MELVERN, Kan. – Jerry Dean Arb, 65, passed away on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019, in Lincoln, Neb. Jerry was born on Feb. 17, 1953, in Emporia, Kan., the son of Orville and Lois Kramer Arb.

Jerry graduated from Melvern High School in 1971 and lived the majority of his life in the Melvern, Kan., community.

Jerry was a member of the Operators Union Local 101 as a heavy equipment operator for many years. During Jerry’s years as a heavy equipment operator he worked several jobs across the country, including the building of Melvern Lake and as a crane operator at Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant. He retired from McAnany Construction in 2018. 

LYNDON, Kan. – Charles Beatty, 87, passed away on Monday, Jan. 7, 2019, at his home in Lyndon, Kan. He was born on Dec. 5, 1931, in Lyndon, the son of David Carl and Vesta Burkdoll Beatty.

Charles had lived most of his life in Lyndon, except for two years in Lawton, Okla. He graduated from Lyndon High School in 1951, and then served in the U.S. Army from 1952 to 1954 at Ft. Sill. On June 6, 1953, Charles was married to Viola Mickelson, in Garnett, Kan.

Charles was an auctioneer from 1959 to 2013, co-founding Beatty-Wischropp Auctions in 1967. For many years, he ran horse auctions in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. He owned Beatty Western Wear in Lyndon for 33 years.

TOPEKA, Kan. – Daniel R. Towle, 56, passed away on Monday, Jan. 7, 2019, at Rolling Hills Assisted Living, Topeka, Kan. Daniel Robert Towle was born June 12, 1962, in Topeka, the son of James A. and Roberta A. (Sparks) Towle.

Daniel grew up in Osage City, Kan. Daniel was disabled and had lived in Hartford, Kan., under the care of Quest Services for many years. He was living at Rolling Hills Assisted Living for a few months.

MILLER, Kan. – Shirley Nadine Parks, beloved wife of Lawrence E. Parks, Miller, Kan., passed away Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019, at Stormont Vail Hospital, Topeka, Kan., surrounded by her family. Shirley was born April 5, 1931, to Ed and Fern Johnson, at Miller, Kan.

She graduated from Miller High School in 1949. She worked as a nurse aide before marrying her high school sweetheart, Lawrence, on March 26, 1950. They were married in the house where she lived until her passing.

MEXICO, Mo. – Edward David DeForest, 83, died Dec. 6, 2018, at the Veteran’s Home in Mexico, Mo. He was born May 17, 1935, near Melvern, Kan., the son of Francis Lee Veal DeForest and Bertha Goldie DeForest.

Edward graduated from Lebo High School in 1953. He was an army veteran, and served in Korea. Bachelor’s and master’s degrees in art education were granted to him from Emporia State University. Teaching, and secondary art, was his great passion. Ed taught in Cleveland, Ohio, and Marysville, Kan. Later he was employed as a graphic designer at Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant, near Burlington, Kan., and worked as a creel census taker for the Kansas Department of Parks, Wildlife and Tourism at Melvern Reservoir. He was a longtime member of the VFW Post 2699, Marysville, and Post 0323, Lebo, Kan.

WICHITA, Kan. – George Eldon Hackett was born on June 14, 1944 on a farm east of Melvern, Kan., the son of Milo and Mabel Tompkins Hackett. He departed this life on Jan. 5, 2019, in Wichita, Kan., at the age of 74 years, 6 months and 21 days.

George grew up on a farm southwest of Willow Springs, Mo. In 1969, George moved to Louisburg, Kan., and later to the JC Ranch, Augusta, Kan., and then to the Timbers, Wichita. He had worked as quality control for Center Industries for several years in Wichita.

TOPEKA, Kan. – Joel R. Smith, age 40, Topeka, Kan., passed away Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. Joel was born April 24, 1978, in Fontana, Calif., the son of Cleo and Traci Glidden Smith.

Joel is survived by his parents, Cleo and Traci Smith; two sons, Caleb and Ryan Smith, of Osage City, Kan., and two brothers, Chris and Eric Smith, both of Topeka.

