Archived Marriage Records
Ella Lee Bender 1924-2002
WINFIELD - Ella Lee Bender, 77, died Jan. 20 at her home in Winfield. She was born Oct. 8, 1924, in rural Oklahoma, the daughter of William G. and Gertrude Morrow Duke. She was a 1942 graduate of El Dorado High School in El Dorado, Ill. She married
Donald R. Bender Aug. 31, 1974, in Winfield. A resident of Winfield, coming from Russell and Hoisington, she worked at McGill's Restaurant until the early 1970s and in 1972 became a business partner with Jodi Laubhan in the restaurant business. In 1985 she began working for Graves Drug Store in Winfield and retired in 1997. Mrs. Bender was a member of American Legion Auxiliary in Winfield. Survivors include her husband of the home; four sons, William Blake of Chula Vista, Calif., Richard "Rick" Blake of Larned, Michael Asbury of Winfield and John Kenny Massie of San Francisco, Calif.; one stepson, Michael R. Baldwin of Peoria, Ill.; one daughter, Pamela Miller of Ridgeway, Ill.; two stepdaughters, Angela Shear and Pamela Bender, both of Winfield; 13 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one son, James Blake; one daughter, Constance "Connie" Beaumont; and two granddaughters, Sherry Vasquez and Jessica Asbury. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Miles Funeral Service in Winfield. Burial will be at Highland cemetery in Winfield. Friends may call from 5-9 tonight, with family receiving friends from 6-8 p.m. Memorials are suggested to Make-A-Wish Foundation, Ronald McDonald House or American Cancer Society, all in care of the funeral service. Jan. 22, 2002
Valta Rhea Clark 1935-2002
HOISINGTON - Valta Rhea Clark, 66, died Jan. 19 at Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington. She was born Oct. 7, 1935, in Oklahoma City, Okla., the daughter of E. H. and Eula Rhea Eatmon Farmer. She married
Douglas L. Clark Dec. 19, 1959, in Hoisington. A resident of Hoisington since 1957, coming from Blackwell, Okla., she was a homemaker. Mrs. Clark was a member of Church of the Nazarene, Cardinal Bible Study and WMU, all of Hoisington. Survivors include her husband of the home; three sons, Dusty Clark of Hoisington, Russell Clark of Ponca City, Okla. and Ricky Clark of Marland, Okla.; three daughters, Donelda Lindsey of Marland, Jana Shaw of La Crosse and Jodee Demel of Odin; three sisters, Helen O'Hair of Elkhart, Vaughnda Cain of Rio Vista, Calif. and Ronda Riedl of Hoisington; 21 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington, with the Rev. Don Fisher officiating. Burial will be at Hoisington Cemetery. Friends may call until 9 tonight, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday and from 9 a.m. until service time Wednesday, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Diabetes Association or American Heart Association, both in care of the funeral home. Jan. 21, 2002
Nola H. O'Connor 1909-2002
HOISINGTON - Nola H. O'Connor, 92, died Jan. 20 at Hoisington Rehabilitation Center in Hoisington. She was born Feb. 3, 1909, in Luray, the daughter of Philip O. and Cora Highley Colhour. She married
J. W. "Bill" O'Connor Oct. 26, 1930, in Hutchinson. He died Dec. 20, 1968. A resident of Hoisington since 1932, coming from Great Bend, she was a homemaker. Mrs. O'Connor was a member of First United Methodist Church of Hoisington. Survivors include two sons, Gene O'Connor of Hoisington and Bill O'Connor of Chico, Calif.; one brother, Bruce Colhour of Russell; one sister, Beulah Stoskopf of Hoisington; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one brother, Ted Colhour; and one sister, Mirla Bryan. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington, with the Rev. Wayne Flanders officiating. Burial will be at Hoisington Cemetery. Friends may call from 1-9 p.m. Tuesday and from 9 a.m. until service time Wednesday, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to American Heart Association, in care of the funeral home. Jan. 21, 2002
Luella Irene Coerber Brack Lichty 1920-2002
