Archived Marriage Records
Rose Marie Gerlach 1908-2002
LA CROSSE - Rose Marie Gerlach, 93, died Jan. 8 at Hays Medical Center in Hays. She was born Feb. 18, 1908, in La Crosse, the daughter of Henry and Marie Schnell Weigand. She was a high school graduate and attended one year of college. She married
Ralph Gerlach April 19, 1947, in La Crosse. He died July 17, 1967. A resident of La Crosse, returning there in 1968, she worked as a secretary. Mrs. Gerlach was a member of United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, American Legion Auxiliary and Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, all of La Crosse. Survivors include two nephews, Richard Weigand of Goodland and Elvin Eberhart of Salem, Ore.; and four nieces, Betty Huber of Brownell, Marjorie Millner of Colorado Springs, Colo., Edra Flinn of Hutchinson and Margaret Shelton of Yuba City, Calif. She was preceded in death by four brothers, Alex Weigand, Herman "Happy" Weigand, Ed Weigand and Albert "Jim" Weigand; and two sisters, Lydia Jefferis and Hilda Eberhart. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the church, with the Rev. Marilyn Christmore officiating. Burial will be at La Crosse City Cemetery. Friends may call from 1-6 p.m. Friday at Janousek Funeral Home in La Crosse and from 10-11 a.m. Saturday at the church. Memorials are suggested to Rush County Memorial Hospital Heart Fund or the donor's choice, both in care of the funeral home. Jan. 10, 2002
James Befort 1940-2002
James Befort, 61, formerly of Great Bend, died Jan. 8 at Moberly Regional Medical Center in Moberly, Mo. He was born Aug. 2, 1940, in Munjor, the son of Cy and Clara Dreher Befort. He married
Donna Bryant Aug. 24, 1974, in Great Bend. A resident of Moberly, coming from Great Bend, he worked as a product manager at Orscheln Farm and Home for 39 years. Befort was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Moberly and was a past member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Great Bend. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, Mike Befort of Moberly; one daughter, Michelle Cape of Emporia; four brothers, Al Befort of Hutchinson, Curt Befort of Wichita, Ken Befort and Keith Befort, both of Pratt; two sisters, Wanda Narvid and Nancy McCleary, both of Wichita; and one grandchild. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the church in Moberly. Graveside service will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Lakin-Comanche District cemetery in Ellinwood, with the Rev. Garry Dassow officiating. There will be no local visitation. Memorials are suggested to the church in Moberly or the church in Great Bend, both in care of Kimple Funeral Home in Ellinwood. Jan. 10, 2002
Warren Lee Griffith 1939-2002
WICHITA - Warren Lee Griffith, 62, died Jan. 7 at Via Christi Regional Medical Center, St. Francis Campus in Wichita. He was born Dec. 1, 1939, in rural Inman, the son of Ray A. and Mildred Eileen DeVault Griffith Jr. He was a 1958 graduate of Lyons High School and also graduated from Barton County Community College. He married
Fern Eva Willson April 18, 1970, in Hutchinson. A resident of Wichita since Feb. 2001, coming from Lyons, he worked as a truck driver for Wagner Trucking, a machinist for Cessna Fluid Power and most recently as custodian and bus driver for USD 405 in Lyons, before retiring in 1991. Griffith was a member of United Methodist Church in Lyons and Sons of the American Legion in Geneseo. Survivors include his wife of the home; two daughters, Daphne Norez of Raymond and Heather A. Latiolais of Olathe; his mother of Lyons; three brothers, Leonard R. Griffith of Lyons, Eddie G. Griffith of Mulvane and Frederick W. Griffith of Wichita; one sister, Delores A. Smith of Fairview Heights, Ill.; and six grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one sister, Adelia Mae Griffith. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the church, with the Rev. Cindy Watson officiating. Burial will be at Lyons Municipal Cemetery. Friends may call until 7 tonight, with family receiving friends from 5-7 tonight, all at Sillin Funeral Home in Lyons. Memorials are suggested to Covenant House, in care of the funeral home. Jan. 10, 2002
Frances Ann Beitler 1919-2002
ST. JOHN - Frances Ann Beitler, 82, died Jan. 7 at Via Christi Regional Medical Center, St. Francis Campus in Wichita. She was born July 20, 1919, in Plevna, the daughter of George and Letha Caroline Hooker. She was a 1938 graduate of Plevna High School. She married
