HOISINGTON — Delbert Leroy Adams, Sr., 73, died January 2, 2018, at his home in Hoisington, Kansas.  He was born March 12, 1944, at Great Bend, to Earl N. and Nona Mildred (Thomason) Adams. 

Delbert married Barbara Hudson on December 12, 2017, at Hoisington.  Delbert, a long-time Barton County resident and veteran of the Army National Guard, worked in the oilfield for many years.  He was a member of the American Legion Argonne Post 180, Fraternal Order of the Eagles, and Men’s Motorcycle Club, all of Great Bend.

He is survived by wife, Barbara Adams, of the home; two sons, Nelson Adams and wife Mabel of Hoisington, and Justin Adams of Pampa, Texas; three daughters, LaDonna Soto of LA, Sylvia of Corpus Christi, Texas, and Shari Bar-Kan of Springfield, Ill.; three brothers, Earl Adams and wife Careen of Great Bend, Freddie Ross and wife Joann of Pawnee Rock, and Johnny Adams of Susank; one sister, Nadine (Adams) Erskin and husband Joe of Garden City; and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his father, Earl Adams; his parents, Mildred and Waldo Ross; two sons, Greg Adams and Delbert Adams, Jr.; brother-in-law, Jim Newkirk; and in-laws, Jim and Pat Douglas.

Memorial Service will be 10:00 am Monday, January 29, 2018, at Bryant Funeral Home with Rev. Dick Ogle.  Inurnment will follow at the Great Bend Cemetery, Great Bend.

Memorials have been designated to the Delbert Adams Expense Fund, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.  Ride Free Delbert.

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–Patrick Merrill Shepard, 56, died January 17, 2018 at Great Bend Regional Hospital. He was born August 19, 1961 in Great Bend the son Bill and Alice “Vonnie” (Dunn) Shepard.

Patrick met Paula Ingram in March of 1985 in Great Bend, together they spent 32 yrs loving their family. He was a self-employed Independent Operator for Bimbo Bakeries. Patrick was a lifelong Great Bend Resident. He had many passions over the years, including RC cars, League Darts, Coaching Softball for GBRC and spending time with his family.

Survivors include his wife Paula of the home; sons Sean Shepard and his wife Shelby, MacKenzie Shepard and wife Jennifer all of Great Bend and Joshua Shepard of Oklahoma; daughters Sidney Shepard and fiancé  Fred Everett of Goddard and Kristen Shepard of Great Bend; sisters Joanita Sherman of Great Bend and Julie Baca of Lodi, CA; nine grandchildren.

Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday January 26, 2018 at the Loft at Grace Community Church, with Rev Dick Ogle officiating. Inurnment will follow at Great Bend Cemetery. Cremation has taken place.

Memorial has been established to help with the funeral expense, 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—Gerald Dean Bethel, 81, died January 18, 2018 at Via Christi St. Francis Regional Medical Center, Wichita. Gerald was born February 25, 1931 at Great Bend the son of Luther and Opal (Bryant) Bethel.

Gerald was united in marriage to Opal Bryant on Oct. 6, 1961 in Great Bend, she passed away March 23, 1999. He was a long time Great Bend resident. Gerald was a veteran of the United States Air Force, was a mechanic for Straub International. He was a member of Fraternal Order of the Eagles, and enjoyed fishing, camping and woodworking.

Survivors include son Jay Bethel and wife Sheila of Hays; daughters Dianna Disque of Great Bend and Debbie Bethel of Salina; brother Jim Bethel and wife Linda of Otis CO. and seven grandchildren. He was preceded in death by brother Wylie and sister Roberta Michaelis.

Visitation will be 1 – 9 p.m. Sunday January 21, 2018 with family receiving friends 6 – 8 p.m.

Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday January 22, 2018 both at Bryant Funeral Home with Don Paden officiating.

A memorial fund has been established with Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, in care of Bryant Funeral Home

TULSA, Okla – Mark Andrew Allan, 61, passed away Sunday January 7, 2018 at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Okla.  Born April 17, 1957 in Great Bend, the son of Thomas A. and Joan (Coon) Allan.  He was a welder at Allan Pump and Supply.  Mark married Christine Ranae (Zorn) on September 15, 1984.  A member of First Assembly of God.  He resided at Golden Life ResCare in Bluejacket, Okla.