SHAWNEE - Luella Irene Coerber Brack Lichty, 81, died Jan. 17 at Shawnee Mission Medical Center in Shawnee. She was born Feb. 10, 1920, in Allison, Colo., the daughter of Herman A. and Emma K. Kettler Coerber. She graduated from high school in 1938; attended St. John College in Winfield from 1938-39; taught school in Axtell from 1939-40; attended St. Catherine's School of Nursing in Garden City, graduating in May 1943, and practiced nursing in various locations. She married
the Rev. Virgil W. Brack June 8, 1946, in St. Louis, Mo. During their marriage they served parish's in Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska, before retiring in 1984 to Bella Vista, Ark. He died Feb. 10, 1987. She was a resident of Bella Vista for 17 years. She later married
Evan W. Lichty Aug. 2, 1997, in Bella Vista, Ark. He preceded in death Nov. 17, 1997. Mrs. Lichty was a member of Faith Lutheran Church, Lutheran Women Missionary League, Helping Hands Organization and assisted with the printing of Braille books for the Lutheran Braille workers, all of Bentonville, Ark. Survivors include one son, Virgil Brack Jr. and his wife Donna, of Cincinnati, Ohio; four daughters, SuElla Soto and her husband Dave of Brandon, Miss., VirLinda Brack of Olathe, KaAnn Bartels and her husband Allen of Lawrence and CandiLea Kirchhoff and her husband David of Concordia, Mo.; one foster daughter, Claudia Drake and her husband Cortney of Olathe; two stepchildren, Karen Elison of Lombard, Ill. and John Lichty of Elmhurst, Ill.; one brother, Milton Coerber and his wife Josephine of Lakin; two sister-in-laws, Vivien Coerber of Lakin and Mary Coerber; one sister, Ruth Kuhlman and her husband Wallace of Lakin; 11 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, Walter Coerber, Harold Coerber and Alvin Coerber; and half sisters, Alice Ackelvein and Ione Shuck. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington, with Pastor Todd Jones officiating. Burial will be at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Barton County. Friends may call from 5-7 tonight and from 9 a.m. until service time Monday, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the church, Lutheran Braille Workers in Bentonville or the donoršs choice, all in care of the funeral home. Jan. 20, 2002
Sister Bernice Wenke 1910-2002
Sister Bernice Wenke, 91, of Great Bend, died Jan. 18 in the Dominican Sisters' convent infirmary, Great Bend. She was born July 11, 1910, in Ellinwood as Lucy Cecilia Wenke, and was the daughter of "George" Peter and Margaret Billen Wenke. She entered the Dominican Sisters' Community February 27, 1926, and pronounced her first vows August 20, 1929. She celebrated seventy years of religious profession in 1999. Sister Bernice ministered almost all her life in the education of young people. She taught elementary students in all eight grades in the parochial schools of Kansas and Nebraska most of the years from 1929-1982. During that time she was often the principal of the school as well as a teacher. She was also Supervisor of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Wichita, Kansas, from 1951-1958. Her last ministries were in Liberal and Garden City, Kansas, as librarian of the schools, and in Great Bend, Kansas, as circulating tape librarian at the convent. She retired to the convent infirmary in 1997. Sister Bernice has no survivors. Sister Bernice's body was brought to the hospitality area of the Dominican Chapel of the Plains in Great Bend, on Saturday where it will lie in state until the Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Monday, with Rev. Arthur Kinsella, OP presiding. A wake service will be held at 7 tonight. Burial will be in the Sisters' Calvary Cemetery. Both the wake and the funeral will be held at the convent. Memorials in honor of Sister Bernice may be sent to: Dominican Sisters, Mission and Ministry Fund, 3600 Broadway, Great Bend, KS 67530-3692. Friends may call at the convent until 9:00 a.m. Monday. Fryberger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Jan. 20, 2002
Esther Scheuerman Brack 1907-2002
