LARNED-Wilbur Dean Dirks, 84, passed away November 22 at his home in Larned. 

He was born March 7, 1928 in Pawnee County, the son of John Jacob Dirks and Anna Marie George. He was a resident of both Larned and Wichita. 

He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, Larned and attended Evangel Assembly of God, Wichita. 

Wilbur began farming at a young age and loved to work the ground. He saw it as a miracle to plant seeds in the soil and watch it grow, especially wheat growing in straight lines in the fields. Farming was his love and he was proud of his heritage of a farming family. It was only natural then that Wilbur would make farming his lifelong occupation until he retired in 2002. In addition to farming, Wilbur worked as a mechanic at the Ford dealer in Larned. This is where he acquired his knowledge and skill for cars, trucks and machinery. 

Wilbur had many passions in his life, including his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. When asked by any of them for help in any way, he always would, as they were his life. 

Wilbur loved dancing, traveling, and Big Band music. His parents loved to dance – a love he acknowledged and inherited from them at a young age and remained strong his entire life. He remembered as a young boy traveling to town on Saturday night to attend dances with his parents. As an adult, Wilbur continued to travel to dances in Texas, Nebraska, and other various locations to hear Big Band music performances and dance. He loved to two-step, waltz, and ballroom dance.

Wilbur’s travel not only took him to social dancing events but also across the world. He went on many farm trips, where he learned about other farming practices and culture in those countries. 

Late in life Wilbur also spent a great amount of time reading and studying the Bible. He was a believer of God, Jesus, and Heaven. His strong faith is a comfort to all during this hard time of loss and grief, as he was prepared to meet his Maker.

He is survived by his two daughters, Diane Morgan, Larned; Dawn Dirks-Ham and husband Bob, Lawrence; one son, Gary Dirks, Sonora, California; four grandchildren, Autumn (Dirks) Fox and husband Bryan, Soulsbyville, California; Amy (Morgan) Vogel and husband Jason, Wichita; Chelsea and Seth Dirks-Ham, Lawrence; three great-grandchildren, Lillian, Vivian and Colton Fox, Soulsbyville, California; a new great-grandchild to arrive in February; and long-time friend Anita Smith, Hutchinson.

He was preceded in death by; two brothers, Otto and Herman. 

Funeral Service will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday at the Beckwith Mortuary Chapel with Rev. Vance A. Cauthon presiding. Visitation will be 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday and 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday at the Mortuary. Burial will be in the Larned Cemetery. 

Memorials may be given to the Welcome Inn Senior Center, in care of the Beckwith Mortuary, P.O. Box 477, Larned, KS 67550. Personal condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com.

Name of Deceased: Kelly Holden Benker

Date of Death: November 19, 2012
Place of Death: Barton County, Kansas
Date of Birth: April 6, 1988 at Kingman, Kansas
Parents Name: Keith Wayne & Susan Lynn (Bojan) Benker

Age: 24

OBITUARY INFORMATION

He was an electrician.
He was a Great Bend, Kansas resident since 1993 coming from Kingman, Kansas.
He loved to play the drums and guitar, to fish, and to hunt. He was a loving, caring father.

SURVIVORS
Mother: Susan Lynn Bojan and companion Kent Robinson of Kingman, KS
One Son: August Keith Benker of the home
Step-mother: Maribeth Benker of Great Bend, KS
Fiancée: Melissa McVey of the home
Step-sister: Corry Rowe and husband Ryan of Great Bend, KS
Maternal Grandparents: Robert and Brenda Steuerwald of Blackhawk, SD
Step-grandparents: Elmo and Ermalee Merritt of Hutchinson, KS
Uncle: Kevin Benker and wife Gina of Great Bend, KS
Aunts: Colleen White of Hebron, NE
Kris Siebenneicher and husband Larry of Deschler, NE
Kathy George and husband Gary of Hebron, NE;
Niece: Raelynn Rowe
Cousin: Kaden Benker

He was preceded in death by his father, Keith Benker; paternal grandparents, Ken and Connie Benker; and great-
grandmother, Alta Moore.

