Archived Marriage Records
Earl H. Amstutz 1919-2002
RANSOM — Earl H. Amstutz, 83, died Dec. 18 at Hays Medical Center of Hays. He was born July 27, 1919, at Ransom, the son of David and Lorena Harkness Amstutz. A lifetime resident of Ransom, he was a farmer. Amstutz was a member of United Methodist Church and Go-Getters Senior Citizens, both of Ransom and Moose Lodge of Hutchinson. Survivors include one son, Russell G. Amstutz of Hutchinson; one daughter, Barbara “Bobbie” Dellinger of Hutchinson; one brother, Maz L. Amstutz of Ft. Wayne, Ind.; one sister, Fayne Snedden of Joplin, Mo.; one granddaughter; two great-granddaughters; and two step granddaughters. He was preceded in death by one brother, Fred Leroy Amstutz; two sisters, Hazel Davis and Fern Crossland. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Fitzgerald Funeral Home of Ness City with the Revs. Bruce Ferguson and Sandy Ferguson officiating. Burial will be at Ransom Cemetery. Friends may call until 9 tonight and from 9 a.m. until service time Friday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Go-Getters Senior Citizens Center of Ransom or American Cancer Society, both in care of the funeral home. Dec. 19, 2002
Eleanor Violet Sauer Crowell 1918-2002
CHEYENNE WELLS, Colo. — Eleanor Violet Sauer Crowell, 84, died Dec. 9 at her home in Cheyenne Wells. She was born Feb. 12, 1918, the daughter of Fidelis and Rosa Wasinger Sauer. She was a graduate of LaCrosse High School. She married
John Lee Crowell March 5, 1946. He died July 19, 1980 at Cheyenne Wells. A resident of Cheyenne Wells, coming from LaCrosse, she was a former teacher, a representative for Watkins products, and a bookkeeper for her husband’s business in Cheyenne Wells. She was a member of Sacred Heart Altar Society of Cheyenne Wells. Survivors include two sons, John A. Crowell of Cheyenne Wells and Jarett Lee Crowell of Houston, Texas; one daughter, Ellette Eiring of Cheyenne Wells; one brother, Fred Sauer of Wichita; five sisters, Sister Ann Sauer of Concordia, Philomene Sims of Wichita, ; Germaine Barker of Ashland, Oregon, Jean Bartlett of Cassville, Mo., and Florina Geissler of Springfield, Oregon; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by three brothers, Virgilius Sauer, Frank Sauer and Edward Sauer; four sisters, Mary Eve, Anna Margaret and Saraphine and Pauline; and one grandson, Shawn Eiring. Funeral was Dec, 13 at the church. Burial was at Fairview cemetery in Cheyenne Wells. Memorials are suggested to Sacred Heart Altar Society in Cheyenne Wells in care of Brown Funeral Home in Cheyenne Wells. Dec. 19, 2002
Scotty K. Kolb 1954-2002
WICHITA — Scotty K. Kolb, 48, died Dec. 13. He was born Aug. 27, 1954, in Larned, the son of Harold Andrew “Sandy” and Rhoda Jean Donovan Kolb. He married
Sarah. He was a mental health technician. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, Steven Kolb of Wichita; one daughter, Susan Kolb of Lawrence; his father, “Sandy” Kolb of Pawnee Rock; and three brothers, Jon Kolb of Topeka, Jim Kolb of Larned and Jan Kolb of Garfield. He was preceded in death by his mother and a brother Kiah. Memorial was this morning at Downing and Lahey Mortuary in Wichita. In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice of Wichita in care of the funeral home. December 18, 2002
Roy L. Mefford 1903-2002
ELLINWOOD — Roy L. Mefford, 99, died Dec. 16 at Ellinwood District Hospital. He was born Jan. 17, 1903 in Indian Territory, Haskell, Okla., the son of Homer E. and Cordelia Martin Mefford. He married
Mary Alice Simmons July 16, 1926, at Sapulpa, Okla. She died Feb. 14, 1998. A resident of Ellinwood for 43 years, coming from Plainville, Benton and Burrton, he was a pumper with Gulf Oil Corporation, retiring in 1959. Survivors include one son, Joe Mefford of Hot Springs Village, Ark.; 11 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two daughters, Joyce Wirtz and Judith Mefford; two brothers, Vernon Mefford and Orville Mefford; one sister, Faye Greer; and one grandson, Jim Wirtz. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Kimple Funeral Chapel in Ellinwood with the Rev. David Flagor officiating. Burial will be at Lakin-Commanche District cemetery in Ellinwood. Friends may call from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to St. Joseph’s School Endowment Fund or to Ellinwood Hospital Auxiliary, both in care of the funeral home. December 18, 2002
Ina Maye Toland 1908-2002