ANDOVER - Esther Scheuerman Brack, 94, died Jan. 17 in Andover. She was born in 1907. A resident of Andover, coming from Otis, she was a homemaker and farm wife. Survivors include two sons, the Rev. Delmer Brack of Andover and Delano "John" Brack of Bella Vista, Ark.; one sister, Sophie Parsons of Andover; nine grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren. Graveside service will be at 2:30 p.m. Monday at Otis Lutheran cemetery in Otis. There is no visitation listed. Memorials are suggested to Peace Lutheran Church in Andover, in care of Hillside Funeral Home in Augusta. Jan. 20, 2002
Paul Edwin Starbuck 1921-2002
Paul Edwin Starbuck, 80, of Great Bend, died Jan. 18 at Central Kansas Medical Center, St. Rose Campus in Great Bend. He was born July 11, 1921, in Midian, the son of Ora H. and Pauline Holloway Starbuck. He married
Frances Bendon July 14, 1946, in Salina. A resident of Great Bend since 1946, coming from Salina, he worked for Knupp Construction Company, Jayhawk Transportation and was purchasing manager for The Fuller Brush Company before retiring in 1986. Starbuck was a member of First United Methodist Church, life member of Kiwanis International, Masonic Lodge 15, American Legion, Order of the Eastern Star, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Boy Scouts of America, all of Great Bend, Midian Shrine in Wichita, Retired Officers Association and Reserve Officers Association. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He commanded the 1st Battalion, 353rd Regiment, 89th Training Division, U.S. Army Reserves. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, Mike Starbuck of Hebron, Neb.; one daughter, Pamela Patrick of Nederland, Colo.; one brother, Bill Starbuck of Great Bend; two sisters, Eldora "Cherry" Reed of Chillicothe, Mo. and Sarah Learned of Bella Vista, Ark.; and two grandchildren. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the church, with the Rev. Dr. Kevin Baxter officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend cemetery with a Masonic graveside service and full military honors. Friends may call from 1-9 p.m. today, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, at Bryant Funeral Home and from 9:30 a.m. until service time at the church. Memorials are suggested to the church or Shriner's Children's Hospital, both in care of the funeral home. Jan. 20, 2002
Allen L. McChristian 1913-2002
LA CROSSE - Allen L. McChristian, 88, died Jan. 17 at Hays Medical Center in Hays. He was born Nov. 23, 1913, in Mt. Vernon, Mo., the son of David C. and Mary Keller McChristian. He married
Eileen Sehnert June 30, 1938, in Bison. A resident of La Crosse for 51 years, coming from Hoisington, he was town manager for Kansas Power and Light Service and also worked for Karlin Cable T.V. for several years. Mr. McChristian was a member of United Methodist Church, United Methodist Church Building Committee, Lions Club and past Masonic Lodge Member, all of La Cross. Survivors include his wife of the home; two sons, Ray A. McChristian of Greensburg and Douglas C. McChristian of Marana, Ariz.; two sisters, Vivian Beeman of Effingham and Juanita Basgall of Sierra Vista, Ariz.; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one sister, Lucille Reinhardt. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the church, with the Rev. Kathy Bannister officiating. Burial will be at La Crosse City Cemetery. Friends may call from 1-8 p.m. Monday, from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday, all at Janousek Funeral Home in La Crosse and from 1-1:45 p.m. Tuesday at the church. Memorials are suggested to Hays Medical Center or the church, both in care of the funeral home. Jan. 20, 2002
Sadie C. Gore 1916-2002
LARNED - Sadie C. Gore, 85, died Jan. 18 at Larned Healthcare and Living Center in Larned. She was born Dec. 21, 1916, near Pawnee Rock, the daughter of Abe C. and Susie Unruh Schultz. She married
