Obituaries

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...

Dec 10, 2023

Thomas E. Tyree, 79 of Leonardville, Kansas died on Sunday, December 10, 2023 at the Clay County Medical Center in Clay Center, Kansas.  He was born on August 31, 1944 in St. Albans, West Virginia, the son of Henry and Clara (Deweise) Tyree.

Tom grew up and attended schools in West Virginia.  He served in the U.S....

Dec 8, 2023

Lloyd Edward Walters, 74 died December 8, 2023, in Salina, KS. He was born on October 23, 1949, in Clarion, PA, the son of Alfred and Barbara (Melnak) Walters. Lloyd was raised in Sharon, PA. He served in the US Army for 26 years. While in the Army, Lloyd served in Europe, three tours to the DMZ in Korea and...

Dec 5, 2023

Ann Appleton, 86 died December 5, 2023, in Clay Center, KS.  She was born on April 2, 1937, in Kansas City, MO, the daughter of Oliver and Alice (Hanson) Munson.  Ann was a graduate of the Class of 1955 from Clay Center High School. She married Gary Appleton on July 29, 1955.  They made their home in Missouri and...

Dec 4, 2023

Jack Wilder, 88, of Clay Center died on Monday, December 4, 2023 at  Advena Living of Clay Center, Kansas.  He was born on September 21, 1935 in Clay Center, the son of Charles and Viola (Gebhardt) Wilder.

Jack grew up in Clay Center and graduated from CCCHS in 1953.  He served in the U.S. Air Force from...

Dec 1, 2023

Roy E. Jennings, Jr., 85, of Clay Center, Kansas passed away at Wakefield, Kansas on Friday, December 1, 2023. He was born in Hays, Kansas on October 12, 1938 to Roy E. and Ethel Jennings, the seventh of seven children. Roy attended school in Junction City before joining the U.S. Navy. Roy met the love of his life, Lillian...

Nov 26, 2023

Wanda Elaine (Carter) Laflin 86, passed away peacefully on November 26, 2023, in her sleep at Prairie Sunset Home, Pretty Prairie, KS.

She was born in Clay Center, KS and later moved to Rushville, MO with her family.  Wanda married William Laflin and moved to Nickerson, KS

where she was a housewife and mother for...