Obituaries

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...

May 20, 2022

Eldyn “Al” Peck, 90 of Clay Center, died Friday, May 20 , 2022 at his residence.  He was born on February 22, 1932 in Birdsall, New York, the son of William and Lena (Wheaton) Peck.

Al came to the Clay Center area when he was stationed at Fort Riley after a tour of duty in Germany in...

May 18, 2022

Phyllis Loie (Woellhof) Hartner ( Feb. 3, 1929 – May 18, 2022) died peacefully in her sleep in the early morning.  Phyllis was born at home in Oak Hill, Kansas to Ezra and Grace (Ford) Woellhof, the middle and only girl of five children.  She grew up on her family farm and graduated from Clay County Community...

May 17, 2022

Terry Ray Mitchell died, May 17th, 2022, at Sunshine Meadows in Buhler, KS.  He was born on July 26, 1939, in Clay Center, KS, the only son of Harrison and Ethel Mae Mitchell. Terry was raised on the family farm north of Clay Center. He attended Clay Center public schools and graduated from CCCHS in 1957.  He married Nancy...

May 17, 2022

Roberta M. Lenhart, 86, of Clay Center died Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at the Clay Center Presbyterian Manor.  She was born on December 24, 1935 in Brewster, Kansas the daughter of Bert Gallup and Agnes (Sprague-Hollenbeck) Gallup.

She grew up in Clay Center and graduated from CCCHS in 1954.  Roberta then worked for Dr. Shepard and later...

May 16, 2022

Elroy Hammel, 88 of Overland Park died on Monday, May 16, 2022 at the Morningside Place of Overland Park.

Elroy was born to John Richard “Jack” and Edna Victoria (Hedberg) Hammel on November 11, 1933, in Clay Center, Kansas. He was the fourth of seven children.

Elroy had an entrepreneurial spirit, and his early years...

May 11, 2022

David Wayne Herrs, 70 died May 11, 2022 in Salina, KS.  He was born on October 15, 1951 in Norton, KS the son of Wilbert and Zula (Neff ) Herrs.  David was raised by George and Clara Von Lehe on their farm near Palmer, KS. After graduating from High School, David served in the US Marines from 1969 to...