Obituaries

Jun 6, 2022

James Howard Dolven (Jim or Big Jim), 76, of Ellsworth, Kansas, passed away Monday , June 6, 2022 at the Good Samaritan Society in Ellsworth. Jim was born September 7, 1945 in Decatur, Illinois.  He was one of six children born to Clemens and Mollie (Wrench) Dolven.  At a young age his family moved to Shelby, Montana and he...

Jun 4, 2022

Curtis Eugene Bunting, 64, of Olmitz, Kansas, died on Saturday, June 04, 2022, at the Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington, Kansas.

Curtis was born on September 05, 1957, in Russell, Kansas, the son of Conrad E. and Opal L. (Blew) Bunting.  He grew up in Russell, Kansas and graduated from Russell High School in the class of...

Jun 1, 2022

Thomas Fredrick Tittel, 70, of Edgerton, Kansas, and former Russell resident, entered eternal rest on Wednesday, June 01, 2022. He was the son of Vernon and Peggy (Riley) Tittel.

Thomas was born on July 22, 1951, in Russell, Kansas, where he grew up and was a graduate of Russell High School in the class of 1969. Tom...

Jun 1, 2022

Joyce Elaine (Hulse) Harkness, 81, of Wichita, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at her home with her husband and daughter by her side.

Joyce was born August 15, 1940 in Plainville, Kansas.  She was one of five children born to Ray and Helen (Martin) Hulse.  At the age of two, her family moved to Russell,...

May 22, 2022

Roland Oral Foster-Balloun, age 70, of Russell, Kansas, died May 22, 2022, in Salmon Arm, British Columbia, Canada. He was not an astronaut, but some called him Astronaut. He grew up working and managing his mother’s restaurants and always excelled in sports—a natural athlete his whole life. At 17 he joined the Navy, served 4 years, and was honorably...

May 15, 2022

Lester Gene Satchell, 75, of Russell, Kansas, died on Sunday, May 15, 2022, at the Medicalodges in Goddard, Kansas.

Lester was born on January 27, 1947, in Wichita, Kansas, the son of E. Paul and Irene Emma (Waymaster) Satchell.  He grew up in Bunker Hill, Kansas and graduated from Bunker Hill High School.  After high school, he...

Apr 30, 2022

Patty Ilene Pruter, 78, of Miami, Oklahoma, and former Natoma, Plainville and Hays, Kansas resident, died on Saturday, April 30, 2022, at the Freeman Health Care Center West in Joplin, Missouri.

Patty was born on February 06, 1944, in Norton, Kansas, the daughter of Homer L. and Velera A. (Spear) Sawyer.  She grew up in the Plainville,...

Apr 23, 2022

Carol Jean Wood, 74, of Russell, Kansas, died on Saturday, April 23, 2022, at the Wheatland Nursing Center in Russell.

Carol was born on October 02, 1947, in Hays, Kansas, the daughter of John and Marge (Henn) Johnson.  She grew up in Hays and graduated from Hays High School.  After high school she attended Ft. Hays University...

Apr 10, 2022

Benjamin Clement Griffin, 86, of LaFayette, Georgia, (formerly of Russell, Kansas) passed away Sunday, April 10, 2022.

Benjamin was born on December 16, 1935, in Bunker Hill, Kansas, the son of Roland and Mary (Bostick) Griffin.  After high school, he served his country by joining the United States Army and fought in the Korean War.  He met,...

Apr 5, 2022

William E. “Bill” Kuntzsch, 84, of Russell, Kansas, and formerly of Bunker Hill, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, April 5, 2022 at the Russell Regional Hospital.

Bill was born March 26, 1938 in Russell, the son of William H. and Margret F. (Reddig) Kuntzsch.  He grew up in the Russell area and attended country schools.

Bill...

Apr 1, 2022

Judith Lee Janssen, 79, of Russell, Kansas, died on Friday, April 01, 2022, at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell, Kansas.

Judith was born on December 04, 1942, in Hays, Kansas, the daughter of Willis W. and Elsie (Bender) Harbaugh.  She grew up in Luray, Kansas, and graduated from Luray High School.  She met, fell in love...

Mar 25, 2022

Virginia Ann (Hill) Mitchell, 79, of Great Bend, Kansas, passed away Friday, March 25, 2022 at her home.

Virginia was born September 23, 1942 on the family farm in Lincoln County, Kansas.  She was the daughter of Harvey H. and Alice M. (Kral) Hill.  She grew up in the Dorrance and Wilson area and graduated from Dorrance...

Mar 24, 2022

Melva Arlene (Rassette) Peirano, 86, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Thursday, March 24, 2022 at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell, Kansas.

Melva was born August 24, 1935, in Dorrance, Kansas.  The daughter of Walter and Minnie (Kaufman) Rassette.  She grew up south of Dorrance on a farm and graduated from Dorrance High School with the class...

Mar 12, 2022

Tyner A. Wittman, 84, of Russell, Kansas, passed away March 12, 2022 in the Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas.

Tyner was born March 22, 1937 in Russell.  He was the son of Leslie A. and Floreine (Lancaster) Wittman.  He grew up in Russell and graduated from Russell High School.

Tyner was united in marriage...

Mar 11, 2022

Elmer Wilmer Maier, 96, of Russell, Kansas, died on Friday, March 11, 2022, at the Wheatland Nursing Home in Russell, Kansas

Elmer was born on August 24, 1925, on the Maier family farm 11 miles south of Gorham, Kansas.  He was the son of John and Lydia (Lohmann) Maier.  He was baptized and confirmed at the Bender...

Mar 9, 2022

Ronald Joe Raymer, 70, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, March 9, 2022 at Russell Regional Hopsital in Russell Kansas.

Ronn was born December 12, 1951 in Pratt, Kansas.  He was the son of Harvey Milton and Peggy Ann (Bunyan) Raymer.  He grew up in Pratt and Great Bend, Kansas, graduated from Great Bend High School and...

Mar 7, 2022

Patrick Thomas McNelis, 61, of Russel, Kansas died on Monday, March 7th, 2022, in his home in Russel.

Patrick was born May 21, 1960 in Duluth, MN to his parents, William and Philomena (Rameno) McNelis. He grew up in Duluth, MN and graduated from Duluth High in the class of 1978. After graduation, he served in the...

Mar 5, 2022

Steven Lee Hoop, 76, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Saturday, March 5, 2022 at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas.

Steve was born September 9, 1945 in Winfield, Kansas, the son of Joe & Peggy (Lemmon) Hoop.  At a young age his family moved to Russell, where he grew up and graduated from Russell High School....

Mar 1, 2022

Kelsey Renay (Ammons) Hogan , 40, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, March 1, 2022 at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas.

Her battle with cancer is over.  Her forever home is built and she is with the Lord.

Kelsey was born August 25, 1981 in Wichita, Kansas.  She was the daughter...

Feb 25, 2022

Jesse Don Smith, 46, of Russell, Kansas, died suddenly from diabetic complications on Friday, February 25, 2022, at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas.

A celebration of Jesse’s life will be held at 11 A.M. on Tuesday, March 01, 2022, at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell, Kansas.  Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 8 P.M....