Natalie Fowles
Dec 30, 2025
Natale Ann Fowles, a tough, independent, and fiercely loving woman, passed away on December 30, 2025, surrounded by the people who cherished her most. She lived her life with a strength that never wavered, meeting every challenge head‑on and always finding a way through. Those who knew her will remember her as a loyal friend, a pillar of strength, and...
Robert Steenbock
Dec 29, 2025
Robert “Bob” Steenbock, 76, passed away peacefully at his home in Topeka, Kansas, on December 29, 2025.
Born on February 27, 1949, in Clay Center, Kansas, Bob was the son of William Sr. and Wanda (Sanneman) Steenbock. He spent his formative years in the Longford area, gaining a lifelong work ethic while helping on his family’s dairy farm. A 1967 graduate...
JoAnn Steinsiek
Dec 24, 2025
Jo Ann Steinsiek, 91 of Clay Center, died on December 24, 2025 at the Clay County Medical Center in Clay Center. She was born on August 25, 1934 in Clay Center, the daughter of Robert and Gretchen (Nenstiel) Heitman.
Jo grew up in Clay Center and graduated from Clay Center High School in 1953, where she was a Majorette. She then...
Eleanor Mae McChesney
Dec 23, 2025
Eleanor Mae (Fry) McChesney, 91, of Clay Center, Kansas, passed away on December 23, 2025. A beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Eleanor will always be remembered for her beautiful smile, kindness, generosity, and willingness to help those in need, even strangers.
Eleanor was born on July 6, 1934, on a farm north of Belleville, Kansas, to William Bryan and Orpha...
Kaye Chestnut
Dec 14, 2025
Kaye Marlene Chestnut, 83, of Clay Center, KS, passed away on Sunday December 14, 2025, surrounded by family and friends at the Presbyterian Manor.
Kaye was born on February, 20, 1942 in Clay Center to the late J.D. (Dewey) and Hazel (Hahn) Chestnut. She was preceded in death by her sister Betty Algren (Curtis), her brother Dallas Chestnut (Gloria) and her...
Dorothy Haist
Dec 12, 2025
Dorothy Haist, 83 died December 12, 2025, in Clay Center, KS. She was born on May 16, 1942, the daughter of George and Gladys (Keating) Cornellisson. Dorothy married Jack Haist, and they made their home in the Miltonvale community. She worked as manager at the swimming pool and at the café, both in Miltonvale, for several years. Dorothy also worked...
Ronald "Ron" Wohler
Dec 4, 2025
Ronald C. “Ron” Wohler, 83 of Clay Center, died on Thursday, December 4, 2025 at the Good Shepherd Hospice House in Manhattan, Kansas. He was born on April 28, 1942 in Clay Center, Kansas, the son of Myron Edward, Sr. and Wobina K. (Leipersberger) Wohler. Ron grew up in Clay County and graduated from CCHS in 1960.
Ron attended Kansas State...
Dale Case
Dec 4, 2025
Dale Case, 93 died December 4, 2025, in Wakefield, KS. He was born on May 6, 1932, in Wakefield, the son of Leroy "Bud" and Ruby (Eckel) Case. Dale was raised in the Wakefield community. He was a graduate of the Class of 1950 from Clay Center High School. Following high school, Dale served in the US Air Force during...
Conrad "Connie" Girard
Dec 1, 2025
Conrad L. “Connie” Girard, 81 of Miltonvale, Kansas, died on Monday, December 1, 2025 at the University of Kansas Health System – St. Francis campus in Topeka, Kansas. He was born on March 31, 1944 in Cloud County, Kansas, the son of Emery and Anne (Smith) Girard.
Connie grew up in the Miltonvale area and graduated from Miltonvale High School in...
Edwin Benfer
Nov 25, 2025
Edwin C. Benfer, 78 of Miltonvale, Kansas died on Wednesday, November 25, 2025 at the Select Specialty Hospital in Wichita, Kansas.
Edwin was born July 14, 1947 in Clay Center, Kansas, the son of John D. and Letha (Plock) Benfer. He grew up in Longford, Kansas and graduated from Longford High School. After high school, he served in the U.S. Navy...
