Archived Marriage Records
Lawrence E. ‘Mick’ Marlett 1921-2004
LARNED — Lawrence E. “Mick” Marlett, 82, died Jan. 6 at Robert J. Dole Veterans Hospital in Wichita. He was born March 30, 1921, at Beeler, the son of James V. and Della K. Salmans Marlett. He married
Alma M. Smeltzer Sept. 29, 1940, at Kinsley. A resident of Pawnee County most of his life, he was a retired farmer and agricultural businessman and a former owner of A&W restaurants in Liberal and Great Bend.
He was a member of First Christian Church, a charter member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7271, American Legion, past member of Larned Rotary Club, Fort Larned Lions Club and Larned Saddle Club, all of Larned. He was a U.S. Navy veteran, having served in World War II.
Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, Lawrence Vernal Marlett of Pleasant Valley, Mo.; one daughter, Karen M. Hall of Larned; one sister, Margaret Durler of Larned; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one son, Raymond Dean Marlett; three brothers, Delmar Marlett, James A. Marlett and John W. Marlett; and one sister, Viola Kirchgassner.
Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Morell Funeral Home in Larned, with the Rev. Don Paden officiating. Burial will be at Browns Grove cemetery in Burdett. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to service time Saturday, both at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the church or Larned Emergency Medical Services, all in care of the funeral home. Jan. 8, 2004
Janet Arlene ‘Jai’ McWilliam 1949-2004
EMPORIA — Janet Arlene “Jai” McWilliam, 54, died at her home Jan. 6. She was born April 6, 1949, at Lamar, Colo., the daughter of Irby “Bud” and Nadine Arnold Hughes. She was a graduate of Great Bend High School. She married
Marvin Lee McWilliam May 12, 1990, in Emporia. A resident of Emporia, she was a retired housekeeper and cook at Holiday Inn in Emporia.
Survivors include her husband of the home; one stepson, Frederick Allen McWilliam of Dallas, Texas; one stepdaughter, Melinda McWilliam of San Antonio, Texas; her mother of Augusta; and one sister, Joyce “J.D.” Metcalf of Augusta. She was preceded in death by one brother, Walter Michael Hughes.
Memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Towanda Community Church in Towanda, officiated by family members. Cremation is planned. Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home in Emporia is in charge of arrangements. Jan. 8, 2004
Martin Sherman Williams 1940-2004
HANSTON — Martin Sherman Williams, 63, died Jan. 6 at Hodgeman County Long Term Care Center in Jetmore. He was born Feb. 25, 1940, in Cambria, Okla., the son of Floyd Daniel and Osta Velma Sivil Williams. He married
Ann Blessing Feb. 23, 1980, in Great Bend. A resident of Hanston, he worked for Phillips Petroleum Company in Great Bend as a gang pusher for many years until his retirement in 2001.
Williams was a member of United Methodist Church in Healy. He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, serving from 1956 to 1960. He later served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1974 to 1985.
Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, Darren Williams of Great Bend; one daughter, Lisa Williams of Olathe; his mother of Carlsbad, N.M.; one brother, Curtis Williams of Carlsbad; two sisters, Patty Courter and Carol Curbello, both of Carlsbad; and one grandchild. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Pohlman-Heise Memorial Chapel in Russell, with the Rev. Mitch Reece officiating. Burial with full military honors by U.S. Army from Ft. Riley will be at St. John Lutheran cemetery in Russell. Friends may call from noon to 9 p.m. today and from 8 a.m. to service time Friday at the mortuary. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. to service time Friday at the mortuary. Memorials are suggested to Jay Artaz “I Can” Scholarship Fund or Hospice of the Prairie, both in care of the mortuary. Jan. 8, 2004
Lela L. Fields 1905-2004
Lela L. Fields, 98, of Great Bend, died Jan. 6 at Leisure Homestead in St. John. She was born March 27, 1905, at Panida, Ind., the daughter of Charles and Oma Nina Lesh. She married
Glenn Addison Fields Dec. 24, 1934, at Enid, Okla. He died March 13, 1991. A resident of Great Bend for 30 years, coming from El Dorado, she was a homemaker.
Mrs. Fields was a member of First United Methodist Church, Order of Eastern Star and American Legion Auxiliary.
Survivors include one niece, Marilyn Miller of Great Bend; one great-nephew, Sean Miller of Great Bend; one great-niece, Kim Sneath of Great Bend; and two great-great-nephews, Chance DeForest and Tyler DeForest, both of Great Bend.
Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Great Bend Cemetery, with the Rev. Gary Brooks officiating. Friends may call from noon to 9 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, all at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Memorials are suggested to Leisure Homestead in St. John, in care of the funeral home. Jan. 8, 2004
Garland B. Goodrick 1920-2004
LARNED — Garland B. Goodrick, 83, died Jan. 6 at Larned Healthcare Center in Larned. He was born Jan. 8, 1920, at Eugene, Mo., the son of Victor Dau and Stella May Graham Goodrick. He married
Donna Elizabeth Jensen June 2, 1947, at Kansas City, Mo. She died Jan. 27, 1995. A resident of Larned since 1994, coming from Maud, Texas, he was a farmer and construction worker.
