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Mary Emma Hipsher 1912-2002
LONGMONT, Colo. - Mary Emma Hipsher, 90, died Sept. 9 at Longmont United Hospital in Longmont. She was born March 7, 1912, in Lawrence, Neb., the daughter of Frank and Frances Wenzinger Britten. She graduated from Lawrence High School in 1929. She graduated from Mount Carmel School of Nursing in Pittsburg in 1932. She married
Paul Seal Hipsher Feb. 15, 1941, in Pittsburg. He died in 2000. A resident of Longmont, having come from Great Bend, Ellinwood, Albuquerque, N.M., Buhler and Colby, she was a housewife and retired from a nursing career having worked as a school nurse in Pittsburg until 1941, an obstetrics nurse at Longmont Community Hospital and at the Foothills Nursing Home until the age of 80. Mrs. Hipsher was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Survivors include three sons, Tom Hipsher of Anchorage, Alaska, Mike Hipsher of Estes Park, Colo., and Tim Hipsher of Longmont; one daughter, Paula Brozek of Great Bend; ten grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by five siblings. A vigil service and rosary will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at Howe Mortuary in Longmont. Funeral Mass will be at 1 p.m. Friday at the church with the Rev. James Fox officiating. Services will conclude at the church with cremation to follow. Private interment will be at a later date at Foothills Gardens of Memory in Longmont. Friends may call until 7 p.m. Thursday at the mortuary. Memorials are suggested to the Hospice of Boulder County in Layfayette, Colo., or the church, both in care of Howe Mortuary of Longmont. Sept. 11, 2002
Mary Drake 1923-2002
Mary A. Drake, 79, of Great Bend, died Sept. 4 in Great Bend. She was born Feb. 13, 1923, in Great Bend, the daughter of Arthur A. and Mary Ellen Keenan Campbell. A lifetime resident of Great Bend, she was retired from Fuller Brush Company as an assembly production worker. Mrs. Drake was a member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church and St. Rose Altar Society, both of Great Bend. Survivors include two sons, John E. III and Sandra K. Drake of Lakeland, Fla., and Ronald L. and Marcia D. Drake of Great Bend; one brother, Henry "Bud" Campbell of Douglasville, Ga.; six sisters, Dorothy Greer of Bristow, Okla., Katherine Campbell, Ruth White and Patricia Gerstenkorn, all of Great Bend, Delores Maggiora of Aurora, Colo., and Mary Ellen Nieman of Ontario, Calif.; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one sister, Grace Schneweis. Altar Society rosary will be at 4:30 p.m. Monday at Bryant Funeral Home. Rosary service will be at 7 p.m. Monday at Bryant Funeral Home. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the church with the Rev. Angel Dy officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend Cemetery. Friends may call from 1-9 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, all at the funeral home in Great Bend. Memorials are suggested to donor's choice or American Cancer Society, in care of the funeral home. Sept. 11, 2002
Richard L. Bittel 1958-2002
LACROSSE - Richard L. Bittel, 44, died Sept. 9 at Hays Medical Center. He was born March 14, 1958, in Hays, the son of LeRoy and Rosalyn Dechant Bittel. He was employed with the oil industry and worked in the oil fields. Bittel was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church in LaCrosse. Survivors include two daughters, Christie Bittel of Wichita and Amber Bittel of Hoisington; one brother, Daniel Bittel of St. John; one sister, Kimberly Ann Oldham of Bennington; his father, LeRoy Bittel of La Crosse; his mother, Rosie Giesick of WaKeeney; and grandmothers, Ursula Dechant of Hays and Marie Bittel of Logan. He was preceded in death by one sister, Debbie Schroller. A parish vigil service will be 7 tonight at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in Hays. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Hays with the Rev. Kevin Weber officiating. Burial will be at St. Joseph cemetery in Hays. Friends may call from 5 to 8 tonight and from noon until service time Thursday, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Richard L. Bittel Memorial Fund in care of the funeral home. Sept. 11, 2002
Rebecca J. Welsh 1941-2002
HUTCHINSON - Rebecca J. Welsh, 61, died Sept. 9 at her home. She was born April 10, 1941, at Stafford the daughter of B. Earl and Ernestine Briles Hayes. She was a graduate of Stafford High School and received a bachelor's in education degree from Southwestern College in Winfield and a master's degree from California State University in Fullerton, Calif. She married
Charles Welsh Feb. 20, 1965 in Anaheim, Calif. A resident of Hutchinson since 1996, coming from Anaheim, she had been a first grade teacher, a gifted teacher for the fourth, fifth and sixth grades and manager of the literature program for the Anaheim school district. She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, HP Chapter of PEO; Friends of the Hutchinson Humane Society, Horseless Carriage Auto Club, American Legion Auxiliary and was president of United Methodist Women. Survivors include her husband of the home; one sister, Melissa Hayes of Oakland, Calif.; and father, B. Earl Hayes of Stafford. She was preceded in death by one brother, Michael T. Hayes. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the church with the Rev. Nick Warner officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Stafford Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 9 a.m. until service time Friday at the church. Memorials are suggested to New Building Fund at Trinity Church in care of Minnis Chapel in Stafford. Sept. 11, 2002.
