GREAT BEND — Louise Brown Gunn, 93, died Feb. 22, 2017, at River Bend Assisted Living, Great Bend. She was born May 17, 1923, at Great Bend, the daughter of Joe and Ethel (Parker) Brown. She was a 1942 graduate of Great Bend High School. On Jan. 9, 1942, she married Glenn Gunn at Great Bend. He died April 23, 1982. A lifetime Great Bend resident, Mrs. Gunn worked for Barton County Soil Conservation Service and later retired after many years from Fuller Brush Company.
She was an active member of First Christian Church, where she worked with the youth as a Sunday School teacher, sang in the choir, and was active on many committees. In addition, she served on the Board of Directors for the Kansas Christian Home. She also belonged to Order of Eastern Star, the Collectibles, Golden Girls, Etudian Club and Fort Zarah FCE. She volunteered at the Bloodmobile, CKMC, St. Rose Health Center, Silver Cougar Club and RSVP.
By example she taught those around her to be strong, independent, generous, kind and thoughtful of others. These qualities will always be in the hearts and minds of her children, grandchildren and those who knew her.
The family would like to thank the staff of River Bend, without whose loving care her final days would not have been so peaceful.
Survivors include two daughters, Barbara Anderson and her husband Jim of Bartlesville, Okla., and Margaret Baldwin and her husband Galen of Ellinwood; three grandchildren, Don Anderson and his wife Stefi, Greg Anderson and his wife Jessica, and Jessica Baldwin Ebert and her husband Shaun; and six great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two sons, Ronald E. Gunn and Gary D. Gunn, two brothers, Leon Brown and Doug Brown; and four sisters, Ulanda Dorfshaffer Pugh, Ava Cole, Rachel Johnson and twin sister Lois Childers.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m., Monday, Feb. 27, 2017, at First Christian Church in Great Bend, with the Rev. Joshua Leu officiating. Burial will be in Great Bend Cemetery. Friends may call from 1 to 9 p.m., with the family receiving friends from 4 to 6 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorials have been established with First Christian Church Youth or 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
GREAT BEND — Rita Margaret Stoss, 87, died Feb. 20, 2017, at Cherry Village, Great Bend. She was born Nov. 9, 1929, at Bushton, the daughter of William and Barbara (Kirmer) Oberle. She married Lester L. Stoss Aug. 25, 1954, at Bushton. He died Dec. 19, 1984. A lifetime area resident, Mrs. Stoss was a farm wife.
Alvera Bitter died peacefully in Locust Grove Senior Center on February 20, 2017 in La Crosse, KS at the age of 104.
CLAFLIN — Margaret Julia Smith (Miller), 99, died Feb. 18, 2017, at Woodhaven Care Center, Ellinwood. She was born Feb. 26, 1917, at Claflin, the daughter of Louis and Anna (Carey) Miller. She attended Immaculate Conception Catholic School in Claflin and graduated from Claflin High School. She married Warren T. Smith Aug. 17, 1936, at Claflin. He died Dec. 29, 1994. A lifetime Claflin resident, Mrs. Smith was a homemaker and worked at Komarek Jewelers in Great Bend as a sales associate.
GREAT BEND — Eugene Ernest Hallett, 84, died Feb. 16, 2017, at his home in Great Bend. He was born Jan. 6, 1933, at Rush Center, the son of Ernest Glen and Zelma Mae (Moore) Hallett. He married Carol E. Ochs Sept. 22, 1956, at LaCrosse, Kansas. He was a maintenance worker at the Mullergren Plant for 35 years and a lifelong farmer at Rush Center. He was a resident of Great Bend. Mr. Hallett was a United States Army veteran of the Korean Conflict.
OTIS — Berniece Kay “Berni” Funk, 63, died Feb. 15, 2017, at her home, rural Otis. She was born Oct. 6, 1953, at Ness City, the daughter of Frank and Albertina (Flax) Fehrenbach. She married Randall Lee “Randy” Funk June 7, 1987, on the family farm. He died September 2004. A long time Otis area resident, she owned and operated Berni’s Country Beauty Salon. She enjoyed gardening, and spending time with her dogs, family and customers.
GREAT BEND — Kevin Lynn Habiger, 44, died unexpectedly Feb. 9, 2017, at Wichita. He was born June 27, 1972 at Great Bend, the son of Sylvester “Bud” and Sandra (Brougher) Habiger. He was a 1991 graduate of Great Bend High School. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, boating, scouting and a variety of other activities with friends and family. After graduating from high school, he obtained a commercial driver’s license and worked in the trucking and transport business. He moved to Wichita where he was employed most recently in shipping and order fulfillment for Amazon in nearby Coffeyville.
GREAT BEND — Alfred M. Reichuber, 96, died Feb. 17, 2017, at Great Bend Regional Hospital, Great Bend. He was born Feb. 27, 1920, at Odin, the son of Sebastian and Wilhelmina (Huslig) Reichuber. He married Leona Antonia Stoss May 15, 1946, at Olmitz. She died March 13, 2015. A lifetime area resident, Mr. Reichuber was a carpenter. He was a United States Navy veteran of World War II.
GREAT BEND — Eugene Ernest Hallett, 84, died Feb. 16, 2017, at his home in Great Bend. He was born Jan. 6, 1933, at Rush Center, the son of Ernest Glen and Zelma Mae (Moore) Hallett. He married Carol E. Ochs Sept. 22, 1956 at LaCrosse. She survives with son, Eugene Allen Hallett; daughters, Connie Rathbun, Michelle Schwager and Renea Moore; and sisters, Lois Holopirek, Dotty Kober, Norma Kelley and Charlotte Peters.