglas Stokes, Elm Grove, Louisiana; a daughter, Sandra Pena, Bossier City, Louisiana; a brother, Thomas Everett (Sandy) Branyan and wife Saeko, Japan; four grandchildren, Larry Cooper, Stephen Cooper, Dillion Stokes and Matthew Stokes; a nephew, Lester Branyan and a niece Lester Branyan.

Cremation has taken place and there are no services planned at this time. Arrangements are being handled by Beckwith Mortuary, Larned, KS.

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