OVERBROOK, Kan. – Eva Katherine Sebring, 90, of Overbrook, Kan., formerly of Burlingame, Kan., passed away Dec. 27, 2018, at Brookside Retirement Community, Overbrook. She was born Nov. 29, 1928, in Colby, Kan., the daughter of Fred Aaron Sortor and Anna Urania Carolina (Tolin) Sortor.

Eva grew up in Clay Center, Kan., graduating from Clay Center High School with the class of 1946, with her degree in normal training.

LYNDON, Kan. – Donald “Don” Sloop, 88, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018, at Midland Hospice House, Topeka, Kan. He was born on Jan. 28, 1930, in rural Lyndon, Kan., the son of Lyle and Berneita Fanning Sloop.

Don had lived all of his life in and around the Lyndon community. He graduated from Lyndon High School in 1949.

Don was a farmer and stockman, and owned and operated Sloop Sales and Service near Lyndon for 30 years. Don served in the United States Army. He was a member of the Lyndon United Methodist Church, the Future Farmers of America, and the National Farmers Organization. He served on the Olivet and Valley Brook township boards and the rural water board, and was a Vermeer Master Dealer in 2002.

OSAGE CITY, Kan. – Janice Wright, 86, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, at Diversacare Healthcare, Council Grove, Kan. She was born on Nov. 23, 1932, in Osage City, Kan., the daughter of John and Eva Ricca Martin,

Janice had lived all of her life in Osage City, where she graduated from Osage City High School. She had worked at the supply depot at Forbes Field. She also helped take care of many children over the years. She was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, the Altar Society and was a Girl Scout leader for several years.

OSAGE CITY, Kan. – Mary June Thompson, 86, passed away on Friday, Dec. 7, 2018, at Stormont Vail Hospital, Topeka, Kan. Mary June Hutchison was born June 7, 1932, in Scranton, Kan., the daughter of Charles M. and Anna (Sheall) Hutchison. She graduated from Scranton High School in the class of 1950.

Mary June was joined in marriage to Clinton “Clint” Lee Thompson on Aug. 21, 1950, in Scranton.

She helped in various aspects of her husband’s businesses, Clint Thompson Lime, Rock and Sand, Clint Thompson Ready Mix and later Clint Thompson Trucking and Construction. But, majority of her time was being a keeper of the family, as a mother and grandmother.

OVERBROOK, Kan. – Golden McGinnis, 96, of Overbrook, Kan., passed away on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018, at Brookside Retirement Community, Overbrook. He was born Oct. 13, 1922, in Ray County, Mo., the son of Ramie and Nell (Smart) McGinnis.

Golden was united in marriage to Ruth Marie Mann, on Jan. 17, 1946, in Omaha, Neb. They shared more than 70 years of marriage. They moved to a farm in the rural Carbondale area of Osage County, Kan., in 1957. They moved to Overbrook in 2000.

MELVERN, Kan. – MaryRee Miller, 85, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, at Atria Hearthstone, Topeka, Kan. She was born on Nov. 3, 1933, on the family farm east of Melvern, Kan., the daughter of Crayton and Mabel Heilman Hotchkiss.

MaryRee had lived all of her life in the Melvern community, and had lived in Topeka for the last eight months.

MaryRee was a homemaker, and had owned Miller Lumber with her husband, Gerald, in Melvern. She was a member of the Melvern United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women.

TOPEKA, Kan. – James Emil “Jim” Rosetta, 77, passed away Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018, at his home in Topeka, Kan. He was born Feb. 23, 1941, in Osage City, Kan., the son of Quinto Emil and Virginia (Vietta) Rosetta.

He graduated from Topeka High School in 1959.

He was joined in marriage to Susan Leigh Lombard on April 8, 1967, in Topeka; to this union two children were born Emily and Todd.

SALINA, Kan. – Kenneth Dale Bunker, 75, of Salina, Kan., passed away Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. He was born April 27, 1943, to Thomas and Frances Bunker, in Dorrance, Kan.

He married Claryce A. Toburen, on June 17, 1973, and was a devoted husband for 45 years. He worked in banking for 41 years, retiring in 2008. Raised on a farm, Ken later served in the U.S. Army in the Vietnam conflict.

TOPEKA, Kan. – Katherine Shanks, 93, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018, at Lexington Park Nursing Home, Topeka, Kan. She was born on Dec. 23, 1924, in Mandan, N.D., the daughter of John and Flora Friedt Eckroth.

