Orville Leon Pruter, 84, died on Friday, October 30, 2020, at the Rooks County Health Center in Plainville, Kansas. Orville was born on November 17, 1935, at Natoma, Ks to Alvin and Yvonne (Goad) Pruter. He grew up on the family farm north of Natoma.  He graduated in the class of 1953, from Natoma High School.  On June 5, 1955,  he was united in marriage to Betty Zweifel at the Amherst EUB Church.  They had 5 sons and one daughter.  Orville worked in the oil fields, 14 years at Western Power and Light in Plainville, Kansas and he drove the

Wanda Jean (Stull) Braun, 92, of Hays, Kansas, and formerly of Russell, Kansas, passed away Sunday, October 25, 2020, at the Via Christi Village in Hays. Wanda was born June 30, 1928 in Palco, Kansas. She was the daughter of Azel and Thelma (Glasgow) Stull. She grew up in Palco and graduated from Palco High School in the Class of 1946. She then attended and graduated from the Crum’s Beauty School after high school. Wanda was united in marriage to Edwin J. “Eddie” Braun on June 27, 1950 in Victoria. This union was blessed with seven children: Cindy, Kurt, Steven,

John Stanley Laubhan, 81, of Russell, Kansas, passed away October 22, 2020, at the Wheatland Nursing Center in Russell. John was born on September 25, 1939, in Hays, Kansas, the son of Georg E. and Irene L. (Meier) Laubhan.  He grew up in Russell and graduated from Russell High School in the class of 1957.  After high school he received training for auto mechanics at the U.S. Trade School in Kansas City, Missouri.  He eventually opened his own business and was owner and operator of Automatic Transmission Service in Russell for 50 years.  He was a longtime member of St.

Clara Rosella “Pat” Engling, 86, of Natoma, Kansas, died on Wednesday, October 21, 2020, at the Rooks County Health Center in Plainville, Kansas. Clara was born on March 17, 1934, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Albin and Florance (Culley) Golembiewski. She met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Edward M. Engling on March 08, 1954 in Lawton, Oklahoma.  From this union they were blessed with 5 children Edward, Christine, Michael, Andrew and Anthony. They raised their children and called home in the Codell and Natoma area.  She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and homemaker. Surviving

Matthew Rein Driscoll passed away Saturday, October 17th 2020. He was born January 29, 1978 in Salina, KS and was the oldest of four boys. Matt attended Elementary, Middle & High School in Russell, KS graduating in 1997. He was always active in school and community affairs, an Honor student and an Eagle Scout. He attended the University of Kansas. While at KU he was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He graduated from the University of Kansas in 2001. He was a lifetime member of the University of Kansas Alumni Association. After graduation he traveled to New York

Clifford LaVerne “Red” Steckman, 84, of Bunker Hill, Kansas, passed away Friday, October 16, 2020 at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas. Red was born May 11, 1936 in Maywood, Nebraska.  He was one of six children born to Doral C. and Mae Etta (Noah) Steckman.  He grew up in California and Nebraska, graduating from Palisade, Nebraska in 1954.  Red served his country in the U.S. Air Force for eight and half years.  He was a Crash Rescue and Fireman. Red was united in marriage to Patricia Thayer on May 17, 1957 in Fort Morgan, Colorado, while he was

Jolene Alice Barth, 86, of Hays, Kansas, and former Natoma, Kansas, resident died on Tuesday, October 13, 2020, at the Good Samaritan Society in Hays. Jolene was born on December 14, 1933, in Rooks County, Kansas, the daughter of Robert J. and Alice Irene (Hartman) Pfortmiller.  She grew up in Natoma on the Pfortmiller family farm and graduated from Natoma High School in 1952.  For many years she worked in Hays, Kansas as a production manager for Stromgren Supports.  Later in life she moved back to Natoma and worked for the City of Natoma as a city clerk before retiring. 

Donald J. Reinhardt, 83, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Friday, October 9, 2020 at the Hutchinson Regional Hospital in Hutchinson, Kansas. Don was born May 16, 1937 in Hays, Kansas.  He was one of two children born to Arnold and LaVerne (Shaver) Reinhardt.  He grew up in rural Russell County and attended Mt. Brokaw country school.  He was a 1955 graduate of Russell High School. Donald then served his country in the U.S. Army from 1956 to 1958, serving as a helicopter crew chief at Fort Sam Houston Army Base in San Antonio, Texas and Fort George G. Meade in

Betty Mae (King) Householter, 82, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Friday, October 9, 2020 at the Hutchinson Regional Hospital in Hutchinson, Kansas. Betty was born May 2, 1938, in Barnard, Kansas, the daughter of Emmett and Anna (Worpel) King.  She grew up in Barnard and graduated from Barnard High School. Betty was united in marriage to Robert Dean Householter on June 10, 1955 in Barnard.  This union was blessed with three children; Jerrie, Robert and Lea.  They made their home in Barnard; Hastings, Nebraska; Holdredge, Nebraska; Kenesaw, Nebraska and in 1974 moved to Russell, Kansas.  Robert preceded her in death

Mary Ann Taylor, 92, of Waldo, Kansas, passed away Monday, October 5, 2020 at her residence in Waldo. She was born December 24, 1927 in rural Holyrood, Kansas to Joseph and Mary Lanzl Rous. Mary’s surviving family include her three daughters, Mary Louise Taylor of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Lois Lund of Waldo, Kansas and Karen Taylor Brothersen (Pepper) of Guernsey, Iowa; two sons, Ben Taylor of Osborne, Kansas and Roy Taylor (Debbie) of Lucas, Kansas; sister, Loretta Handlin of Newton, North Carolina; two grandsons, Jason Lund (Jennifer) of Waldo, Kansas and Nathan Lund (Krista) of Beloit, Kansas; six great grandchildren,