Sarah Oliver
Nov 10, 2025
Sarah Catherine Oliver of Clay Center, Kansas, went to her Heavenly home on Monday, November 10, 2025.
Sarah was born in Brandenburg, Kentucky, the daughter of Henry and Ida (Dempster) Bailey. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Bonnie Carol Webb; her parents; seven brothers — Tony, Mobley, Robert, Joe, and Henry McMillen, and Eze and Paul Bailey — and...
Mitsuko Vann
Nov 9, 2025
Mitsuko Vann, 83 died November 9, 2025 in Wakefield, KS. She was born on May 27, 1942 in Motobu-Cho, Okinawa, the daughter of Kichizo and Nakato (Kinjo) Kitashiro. Mitsuko married Donald Vann on May 28, 1969. They made their home in Wakefield. Mitsuko worked on sewing projects for the State of Kansas and worked at Wakefield Rehabilitation Center. Later, Don...
Frederick M. Jensen
Nov 8, 2025
Frederick M Jensen, 88 died November 8, 2025, in Leonardville, KS. He was born on July 14, 1937, in Clay Center, the son of Romeo and Ruth (Lakin) Jensen. Fred was raised in Clay Center and was a graduate of Clay Center High School Class of 1957. Following high school, he served in the US Air Force. Fred married Sally...
Riley Carr Rankin
Nov 4, 2025
Riley Carr Rankin, 80, passed away peacefully on November 4, 2025, in Santa Rosa, California, surrounded by family. Riley was born on July 8, 1945, in Clinton, Oklahoma, to Elmo C. and Anna Mae (Carr) Rankin. He and his older brother, Kelly, grew up in the small town of Custer City, Oklahoma, until Riley’s third-grade year, when the family moved...
Rolland Reed
Oct 29, 2025
Rolland L. Reed, 87 died October 29, 2025, in Clay Center, KS. He was born on August 26, 1938, in Clay Center, the son of Clifford and Winona (Hjelm) Reed. Rolland married Sandra D. Herman on January 22, 1961, in Sterling, CO. She preceded him in death on August 25, 2010. He was also preceded in death by his parents...
Jean Bergstrom
Oct 28, 2025
Jean Bergstrom passed away peacefully Tuesday October 28, 2025 in North Augusta, SC. Jean was born in Clay Center Kansas May 10, 1939 to Emil and Mabel Spilker the third of four children.
She grew up in the Clay County area and spent part of her younger years in Lee Summit, MO. The family moved to Clay Center where she graduated...
Nancy Johnson
Oct 27, 2025
On October 27, 2025, Nancy Johnson joined her beloved husband in heaven to continue their adventures together. One of the first things on their list would have been to dance — not just any dance, but a waltz. Oh, how they loved to waltz. Watching them waltz was inspiring as they were the perfect couple and were so smooth on...
Samantha Burris
Oct 12, 2025
Samantha Burris, 58 died October 12, 2025, in Manhattan, KS. She was born on October 26, 1966 in Springdale, Arkansas. The daughter of William and Dorothy (Butler) Jordan. Samantha was raised in Tontitown, AR and was a graduate of the Springdale, AR high school. Following high school, she attended Marcel Royale Beauty Academy and worked in cosmetology for many years....
Carolyn Kay Winters
Sep 29, 2025
Carolyn Kay Winters died September 29, 2025, in Manhattan, KS. She was born in Concordia, KS to Charles Debocus and Beulah Estelle (LaGasse) Robertson on July 29, 1940. Carolyn was raised in the Aurora, KS area and was a graduate of Miltonvale High School. After high school, Carolyn married Carmen Cyr. To this union 3 children were born. They divorced...
Dixie Braden
Sep 26, 2025
Dixie June Braden, 94, of Manhattan, Kansas, died on Friday, September 26, 2025 at Meadowlark Hills in Manhattan. She was born on June 1, 1931 in Cleburne, Kansas, the daughter of Carl and Verla (Hansen) Chapman. She grew up in Riley and Clay Counties, graduating from CCCHS in 1949.
Dixie married Gailen Braden on December 24, 1949 and the couple farmed...