Thelbert V. Beitler June 2, 1942, in Hutchinson. A resident of St. John since 1947, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Beitler was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Stafford. Survivors include her husband of the home; one son, Dennis Leon Beitler of St. John; three daughters, Arlene Gunter of Yuma, Ariz., Martha Aaron of Goddard and Laurel Keeley of Valley Center; one brother, Charles Hooker of Plevna; three sisters, Marie Castle and Ida Mae Gisick, both of Hutchinson and Fern Kerns of Wheeling, Ill.; 10 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one daughter, Voughnita Beitler; two brothers, George Hooker and John Hooker; and one sister, Myrtle Hooker. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Minnis Chapel in St. John, with the Rev. David A. 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 American Cancer Society, in care of the funeral chapel. Jan. 10, 2002
Harold M. Werth 1940-2002
LA CROSSE - Harold M. Werth, 61, died Jan. 8 at his home in La Crosse. He was born Dec. 1, 1940, in rural McCracken, the son of Alfred J. and Martina L. Schaffer Werth. He was a high school graduate. He married
Judith "Judy" A. Meier Sept. 14, 1963, in Hanston. A lifelong resident of Rush County, he was a farmer and stockman. Werth was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church in La Crosse. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, Harland L. Werth of La Crosse; two daughters, Kim Stejskal of Bison and Sonya Werth Sackett of Kechi; his mother of La Crosse; one brother, Larry Werth of La Crosse; one sister, Bernadette Stegman of Grand Island, Neb.; four grandchildren; and two step-grandchildren. Rosary service will be at 7:30 tonight at Janousek Funeral Home in La Crosse. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the church, with the Rev. Benjamin Martin officiating. Burial will be at La Crosse City Cemetery. Friends may call until 9 tonight and from 8-9:30 a.m. Friday, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Rush County Memorial Hospital or the church, both in care of the funeral home. Jan. 10, 2002
John Carey 1921-2002
RUSSELL - John Carey, 80, died Jan. 9 at Russell Regional Hospital in Russell. He was born Feb. 27, 1921, in Baxter, Mo., the son of Mack and Bertha Overstreet Carey. He married
Goldie D. Gideon Nov. 15, 1947, in Branson, Mo. A resident of Russell since 1968, coming from McCook, Neb. and Sterling, Colo., he worked as a truck driver in the oil fields. Carey was a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6240 in Russell. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. Survivors include his wife of the home; three sons, John Carey Jr. of Hoisington, Dennis Carey and Earl Carey, both of Russell; one daughter, Evelyn Gray of Indianola, Neb.; two brothers, Clifford Carey of Coffeyville and Charles Carey of Harbor, Ore.; two sisters, Audrey Smith of Lampe, Mo. and Velta Carmical of Oak Grove, Ark.; nine grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by several brothers and sisters; and one grandson, Ronnie Gillock. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Pohlman's Mortuary Memorial Chapel in Russell, with VFW Chaplain Ed Sewell officiating. Burial will be at Russell City Cemetery. Friends may call from 3-9 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. until service time Saturday, all at the mortuary. There are no memorials suggested. Jan. 10, 2002
Leona Jean Dufford 1923-2002
LARNED - Leona Jean Dufford, 78, died Jan. 9 at Medicalodge in Kinsley. She was born Jan. 27, 1923, in Pawnee Rock, the daughter of William V. and Fairie Joy Barrett Ratcliffe. She married
William J. Dufford Sept. 5, 1937, in Larned. He died Sept. 27, 1981. A resident of Kinsley since 1993, coming from Coolidge, Ga., she was a past manager of Dillons bakery in Garden City. Mrs. Dufford attended the United Methodist church. Survivors include five sons, William E. Dufford of Cameron, W.V., Richard Dufford and Randall Dufford, both of Anchorage, Alaska, Steven Dufford of Eagle River, Alaska; Gregory Dufford of Palmer, Alaska; six daughters, Elnetta Parramore of Coolidge, Ga., Eleanor Buhrer of Belpre, Charlotte Dufford of China Valley, Ariz., Cynthia Warden of Garden City, Kathy Conn of Columbus, Ohio, and Kimberly Dyer of Granger, Ind.; one sister, Carolyn Bignall of Topeka; 23 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Darrell Ratcliffe and Billie Lee Ratcliffe; two sisters, Marvel Murray and Lavivian Ratcliffe; and two grandsons, Daniel Mellick and Dwayne Dufford. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel in Larned, with the Rev. Gene Price officiating. Burial will be at Larned cemetery. Friends may call until 8 p.m. tonight, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. until service time Saturday, all at the mortuary. Memorials are suggested to Word of Hope Church, in care of the mortuary.