Survivors include one daughter, Heidi Lynette Allan, age 29, of Scott City; and two grandchildren, Zechariah, age 5, and Christopher, Age 6; and one sister, Janet Allan of Great Bend.  He was preceded in death by his wife Christine (1990), his parents, and two sisters, Marty Crone and Kathie Gregory.

Memorial Service will be 11:30 a.m. Saturday, January 27, 2018 at First Church of the Nazarene, Great Bend. Inurnment will be at a later date in Hillcrest Memorial Park, Great Bend. Memorials have been requested to First Church of the Nazarene, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Dateline: Great Bend, Kansas

GREAT BEND – Ann Ruth Seder, 78, passed away January 17, 2018, Great Bend.  She was born August 22, 1939 at Effingham, Ill., to Marion and Hazel Lucille (Pledger) Cotter.

Ann married Robert Leon Seder December 18, 1960, at Great Bend.  He died May 3, 2016.  A long time Great Bend resident, Ann was co-owner and operator, along with her husband, of Russ’ Roofing and Central Kansas Rendering.  She was an avid reader, instructed aqua aerobics, but above all was a devoted and loving grandma.

Survivors include one son, Lee Seder of Great Bend; two daughters, Sherri Donovan and husband Shannon of Hoisington, and Robbie Hill and husband Dave of Lee’s Summit, MO; six grandchildren, Brannon, Brenner and Braxton Donovan of Hoisington, Chandler Elizabeth and Dalton Hill of Lee’s Summit, and Cadence Seder of Salt Lake City, Utah; one brother, Don Green of Great Bend; two sisters, Connie Henderson of Great Bend, and Donna Lee Kapp of Utah.  She was preceded in passing by two brothers, Michael and Dennis Cotter.

Funeral services will be 1:30 pm Saturday, January 20, 2018, at Bryant Funeral Home, Great Bend, with Rev. Dick Ogle.  Interment will follow at Great Bend Cemetery. Visitation will be Noon to 9:00 p.m., Friday, January 19, at Bryant Funeral Home.  Memorials have been designated to Kans for Kids or St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 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 

Howard M. “Herb” Sellens, 86, died January 18, 2018, at Clara Barton Hospital, Hoisington.  He was born December 14, 1931, in Hoisington, Kansas, the son of Henry and Florette (Overholt) Sellens.

Howard graduated from Bronaugh High School, Bronaugh, Missouri and then enlisted with the United States Army, serving from 1949 to 1952 during the Korean War as a Sergeant First Class.

A longtime resident of the Susank and Hoisington area.  Howard worked for Parrish Motors in Great Bend, and then Susank Oil, Susank.  He then retired as a meter tester for Producer’s Gas/Midwest Energy.

Howard was a member of the First United Methodist Church and the American Legion Post #286 of Hoisington. He enjoyed camping, hunting, and fishing.

On February 7, 1953, he married Bess E. Laflen in Hoisington. She preceded him in death on May 2, 2015.

Survivors include; son, Philip Sellens and wife Bonnie of Hoisington; sisters, Caroline Huffman of Attica, and Bula Earnest of Lakewood, Colo.; granddaugters, Sara Sellens and Kathleen Sellens both of Manhattan; step grandchildren, Jonathan Stowers of McPherson, Tonya Stowers of Salina, and Stephen Stowers of Great Bend; and 6 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife Bess; brothers, George Sellens, Kenny Sellens, Sammy Sellens, Jonny Sellens, Paul Sellens, and an infant brother; and sisters, Marie Bleskin, Mary Lou Delano, and Madge Kotter.

Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, January 22, 2018, at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Don Fisher presiding.  Friends may call 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday, with family to receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Tuesday at Milo City Cemetery, Milo, Missouri.