Matilda Wondra 1910-2002
LARNED - Matilda Wondra, 92, died Sept. 9 at Healthcare and Living Center in Larned. She was born April 12, 1910, at Claflin, the daughter of Joseph F. and Josephine Reif Zorn. She married
Anton A. Wondra June 4, 1929, at Odin. He died Sept. 19, 1994. A resident of Larned since 1979, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Wondra was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Altar Society, both of Larned. Survivors include three sons, Bernard A. Wondra of Newton, and Anthony J. Wondra and Stephen A. Wondra, both of Wichita; two daughters, Theresa M. Kreutzer of Larned, and Adeline E. Phillips of Dallas, Texas; 15 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one daughter, Mildred Dreher; two brothers, Joseph A. Zorn and William E. Zorn; two sisters, Fannie Kirmer and Mary Tinkel; and four grandchildren. A parish vigil will be at 7:30 tonight at Morell Funeral Home in Larned with the Sister Irene officiating. Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the church with the Rev. Robert Schremmer officiating. Visitation will be until 8 tonight at the funeral home. Burial will be at Larned Cemetery. Memorials may be sent to the Sacred Heart School Endowment Fund in care of the funeral home. Sept. 11, 2002
Ruth Lena Dumler 1904-2002
LARNED - Ruth Lena Dumler, 98, died Sept. 7 at Integrated Health Services in Great Bend. She was born Jan. 18, 1904, in Ness County, the daughter of Thomas and Lula Sufficool Temple. She married
Sam Dumler May 20, 1926, at Larned. He died July 17, 1978. A lifetime resident of Larned, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Dumler was a member of United Methodist Church in Larned. Survivors include one granddaughter, Becky Householder of Lamar, Mo.; and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one daughter, Wanda Lee Dumler Rosenfield; and one grandson. Graveside service was this morning at Larned cemetery with the Rev. Charles Grant officiating. Beckwith Mortuary of Larned was in charge of arrangements. Sept. 10, 2002
Sister Alfreda Thieme 1918-2002
Sister Alfreda Thieme, 84, died Sept. 9 in the Dominican Sisters' Convent Infirmary in Great Bend. She was born Feb. 17, 1918, at St. Leo (Nashville) as Pauline Johanna Thieme, the daughter of Alfred and Anna Kerschen Thieme. She entered the Dominican Sisters' Community Sept. 4, 1932, and pronounced her first vows Aug. 20, 1935. She celebrated 65 years of religious profession in 2000. Sister Alfreda began her ministerial life as a teacher of elementary students in Odin, Great Bend, Sharon and Willowdale. She was a supervisor of schools for the Catholic Diocese of Wichita for a short time. Soon after this she began work as a bursar, office manager and administrator of St. Joseph Memorial Hospital in Larned. She was treasurer of the Congregation in Great Bend from 1964-1977. Later she was also bookkeeper for Heartland Center for Spirituality, and receptionist at the motherhouse. She was currently retired from the motherhouse due to illness. Survivors include two brothers, John Thieme of Kingman and Joseph Thieme of Zenda; and one sister, Bertha Schaffer of Manhattan. Sister Alfreda's body will lie in state at the Dominican Chapel of the Plains beginning at 4:30 p.m. today until Liturgy of the Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the chapel, with the Rev. Gerald Hammeke officiating. A wake service will be at 7:30 tonight at the chapel. Burial will be at Sisters' Resurrection cemetery in Great Bend. Friends may call from 4:30 to 8 tonight and from 8 to 10 a.m. Wednesday, all at the chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Dominican Sisters Ministry Fund in honor of Sister Alfreda, Office of Mission and Ministry, 3600 Broadway, Great Bend, KS 67530. Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend is in charge of arrangements. Sept. 10, 2002
Anthony N. Debes 1913-2002
NOVATO, Calif. - Anthony N. Debes, 89, died Sept. 5 at Pleasant Care Nursing Home in Novato. He was born June 12, 1913, in Odin, the son of Alois and Hattie Habiger Debes. He married
Geneal Hallows May 3, 1970, at Novato. She died Nov. 5, 1996. A longtime resident of Novato, coming from Odin, he was a retired sales and service manager for Macy's and Singer Center. Debes was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Novato. He was a U.S. Navy Veteran, having served in World War II. Survivors include one brother, Otto Debes of Ness City; and one sister, Tina Bachand of Great Bend. He was preceded in death by five brothers, Walter Debes, Albert Debes, Lawrence Debes, Joe Debes and the Rev. Leo Debes; and five sisters, Laura Reif, Eleanor Debes, Aurelia Hitschmann, Sister Pia Debes and Sister Emmanuel Debes. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Holy Family Catholic Church in Odin with the Rev. Ultan Murphy officiating. Burial will be at Holy Family cemetery in Odin with a flag presentation by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7428 and American Legion Post 286, both of Hoisington. Friends may call from 7:30 to 9 tonight at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington. Memorials are suggested to Holy Family Catholic Church or Holy Family Cemetery, both in care of the funeral home. Sept. 10, 2002