ST. JOHN — Ina Maye Toland, 94, died Dec. 16 at Pratt Regional Living Center. She was born Oct. 20, 1908, at Stafford County, the daughter of Thomas Aaron and Orba Viola Keith Toland. A longtime St. John area resident, she was a laboratory technician for Black-Christmann Clinic in Pratt. She was a member of Antrim United Methodist Church in rural St. John. Survivors include many cousins. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Calvin Toland and Orle Cleo Toland; and two sisters, Evaline Toland and Lorrine Toland. Funeral will be at 3 p.m. Thursday at Minnis Chapel in St. John with the Rev. W. Harlan Rittgers officiating. Burial will be at Neelands cemetery in rural Stafford County. Friends may call from 1 to 8 tonight at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Stafford County Firefighters, USD 350 Education Foundation, or Kingman Scholarship Fund, all in care of the funeral home. December 18, 2002
Curtis Alexander Rinehart 1920-2002
DODGE CITY — Curtis Alexander Rinehart, 82, died Dec. 16 at Ford. He was born Feb. 16, 1920, at Ford County, the son of Curtis A. and Bessie McMichael Rinehart. He graduated from Ford High School and Dodge City Business College. He married
Mary Catherine Sanko Jan. 16, 1945, at Dodge City. A resident of Dodge City coming from rural Ford County in 1995, he was a farmer/stockman. He served on the Ford Township Board for many years. Survivors include his wife of the home; seven daughters, Brenda Frey and Susan Vogel, both of Ford, Celia “Jodi” Newton of Sandia Park, N.M., Patty Pruett of Dodge City, Marilyn Schartz of Ellinwood, Karen Stardy of Wichita and DeAnna “Dee” Zimmer of Page, Ariz.; one sister, Neva Patterson of Copeland; 15 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Vigil service will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at Swaim Funeral Home in Dodge City. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the funeral home with the Rev. Ted Skalsky officiating. Burial will be at Maple Grove cemetery in Dodge City. Friends may call from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Ronald McDonald House of Wichita or Arrowhead West of Dodge City, both in care of the funeral home. December 18, 2002
Alice Eckert 1909-2002
Alice Eckert, 92, died Dec. 16 at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center of Great Bend. She was born Dec. 29, 1909, at Barton County, the daughter of Fred and Anna Otte Henning. She married
Leonard L. Eckert Oct. 15, 1934 at Lindsborg. He died July 8, 1997. A resident of Barton County for 80 years, coming from Emerson, Iowa, she had worked as a clerk at Barton County Court House, retiring in 1982. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and Sunflower Club. Survivors include one son, Donald Eckert of Pittsburgh, PA; one daughter, Sharon Hicks of Great Bend; seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the church with the Rev. James A. Strasen officiating. Burial will be at Hillcrest Memorial Park cemetery in Great Bend. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Memorials are suggested to the church in care of the funeral home. December 18, 2002
Earl Baker Jr. 1925-2002
BROOMFIELD, Colo., — Earl Baker Jr., 77, died Dec. 13 in Broomfield. He was born April 22, 1925, in Okeene, Okla., the son of Earl and Roxie Baker. He graduated from Okeene High School in 1943 and attended Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla. He married
Doris Kubat Feb. 3, 1951, at Oklahoma City, Okla. A resident of Broomfield since 1993, coming from Great Bend where he had lived for over 35 years, he worked in the oil industry where he retired in 1988 as the drilling superintendent of National Cooperative Refinery Association. Baker was a veteran of the Korean War. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, Curtis Baker; two daughters, Christy Tuttle and Stacie Hamilton; two sisters, Alice Schnell and Iola Chandler; five grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter. Rosary will be at 7 tonight at Rundus Funeral Home in Broomfield. Memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church in Broomfield. Graveside memorial will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Collins cemetery in Okeene, Okla. Family will receive friends following the graveside service at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, 211 South Fifth St., Okeene. The body was cremated. Memorials are suggested to Hospice of Boulder in memory of Earl Baker Jr., in care of Wilkinson Mortuary of Okeene.
