Obituaries

Dec 5, 2021

Kenneth Scott Branum, 62, of Russell, Kansas, died on Sunday, December 05,2021, at Main Street Manor in Russell.

Scott was born on June 11, 1959, in Russell, Kansas, the son of Joe K. and Mary A. (Thomas) Branum.  He grew up in Russell and attended Russell High School in the class of 1978.  He married Liz Beth...

Nov 24, 2021

Lillian Jean “Lil” Becker, 80, of Russell, Kansas, died on Wednesday, November 24, 2021, at her home in Russell.

Lillian was born on July 29, 1941 in Victoria, Kansas, the daughter of Joseph and Florina (Windholz) Graf.  She grew up in Victoria, Kansas, and graduated from Victoria High School in the class of 1959.  She met, fell...

Nov 23, 2021

Milan Spencer Masters, 85, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, November 23, 2021.  He was a lifelong resident and supporter of the Natoma community.  He was born September 12, 1936 to Cecil and Lucille (McClellan) Masters on the homestead south of Natoma.  He married his high school sweetheart, Dianne Mohler, on January 14, 1956.  He began...

Nov 21, 2021

Betty R. White, 97, of LaGrange Park, Illinois and former Russell County resident, died on Sunday, November 21, 2021 at the Plymouth Place Senior Living Community in La Grange Park, Illinois.

Betty was born on June 19, 1924, in Paradise, Kansas, the daughter of Joseph R. and Julia B. (Cobb) Hubbard.  She grew up in the Paradise...

Nov 11, 2021

Kathryn Marie “Kathy” Scott, 73, of Luray, Kansas, died on Thursday, November 11, 2021, at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas.

Kathy was born on September 07,1948, in Anamosa, Iowa, the daughter of Robert E. and Pauline C. (Heick) Wensorra.  As a young girl she grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and later moved to Iowa...

Nov 7, 2021

With great sadness, we report the passing of Captain Ronald Thielen, PO614 on Sunday November 07, 2021.  Ron was at home in Gilbert, Arizona, with his wife, Mary, when he succumbed to heart disease after a long and valiant battle.

Captain Ron, as his friends knew him, was born on December 13, 1945 and hailed from Dorrance,...

Nov 2, 2021

Herbert David Kraft, 92, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Tuesday morning, November 2, 2021, at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell.

Herbert was born January 11, 1929 on the family farm south of Russell.  He was one of twelve children born to David and Emma (Steinert) Kraft.  He grew up and attended country schools in Russell County....

Nov 2, 2021

Thomas Gene “Tom” Cook, 63, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, November 2, 2021 at Wheatland Nursing Center in Russell.

Tom was born September 7, 1958 in Russell, the son of Bob and Norma Jean (Tomlin) Cook.  He lived all of his life in Russell.  He attended Bickerdyke Special Education Class and received a diploma from Russell...

Oct 31, 2021

Geary Gene Schafer, 80, of Gorham, Kansas, died on Sunday, October 31, 2021, at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell, Kansas.

Geary was born on June 10, 1941, in Milberger, Kansas, the son of Elmer and Esther I. (Nuss) Schafer.  He grew up in the Milberger, Galatia, Russell and Gorham, Kansas area and attended Milberger Rural Schools. ...

Oct 30, 2021

Terri J. Rather, 65, of Salina, Kansas, died on Saturday, October 30, 2021, at the Eaglecrest Retirement Community in Salina, Kansas.  God blessed Terri with a holy death and took her home to rest in the arms of Jesus to await the resurrection of the dead.

God gave to Terri (Pfortmiller) Rather the gift of earthly life...

Oct 21, 2021

Anthony Henry “Tony” Witt, Jr., 90, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Thursday, October 21, 2021.

Born in Hays, Kansas on September 23, 1931, to parents, Anthony Henry, Sr. and Ethel Mae (Waudby) Witt, Tony grew up in Russell, Kansas and graduated from Russell High School in 1949.  Following high school, he received his Bachelor of Science in...

Oct 14, 2021

Gladys Louise Baird, 87, of Bunker Hill, Kansas, died on Thursday, October 14, 2021, at her home in Bunker Hill.

Gladys Louise (Lange) Baird was born August 12, 1934, at the family home North of Bunker Hill, Kansas. Her parents were Frank and Alma (Frick) Lange. Her elementary school years were at the Success and Cedar Creek...

Oct 7, 2021

Martha Grace Smith-Kennedy was born March 18, 1940 in Dodge City, Kansas to Floye and Joe Leonard. She departed this life on October 7, 2021, after a brief illness, in Woodland Park, Colorado.

Martha is survived by siblings Steve Rohrbaugh (Raylene), Linda Rohrbaugh Diede (Gary), Bill DeGarmo (Randi), Barbara DeGarmo Lohmeier (Patrick), and Laurita DeGarmo Moyer, (Jerry);...

Sep 29, 2021

Dora Imogene (Chain) Purvis, 68, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, September 29, 2021 at Wheatland Nursing Center in Russell.

Dora was born September 11, 1953 in Hominy, Oklahoma.  She was the daughter of Fredrick Henry and Alberta Jula May (Byrom) Chain.  She grew up and attended schools in Cleveland, Oklahoma.  She graduated from Cleveland High School....

Sep 20, 2021

Tianna Dawnae Bays-Broils, 44, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Monday, September 20, 2021, at the Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

Tianna was born June 9, 1977, in Russell, Kansas.  She was the daughter of Henry and Shayne (Humes) Reinhardt.  She grew up and attended schools in Russell and graduated from Hays High School.  She attended...

Sep 16, 2021

Mary Elizabeth (Betty) Young, 97, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, September 16, 2021 at Homestead of Auburn, Kansas.  Betty, as she was known to everyone, was born May 5,1924 in White City, Kansas to Lester and Mildred Dean. She was the second child to this union as her brother Robert was born two...

Sep 15, 2021

Donald Ray “Don” Farmer, 53, of Russell, Kansas and formerly of Colorado, passed away Wednesday, September 15, 2021, at the Pratt Regional Medical Center in Pratt, Kansas.

Don was born July 11, 1968, in Cincinnati, Ohio.  He was the son of Ron, Sr., and Dianne (Vaughn) Farmer.  He grew up in Ohio and graduated from Mt. Healthy...

Sep 14, 2021

Dorothy Jane Nielsen, 80, of Russell, Kansas, died on Tuesday, September 14, 2021, at the Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Lawrence, Kansas.

Dorothy was born on February 18, 1941, in Russell, Kansas, the daughter of Herman and Ella (Wasemiller) Steinert.  She grew up in Russell, Kansas and graduated from Russell High School and lived in Russell most all...

Sep 10, 2021

Betty M. Jane Gibbs, 98, of Russell, Kansas, died on Friday, September 10, 2021, at the Wheatland Nursing Home in Russell.

Betty was born on September 09, 1923, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania the daughter of Walter and Mary (Chambers) Mason.  As a young girl she moved to Jamestown, New York, where she attended local schools and graduated from...

Sep 9, 2021

Mary V. Craig, 97, of Russell, Kansas, and died on Thursday, September 09, 2021, at the Main Street Manor in Russell, Kansas.

Mary was born on July 05, 1924, in Shattuck, Oklahoma, the daughter of Jacob and Lydia (Kraft) Long.  She grew up in Ransom, Kansas, and graduated from Ransom High School in 1942.  After high school...