Donna M. White, age 69, died Tuesday, April 15, 2014 at her home in Sedalia, Missouri. She was born June 30, 1944 at Ponca City, Oklahoma the daughter of Clarence S. and Lydia (Thore) Rankin.

Donna was a homemaker and a former Hoisington resident moving to Sedalia twenty one years ago. On April 29, 1962 Donna married Dennis William White in San Gabriel, California. She was a former member of the First Christian Church in Hoisington and a current of the First Christian Church in Sedalia. Donna enjoyed sewing, knitting and crafting.

Survivors include her husband, Dennis White of the home in Sedalia; two sons, Kenneth William White and wife Lori Ann of Justin, Texas; and Kevin Dwayne White and wife Lori Ann of Tribune, Kansas; one daughter, Kimberly Sue Garcia and husband Gilbert Roman of Denver, Colorado; four brothers, Frank Rankin, Lester Rankin, J.C. Rankin, and Charles Rankin; four sisters, Imogene Edna Sharron, Beverly Ann Reynolds, Mary Grace Fox, and Alma Ruth Miller; two half-brothers, Jack Pearson, and Tommy Pearson; five grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Ralph Rankin.

Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, April 18, 2014 at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington with Reverend Don Fisher officiating. Burial will follow at Hoisington Cemetery. Friends may call Thursday, April 17, 2014 from 2:00 until 8:00 P.M. with family present from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to American Cancer Society in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, Kansas 67544.
Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.nicholsonrickefh.net

Name of Deceased: Donald “Skip” Bowsher, Jr                            Age: 90

Date of Death: March 29, 2014

Place of Death: Salina Regional Health Center, Salina, Kansas

Date of Birth: November 7, 1923 at Sandusky, Ohio

Parents Name: Donald Allison & Frances (Corbeille) Bowsher

 

OBITUARY INFORMATION

 

Married Twila Ulrich April 5, 1953 at Quinter, Kansas. 

He was co-owner and operator for Cheyenne Hardware and owner and operator of Sentry Hardware in the Westgate Shopping Center, retiring in 1985. His Sentry Hardware store was the first in the state of Kansas.

Mr. Bowsher was a long-time Great Bend, Kansas resident.

He was a Lieutenant junior grade flight instructor in the United States Navy during World War II.

He was a member of the American Legion Argonne Post 180, Elks Lodge #1127, Lake Barton Golf Club, and Radio Controlled Airplane Club.  He played drums in a Navy band and also dance bands when he came home. He was an avid bowler, loved to build things in his workshop, enjoyed a game of cards, and dancing to Big Bands at the Great Bend Municipal Auditorium. He drove the Mini-bus for the Great Bend Senior Center, and was an avid photographer his entire life, developing his own pictures in his home darkroom. Spending time with his family was a priority, following son Mark to motorcycle races and son Keith to rock band gigs.  Each summer he took his family on a trip. He also had the Jumpin’ Gyminy Trampoline Center, Great Bend, and was a PTA officer at Morrison School. 

 

SURVIVORS

 

wife: Twila Bowsher, of the home

two sons: Mark Bowsher and his wife Marg of Richmond, TX, and Keith Bowsher of Lawrence, KS

two grandchildren: Kevin Bowsher of El Segundo, CA, and Lindsey Bailey of Sugarland, TX

 

He was preceded in death by one sister, Betty Yetschke, two half-sisters, Vickie Cole and Sherry Barnett.

 

SERVICE INFORMATION

 

Graveside Service: 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 15, 2014 at Great Bend Cemetery with military rites by the United States Navy Honor Guard

Officiant: The Reverend Stan Crawford

Visitation:  The family will receive friends from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 15, 2014 at Bryant Funeral Home.