Goodrick was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars in Maud. He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving in World War II.
Survivors include four sons, Victor R. Goodrick of Independence, Mo., Benjamin G. Goodrick Jr. of Maud, Nathan A. Goodrick of Pawnee Rock and Myron H. Goodrick of Larned; one daughter, Ellen Mae Gerstner of Maud; one brother, James “Jack” Goodrick of Maud; two sisters, Ilene Maxwell of Lee’s Summit, Mo., and Marguerite Tuder of Pittsburg, Mo.; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one brother, John Goodrick; and one sister, Pauline Rogers.
Funeral will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel in Larned, with the Rev. Ryan Webster officiating. Burial will be at Larned cemetery with military honors. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and Friday and from 9 a.m. to service time Saturday, all at the mortuary. Memorials are suggested to Garland B. Goodrick, in care of the mortuary. Jan. 8, 2004
John Peter Schmidt 1925-2004
John Peter Schmidt, 78, of Great Bend, died Jan. 7 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. He was born Aug. 23, 1925, at Catherine, the son of Frederick and Margaret Dinkel Schmidt. He married
Mary Hertel Nov. 17, 1948, at Hays. A resident of Great Bend since 1952, coming from Hays, he was a mechanic for Kansas Department of Transportation for 35 years, retiring in 1987.
Schmidt was a member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Fraternal Order of Eagles and guest member of Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, Rick Schmidt of Shawnee, Okla.; two daughters, Sharon Smythe of Salina and Sheila Schmidt of San Antonio, Texas; three brothers, Leo Clarence Schmidt of Missoula, Mont., Hilary Schmidt and Marcellus Schmidt, both of Hays; four sisters, Ann Schmidt of Plainville, Tina Likiardopolus of Wichita, Marge Schmidt of Hays and Frances Jane Jacobs of Minneapolis, Minn.; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Joe Schmidt, Alexius Schmidt and Fidelis Schmidt; and two sisters, Catherine Quint and Mary Pelzel.
Vigil will be at 7 p.m. today at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Funeral Mass will be at noon Friday at the church, with the Rev. Ted Stoecklein officiating. Burial will be at 4 p.m. Friday at St. Catherine cemetery in Catherine. Friends may call from noon to 9 p.m. today and from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Cystinosis Foundation, in care of the funeral home. Jan. 8, 2004
Levana Belle Blanke 1929-2004
RUSSELL — Levana Belle Blanke, 74, died Jan. 6 at her winter home in Weslaco, Texas. She was born June 6, 1929, in Winfield, the daughter of Truman Miles and Zana Mae Williams Mitchell. She married
Clarence Melvin Craven Dec. 29, 1947, in Greeley, Colo. He died Jan. 5, 1973. She married
T. Jack Blanke Dec. 6, 1982, in Las Vegas, Nev. He died Oct. 12, 1999. A resident of Russell and Weslaco, coming from Gorham, Texas and Oklahoma, she was a homemaker and owner/operator of T. Jack Trucking Co. for 12 years.
Mrs. Blanke was a member of Russell Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary, Ladies Shrine Auxiliary and Nomad Shrine Camping Group.
Survivors include two sons, Kenneth J. Craven of Great Bend and Melvin L. Craven of Hoisington; two daughters, Susan E. Craven and Teri K. Helwer, both of Russell; two brothers, George Mitchell of Marble Falls, Texas, and Robert Mitchell of Joplin, Mo.; one sister, Ida Mae Newton of Edmond, Okla.; 12 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one infant son, Alan Jay Craven; and one brother, Donald E. “Dick” Mitchell.
Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Pohlman-Heise Memorial Chapel in Russell, with Johnnie Hardie officiating. Burial will be at Prairie Lawn cemetery in Gorham. Friends may call from 3 to 9 p.m. Friday at the mortuary. Family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the mortuary. Memorials are suggested to American Heart Association, in care of the mortuary. Jan. 8, 2004
Fay H. Partington 1910-2004
ALDEN — Fay H. Partington, 93, died Jan. 5 at Sterling Presbyterian Manor. He was born Sept. 13, 1910, at Sterling, the son of William Wilson and Rosa Lanham Partington. He was a 1930 graduate of Sterling High School. He married
Ivan E. Long June 15, 1941, at Sterling. She died May 26, 2001. A lifetime Rice County resident, he was a retired farmer.
Partington was a member of First United Methodist Church, serving as an usher, Sunday School teacher and on many church committees; served 31 years on Rice County Farm Service Agency committee; Rice County Farm Bureau Board and was a state leader of the year in 1952; Sterling College’s Rice County Citizen of the Year in 1983; Rice County Extension Board; served on the Ark Valley Electric Co-op Board; Alden Council on Aging; charter member of Alden Community Pride, serving on the committee for many years; charter member of Alden Booster Club; served 40 years on Valley Township Board as treasurer; and other community organizations.
