Obituaries

Jul 26, 2022

Nina Jo Rusco, age 92, died on July 26, 2022, in Topeka, Kansas. Nina Jo prepared her life story to share.

Life of Nina Jo (wife, mother and teacher- AND Grandma- that’s me!) I was born August 19, 1929, in Vining, Kansas, at the home of my grandparents, Charles and Ina Haynes Rusco. My parents were Hazel...

Jul 25, 2022

Larry Dale (Birddog) Martin, age 70, died July 25, 2022, in Clay Center, KS. He was born in Anthony, KS on December 2, 1951, to Loren H. and  Elizabeth "Janie" (Heckethorn) Martin. Larry grew up on a dairy and wheat farm near Caldwell, KS.

He raised prize winning chickens for his 4-H projects and out cooked the...

Jul 21, 2022

John Franklin Turner Sr., 89 died July 21, 2022, in Clay Center, KS.  He was born on January 24, 1933, in El Dorado, the son of Lloyd and Hazel (Towner) Turner.  John was raised in the El Dorado community.  He married Beulah Dickson on October 21, 1950.  John worked on oil rigs and later as an insulation installer. Beulah...

Jul 20, 2022

Dorothy Woellhof, 93 died July 20, 2022, in Clay Center, KS.  She was born on January 17, 1929 in Aurora, KS the daughter of Charles and Rosa (Bliss) Demanett.  Dorothy was raised in the Aurora community before moving to Clay Center in 1947.  She worked at the Swift Egg Plant and Sunflower Café before moving to Salina in 1950. ...

Jul 12, 2022

Vera Marcene Charpie, 99 died July 12, 2022 in Clay Center, KS.  She was born on September 6, 1922 in Clay Center, the daughter of Earl and Mary (Scott) Brightweiser.  Marcene was raised in the Clay Center community and was a was a graduate of the CCCHS Class of 1940.  She married Warren Charpie on April 23, 1941.  Marcene...

Jul 11, 2022

Maynord E. Sherbert, 82, of Wakefield, died Monday, July 11, 2022 in Manhattan, KS surrounded by his family. He was born April 12, 1940 in Broughton, KS, the middle son of Bert and Opal (Bisnett) Sherbert. He had two brothers, William “Bill” and Jack.

Maynord attended Bala School before the family moved to Wakefield his third-grade year....

Jul 5, 2022

Marlin "Pete" “Bill” Verlyn Peterson, 80 of Clay Center, passed away Tuesday, July 5, 2022 at the Clay County Medical Center surrounded by family.  He was born on July 27, 1941, the son of Pete and Edith (Graves) Peterson in Clay Center.

Pete Grew up in the Clifton area and attended the Pleasant Peak School.  He graduated...

Jul 4, 2022

Diana F. Russell, 61 of Topeka, died Monday, July 4, 2022 at the Stormont Vail Hospital.  She was born on October 26, 1960 in Concordia, Kansas, the daughter of Leo and Roberta (Weir) Horner.

Diana grew up in Wakefield, graduating from Wakefield High School in 1978.  She married Todd Russell on June 1, 1986.  Diana worked at...

Jul 2, 2022

Trudy Louise Green 68 died July 3, 2022, in Kansas City, Kansas.  She was born on July 31, 1953, in Clay Center, the daughter of Allen and Betty (Quick) Hill.  Trudy was raised in Clay Center.  She married Dennis Green on August 9, 2003.  Trudy worked as the landfill operator and dog catcher for the City of Miltonvale for...

Jun 30, 2022

Richard J. Wright, Jr., 76 of Miltonvale, died Thursday, June 30, 2022 at his residence. He was born on July 22, 1945 in Lynch, Nebraska the son of Richard, Sr. and Evelyn (Kelly) Wright. Richard grew up in Lynch and O’Neill, Nebraska and worked with his family on ranches in Nebraska and South Dakota. He served in the U.S. Navy...

Jun 28, 2022

Larry E. Reed 82 died Tuesday, June 28, 2022. He was born on January 3, 1940, in Clay Center, the son of Cleve “Buck” and Bertha (Hinshaw) Reed. Larry was an Air Force Veteran of the Korean War. He was married to Rosemary "Rosie" Bergstrom on December 15, 1962. Larry worked for the Clay Center Police Department, Clay Center Public...

Jun 27, 2022

Former Clay Center resident Carl Austin Pyle Jr, passed away peacefully on June 27, 2022, in Macon, Georgia following a long battle with heart disease.  He was born to Carl and Floy Pyle on May 5, 1933, in Topeka, Kansas.  Carl is preceded in death by his parents Carl and Floy Pyle, sister Phyllis Pyle, first wife and mother...

Jun 26, 2022

Delores “Dee” Ouellette, 80, died Sunday, June 26, 2022 at her residence in Clay Center, KS surrounded by those who loved her dearly. She was born February 14, 1942 in Clifton, KS to Elden and Mabel (Lillibridge) Hill. Dee grew up and attended school in Clifton. On October 29, 1959 she was united in marriage to Raymond “Jerry” Ouellette....

Jun 22, 2022

Charles Earl Mallory, 48 died June 22, 2022, in Torrington, WY. He was born on September 19, 1973, in Beloit, KS. The son of Donald and Betty (Taylor) Mallory. Charles was raised in Kansas before enlisting in the US Army. He served with the 425th Transportation Company while stationed in Iraq. Charles also served with the Army Fire Department while...

Jun 10, 2022

Eugene “Harvey” Kalivoda passed away peacefully at age 97 on June 10 th , 2022, at the Presbyterian Manor in Clay Center, Kansas. Harvey was born on May 24 th , 1925, in Cuba, Kansas to Steve and Mary (Kauer) Kalivoda.

He was one of eight graduates from Cuba High School in 1943. Raised on a farm...

Jun 9, 2022

Jean Baker, 82, a lifetime resident in ldana, Kansas was born August 15, 1939, in Clay Center the daughter of Millard Franklin “Pete” and Rachel “Irene” (Hine) Fyfe. She died June 9, 2022 in Topeka, KS.

She attended the ldana Grade School and Clay Center High School. Upon graduation, she worked for Elmer Anderson Law firm for...

Jun 8, 2022

Carl “Tom” Nelson, age 86, died in Manhattan, KS on June 8, 2022.  He was born June 13, 1935, in rural Woodston, KS to Carl and Rausa (Hale) Nelson.  Tom graduated from Alton High School in 1953. He stayed in the Alton area for a time, later moving to Clay Center and working as a manager for Orscheln’s for...

Jun 7, 2022

David Bryan Desmarais, 65 died June 7, 2022, in Clay Center, KS.  He was born on February 5, 1957, in Taunton, Massachusetts, the son of Robert and Elaine (Schafer) Desmarais.  David was raised in Taunton before moving to Clay Center in 1975.  He served in the US Army and then the Army National Guard.  David married Annie West on...

May 31, 2022

Betty Ann Jones, 87 of  Morganville, passed away on May 31, 2022 at the Linn Community Nursing Home.  She was born on August 21, 1934 at her family home in Palmer, Kansas, the daughter of Herman and Anna (Reith) Kolle. Betty was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Linn where she attended the Immanuel Lutheran School.

May 29, 2022

Marie Franson passed away the morning of Sunday, May 29, 2022. She was surrounded by family in her final days. Marie was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great grandmother during her incredible 97 years. She was blessed to live independently in her own home until just a few weeks ago.

Marie had a long and...