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Robert Behrens
ARKANSAS CITY - Robert J. "Robbie" Behrens Jr., 30, of Arkansas City, died Aug. 24, 2001, in Arkansas City.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. The Rev. John Brungardt will officiate. Burial will be in Parker Cemetery.
The Rosary will be said at 7 tonight in the church.
A memorial has been established with Sacred Heart Catholic School. Contributions may be made through Hawks Funeral Home.
Behrens was born July 7, 1971, in Arkansas City, to Margie (Murray) and Robert J. Behrens. He graduated from Arkansas City High School.
He served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Kittyhawk during the Gulf War and in Somalia before receiving an honorable discharge in 1994.
After returning to Arkansas City, he worked at Rubbermaid and was a full-time student at Cowley County Community College.
Behrens had re-enlisted with the U.S. Naval Reserves and served in that capacity for the past two and a half years. He had recently been voted the Sailor of the Year.
Survivors include a son, Jonathan Hasley, and his parents, Robert and Margie Behrens, all of Arkansas City; three brothers, Danny Behrens, Cedar Vale, Rusty Behrens, Arkansas City, and Ricky Behrens, Augusta; and four sisters, Linda Robinette, Frederick, Md., Mari Schulze, Arkansas City, Jacki Standon, Mankato, Minn., and Valerie Harrell, Ponca City.
Nellie McMurry
Services for Nellie Ivona McMurry were held at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 29, 2001, in Colonial Chapel of Miles Funeral Service. The Revs. Ellie Foster and Don Elliott officiated. Burial was in Highland Cemetery.
Wayne Bodkins performed "In the Garden" and "How Great Thou Art." Carolyn Doerksen was the organist.
Casket bearers were Kevin and Wayne Bodkins, Brett and Jack Brandenberger, Lin Harris and Jim Manion.
Memorials have been established with the First Church of the Nazarene and the Lifeline Program at William Newton Hospital.
Roberta Straley
Roberta F. Straley, 61, of 1810 Booth, Winfield, died Aug. 27, 2001, at Via Christi Regional Medical Center-St. Francis Campus in Wichita.
Services were at 2 p.m. Aug. 31 in Swisher-Taylor & Morris Memorial Chapel. Burial was in Oxford Cemetery.
Memorials have been established with the American Cancer Society, the Winfield Middle School Library and Chaplin Nature Center.
Straley was born Jan. 29, 1940, in Winfield, to Verna (Humbert) and Ora Brewer. She attended local schools and graduated from Winfield High School in 1958. She also attended college for two years.
A lifetime resident of Winfield, she worked at Winfield State Hospital and Training Center as an auditor and secretary and later for the Winfield school district.
She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church.
Survivors include her husband, Gary Straley, Winfield; a son, Kemper Straley, Topeka; a daughter, Heather Crawley, Bartlesville; her mother Verna Brewer, Winfield; a brother, Joe Brewer, Tulsa; a sister, Wanda Katchings, Sylacaugh, Ala.; and three grandchildren.
Lela Dean
Lela Krueger Dean, 95, lifelong resident of Winfield, died Aug. 29, 2001, at Walnut Hill Nursing Center.
Cremation has taken place, and the ashes will be scattered. Miles Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
Dean was born Sept. 28, 1905, in Winfield, to Martha (Monkes) and Richard Krueger. She was raised and educated in Winfield.
She married Sam C. Dean in Winfield where they made their home. He died Sept. 14, 1962.
Survivors include a son, Robert Mastin, Livingston, Texas; four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Vicki Foster
ARKANSAS CITY - Services for Vicki Lynn Foster were held at 10 a.m. Aug. 30, 2001, in Hawks Memorial Chapel. Jesse Kindred and Rose Cook officiated. Burial was in Greenwood Cemetery
at Sedan.
Music included "I'll Fly Away," sung by Foster's grandchildren, and recordings of "Wind Beneath My Wings" by Bette Midler and "Don't Stop" by Fleetwood Mac.
Honorary casket bearers were Lois Lind, Cindy Huff, Marnell Kerr, Betty Minnie, Jone Palmer, Sharon Means and Judy Foster.
Casket bearers were Charles, Dudley and Terry Foster, Stu Thielen, Kirt Williams and Ray Huff.
A memorial has been established with the Kansas Head Injury Association.
Wilmeta Ruiz
Wilmeta Marie Ruiz, 67, of 412 E. Seventh, Winfield, died Aug. 29, 2001, at William Newton Hospital.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Miles Funeral Service. Burial will be in Wilmot Cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral home until 9 tonight.
A memorial has been established with the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary. Contributions may be made through the funeral home.
Ruiz was born Dec. 12, 1933, in Harper, to Aletha Dorles (Hoyt) and Lewis W. "Doc" Doolittle. She was raised in Medicine Lodge and in 1945 moved with her family to Udall where she attended Udall High School.
A homemaker, she was also employed at Litwin's clothing store, sold Avon products for years and worked at Good Samaritan Village.
On June 13, 1981, she married Ruben Ruiz in Newkirk. They made their home in Winfield.
She was baptized in the Church of Christ in Arkansas City and was affiliated with the Winfield American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars auxiliaries.
Survivors include her husband, Ruben Ruiz, Winfield; four sons, Alvin Sweet, Hurst, Texas, Chet Sweet, Arkansas City, Charles L. Dunbar, Winfield, and Ricardo Ruiz, Lawrence; a daughter, Kay Glover, Winfield; a brother, Paul Doolittle, Winfield; a sister, Stella Thompson, Udall; and six grandchildren.
Stella Held
WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Stella Marie Held, 80, lifelong resident of Wichita Falls, died Aug. 28, 2001, at her home.
Services were at 11 a.m. Aug. 31 at Crestview Memorial Park in Wichita Falls. Pastor Ruben Sauceda officiated. Owens & Brumley Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Held was born Oct. 9, 1920, in Wichita Falls, to Esther (Hooker) and Elmer Lowe, formerly of Winfield.
She first married Ira Akins. They later divorced.
In 1970 she married John Held.
A homemaker, she was active in church and community organizations.
Survivors include her husband, John Held, Wichita Falls; a daughter, Jeri Marie Pedigo, Bedford, Texas; three grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and two nephews, Bob Shaver, rural Burden, and Charles Kong, Liberal.
Wilmeta Ruiz
Services for Wilmeta Marie Ruiz were held at 1 p.m. Sept. 1, 2001, in Colonial Chapel of Miles Funeral Service. The Rev. John Stone officiated. Burial was in Wilmot Cemetery.
Revival sang "Tender Mercies," "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" and "I'm Going Home." The postlude music was "The Lord Bless and Keep You."
Casket bearers included Jake Clover, Mike Higdon, Alan Kelly, Butch Kelly, Ed Prouty, Kenny Rutherford and Mike Thompson.
A memorial has been established with Winfield Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3544 Auxiliary.
Tom Lanning
M.E. "Tom" Lanning, 86, longtime resident of Winfield, died Aug. 22, 2001, at Sterling House in Arkansas City where he had lived since November.
The Rosary will be said tonight at 7 at Swisher-Taylor & Morris Funeral Home Chapel.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Holy Name Catholic Church. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery.
A memorial has been established with the American Cancer Society.