Rebecca 'Becky' Karst 1908-2002
RUSSELL - Rebecca "Becky" Karst, 94, died Aug. 29 at Hays Medical Center in Hays. She was born Aug. 23, 1908, in Russell County, the daughter of Fredrick and Katherine Steinert Morgenstern. She married
Theodore Karst Aug. 8, 1925, at Hays. He died Nov. 6, 1995. She worked in the creamery in Galatia, at the family-owned service station in Russell and was a homemaker. Mrs. Karst was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Russell. Survivors include one son, Eugene Karst of Russell; one daughter, Lillian Shelton of Hoisington; five grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and seven step-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one brother, Seigmund Morgenstern; and three sisters, Caroline Bender, Clara Potter and Stella Crissman. Memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Pohlman's Memorial Chapel in Russell, with the Rev. Henry Hartman officiating. Burial will be at St. John Lutheran cemetery in Russell. There is no visitation. Friends may sign the book prior to the service. The body was cremated. Memorials are suggested to the cemetery fund, in care of the mortuary. Sept. 10, 2002
Celeste M. Krestine 1919-2002
OLMITZ - Celeste M. Krestine, 83, died Sept. 7 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. She was born March 9, 1919, in rural Otis, the daughter of William J. Sr. and Clara Marie Zirnich Krestine. A longtime resident of Olmitz, moving to Great Bend, she was a bookkeeper and secretary. She was a member of St. Ann's Catholic Church and Altar Society, both of Olmitz. Rosary will be at 7:30 tonight at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the church with the Rev. Ultan Murphy officiating. Burial will be at St. Ann cemetery in Olmitz. Friends may call from 1 to 9 tonight at the funeral home. The casket will be closed. Memorials are suggested to the church, in care of the funeral home. Sept. 9, 2002
James Henry Weighous 1920-2002
James Henry Weighous, 81 of Great Bend, died Sept. 8 at Integrated Health Services in Great Bend. He was born Dec. 16, 1920, at Richards, Colo., the son of Frank and Vira Callaway Weighous. He married
Virginia M. Clarke June 29, 1941, at Great Bend. She died May 20, 1999. A resident of Great Bend for most of his life, he was a retired truck driver and had worked for Allied Cement Co. Weighous was a member of American Legion. He was a U.S. Army veteran, having served in World War II. Survivors include one son, James R. Weighous of Ness City; one daughter, Michelle Cruse of Great Bend; and six grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one son, Richard C. Weighous. Memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend with the Rev. Mike Joiner officiating. Inurnment will be at Great Bend Cemetery. There is no visitation. Memorials are suggested to the family, in care of the funeral home. Sept. 9, 2002
Viola L. Nordstrom 1909-2002
BUSHTON - Viola Heiken Nordstrom, a lifelong resident of Rice County, died Sept. 6, 2002, in Ellinwood. She was 93 years, five months, and 28 days old at the time of her death. Viola L. Heiken, daughter of Emma Becker and Edward Heiken, was born on a farm north of Bushton on March 9, 1909. She grew up and spent her entire life in the Bushton area, attending public schools in Holyrood and Bushton, graduating from Bushton High School in 1927. She joined Bushton United Methodist Church in 1925 and had been a faithful member ever since. She graduated from Kansas Wesleyan University in 1931 with an A.B. degree in English. While there, she was a member of Pi Alpha Pi, Sigma Tau Delta, English Coffee Club, Women's Athletic Association and YWCA. After her graduation she returned to Bushton where she married
Arthur L. Nordstrom on Sept. 27, 1933. She was active all her life in the Bushton community, belonging to clubs such as Double Seven, MIC, and MYOB. Viola and Art established Nordstrom Supply, a plumbing company in Bushton, in 1945, and they continued in business until their retirement in 1975. She was a substitute teacher at Bushton High School and in 1957 was the first woman elected to the Bushton School Board. Viola was preceded in death by her parents, Emma Becker and Edward Heiken; two brothers, George Heiken and Harold Heiken; one sister, Evelyn Bohannon, and her husband, Arthur L. Nordstrom. She is survived by her son and his wife, Dale and Joan Nordstrom of Arlington, Texas; grandson, Gary Nordstrom of Dallas, Texas; and granddaughter, Deanne Simmons and her husband, Mike, of Mansfield, Texas. She is also survived by two great-grandchildren, Evan and Katherine Simmons of Mansfield. In addition, she is mourned by 10 nieces and nephews and their families and numerous friends and relatives. Memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 11, at Bushton United Methodist Church with the Rev. Janet Meyers officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to either Bushton United Methodist Church in Bushton, KS, 67427, or Golden Belt Home Health and Hospice, 3623 Broadway, Great Bend, KS 67530, in care of Bryant Funeral Home of Great Bend. Sept. 9, 2002