Memorial Fund:  American Heart Association or St. Rose Foundation for the benefit of Heartland Cancer Center, 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

Name of Deceased: Bill Johnson McKown                                       Age: 58

Date of Death: March 19, 2014

Place of Death: At home in Great Bend, Kansas

Date of Birth: November 2, 1955 at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Parents Name: George Monnet & Martha Lu (Johnson) McKown

 

OBITUARY INFORMATION

 

Mr. McKown was a Great Bend, Kansas resident since 1965 coming from Wichita, Kansas.

 

SURVIVORS

 

three brothers: David McKown and his wife Jan of Great Bend, KS, Charles McKown and his wife Gina of Fort Scott, KS, and James McKown and his wife Meg of Stilwell, KS

nieces and nephews:  Jenna McKown, Justin McKown, Josh McKown, Michelle Calvert, William McKown, Cole McKown, and Cade McKown and six grandnieces and nephews

 

 

SERVICE INFORMATION

 

A joint memorial service for Bill and his mother, Martha Lu (Johnson) McKown will be at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, April 19, 2014 at First Christian Church in Great Bend.  Pastor Josh Leu will officiate.  At Mr. McKown’s wish, his body was donated for scientific research at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas.  Memorials are requested to Boy Scouts of America, 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

Name of Deceased: Martha Lu (Johnson) McKown                    Age: 84

Date of Death: March 20, 2014

Place of Death: Cherry Village Nursing Home, Great Bend, Kansas

Date of Birth: April 16, 1929 at Borger, Texas

Parents Name: Everett T. “Bill” & Pearl (Baggerly) Johnson

 

OBITUARY INFORMATION

 

Married George Monnet McKown January 18, 1953 at Cherokee, Oklahoma.  He died March 11, 2008.

She was the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for DaMac Drilling.

Mrs. McKown was a Great Bend, Kansas resident since 1965.

 

SURVIVORS

 

three sons: David McKown and his wife Jan of Great Bend, KS, Charles McKown and his wife Gina of Fort Scott, KS, and James McKown and his wife Meg of Stilwell, KS

one sister: Peggy Johnson Lippert of San Antonio, TX

sister-in-law: Wanda Johnson of Stillwater, OK

grandchildren:  Jenna McKown, Justin McKown, Josh McKown, Michelle Calvert, William McKown, Cole McKown, and Cade McKown and six great-grandchildren

 

She was preceded in death by one son, Bill J. McKown, and one brother, Billy Buford Johnson.

 

SERVICE INFORMATION

 

A joint memorial service for Mrs. McKown and her son, Bill, will be at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, April 19, 2014 at First Christian Church in Great Bend.  Pastor Josh Leu will officiate.  Inurnment will be at a later date in the Gage Cemetery, Gage, Okla.  Memorials are requested to First Christian Church, 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

Name of Deceased: Darlene Kay Richards                                       Age: 56

Date of Death: April 9, 2014

Place of Death: Hays Medical Center, Hays, Kansas

Date of Birth: January 22, 1958 at Colorado Springs, Colorado

Parents Name: Emil & Wanda (Berry) Vsetecka

 

OBITUARY INFORMATION

Married Ron Richards in Larned, Kansas, they later divorced.

She was a cook for Larned State Hospital until retirement.

Mrs. Richards was an Otis, Kansas resident since 1992 coming from Larned, Kansas.

 

SURVIVORS

 

two daughters: Jessica Wasson of Great Bend, KS, and Robin K. Hill of Otis, KS

step daughter, Sheila Richards of Mount Hope, KS

one sister: Donna Vsetecka of South Hutchinson, KS

one brother: Daniel Vsetecka of Larned, KS

Three Grandchildren: Nautika Richards, Malachi Wasson, and Shorie Hill

 

She was preceded in death by one step son, John Richards, and one brother, Tom Fuller.

 

SERVICE INFORMATION

 

Graveside Service: Monday, April 14, 2014

Time of Service: 1:30 p.m.