Memorials may be made to the Clara Barton Hospital Foundation in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

Dateline: Hoisington, Kansas

Francis J. Behr, 88, died January 16, 2018, at Cherry Village, Great Bend.  He was born November 14, 1929, in Hoisington, Kansas, the son of Vincent K. and Lily E. (Mater) Behr.  Francis graduated from Hoisington High School in 1947.  He then served in the United States Army from 1948 to 1952 during the Korean War as a sergeant.

A lifetime Hoisington resident, Francis retired from the U.S. Postal Service in 1989 after 24 1/2 years.

He was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus #1521.  Francis was a lifetime member of the V.F.W. #7428 and the American Legion #286, both of Hoisington. He was also a member of the 25th Infantry Division Association and the National Association of Retired Federal Employees.

On October 7, 1952, he married Evelyn (Huschka) Seyfert, in Hoisington.  She preceded him in death on April 28, 2016.

Survivors include; two sons, Ronald J. Seyfert and wife Karen of Ada, KS, Norman E. Seyfert and wife Jan of Oak Grove, MO; two daughters, Mary Ann Behr of Hoisington, and Janice K. “Jan” Nondorf and husband John of Liberal, KS;  6 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren and one on the way.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Evelyn Behr, and brothers, Gerald V. Behr, Jerome K. Behr, and Max A. Behr.

Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday with Vigil and Rosary, led by the Knights of Columbus, at 7 p.m. Friday at the Funeral Home.

Friends may call 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, January 20, 2017, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, celebrated by Fathers Anselm Eke and Pascal Klein. Burial with military graveside honors conducted by Fort Riley Honor Guard will follow in Hoisington Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to St. John Cemetery Fund and Kans for Kids in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

LeRoy Smith, 93, died January 15, 2018, at his home.  He was born April 10, 1924, in Hoisington, the son of Clarence L. and Callie (Payne) Smith.  LeRoy graduated from Hoisington High School in 1942.

He was a lifetime Hoisington resident.

He worked for Geiman Appliance for 18 years. In 1963 he opened Smith Appliance Center, which he operated for 40 years. After retiring he still did service repair work for many years.

LeRoy was an active member of First Christian Church of Hoisington and later Great Bend. He was a longtime member of the Hoisington Chamber of Commerce, and had served on the Board of Directors for Lake Barton.  LeRoy was also a charter member and the first President of the Eureka 4-H Club. In 1994 he was proud and honored to be named the Grand Marshall of the Labor Day Parade.

On June 5, 1944, he married Jean Marie Johnson in Hoisington.  After 71 years of marriage, she preceded him in death on October 21, 2015.

Survivors include; children, Connie Schultz and husband Eldon of Enid, Oklahoma, Carol Polzin and husband Ronnie of Hoisington, Lee Smith and wife Jane of Concordia, Cathy McCurdy and husband Gary of Emporia, and Roger Smith and wife Dorothy of Milton, West Virginia; 14 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, and 4 great great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife and a brother, Donald Dean “D.D.” Smith.

Family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Friday, January 26th, 2018 at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home.  Friends may sign the book from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the funeral home. There will be no viewing as cremation has taken place.

A private family inurnment for both LeRoy & Jean will be held in the Hoisington Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to First Christian Church or Kans for Kids in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

WICHITA – Janet Ann Sponsel, 79, died Wednesday, January 10, 2018, at her home in Wichita.  She was born December 12, 1938, in Albert, the daughter of Arthur and Florence (Moore) Williams.  Janet was a systems analyst for Bell Telephone until retirement.

Mrs. Sponsel was a member of First United Methodist Church, Great Bend, the American Legion Auxiliary, Wichita, served as past president and chaplain for the VFW Post #3115 Auxiliary, Wichita, and past executive treasurer for the VA.

Survivors include, daughter, Jody Gray of Louisville, Colo.; brother, Randy Williams of Muenster, Texas; two granddaughters, Amanda Chicoine and husband Zach of Severance, Colo., Alexandra Gray of Erie, Colo.; and one great-granddaughter, Olivia Alexandra Chicoine.

She was preceded in death by, one brother Gary Williams.

Memorial Graveside Service will be 1:00 p.m. Monday, January 22, 2018 at Great Bend Cemetery. Memorials have been requested to VFW Post #3115 in care of Bryant Funeral Home.