Larry S. Hefty, 62, Havensville, died Jan. 28, 2008, in a vehicle accident near Boise, Idaho. He was born July 31, 1945, at Horton, the son of Walton and Maxine Kennedy Hefty.

He graduated from Valley Falls High School in 1963 and Kansas State University in 1968. He worked on a ranch near North Platte, Neb., and later farmed and ranched in the Corning and Havensville area for 19 years. He was also employed by USD No. 322, Onaga, Pearl Trucking of St. Marys, and was currently employed by Ag Connection of Seneca.

He was a member of the Havensville Christian Church, the National Farmers Organization, and the Onaga Booster Club, which he helped start.

He married Barbara K. Loy Sept. 4, 1965, at Valley Falls. She died Oct. 1, 2002. He was also preceded in death by his father, Walton Hefty. Survivors include his mother, Maxine Hefty, Valley Falls; a son, Lenn P. Hefty, Wamego; two daughters, Kimberly Kaye Gudenkauf, Olathe, and Le Anne J. Hefty, Havensville; and six grandchildren.

Funeral services were Feb. 1 at the Tessendorf-Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Onaga. Burial was in the Havensville Cemetery. Memorials can be made to the Larry and Barbara Hefty Memorial Scholarship Fund and sent in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 300, 66521.

John Wilson

John E. “J.W.” Wilson, 70, Grantville, died Jan. 29, 2008, at the Midland Hospice House in Topeka.

He was born March 1, 1937, at Jefferson City, Mo., the son of Coleman Ira and Ina Faye Buchanan Wilson. He was also raised by his stepfather, Benjamin “B.O.” McCarter and a stepmother, Janie Wilson, in Cabool, Mo.

He was a 1957 graduate of Cabool (Mo.) High School and had lived in the Grantville area 40 years. He worked as a crane and heavy equipment operator through Operating Engineers Union Local No. 101 in Topeka. He was a 50-year member of Local No. 101, retiring in 2000.

He married Beverly Jane Preston, June 14, 1957, at Topeka. She survives at the home. Other survivors include one son, Rick Wilson, and two daughters, Johnnie Shereman and Jackie Erickson, all of Grantville; and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a halfbrother, Tommie Wilson.

Graveside inurnment services were Feb. 2 at the Grantville Cemetery. Memorials can be made to the Jefferson County Hospice or to Midland Hospice and sent in care of Barnett-Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, P.O. Box 416, Oskaloosa, 66066.

Hollis Irick

Hollis Duane Irick, 73, Orange County, Calif., died Jan. 27, 2008, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He had been in the hospital since Nov. 24.

He was born Sept. 1, 1934, in Valley Falls, the son of Marion and Minnie Ann Eden Irick. He was the fourth son in a family of six children. He grew up in the Holton and Valley Falls area. He worked with his father and brothers farming and custom combining. Later he entered the printing business and worked in Topeka, Kansas City, and Los Angeles. He had made his home in California for the past 46 years.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Harold Irick, and his son, Douglas Irick. Survivors include three daughters, Danise Wilson of Wisconsin, Debra Bond of Nevada, and Taone Randazzo of California; a son, Jodie Irick of California; three brothers, Howard Irick, Holton, Harris Irick, Anaheim, Calif., and Harry Irick, Hamilton City, Calif.; his sister, Helen Schroder, New Bern, N.C.; a long-time friend, May Jew, Westminster, Calif.; 12 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were Feb. 5 at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. Burial was in the Holton Cemetery. Memorials can be given to the Circleville Christian Church Building Fund and sent in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 270, Holton, 66436.

Glen Bolz

Glen LeRoy Bolz, 69, Meriden, died Feb. 1, 2008, at a care facility in Overland Park.

He was born Nov. 15, 1938, near Meriden, the son of Johnnie and Glena May Martin Bolz. He was a farmer-stockman and had attended the Muddy Creek Church.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Fred Bolz, and a sister, Mildred Holiday. Survivors include a sister, Eva May Bolz, Topeka.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, at Muddy Creek Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made to Odessy Hospice or Muddy Creek Cemetery and sent in care of Mercer Funeral Home, 810 Broadway, Valley Falls, 66088.

Hayley Broers

Hayley Nicole Broers, 14, Hebron, Neb., died Jan. 30, 2008, at her home. She was born May 25, 1993, at Lawrence, the daughter of Scott Broers and Melissa Springstube.

She grew up in the Topeka area. She moved to Hebron in the seventh grade. Hayley was a freshman at Thayer Central High School. She loved art, and was in the Math Club, attending many competitions. She belonged to the United Methodist Youth group.

She is preceded in death by grandfathers, Kevin Kendall and John Springstube, and grandmother, Mary Joyce Springstube. Survivors include her father, Scott Broers and wife, Stacey, Ozawkie; her mother, Melissa Springstube, and Ray Kendall, Hebron; brothers, Alexander Broers and Conner Broers, Ozawkie, Luke Standifer, Topeka; and sisters, Melony Standifer, Topeka, and Trinity Kendall, Hebron; and grandparents, Ron and Michiko Broers, Lawrence, Jerry and Linda Dougherty, Kansas City, Mo., and Marlene Kendall, Hebron.