Place of Service: Bohemian National Cemetery in Timken

Interment: Bohemian National Cemetery, Timken, Kansas

Visitation:  None as cremation has taken place

Memorial Fund: Family Crisis Center, 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

Name of Deceased: Rachel Louise Dryer                                          Age: 97

Date of Death: April 7, 2014

Place of Death: Scott County Hospital, Scott City, Kansas

Date of Birth: August 23, 1916

 

Rachel Louise Dryer passed away at the Scott County Hospital in Scott City, Kan., on April 7, 2014, following a brief illness.  She was born on August 23, 1916 in Madison, Kansas, to William Aaron and Carmen Grace (Focht) Boles.  Louise grew up in Madison & Emporia Kan., attending Emporia State University.  There she met Cecil Ray Dryer whom she married on May 23, 1936 in Cottonwood Falls, Kan.  Their son, William Laurence Dryer, was born on June 15, 1937.  Both preceded her in death; Cecil on April 1, 1989 and William on October 24, 2011.

After living in several locations during World War II, Cecil and Louise settled permanently in Great Bend, Kan. in 1951, having moved most recently from Leoti, Kan.  Louise was a long-time member of the First Presbyterian Church of Great Bend.  She also spent many years as a teller at Security State Bank in Great Bend.

Louise had a great love of family and of history.  Although she enjoyed reading historical books and novels, and was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, her true passion was genealogy, which combined the two things she loved the most.  Louise enjoyed the relationships she built with family members all around the country even more than she reveled in tracking down a new piece of information about family history.   She was also an avid gardener & crocheted, always happily passing her tremendous knowledge and skills in these areas along to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  And, as anyone who was fortunate enough to eat a meal with the Dryers knows, Louise was an extraordinary cook.  Her warmth, strength, love and support will be greatly missed by her surviving family.

She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Marilyn Dryer, of Scott City; two granddaughters, Amy Overton and her husband Doug of DeKalb, Ill., and Brenda Chelvan and her husband Chris of Salina, Kan.; four great-grandchildren, Madelyn and Emily Overton, and Joshua and Katie Chelvan; nephews, David Boles and his wife Ann of Madison, Kan., and Dan Dryer and Susan Pomeroy of Leawood, Kan.; and nieces Martha Guarnaschelli and her husband John of Louisville, Ky. and Debby Edelen and her husband Glen of Versailles, Ky.; cousin Eugene Caylor and his wife Karen of Shawnee, Kan.; and special friends Dennis and Gloria Arnberger of Great Bend.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, April 12, 2014, at First Presbyterian Church, Great Bend with the Reverend Scott V. Solether officiating.  Burial will be in Great Bend Cemetery. Friends may call from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Friday, April 11, 2014 at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to First Presbyterian Church or the William L. Dryer Memorial Scholarship Fund, in care of the 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

Name of Deceased: O’Linda E. Orr                                                      Age: 99

Date of Death: April 5, 2014

Place of Death: Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, Larned, Kansas

Date of Birth: March 27, 1915 at Susank, Kansas

Parents Name: Peter & Katrina (Bitter) Eichman

 

OBITUARY INFORMATION

 

Married William E. Orr in 1942 at Wichita, Kansas.  He died in 1956.

She was a beauty operator.

Mrs. Orr was a Great Bend, Kansas resident since 2000, living in California from 1970 to 2000.

She was a member of Concordia Lutheran Church, Hoisington, Kansas.

 

SURVIVORS

 

Cousin: Brian Bitter of Hoisington, KS

 

She was preceded in death by son, Dennis F. Orr.

 

SERVICE INFORMATION

 

Funeral Service: Monday, April 14, 2014

Time of Service: 10:00 a.m.

Place of Service: Hoisington Cemetery in Hoisington

Officiant: Pastor Garry Dassow

Interment: Hoisington Cemetery, Hoisington, Kansas

Visitation:  None as cremation has taken place 

Memorial Fund: Golden Belt Humane 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