Alma G. Brack 1904-2002
Alma G. Brack, born Dec. 8, 1904, died Jan. 5, 2002, in Mountville, Conn. She was the daughter of John A. and Katherine Brack. Alma was the fifth child of 14 who are now all deceased. After growing up in Otis and Great Bend, she entered the world of business, taking her to Kansas City, Chicago, the West Coast, Wichita, Arizona and back to Great Bend. She moved to Connecticut in 2000, to live with a niece. Alma considered herself the family historian and avid antique collector. Although she had no family of her own, Alma had many nieces and nephews residing throughout 10 states and Canada. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the charity of the donor's choice. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, 2002, at Fryberger Mortuary Chapel, 2115 Washington, in Great Bend. Jan. 9, 2002
Doris G. Langley 1923-2002
LARNED - Doris G. Langley, 78, died Jan. 7 at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. She was born March 6, 1923, in Kansas City, Mo., the daughter of Charles D. and Nellie Ann Brinkworth Brumitt. She was a graduate of Newman Hospital School of Nursing. She married
Kenneth "Red" L. Langley Feb. 22, 1948, in Hays. A resident of Larned since 1964, coming from Hays, she was a registered nurse at Larned State Hospital. Mrs. Langley was a member of Presbyterian Church, Business and Professional Women, Larned Country Club and Garden Club, all of Larned. Survivors include her husband of the home; one daughter, Candace Dolan of Denver, Colo.; one brother, John Paul Brumitt of Arizona; and two grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one brother, Willard C. Brumitt. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel in Larned, with the Rev. Jim Hawthorne officiating. Burial will be at Larned Cemetery. Friends may call until 8 tonight, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and from 9 a.m. until service time Friday, all at the mortuary. Memorials are suggested to American Heart Association, in care of the mortuary. Jan. 9, 2002
Esther Ruth Korf 1924-2002
HANSTON - Esther Ruth Korf, 77, died Jan. 7 at Via Christi Regional Medical Center, St. Francis Campus in Wichita. She was born Nov. 4, 1924, in Pawnee County, the daughter of Charles and Stephina Svatos Vratil. She married
Ferlyn Wallace Korf March 5, 1950. He died June 21, 1999. A resident of Hanston, she was a homemaker and cosmetologist. Mrs. Korf was a member of First Baptist Church, Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary and Senior Center, all of Hanston. Survivors include two daughters, Stephanie Goodwin of Atwood and Beverlee McFadden of Minneola; one brother, Floyd Vratil of Pratt; two sisters, Blanche Hagerman of Topeka and Ellen Lewis of Empire, Calif; and three grandchildren. She was preceded in death by eight brothers, Joe Vratil, Fred Vratil, Herman Vratil, Donald Vratil, Elmer Vratil, Otto Vratil, Earl Vratil and Harry Vratil; and one sister, Silva DeRoo. Funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the church, with the Rev. Carl Vincent officiating. Burial will be at Hanston Cemetery. Friends may call until 8 tonight and from 9-10 a.m. Thursday, all at Beckwith Funeral Home in Jetmore. Memorials are suggested to Hanston Library or Hanston Senior Center, both in care of the funeral home. Jan. 9, 2002
Esther K. Shanelec Lindenmuth 1919-2002
HOISINGTON - Esther K. Shanelec Lindenmuth, 82, died Jan. 7 at Hoisington Rehabilitation Center in Hoisington. She was born April 19, 1919, in Sylvan Grove, the daughter of Albert and Amy Siemers Lantz. She married
Joe R. Shanelec March 24, 1940, in Sylvan Grove. He died May 15, 1982. She married
Leo K. Lindenmuth Oct. 21, 1991, in Deerfield. He died Feb. 22, 1994. A resident of Hoisington for 45 years, coming from Sylvan Grove, she was a homemaker and sales clerk at Fashions and John's Clothing in Hoisington. Mrs. Lindenmuth was a member of First United Methodist Church and Clara Barton Foundation, both of Hoisington. Survivors include one son, Steve Shanelec of Wichita; one stepson, Gary Lindenmuth of Hays; one daughter, Anita Brewer of Hoisington; one stepdaughter, Joyce Disque of Claflin; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Walter Lantz and Harold Lantz; and three sisters, Alice Heller, Stella Bender and Alberta Beverly. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the church, with the Rev. Wayne Flanders officiating. Burial will be at Wilson cemetery in Wilson. Friends may call until 9 tonight, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, all at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington, and from 9:30 a.m. until service time Friday, at the church. Memorials are suggested to Golden Belt Home Health and Hospice or Hoisington Rehabilitation Center, both in care of the funeral home. Jan. 9, 2002
Ruth E. Metz 1905-2002
OVERLAND PARK - Ruth E. Metz, 96, died Jan. 7 at Indian Creek Nursing Center. She was born Feb. 4, 1905, in Great Bend. She married
Thomas F. McManus. He died in 1940. She married
Fred A. Metz. He died in 1943. A resident of Overland Park, she taught school in Miller and later worked at the University of Kansas Medical Center until her retirement. Mrs. Metz was a member of Old Mission United Methodist Church, American Association of University Women, Delta Zeta Sorority, Tonkawa of the Johnson County Extension Service and Order of the Eastern Star. Survivors include one son, Phillip D. McManus of Overland Park. She was preceded in death by her special friend, Emmett Dunn. Memorial service will be at 4:30 p.m. Friday at the church. Inurnment will be at Great Bend Cemetery. Friends may call from 3 p.m. until service time Friday at the church. Memorials are suggested to the church, in care of D.W. Newcomer's Sons Funeral Home in Overland Park. Jan. 9, 2002
