Obituaries
Dean Alan Armstrong
May 23, 2020
Dean’s life began on February 22, 1935 in Jefferson, Ohio. He was the son of Stephen K. and Viola L. (Engel) Armstrong. He was a 1953 graduate of Blume High School in Wapakoneta, Ohio. Dean also served his country in the United States Army. Dean earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from Purdue University and a Master of...
Howard Leslie Klein
May 23, 2020
Howard’s life began October 14, 1926 in Marion, Kansas. He was the son of Lester and Esther (Berg) Klein. Howard was a 1944 graduate of Marion High School and served his country in the United States Army in Japan. Howard also attended telegraphy school in Omaha. He was united in marriage to Shirley Kaiser on June 17, 1953 at Trinity Lutheran...
Iris Lavay Kephart
May 22, 2020
Iris’s life began on October 1, 1938 in Burwell, Nebraska. She was the daughter of Willis and Doris (Umstead) Scofield. Iris was a homemaker and a mother, who enjoyed raising her daughters. She loved her cat and lived her life simply to the best of her ability. Her loving family includes her daughters Terri (Marty) Frederickson and Tamara Blome, all...
Jeffrey Alan King
May 15, 2020
Jeff’s life began January 29, 1966 in Indiana. He was the son of Phyllis (Richard) Visser and Jerry King. He went to school in Hope. Jeff served his country in the United State Army.
Jeff was a creative soul, he expressed himself through his poetry and occasional drawings. Jeff made the best out of a sometimes difficult circumstance and lived...
Ruth Cornelia Cotham
May 9, 2020
Ruth’s life began on October 28, 1924, on Magazine Mountain at her parents’ home near Paris, Arkansas. She was the daughter of George M. and Sarah “Sally” (Wisdom) Swilling. When she was about five years old, the family moved to Blackburn, Oklahoma, by way of a covered wagon. There she attended school and met her future husband Harold Blackburn. They...
Dewayne Vance Brandom
May 9, 2020
Dewayne “Vance” Brandom, 71, died peacefully in his sleep at home on Saturday, May 9, 2020. He was born on October 21, 1948 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Charles Willard and Anna Bell (Tenbrook) Brandom. He is preceded in death by his sister, Beverlea Ann Brandom, and his parents. He was the beloved brother of Garlan (Lisa) Brandom of Little...
Glenn E. Bayes
May 6, 2020
Glenn’s life began on February 21, 1935 in Hope, KS, the son of Charley and Maggie (Friedli) Bayes. He was a longtime resident of Herington and graduated from Herington High School, Class of 1953. He went to school with his future wife Beverly Lee and they were married at the Herington United Methodist Church on July 31, 1955.
Glenn’s career...
Michael "Mike" Allen Schnitker
May 5, 2020
Mike’s life began on April 21, 1962, the son of Richard and Betty (Weber) Schnitker in Evansville, Indiana. He graduated as Valedictorian from Buhler High School Class of 1981. He continued his studies and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business at Bethany College in Lindsborg and also became a CPA. Mike was a Commodities Trader for Koch Industries in Wichita....
Jimmy Martin Magathan
May 5, 2020
Jim’s life began on May 28, 1928 in Florence. He was the son of Frank D. and Zula May (Fisher) Magathan. Jim served his country proudly in the United States Army stationed in Korea after World War II. He was united in marriage to the former Earline Perkins on March 24, 1954 at Valley United Methodist Church in Marion. After...
Freddie Harold Epperson
Apr 28, 2020
Freddie (Fred) Harold Epperson, 87, was called to Heaven April 28, 2020, surrounded by family, in his Marion, Kansas home.
Fred was born to Flora Epperson (Gaugh) and Ed Epperson on April 14, 1933 in Clarksville, Arkansas.
Fred enlisted with the United States Army at the age of 16, and then by the age of 17 was on a ship...
