Charles R. "Chuck" Fanning, 73, Salem, Ore., died March 28, 2008, at a Portland hospital. He was born April 10, 1934, in Brookfield, Mo.

He grew up and attended school in Silverton, Ore. He also lived in Kansas and Bend, Ore., before residing in Salem. Mr. Fanning worked as a welder and steel fabricator for Steven Manufacturing. He served in the Air Force during the Korean War and was stationed at Forbes Air Base in Topeka.

He married Mona Lee Parnell of Perry June 6, 1958. They lived in Topeka nine years before moving to Hubbard, Ore. She preceded him in death June 11, 1997. He married Linda Bates Feb. 4, 2000, in Salem. She survives of the home. Other survivors include a son, Eric Fanning, Hubbard; daughters, Vicki Haworth, Silverton, and Valerie Klopp, Siletz, Ore.; step-daughters, Alena Davis, Pendleton, Ore., and Rebecca Babcock of Glendive, Mont.; stepson, John Koenig, Keizer, Ore.; sisters, Leora Johnson, Portland, Wilda Dyer, Corning, Calif., Loretta Moody, Salinas, Calif., and Janice Shanks, Shelton, Wash.; brother, Michael Fanning, Vancouver, Wash.; 10 grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

A funeral service was held April 3 at Simon Woodburn Funeral Chapel with interment at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland.

Elizabeth R. "Betty" Braum

Elizabeth R. "Betty" Braum, 95, Denison, KS, died Monday, April 14, 2008, at Village Shalom in Overland Park. She was born on Oct. 13, 1912, at Pittsburgh, PA, the daughter of Wyman S. and Edna Anderson Robb.

She graduated from Perry High School in 1930 and received a library science education degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1934. She was a librarian at McNaugher Elementary School in Pittsburgh until 1938.

Betty married J. Delber Braum on Nov. 11, 1938, at Pittsburgh. They farmed and raised livestock south of Denison and also operated a soil conservation business. From 1955 to 1971 they edited and published the Jackson County Clipper in Holton. Delber died on Jan. 28, 1998.

At an early age Betty professed her faith in Christ at the Allegheny Reformed Presbyterian Church. At the Denison Reformed Presbyterian Church she served as congregational secretary, taught Sabbath School and sponsored youth groups. She was a member of the Reformed Presbyterian Women's Missionary Fellowship. She was a life member of Fairview Club at Denison, a member emeritus of Pilot Club of Holton, and a past member of Holton Business Women, the Holton Chamber of Commerce, and the Kansas Press Association.

Survivors include two sons, John Braum, and his friend, Wayne Alexander, Prairie Village, and Jim Braum, and his wife, Carol, Valley Falls; two daughters, Mary Scamman, and her husband, Frank, Iowa City, Iowa, and Trish Pedersen, and her husband, Ray, Cedar Falls, Iowa; eight grandchildren, three great-grandchildren; three stepgreat-grandchildren and two stepgreat-great-grandchildren.

Our mother was known for her gracious and loving spirit and we call her blessed (Prov. 31:28).

The funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 19, 2008, at the Denison Reformed Presbyterian Church. Burial will be at the Denison Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. Memorial contributions may be made to the Denison Reformed Presbyterian Church or to the Reformed Presbyterian Home in Pittsburgh, PA and sent in care of Mercer Funeral Home, PO Box 270, Holton, KS 66436. Online condolences are at www.mercerfuneralhomes.-com. 33-43-1tc

Harold Dietrich

Harold Alfred Dietrich, 95, Topeka, formerly of Nortonville, died April 14, 2008, at Aldersgate Village. He was born Oct. 14, 1912, in Leavenworth County to Wilhelm and Clara Oberheide Dietrich.

After confirmation at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Nortonville, he started teaching Sunday school and Bible classes (except for military service) until 1976, serving also as Sunday school superintendent.

He graduated from Nortonville High School in 1931 and lived most of his life in the Nortonville area. In addition to farming and carpentry, Mr. Dietrich worked for the Agriculture Adjustment Administration, and also set up the noxious weed program in Atchison County.

He entered the service May 19, 1942, and served as sergeant major in the 397th Armored Field Artillery Battalion. After 13 months in the European Theatre, he was transferred to Marseille, France, to assist deploying troops back to the United States. He then enlisted as sergeant major in the Army Reserves for seven years.

In community service, Mr. Dietrich served on the Nortonville public school board for 19 years, also chairing the Jefferson County School Unification Board. Mr. Dietrich was active in the Lutheran Laymen's League holding various offices in the local club and in the district. He was also a 4-H leader. Mr. Dietrich sold his farm in 2001 and moved to Aldersgate Village.

Survivors include one sister, Irma Dietrich, Topeka; and two brothers, Wilbert Dietrich, Atchison, and Leonard Dietrich, Denver.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 19, at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Nortonville. Burial will be in the Nortonville Cemetery. No formal visitation will be held but the body will lie in state at the church for one hour prior to the service. Memorial contributions can be made to St. Matthew Lutheran Church or Aldersgate Village. The O'Trimble Funeral Home in Nortonville is in charge of the arrangements.

Thomas Vining

Thomas E. "Tom" Vining, 66, Meriden, died April 14, 2008, at his home in Meriden. He was born Oct. 13, 1941, at Topeka, the son of Charles Benjamin and Mary Jean Stone Vining, and had lived in Meriden 30 years.

Mr. Vining had worked at the Goodyear Tire Co. in Topeka, retiring in 2006 after 43 years. He was a member of the United Steel Workers local No. 307 in Topeka, St. Aloysius Church and the Knights of Columbus, both of Meriden.

He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, serving from 1960 to 1966. He was a member of American Legion Post No. 225 of Ozawkie. He was a 1959 graduate of Highland Park High School.

He married Mickey Linn Gleason May 10, 1966, at Newkirk, Okla. She survives at the home. Other survivors include his step-mother, Geraldine M. Vining, Delta, Colo.; two sons, Daniel C. Vining and Brian J. Vining, both of Meriden; two daughters, Kimberly S. Vining Martin, Lawrence, and Ashley L. Vining, Tallahassee, Fla.; one brother, Charles D. Vining, Plano, Texas; sisters, Jean Rogers, Topeka, and Laura Beth Fletcher, Montrose, Colo.; and one grandson.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Meriden. Graveside services with American Legion Honors will be at 2 p.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery, Topeka. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the church with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Thursday. Memorials can be made to Jefferson County Hospice or to St. Aloysius Church Youth Group fund and sent in care of Barnett-Chapel Oaks Meriden Chapel, P.O. Box 331, Meriden, 66512.

Gale Hobbs

Gale D. Hobbs, 54, Oskaloosa, formerly of Winchester, died April 10, 2008, at St. Francis Hospital in Topeka. She was born Jan. 29, 1954, at Atchison, the daughter of Doran A. and Virgie Ida Penn Hobbs.

She had lived in Oskaloosa for a few months moving from Winchester. She was a homemaker. She was a 1973 graduate of McDonald County High School in Anderson, Mo.

Survivors include one sister, Barbara Sears, Southwest City, Mo.; four brothers, Doran V. Hobbs of Arizona, Henry H. Hobbs and Donnie L. Hobbs of Oklahoma, and Larry G. Hobbs, Lawrence.

Funeral services will be at a later date at Ozark Funeral Home in Anderson, Mo., where burial will be at the Anderson Cemetery. Memorials can be made to the organization of the donor's choice and sent in care of Barnett-Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, P.O. Box 416, Oskaloosa, 66066.

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