SERVICE INFORMATION

Funeral Service: Friday, November 23, 2012
Time of Service: 1:00 p.m.
Place of Service: Bryant Funeral Home
Officiant: The Reverend Dick Ogle
Friends may sign the register book from noon to 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 21, 2012 and 9:00 a.m. to service
time, Friday, November 23, 2012 at Bryant Funeral Home
Memorial Fund: August Keith Benker Education Fund, in care of Bryant Funeral Home

Arrangements by

Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net
Bryant Funeral Home
1425 Patton Road
Great Bend, Kansas

67530

Name of Deceased: Sylvia Ann Welch

Date of Death: November 14, 2012
Place of Death: Porter Adventist Hospital, Denver, Colorado
Date of Birth: July 18, 1933 at Hoisington, Kansas
Parents Name: J. David & Esther (Ehrlich) Marmie

OBITUARY INFORMATION
She worked for JC Penney, May D & F, Circuit City and Mountain Bell and owned and operated a Dolly Madison
Creamery in the 1970s.
She married Charles E. Welch on May 17, 1954 at Great Bend. They later divorced.
Mrs. Welch was a Denver, Colorado resident since 1954 coming from Great Bend, Kansas.

SURVIVORS
Three Sons: David Welch and his wife Lynn Halpern of Coal Creek Canyon, CO
Robert Welch of Denver, CO
Michael Welch of Denver, CO
One Daughter: Sherri Grunwald of Riverton, WY
One Sister: Paula Briseno of CA
Four Grandchildren: Jessie Welch, Mikey Welch, Cherylynn Grunwald, and Gary Grunwald
Three Great-grandchildren: Ace Plunkett, Aribella Plunkett, and Dashton Grunwald
Dear Friend: Jerry Cardinal of Denver, CO

She was preceded in death by daughter-in-law, Susan; and son-in-law, Kurt Grunwald.

SERVICE INFORMATION
Vigil Service with Rosary: 5:00 p.m., Friday, November 23, 2012 at Bryant Funeral Home
Mass of Christian Burial: 10:00 a.m., Saturday, November 24, 2012 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Great Bend
Celebrant: Father Reginald Urban
Interment: St. John Catholic Cemetery, Hoisington, Kansas
Visitation: Noon to 7:00 p.m., Friday, November 23, 2012 at Bryant Funeral Home
Memorial Fund: Peaceful Prairie Sanctuary, in care of Bryant Funeral Home

Age: 79

Arrangements by

Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net
Bryant Funeral Home
1425 Patton Road
Great Bend, Kansas

67530

Burdett

Mary Ellen Smith, 75, left this world on November 18, 2012, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Lawrence.
She was born June 17, 1937 at Kingman, the daughter of Howard and Vergie Fern Dovel Cox. She was a longtime resident of Burdett, she was a retired bookkeeper, clerk, owner of Movin on Inn Restaurant and manager and dispatcher for Dean Smith Trucking.
She belonged to the United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women, Shirley Club, and Burdett Seniors all of Burdett.
On October 9, 1961, she married Dexter Dean Smith at Hutchinson. He died April 30, 2009.
Survivors include one son, Michael Smith, Burdett, two daughters, Bobbi Kollhoff and husband Richard, Pretty Prairie and Traci Hoopingarner and husband Lindsay, Linwood, one brother, Alan B. Cox, Newton and one sister, Jonni Sue Millington, Shell Knob, Missouri, 10 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Gary Cox.
Funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 20, 2012, at United Methodist Church, Burdett, with Pastor Brad McCoy presiding. Burial will be in Browns Grove Cemetery, Burdett.
Memorials may be sent to United Methodist Church, Burdett or Cancer Center of Kansas at Dodge City in care of Morell Funeral Home, P.O. Box 124, Larned, 67550-0124.
Personal condolences may be left at www.morellfuneralhomellc.com

Garfield – John D. Snodgrass, 60, died November 4, 2012. 

He was born January 23, 1952 in Larned, the son of Paul and Romona Lewis Snodgrass. A lifetime area resident; he was a Truck Driver.

He was a member of the United Methodist Church, Rozel. 

On June 5, 1977 he married Julie Ann Miller at Wamego. She survives. 

Other survivors include; his mother; Romona, three sons; Doug and wife Felicia, Dustin and wife RuthAnn, all of Larned, Derek and Fiancé Samantha, Manhattan, two brothers; James and Jerry, both of Rozel, three sisters; Deborah Mangen, Cedar Vale, Diana Pfeifer, Hays, Donna Pivonka, Larned and three grandchildren; Kaylyn, Addison and Madelyn. 

He was preceded in death by; his father, Paul, a brother; Joe and two grandsons; Peyton and Jaxson. 

Funeral Service will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday at the Beckwith Mortuary Chapel, Larned. Friends may sign the register from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday at the Mortuary. Casket will remain closed. Burial will be in the Garfield Cemetery, Garfield. 

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