Jerry Don Plett
Apr 27, 2020
Tribute to Jerry Plett
Jerry Don Plett was born April 27, 1936, to Dan and Rose Plett of Lehigh in the original Salem Hospital in Hillsboro, Kansas, which still stands at the south end of Main Street. His brother Bob was born a year later and sister Joan 10 months after that. In a story he wrote in 2016 about...
Blake Emerson Mayes
Apr 23, 2020
Blake's life began on January 30, 1990 in Salina. He was the son of Nick and Janet (Seidel) Mayes. Blake was a 2008 graduate of Beloit High School and attended Cloud County Community College. He was a wrestler in high school, winning State at the 152-pound weight class his senior year. Blake began wrestling at the age of 4 and...
Helen Justina Busenitz
Apr 18, 2020
Helen Justina Busenitz was born on February 4, 1941, to William L. and Emma (Wiebe) Busenitz. She grew up on the family farm southeast of Whitewater, Kansas.
Being the third-oldest of eleven children as well as the first daughter, she learned responsibility early by helping care for her eight younger brothers and sisters. The twin brothers were born when Helen...
Teressa Kay Christyauntie
Apr 17, 2020
Teressa’a life began June 30, 1954 in Wichita, KS. She was the daughter of Donald and Margaret (Lowry) Kitchen. She worked in the aircraft industry and as a seamstress. Teressa was a resident of Herington, KS for the past 10 years but lived most of her life in Wichita, KS.
Teressa enjoyed fishing, sewing and loved riding motorcycles.
Her family...
Rose Mary Neuwirth
Apr 8, 2020
Rose Mary's life began on November 18, 1941, at home, near Odin. She was the daughter of Eddy J. and Cecelia (Prusa) Schneweis. Rose Mary is a 1959 graduate of Odin High School. She also attended two years of business college and worked for a short time following graduation. She was united in marriage to Bob Neuwirth on June 3,...
William "Jerry" Gerald Higgins
Apr 6, 2020
Jerry Higgins passed away April 6th in Marion. Jerry was always proud that he lived his entire life in (or very near to) Marion County. He traveled the world and saw many exciting places and had wonderful adventures but to Jerry, Marion really was the best place he’d seen. Jerry was a planner and organizer and liked things to be...
Nadine Hill
Apr 5, 2020
Harriett Nadine Hill, 88, of Salina, KS, passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her loving children on Sunday, April 5, 2020. Nadine’s life began on May 18, 1931, the daughter of Glen and Muriel (Nott) Stice in Herington, KS. She graduated from Herington High School in 1949.
Nadine worked as a bookkeeper at Continental Grain Co., a secretary...
Eileen Marie Sigmon
Apr 4, 2020
Eileen’s life began on July 26, 1923, the daughter of Charles and Erie (Napier) Collinsworth in Big Sandy, West Virginia. She graduated from Mullens High Class of 1940, in Mullens, West Virginia. She married Ordie Jake Sigmon “Bub” on September 5, 1941 in Pineville, West Virginia. Eileen was a part-owner in a ladies clothing boutique “Polka Dot Clothing” in Beckley....
Merle D Leppke
Apr 3, 2020
Merle Leppke, age 77 of Marion, KS passed away on April 3, 2020 at his home. He was the son of Elmer and Lillian (Harms) Leppke. Merle was a farmer and rancher. He is survived by his brother Bob Leppke and sister Marilyn Heier. He is preceded in death by his parents. Merle will be laid to rest in Marion...
Mitchell "Mitch" Raines Eck
Apr 3, 2020
Mitch’s life began on September 26, 1962, the son of Otto and Edna (Reimer) Eck in Newton, Kansas. He graduated from Remington High Class of 1982. Mitch owned an appliance repair business, he was a truck driver and also a Railroad Crew Taxi Driver. He attended East Heights United Methodist Church in Wichita and enjoyed Wichita Thunder Hockey, watching car...
