Obituaries

Apr 6, 2024

Ricky Dean “Rick” Hammond, Jr, 37, of Clay Center, died on April 6, 2024 at his residence.  He was born on August 22, 1986 in Emporia, Kansas, the son of Ricky Dean, Sr. and Marie (Brown) Hammond.

Rick graduated from Olpe High School in 2005.  He attended Butler Community College for athletic training, he later attended the...

Apr 4, 2024

Wanda Fowles, 93 died April 4, 2024, in Clay Center, KS.  She was born on June 23, 1930, in Clay Center, the daughter of Hartsel and Leota Long.  Wanda was raised in Clay Center and was a Class of 1948 graduate from Clay Center High School.  Following high school, she attended beauticians’ school.  Wanda married Orrin Fowles on June...

Apr 3, 2024

On Wednesday, April 3, 2024, Michelle Garcia, beloved mother and friend to many, passed away peacefully, at Ascension Via Christi hospital in Manhattan, Kansas. She was eighty-six years old and enjoyed a long, unselfish and rewarding life upon this earth. Michelle was born on October 27, 1937 in Ars-Sur-Moselle, France to Onesime Mathisse and Marguerite Marie Bonhomme and had...

Apr 3, 2024

James (Jim) Porter Dunbar was born on January 29th, 1951 in Roseville IL. to Grover and Mary Jean Dunbar. He is survived in death by his sisters Sally James, Marilyn Griffith, and his brothers Edward (Buddy) Dunbar and Patrick Dunbar as well as his sons Jamesson Dunbar and wife Kristi, David Dunbar and wife Toni, Tony Mallean and wife...

Apr 2, 2024

Gene Kent Holtorf, 78, of Linn, Kansas died on Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at his residence.  He was born on April 28, 1945 to Jerald and Ruth Holtorf in Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska.  He was baptized on May 27, 1945 and confirmed on May 11, 1958 at St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska. Gene graduated from Cedar Bluffs...

Apr 1, 2024

Jimmy Lee Barnes, 71 died April 1, 2024, in Manhattan, KS.  He was born on March 19, 1953, in Clay Center, the son of Dale and Georgia (Knox) Barnes.  Jimmy was raised in Clifton and was a graduate of the class of 1971 from Clifton High School.  During high school and after graduation, he plumbed with Milton Anderson and...

Mar 30, 2024

Geraldine Bushell, 91 of Moundridge, Kansas, died on Saturday, March 30, 2024 at the Pine Village in Moundridge, Kansas. She was born on May 20, 1932 in Cloud County, Kansas, the daughter of Eddie and Leona (Charbonneau) Chaput.

She grew up south of Clyde, Kansas and was baptized at the St. Joseph Catholic Church. Geraldine graduated from...

Mar 19, 2024

Verlene Adele (Gustafson) Carlson was a beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend who loved her people beyond measure. Born on October 24, 1950, to Oliver and Leona Gustafson of Wausa, NE, she was raised on the family farm and gained an attitude of hard work and adventure from an early age. In 1970 she married Gary Carlson, and...

Mar 16, 2024

Rita F. Alexander, 95 of Clifton, Kansas died Saturday March 16, 2024, at the Presbyterian Manor in Clay Center, Kansas.

She was born May 6, 1928, to Henry and Veronica (Eckart) Ruhkamp in Marysville, Kansas.  She attended St. John's Catholic School in Hanover, Kansas.  She was a member of the St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church...

Mar 7, 2024

James Robert (Jim) Phelps (85) was born August 29, 1938, in a farmhouse five miles southwest of Miltonvale, KS, to Ernest and Ida (Geist) Phelps. He passed away March 7, 2024.

Jim attended Grass Valley rural grade school and graduated from Miltonvale Rural High School in 1956. He graduated from Kansas State University in 1961 with a...

Mar 3, 2024

Richard Henry, 84, of Clay Center died on Sunday, March 3, 2024 at the Clay County Medical Center. He was born August 15, 1939 outside of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, the son of Ray and Nellie Henry. Richard was a Postal Carrier for the United States Post Office.

He is preceded in death by his parents; brother,...

Feb 21, 2024

Ronald L. Hedberg, 67 died February 21, 2024, in Clay Center, KS.  He was born on December 30, 1956, in Wichita, the son of Ronald D. and Mary (Cranmer) Hedberg.  Ronnie was a graduate of the class of 1976 from CCCHS.  He worked as a forklift operator at Hutchinson-Mayrath, operated a road grader for Clay County Road Department and...

Feb 21, 2024

Mary Theresa (Levendofsky) Michels, 94, met the Lord on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Lawrence, Kansas. She was born January 29, 1930 in the St. Joseph Hospital in Concordia, Kansas. Mary was born the fourth of seven children to Frank and Ella Levendofsky of rural Belleville, Kansas. She was baptized at St. Edwards Catholic Church in...

Feb 16, 2024

Phyllis Sherbert, 82 died February 16, 2024, in Chapman, KS.  She was born on February 11, 1942, in Wakefield, KS the daughter of Albert and Patricia (Reed) Pittenger. Phyllis was raised in the Wakefield community.  She married William Sherbert on October 14, 1962.  Phyllis farmed with her husband and operated Sherbert Kennels for many years.  She enjoyed gardening and...

Feb 12, 2024

Mary Ellen Alexander, 89 of Leonardville, Kansas died on Monday, February 12, 2024 at the Leonardville Nursing Home in Leonardville, Kansas. She was born on November 3, 1934 in Clay County, Kansas, the daughter of Roy and Vella (Bougen) Schrum.

Mary grew up in Clay County and attended schools in Clay Center before transferring to Green, graduating...

Feb 10, 2024

Helen Marie Yarrow, 96, of Clay Center, Kan., entered the loving presence of her Savior on Saturday, February 10, 2024. She was 96 years old. Helen was born on July 30, 1927, on the family farm in Clay Center, Kan., the daughter of Charles Yarrow and Gertrude Cowell. After graduating from high school in 1945, Helen passed her teacher’s...

Feb 2, 2024

Marion S’Lee (Choate) Stuart died Friday, February 2, 2024, at the Clay County Medical Center after a brief illness.  She was 97 years old.  Marion was born in Emporia, Kansas, on March 30, 1926, the only child of John and Irene (Fleming) Choate.  She was married to Charles “Chuck” Stuart for 68 years until his death in 2015.

Jan 23, 2024

Versha Davidson was born in Clay County KS January 20, 1938, the only child of Elmo R. Davidson and Hazel Willis Davidson.  She died January 23, 2024, at Wesley Hospital in Wichita KS.  Versha grew up on a farm south of Clay Center KS and moved to Greenleaf KS after the deaths of her parents. She attended country school,...

Jan 22, 2024

Carl H. Klopfer, Jr, 91 of Concordia, died on Monday, January 22, 2024. He was born on September 8, 1932 in Racine, Wisconsin, the son of Carl H. Sr. and Luella (Henrickson) Klopfer. Carl served in and retired from the U.S. Army, serving in the Korean War. He married Margarete and she preceded him in death on July 8, 2010....

Jan 19, 2024

Steve D. Worley, 80 of Clay Center, died Friday January 19, 2024 at the UKHS Saint Francis Campus in Topeka, Kansas.  He was born on February 5, 1943 in Clay Center, Kansas, the son of Joseph E. and Velda K. (DesJardins) Worley.

Steve grew up and attended school in Clay Center, graduating in 1961.  He attended Fort...