Dateline: Claflin, Kansas

Rita Mildred Doll, 95, passed away Oct. 25, 2019, at Holiday Resort Health and Rehabilitation, Salina.  She was born Oct. 10, 1924, at Claflin, to Frank and Louise (Zecha) Miller. Rita married Gerald Doll June 18, 1951, at Claflin.  He died Nov. 2, 1981.

Rita, a long-time resident of Claflin, was a homemaker and child care provider.  She was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Claflin, Altar Society, and former member of Daughters of Isabella.  She was a member of the V.F.W. Auxiliary and enjoyed bowling, belonging to many bowling teams over the years.

Survivors include two sons, Barry Doll and wife Laurie of Salina and Craig Doll and wife Annie of Norman, Okla.; one daughter Anita Taylor of Tucson, Ariz.; three sisters, Roberta Prosser of Hoisington, Teresa Dolechek of Hoisington and Marie Hoss of Claflin; nine grandchildren, Erin Huff and husband Eric, Hagan Doll, Dillon  Doll and wife Paige, Jared Doll, Kathryn Doll, Hannah Doll, Maggie Doll, Luke Doll, Kelsey Doll; and four great grandchildren, Kloe Huff, Gabriel Huff, Daniel Huff and Priscilla Doll.  She was preceded in death by one son, Tom Doll; two brothers, Martin Miller and Bill Miller; and two sisters, Doris Smith and Leona Leiker.

Mass of Christian Burial will 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 29, 2019, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Claflin, with Father Meinrad Miller and Father Terrance Klein.  Interment will follow at Claflin Cemetery, Claflin.  Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., Monday, Oct. 28, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, with a Vigil at 7:00 p.m.  A memorial fund has been established with the Claflin Fire Department, in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS  67544.

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

GREAT BEND – Patricia Ida Mae Baxter, 92, passed away October 22, 2019, at Woodhaven Care Center, Ellinwood. She was born January 22, 1927, at Great Bend to Charles Franklin & Nannie Sylvie (Wilson) Younkin. She married Hiram Joseph “Hi” Baxter, Jr. January 25, 1947, at Great Bend. He died May 9, 2011.

A lifetime Great Bend resident, Patricia was the business manager for the First United Methodist Church. She was a member of PEO and United Methodist Women. She was a former board member for the Library, Great Bend High School class President for 2 years, Girl Scout leader, Cub Scout den mother and past President of Panther Parents.

Survivors include, five children, Jeffrey Lynn Baxter and wife Connie of Leavenworth, Charles Joseph Baxter and wife Karen of Basehor, Nancy Kathryn Baxter of Great Bend, Lori Anne Underwood and husband Jeff of Lawrence and Alan Eric Baxter of Great Bend; 13 grandchildren, Dustin Baxter and finacé Sarah Lockwood, Tara Talley and husband Trent, Olivia Natelli and husband Kenny, David Baxter, Jonathan Baxter, Lindsay Baxter, Patrick Underwood and wife Makenna, Megan Berger and husband Chris, Kelly Blackburn and husband Logan, Chelsea Underwood, Robbie Underwood, AnnaLeesha Huddelston and husband Cody, and Addison Baxter; and 11 great grandchildren, Arthur Baxter, Hunter Talley, Wyatt Talley, Avery Talley, Magdelyn Talley, Aurora Natelli, Audrey Underwood, Landon Berger, Matthew Berger, Owen Blackburn, and Charley Rose Huddleston. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Hiram Joseph “Hi” Baxter, Jr.; four brothers, George Younkin, Dwight Younkin, Merrill Younkin, and Wayne Younkin; one sister, Frances Fox; and one grandson, Jordan Baxter.

