Obituaries

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...

Jan 19, 2024

George Milton Blomberg, 77, of Hiawatha, KS died on January 19, 2024.  He was born in Concordia, KS in 1946 to Bernice and Oliver Blomberg and graduated high school from Concordia High School.   George worked many jobs the most memorable were Kansas National Guard, GT in Clay Center as well as in Osborne, Russel Stover in Abilene, and Clay...

Jan 17, 2024

It’s with great sadness we announce the passing of Richard R. Steppe, 82, of Wakefield, Kansas, on January 17, 2024, in Manhattan, Kansas. He was born December 20, 1941, in Clay Center, Kansas, to parents John (Jack) and Margie Steppe.

He married Bonnie J. (Koerner-Budden), in Clay Center, Kansas, on August 17, 1967. They raised four children-...

Jan 12, 2024

Leo Keith James, 89, died on January 12, 2024, in Clay Center. He was born May 13, 1934, in Blaine Township, Clay County, the ninth of eleven children born to Dean and Eva James. He graduated from Clay Center High School in 1953 and entered the United States Army not long after graduation.  He met the love of his...

Jan 10, 2024

Nola (Kruse) Unruh, age 85, died January 10, 2024, at the Presbyterian Manor in Clay Center. She was born in Halstead, KS on February 27, 1938, to Edward and Esther (Eidse) Kruse. Nola grew up in rural McPherson County and graduated from Moundridge High School as well as Bethel College, earning her teaching degree. Nola married Gary Unruh on...

Jan 4, 2024

Ann Worley, 81 of Clay Center, died on Thursday, January 4, 2024 at the Clay Center Presbyterian Manor.   She was born on October 18, 1942 in Cloud County, Kansas, the daughter of John A.H. and Marie C. (Wehking) Gunter.

She grew up in Cloud County and attended Carmel and Limestone Country Schools and graduated from Miltonvale High...

Dec 28, 2023

Renee Marie Urbano, age 58, died December 28, 2023, at Mercy Hospital Springfield, in Springfield, Missouri. She was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 25, 1965, to James "Ed" and Ruth (Hicks) Hollingshead. Renee worked as a manager for kitchen staff and cooked alongside of them. She married Joseph Urbano on July 24, 1993. Renee was working as...

Dec 26, 2023

Donald G. Fritz, 89 December 26, 2023, in Manhattan, KS.  Don was born October 29, 1934, at the family farm in Clay County, the son of Ernest and Lois (Neill) Fritz. He graduated from High School in Clay Center in 1952. Don served in the US Air Force from 1953 to 1957 as an aircraft mechanic. He was stationed...

Dec 25, 2023

Marilyn Jean (Heikes) Martin was born on a farm in Athelstane Township, Clay County, Kansas, December 31, 1928, the sixth and youngest child of Ralph and Lillie (Daniels) Heikes. She graduated from

Clay County Community High School in 1946 and subsequently taught at Mount Olive and Four Mile Grade Schools. On September 5, 1948, she was married...

Dec 24, 2023

Vicki Hitsman, 75 died December 24, 2023, in Clay Center, KS.  She was born on November 21, 1948, in Clay Center, the daughter of Rex and Effie (Bailey) Sandberg. Vicki was a graduate of the Class of 1966 from CCCHS. She married Bob Jordan and they later divorced.  On August 15, 1975, Vicki married Ted Hitsman.  She worked as...

Dec 20, 2023

Justin Beals, 30 died December 20, 2023, in Clay Center, KS.  He was born on January 3, 1993, at Fort Riley, the son of Ivan and Jenifer (Shepard) Beals.  Justin was raised in and attended school in Miltonvale, KS.  He worked as a department leader at Hutchinson Mayrath.  While growing up, Justin attended the F.C Hill Memorial Wesleyan Church...

Dec 18, 2023

Henrietta “Retta” Maxine Mounts, age 86, died December 18, 2023, on beautiful sunny afternoon at Advena Living Center in Clay Center, Kansas. Retta was born August 5, 1937, the daughter of Henry “Hank” and Vivian (Bouden) Tripp, in Denver, Colorado. She was the oldest of four children.

Retta attended Clay Center Schools, including Lincoln Elementary, McKinley School...

Dec 16, 2023

Delores Marie Germann, 92, of Clay Center passed away on Saturday, December 16, 2023 at the Clay Center Presbyterian Manor in Clay Center. She was born October 26, 1931, the daughter of the late Emmett James and Hazel Schrumm on the family farm in Longford, Kansas. She was the youngest of 4 children, brothers Mellies, Kenneth (Bud), and Emmett...

Dec 14, 2023

Galen F. Wietharn, 92 of Clay Center, Kansas passed away peacefully at his home on Thursday, December 14, 2023.  He was born on September 28, 1931 on a farm near Baileyville, Kansas, the son of Ed and Irmena (Rettele) Wietharn.  He attended school in Baileyville.

Galen served in the U.S. Army from 1952 until 1953, serving 11...

Dec 13, 2023

Nolan Patterson, 97 died December 13, 2023, in Clay Center, KS.  He was born on July 11, 1926, in Clay County, the son of George and Ora (Tiemeyer) Patterson.  Nolan was a graduate of the Class of 1944 from Clay Center High School.  He married Rachel Dinsmore on March 11, 1947.  They made their home and farmed in Clay...