Survivors include one son, Howard Partington of Great Bend and his wife Marie; one daughter, Shirley Fair of Alden and her husband Ed; grandchildren, Ellen Bock of Wichita; Julie Baker of Mission; Sarah Ober of Lawton, Okla.; Kimberly Partlow of Wichita; Randall Partington of Fredonia; three great-granddaughters; and two great-grandsons. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Clarence Partington, Clyde Partington and Lyle Partington; and one grandson, Charles Norman Fair.
Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at United Methodist Church in Sterling, with the Rev. Dr. Lee R. Louderback officiating. Burial will be at Sterling Community Cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to noon Friday at Sillin Funeral Home in Sterling. Memorials are suggested to Rice County Council on Aging, in care of the funeral home. Jan. 7, 2004
Joyce Marie Murray 1930-2004
PAWNEE ROCK — Joyce Marie Murray, 73, died Jan. 5 at her home in Pawnee Rock. She was born Sept. 5, 1930, at Willow Lake, S.D., the daughter of Dave H. and Ruth Blogg Peterson. She married
Wilbur “Bill” Murray Oct. 14, 1976, at Garden City. He died May 13, 1998. A longtime resident of Pawnee Rock, she was a retired dietary aide at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center in Great Bend and a former employee with Fuller Brush of Great Bend.
Mrs. Murray was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Ellinwood.
Survivors include three sons, David Jackson and Terry Jackson, both of Pawnee Rock, and James Jackson of Great Bend; one daughter, Vickie Alsup of Pawnee Rock; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by five brothers and four sisters.
Graveside memorial service will be at 3 p.m. Friday at Great Bend Cemetery, with the Rev. Dwight Dozier officiating. Cremation has taken place and there will be no visitation. Memorials are suggested to Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center, in care of Morell Funeral Home of Larned. Jan. 7, 2004
Stephen S. Dlabal Sr. 1920-2004
WILSON — Stephen S. Dlabal Sr., 83, died Jan. 6 at Ellsworth County Medical Center. He was born Sept. 20, 1920, at Wilson, the son of John and Mary Wanasek Dlabal. He married
Ida Vlcek Jan. 13, 1942, at Ellsworth. A lifetime resident of the Wilson area, he was a farmer and stockman.
Dlabal was a member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Wilson, charter member and past president of Smokey Hill Electric Co-op, Knights of Columbus and Nocturnal Adoration Society.
Survivors include his wife of the home; two sons, Stephen S. Dlabal Jr. and James Dlabal, both of Wilson; one brother, Pete Dlabal of Ellsworth; one sister, Mary Kirk of Ellsworth; and eight grandchildren.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the church, with the Rev. Jerome Morgan officiating. Burial will be at St. Wenceslaus cemetery in Wilson. Friends may call from noon to 8 p.m. today at Foster Mortuary in Wilson. Memorials are suggested to Ellsworth County Medical Center, in care of the mortuary. Jan. 7, 2004
Michael Lee Pryor Jr. 2004-2004
Michael Lee Pryor Jr., infant, of Great Bend, died Jan. 2 at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. He was born Jan. 2 at Wichita, the son of Michael Lee and Marla Standiferd Pryor.
Survivors include his parents of Great Bend; one sister, Hunter Leeann Pryor of the home; his grandparents, Jack and Rosemary Standiferd of Fredonia, Bob and Mary Pryor of Great Bend, and Harlan and Martha Welch of Harrisonville, Mo.; and great-grandparents, Leo and Marilyn Kaiser of Claflin, and Millie Young of Fredonia.
Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Fredonia City Cemetery, with the Rev. Stephen Baxter officiating. Timmons Funeral Home in Fredonia is in charge of arrangements. Jan. 7, 2004
Leslie A. Meier 1930-2004
Leslie A. Meier, 73, of Great Bend, died Jan. 5 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. He was born July 7, 1930, at Russell, the son of John George and Katherine Margaret Ehrlich Meier. He married
Gladys Moore Straub May 22, 1977, at Great Bend. A resident of Great Bend since 1976, coming from Russell, he worked for the county of Russell until 1976, and Barton County, retiring in 1986.
Meier was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Great Bend. He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, having served from 1951 to 1953.
Survivors include his wife of the home; two stepdaughters, Judy Olson of Great Bend and Janice Lisenby of Foreman, Ark.; two brothers, Harold Meier of Claflin and Paul Meier of Great Bend; three stepgrandchildren; and two stepgreat-granddaughters. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Clarence Meier and Carl Meier; and one sister, Lorena Hoffman.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend, with the Rev. James A. Strasen officiating. Burial will be at St. John Lutheran cemetery in Russell. Friends may call from 5 to 9 p.m. today, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, and from 9 a.m. until service time Friday, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the church, in care of the funeral home. Jan. 7, 2004