Katherine had lived in Lyndon, Kan., for many years and had been at Lexington Park for the last year.

Katherine worked as a nurse’s aide at Hilltop Nursing Home, in Lyndon, for many years. She was a member of Christ the King Catholic Church, in Topeka.

OSAGE CITY, Kan. – Mary F. Carlson, 75, passed away Monday, Nov. 12, 2018, at the Brookside Retirement Community, Overbrook, Kan. Mary F. Miller was born April 6, 1943, in Nyssa, Ore., the daughter of Patrick F. and Elenor (Pyle) Miller.

Mary graduated from high school in Theodore, Ala., in 1961. She was joined in marriage to Charles R. Carlson, on April 22, 1962, in Osage City, Kan. To this union two boys were born, Charles Kevin Carlson and Christopher K. Carlson.

Mary worked as an activities director for the area nursing homes until her retirement. Her hobbies included working in her flower garden, sewing, and collecting teddy bears and lighthouses. She was also an avid reader. Her greatest pride and joy were her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

LYNDON, Kan. – Duane Robison, 78, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, at the Stormont-Vail Hospital, Topeka, Kan. He was born on April 28, 1940, in Lawton, Okla., the son of T.B. and Cora Dell (Pettijohn) Robison.

Duane grew up in Lawton, had lived in Lyndon, Kan., over 50 years and had lived in Topeka for the last several months.

Duane received his Bachelor’s in Education from Central State College, Edmond, Okla., and received his Master’s Degree from Emporia State Teacher’s College, Emporia, Kan. He was a math and science teacher in secondary education at Lecompton High School for four years and then at Lyndon High School for 35 years. He was also the assistant basketball coach for many years. Duane was an avid softball player in the senior league in Topeka, was a member of the Lyndon United Methodist Church, the NEA, and the KNEA.

OVERBROOK, Kan. – Martha L. (Betz) Butel, 89, of Overbrook, Kan., passed away Nov. 11, 2018, at Brookside Retirement Community, Overbrook. She was born March 18, 1929, the daughter of Perry Betz and Mary (Spurlock) Betz, in Lebanon, Kan.

Martha grew up in the Glen Elder, Kan., area working at her father’s weekly newspaper the Glen Elder Sentinel. She graduated from Beloit High School with the class of 1947 and then went on to graduate from Kansas State University in 1951 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.

After graduating from college Martha worked in Topeka as proofreader for the Cappers Weekly Magazine. One evening a friend invited her to a dance at the Four Corners dance hall near Overbook. There she met John Butel. 

LYNDON, Kan. – Carrol (Ramsey) Niles Henderson, 92, passed away on Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, at Via Christi Hospital, Wichita, Kan. She was born on June 12, 1926, in Ft. Scott, Kan., the daughter of Dr. Arch and Nellie (Kelly) Ramsey.

Carrol grew up in Uniontown, Kan., and had lived near Lyndon, Kan., from 1950 to 2015, when she moved to Wichita.

Carrol attended Ft. Scott Junior College and then transferred to Kansas State University where she earned a BS in General Home Economics in 1948.

Carrol worked as an Extension home agent for Leavenworth County, and in 1950 was the first Extension home economist for Coffey County. She was the first female school board member for Lyndon Schools in the early 1960s. In 1974, she received her MS in Institutional Management from K-State. She served on the Kansas Dietetic Associations Committee for licensure of dieticians in 1988, became the first licensed dietitian in the state of Kansas in 1991, and was the Distinguished Kansas Dietitian. As a dietitian, Carrol planned meals for several nursing homes over the years, the first of which were in Lyndon and Overbrook.

MELVERN, Kan. – Frances Kay Coffman, 71, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, at Midland Hospice House, Topeka, Kan. She was born on Jan. 11, 1947, on a farm near the Alpine community, the daughter of John Wardie and Pearl Edna (Burnett) Davis.

Frances’ family moved to Topeka, where she graduated from Topeka High School in 1965. She worked for Palmer News for several years, and after moving to Melvern, Kan., in 1997, she worked at the Mayes House, in Melvern.

On March 24, 1972, Frances was married to Carl Coffman, in Lyndon, Kan.