A funeral service was Feb. 2 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Hebron. Burial was in Rose Hill Cemetery, Hebron. Memorials in care of the family; Hebron Memorial Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Harriett Welch

Harriett Aletha Welch, 97, Kansas City, Mo., died Feb. 4, 2008, at Truman Care Center at Lakewood. She was born March 24, 1910, the daughter of Averill and Edith Bickley Aikins in Valley Falls.

She graduated from Valley Falls High School in 1928. Harriett graduated from Kansas State University in 1932 with a bachelor’s degree in science.

She was preceded in death by her son, Jim Welch, and her husband, Walter Welch. She is survived by a daughter-in-law, Mitzi Welch and two grandchildren, all of Raytown, Mo.

Visitation was Feb. 6 at Muehlebach Funeral Home, 6800 Troost Ave, Kansas City, Mo. Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Lansing. Memorial contributions can be given to Menniger Kansas Foundation, 2801 Gessner Dr., Houston, 77080.

Philip Robinson

Philip Lee Robinson, 58, Perry, died Feb. 1, 2008, at Stormont-Vail Hospital in Topeka. He was born Jan. 8, 1950, at Chicago, the son of Russell LeRoy and Marceline Rhea Dougherty Robinson.

He was a 1968 graduate of Leavenworth High School and attended the University of Kansas at Lawrence. He was a certified real estate appraiser for 25 years. He owned Robinson Appraisal Service in Oskaloosa for 12 years, and formerly served in the Atchison County and Douglas County appraisers’ offices. He was a member of National Hot Rod Association with Junior Dragsters for many years.

He married Gale C. Ross Gowing July 10, 1987, at Lawrence. She survives at the home. Other survivors include one son, Graig Robinson, Ft. Worth, Texas; one stepson, Shawn Gowing, Lecompton; a sister, Leah Robinson, Topeka; and two grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a stepson, Shannon Gowing.

No services are planned. Private family inurnment will be at a later date. Barnett-Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Oskaloosa is assisting the family with arrangements.

Billy Joe Berry Sr.

Billy Joe Berry Sr., 73, McLouth, died Jan. 28, 2008, at the KU Medical Center, after a fight with cancer. Mr. Berry was born Sept. 3, 1934, at Longton, the son of Addison and Letha B. Hare Berry.

He was a 1953 graduate of Longton High School. During his life he was involved with the auger cast pile foundation industry when this technology was first developed in the United States. He worked in this industry throughout the country and was heavily involved with building the industry until his retirement in 1994.

After retirement he was a farmer and raised and rented bulls for breeding. He attended the Sacred Heart Church in Tonganoxie and was a member of the National Rifle Association, Ducks Unlimited, and Bass Masters.

He married Lyla Jean Bruce June 28, 1953, at Elk City. They later divorced. He married Marylee Ann Bradford May 3, 1986, on his farm at McLouth. She survives at the home. Other survivors include his mother of Chanute; two sons, Billy Joe Berry Jr., Olathe, and Allen Lyle Berry, Omaha, Neb.; two daughters, Lyla Marie Hinsley, Round Rock, Texas, and Autumn Marie Eckman, Baldwin City; one sister, Sharon Rosenberry, Chanute; and eight grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two daughters, Lynda Joy Berry and Robina Jean Hutfless, and a brother, Marion Alfred Berry.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Feb. 2 at Sacred Heart Church in Tonganoxie. Burial was at Maple Grove Cemetery, Tonganoxie. Memorials can be made to Sacred Heart Church Building Fund or to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and sent in care of Barnett-Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, P.O. Box 416, Oskaloosa, 66066.

Ruby Edmonds

Ruby Marie Edmonds, San Diego, Calif., died at her home Jan. 29, 2008. She was born Aug. 18, 1913, in Oak Creek, Colo., the daughter of Nona Davis and Walter Crosby.

After the death of her father and brother, she and her mother returned to Winchester, where they lived with her grandparents. After graduating from Winchester High School in 1930, she worked at the post office in Winchester until her marriage to Gensler Edmonds in 1934. They owned and operated a trucking business in McLouth where she kept books for the business. She was on the school board in McLouth when the hot lunch program and rural busing was started. She coached girls’ basketball at McLouth in the early 1950s.

After the death of her husband in 1972 she moved to California with her daughter and her family. She volunteered at the local hospital for 25 years and the senior citizens’ center.

She is survived by her daughter, Donis Bailey, San Diego; nine grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gensler E. Edmonds, a son, Crosby K. Edmonds in January 2004, and a brother, Kent Crosby.

Inumment will be in the McLouth Cemetery where a memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorials can be made to the United Methodist Church, McLouth.

Leonard Edmonds USAF

Col. Leonard Sheldon Edmonds, Chaplain, Ret., 93, Tucson, Ariz., a native of Kansas, died at his home Jan. 30, 2008.

He is survived by his wife, Virginia, of 64 years; his daughters, Rebecca and Sarah; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

A memorial service was held at Grace St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Tucson, Feb. 8. Memorials can be made to the Interfaith Coalition for the Homeless, P. O. Box 43243, Tucson, 85733, or to Grace St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

Obituaries Archive