Visitation will be held from Noon to 9:00 p.m., Thursday, October 24, 2019 at Bryant Funeral Home, with family receiving friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, October 25, 2019, at First United Methodist Church in Great Bend, with Pastor Morita Truman presiding. Interment will be in the Great Bend Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the First United Methodist 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

GREAT BEND – John H. Detmer, 87, passed away October 21, 2019, at Kansas Heart Hospital, Wichita. He was born on February 21, 1932, at Waterloo, to August & Anna (Rohling) Detmer. He married Helen C. Debes on September 5, 1964 at Great Bend.  She died on September 3, 2015.

A Great Bend resident since 1965, coming from Cunningham, John was a farmer. He was a member of Prince of Peace Parish at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church. He served in the United States Air Force during the Korean war. He owned EQ Muffler in Great Bend for many years. He loved restoring John Deere tractors, fishing and hunting, but especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.

Survivors include, one son, Al Detmer of Wellington, CO; three daughters, Angela Maneth and husband David of Wichita, Connie Wagner and husband Mark of Greencastle, IN, and Cheryl Kohl and husband Wayne of Greeley, CO; one brother, Lonnie Detmer and wife Trevlyn of Pratt; one sister, Mary Lou Osner of Cunningham; and three grandchildren, Mary Maneth, Jessica Kohl, and John Kohl and wife Jessica. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Helen Detmer; four brothers, Leo Detmer, Leonard Detmer, Andrew Detmer, and Martin Detmer; and four sisters, Christina Miller, Rita Goertz, Isadora Fisher, and Agnes Urban.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 to 9:00 p.m., Thursday, October 24, 2019, at Bryant Funeral Home, with Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, October 25, 2019, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Great Bend, with Father Don Bedore presiding. Interment will be in the Hillcrest Memorial Park, Great Bend, with Military Rites conducted by McConnell Air Force Honor Guard. Memorials are suggested to the Wounded Warrior Project or Capuchin Province of Mid-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

GREAT BEND – Leo Joseph Boor, 85, passed away October 21, 2019, at University Of Kansas Health System – Great Bend Campus. He was born on May 30, 1934, in Hodgeman county, to W.H. and Ann (Hipp) Boor. He married Joyce Salmans on May 13, 1954, at Hanston. She survives.

Coming from Hanston in 1963, Leo was the general manager for Alfalfa Pellets, Inc. in Great Bend. He was a member of Prince of Peace Parish at St. Patrick Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus and the American Legion. He served in the United States Army during the Korean war. He was a jack of all trades and spending time with his family and grandchildren.

Survivors include, his wife, Joyce Boor of the home; two sons, Thom Boor and wife Linda of Great Bend, and Tony Boor and wife Alice of Larned; one daughter, Tina Koziol and husband Kevin of Scottsdale, AZ; 18 grandchildren; and 33 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Rohn Lee Boor; one brother, Bill Boor; three sisters, Louise Bigej, Jane Henderson and Mildred Ann Boor; and one great grandson, Kash Boor.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 to 9:00 p.m., Friday, October 25, 2019 at Bryant Funeral Home, with Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, October 26, 2019, St. Patrick Catholic Church in Great Bend, with Father Don Bedore presiding. Interment will be in St. Anthony Cemetery in Hanston at 2:00 p.m., with Military Rites conducted by the Fort Riley Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be designated to the Holy Family School, 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 – Salina

Karen Lee Ganoung (Dickinson) died peacefully on October 18, 2019 in Salina, KS, surrounded by her children.

Karen was born October 27, 1936 in Russell, KS to Robert Leland and Shirley Margaret (Beller) Dickinson of Gorham, KS.  She attended Natoma High School and graduated from Park College, Parkville, MO with a BA in Music.  She married Raymond Larry Ganoung of Plainville, KS on November 9, 1958.  They lived in California and Indiana before settling in Hoisington, where she was a housewife and Ray was a Veterinarian.