Hollis W. Gore Nov. 30, 1939, in rural Pawnee Rock. He died Jan. 24, 2000. A resident of Larned since 1939, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Gore was a member of Bergthal Mennonite Church in rural Pawnee Rock and past member of Ash Valley Grange and CIC Extension Unit. Survivors include one daughter, Mary Ellen Root of McPherson; one brother, Leslie Schultz of Pawnee Rock; one granddaughter; and one great-granddaughter. She was preceded in death by three brothers, Walter Schultz, Frank Schultz and Dewey Schultz; four sisters, Verna Schultz, Virgie Deckert, Lena Hanson and Juanita Miller; and one grandson, Joshua Root. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the church, with the Rev. Muriel T. Stackley officiating. Burial will be at the church cemetery. Friends may call from 6-8 p.m. Monday and from 9 a.m. until service time Tuesday, all at Morell Funeral Home in Larned. Memorials are suggested to Breast Cancer Research Foundation or MCC Relief Sale, both in care of the funeral home. Jan. 20, 2002
Mary J. Wright 1916-2001
Mary J. Wright, 85, of Great Bend, died Jan. 17 at Central Kansas Medical Center, St. Rose Campus in Great Bend. She was born Nov. 3, 1916, in Great Bend, the daughter of Nelson and Margaret Williams Bagby. She married
E. Devern Wright Nov. 21, 1937, in Great Bend. He died Dec. 15, 1973. A lifelong resident of Great Bend, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Wright was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Order of the Eastern Star, past member of the Saddle Club, all of Great Bend and past secretary of the Kansas Western Horseman's Association. Survivors include one daughter, Karen Smith of Seward; one brother, Robert Bagby of Hutchinson; one grandchild; and one great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by one brother, Frank Bagby; and one sister, Grace Lindquist. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the church, with the Rev. Hal Staats officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend Cemetery. Friends may call from 1-9 p.m. today at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Memorials are suggested to the church, in care of the funeral home. Jan. 20, 2002
Sarah Elizabeth Ambler 1914-2002
Sarah Elizabeth Ambler, 87, of Great Bend, died Jan. 17 at Integrated Health Services in Great Bend. She was born Oct. 8, 1914, in Chase, the daughter of Walter Pearl and Cora Lee James Miner. She married
Bartley Floyd Ambler in 1944, in Rossville, Ga. He died in 1979. A resident of Great Bend since 1979, coming from Florida, she was a homemaker and worked as a waitress. Mrs. Ambler was a member of the Methodist church, American Legion Auxiliary and volunteer for RSVP of Barton County. Survivors include six nieces. She was preceded in death by one infant son; one infant daughter; five brothers, George Miner, Harry Miner, Frank Miner, Walter Paul Miner and Charles Miner; and four sisters, Marjorie Luther and three infants. Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Springdale cemetery in Chase, with the Rev. Bill Wolf officiating. Friends may call from 1-9 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to noon Monday, all at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Memorials are suggested to RSVP or Great Bend Senior Center, both in care of the funeral home. Jan. 20, 2002
Martha Lucille Welch 1925-2002
ST. JOHN - Martha Lucille Welch, 77, died Jan. 16 at Southwind Hospice Guest House in Pratt. She was born Jan. 14, 1925, in Dexter, the daughter of Charles L. and Madelsa Thompson Hankins. She married
Rafael Jack Welch June 22, 1946, in Winfield. He died Nov. 22, 1988. A resident of St. John, she was a homemaker, retired registered nurse and bookkeeper. Mrs. Welch was a member of First Baptist Church and Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, both of St. John. Survivors include three sons, Terry J. Welch, Pat Welch and Mike Welch, all of St. John; two daughters, Sheryl Keller of St. John and Karel Buckman of Greensburg; one brother, Vernon Hankins of Winfield; two sisters, Sarah Fern Steward of Winfield and Avis Rhodd of Dexter; 16 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by three brothers, Carl Hankins, Cleo Hankins and infant boy Hankins; and two sisters, Flora Booth and Winnie Brubaker. Funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Minnis Chapel in St. John, with Mike Irvin and David Ford officiating. Burial will be at Fairview Park cemetery in St. John. Friends may call from 1-8 p.m. Friday at the funeral chapel. Memorials are suggested to Southwind Hospice or Guesthouse, both in care of the funeral chapel. Jan. 17, 2002