Vera Louise ‘Sammi Lou’ Bunting 1921-2002
LARNED — Vera Louise “Sammi Lou” Bunting, 81, died Dec. 15 at St. Joseph Long Term Care Center in Larned. She was born Aug. 23, 1921, at Augusta, the daughter of Joe Sephus and Angie Dora Moser Tague. A former resident of Pawnee Rock, moving to Larned in 1961, moving to Hutchinson in 1983 and moving back to Larned in 2001, she was a homemaker and worked as a housekeeper and nurse aid. She was a member of First Christian Church in Larned and Hutchinson, Christian Women Fellowship, BPW, LI-AR-MU, all of Larned, and Reno County Choral Society. On Aug. 20, 1941, she married
William “Bill” Bunting at Goodland. He died Dec. 9, 1969. Survivors include two sons, Brent and wife Dana of Larned, and Brad of Hutchinson; two daughters, Bonnie and husband John Carlson, and Brenda and husband Willy Conrad, Larned; three brothers, Charles and wife Virginia Tague of Prescott, Ariz., Paul and wife Beverly Tague of Littletown, Colo., and Arthur and wife Janet Tague of Denver, Colo.; three sisters, Leoti Smith of Wichita, JoAnn McAdoo Tyler and husband Tom of Ark City, and Peggy and husband Harry Jr. Evans of Winfield; five grandchildren, Shanda and husband Lupe Jr. Perez of Larned, Joel Carlson, Austin, Texas, Tanner Conrad, Tague Conrad and Travis Bunting, all of Larned; three great-grandchildren, Isiah Perez, Baylea Perez, both of Larned, and Josef Carlson of Austin. She was preceded in death by a brother, Raymond Tague; four sisters, Francis Marie Tague, Ann Burch, Fern Watson and Lena Grace Bohannon. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel in Larned with Pastor Dan Lundgren presiding. Friends may call until 8 tonight and from 9 a.m. until service time Wednesday, all at the mortuary. Burial will be at Larned Cemetery. Memorials may be sent to the American Cancer Society in care of Beckwith Mortuary Inc., P.O. Box 477, Larned, KS 67550. This notice can also be viewed at beckwithmortuary.com. Dec. 17, 2002
Hattie Belle Zahn 1909-2002
BURDETT — Hattie Belle Zahn, 93, died Dec. 15 at Mennonite Manor of South Hutchinson. She was born Sept. 7, 1909, at Burdett, the daughter of George E. and Nettie Griffith Burres. She married
Harry E. Zahn on Jan. 27, 1929, at Burdett. He died May 28, 1976. A lifetime resident of Burdett, she was a homemaker and farm wife. Mrs. Zahn was a member of United Methodist Church and United Methodist omen, both of Burdett. Survivors include one son, Noel Zahn of Burdett; two daughters, Marilyn Z. Franklin of Wichita and Sue Z. Leggett of Strasburg, Colo.; nine grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one son, Darwin Randall Zahn; and one sister, Laura Scott. Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church with the Revs. Tony Horsley and Mitch Reece officiating. Burial will be at Browns Grove cemetery of Burdett. Friends may call until 8 tonight at Morell Funeral Home of Larned. The casket will remain closed. Memorials are suggested to Pawnee County 4-H Foundation or Burdett United Methodist Women, both in care of the funeral home. Dec. 17, 2002
Vonley R. Bucklin 1923-2002
LARNED — Vonley R. Bucklin, 78, died Dec. 15 at Park Wood Village of Pratt. He was born Dec. 28, 1923, at Bancroft, Neb., the son of Rex and Laura Bucklin. He married
Joyce A. Ames on Nov. 4, 1944, at Pratt. She died in June of 1996. A resident of Larned since 1967, coming from Pratt and Walnut Creek, Calif., he was president of Ames Oil Co. from 1947-1960, president of deVon Builders, Inc., and Heart and Home Realty, vice-president of Robbins Ford Inc. and president and CEO of Larned Savings and Loan from 1968 until his retirement in 1981. Bucklin served on the board of directors for Ames Oil Inc., Central Transport Inc., Hi-Plains Rec. Inc., deVon Builders Co. Inc., Broce and Smith Contractors, Larned S&L, Western Holding Co. Inc., BBI & W Inc., and Ker_Lin, LLC. He continued as consultant and appraising services until 1990. Survivors include one daughter, Malia A. Schartz; and two granddaughters. Private burial will be at Larned Cemetery. Cremation has taken place. Memorials are suggested to Southwind Hospice of Pratt, in care of Beckwith Mortuary of Larned. Dec. 17, 2002
Bettie J. Trotnic 1927-2002
HOISINGTON — Bettie J. Trotnic passed away at Clara Barton Hospital of Hoisington and went to be with our Lord on Saturday, Dec. 14, at the age of 75. She was born Sept. 19, 1927, at Carter, Okla., the daughter of Tommy J. and Eula E. Smith Rogers. She married
Gary L. Trotnic on Dec. 29, 1979, at Great Bend. A longtime resident of Hoisington, she worked for Town and Country Supermarket and Cardinal Pharmacy, both of Hoisington. Mrs. Trotnic was a member of Trinity Baptist Church of Hoisington. Survivors include her husband of the home; two daughters, Sharla Schremmer of Hoisington and Cindy Hoffman of Broken Arrow, Okla.; three stepsons, Gary Lee Trotnic of Chicago, Ill., Gregory Trotnic of Little Rock, Ark., and Jeff Trotnic of Joplin, Mo.; five grandchildren, Erica Schremmer, Aaron Little, Stacy Schremmer, Christopher Little and Tiffany Little; five stepgrandchildren, Ashley Trotnic, Becca Trotnic, Aubrey Trotnic, Stephen Trotnic and Arik Trotnic; and four great-grandchildren, Lauren Little, Brea Schremmer, Alex Watkins and Taylor Watkins. She was preceded in death by one brother, Bill Rogers; and one sister, Evelyn Lee. Funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home of Hoisington with the Rev. Don Fisher officiating. Burial will be at Hoisington Cemetery. Friends may call until 9 tonight and from 9 a.m. until service time Wednesday, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Cheyenne Meadows Living Center of Hoisington, in care of the funeral home. Bettie’s greatest gift was her love of family and friends and her memory will be forever cherished. Dec. 17, 2002