Karen & Ray had four children:  Dr. Regan Nichols (Quaife) of Oklahoma City, OK; Kevin Ganoung (Linda) of Gypsum, KS; Joyce Boykin (Dennis) of Leesburg, VA and Kris Ganoung (Kristin) of Halsey, NE.  She has seven grandchildren Erica, Jozette, Casey, Erin, Isaac, Alex and Miriam, 6 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.  She is survived by sisters, Margaret Beyer and Janet Nordlund; sister-in-law Jan Dickinson; and brother-in-law Don Ganoung & wife Earlene.

She was preceded in death by her husband Ray, her parents, brother, Robert Dickinson, and brothers-in-law, George Beyer and Don Nordlund.

She was a long-standing member of the First United Methodist Church of Hoisington, serving as organist and Sunday School teacher.  She was a 4-H member and leader, competing in and judging at the State Fair in bread baking.  She gave piano lessons to her children and other local students.  She was a bird watcher, kept annual bird lists, participated in the annual bird count and was a life member of the Audubon Society.  She loved to look for birds wherever she traveled and Cheyenne Bottoms was a favorite place to go throughout the year.  Karen and Ray enjoyed Square Dancing for many years, traveling throughout the state of Kansas.  She loved to quilt and blessed her family with many quilts over the years.  She had flower and vegetable gardens for many years and canned much of the produce for the family to enjoy.  She faithfully followed Kansas City Royals baseball for many years and kept game stats by hand.  Her family all knew not to call during Royals games as she wouldn’t answer the phone.  Karen and Ray enjoyed playing cards, including Pinochle, Canasta, Cribbage and many board games.  Her cousin Peggy would stop by and they would play games late into the night.  She loved her many black cats: Uno, Duet, Tertia, Suburb (kitten of Tertia), Quartet, Funf, Koosi and her last cat Seven who now lives with her great-niece Emily.  The Ganoung family hosted many foreign exchange students and veterinary interns over the years.

A memorial service will be held 2 p.m., Friday, October 25, 2019, at the First United Methodist Church, Hoisington, KS with burial at the Hoisington Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Friends of Cheyenne Bottoms, First United Methodist Church, or Hospice of Salina, in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

Dateline – Hoisington

Melvin Joseph “Mep” Polzin, 71, passed away Sunday, October 20, 2019 at his home.  He was born December 16, 1947, in Dubuque, Kansas, to Joseph and Dorothy (Schremmer) Polzin.  Melvin married Barbara Newhall on May 18, 1974 in Hoisington.

A resident of Hoisington since 1971, moving from Dubuque.  He was a member of the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus Council # 2630 of Odin, American Legion Post #286 of Hoisington, and the VFW #6240 of Russell.  Melvin was a U.S. Army veteran serving in Vietnam, where he earned both a Purple Heart for being wounded in action and the Army Commendation Medal for Merit.

Melvin was best known for his great sense of humor, willingness to help family and friends, and most of all being one tough hombre.  His favorite pastimes were spending time with his family and friends, bowling, fishing, playing cards, and rooting for his favorite team, the Kansas City Chiefs.

Survivors include his wife Barbara Polzin; two sons, Kurt Polzin and wife Amy, Lee’s Summit, MO and Kelly Polzin, Hutchinson; two grandaughters, Isabel and Tessa Polzin, Lee’s Summit, MO; four brothers, Thomas, Duane and wife Patricia, and Randy Polzin all of Hoisington and Kevin Polzin of Galatia; three sisters, Delphine Hickey and husband Bill of Hoisington, Nancy Mater and husband Kenny of Olathe, and Charlotte Hahn and husband Joe of Hanston; and mother Dorothy Polzin, Hoisington.

Friends may call from 12:00 noon until 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 22, 2019. With Vigil and Knights of Columbus Rosary to begin at 7 p.m., all at the funeral home.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, October 23, 2019, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, celebrated by Father Don Bedore.  Burial with military honors will follow in St. John Catholic Cemetery, Hoisington.

Memorial may be made to the American Legion Post #180, or Golden Belt Home Health and Hospice in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.