JEFFCOUNTYNEWS.COM

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Charles Stein

Charles A. “Jack” Stein, 87, Topeka, died June 10, 2008, at Midland Hospice House in Topeka. He was born Aug. 3, 1920, at Valley Falls, the son of William B. and Anna S. Kelly Stein.

He graduated from Valley Falls High School in 1938. He served in the U.S. Army in World War II in North Africa and in Europe. He was an assistant signal supervisor for the Union Pacific Railroad in Topeka retiring in 1980 after 32 years. He was a member of St. Mary’s Immaculate Conception Church in Valley Falls and had attended Most Pure Heart of Mary Church in Topeka.

He was a member of Philip Billard Post 1650, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and American Legion Post 400, both in Topeka.

He married Barbara Bomhoff. They later divorced. He married Ruthe Putthoff Oct. 17, 1973. She died Nov. 27, 2002. He was also preceded in death by a son, Kelly Stein, April 17, 1989, four brothers and three sisters. Survivors include a son, Dennis Stein, Topeka; two stepsons, Doug Putthoff, Edmond, Okla., and Darin Putthoff, Topeka; a stepdaughter, Donna Grammer, Topeka; two brothers, John Stein, Valley Falls, and Frank Stein, Zephr Cove, Nev.; four sisters, Doris Akers, Osawatomie, Rita Stein and Joan Stein, both of San Francisco, Calif., and Judy Reichart, Social Circle, Ga.; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; 10 stepgrandchildren; and three stepgreat-grandchildren.

Mass of Christian Burial was June 14 at St. Mary’s Immaculate Conception Church in Valley Falls. Burial was in the church cemetery with military honors conducted by Grahem-Herbers Post 3084, VFW. Memorial contributions can be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society and sent in care of Mercer Funeral Home, 810 Broadway, Valley Falls, 66088. (mercerfuneralhomes.com)

Zimri Allen Enos died June 3, 2008, in Los Angeles. He was born in rural Perry Feb. 15, 1941, to Allen and Marjorie Enos.

He grew up as a farmer. After graduating from Perry High School as salutatorian and Kansas State University, he had a 22-year career as an Air Force navigator on KC-135 air refuelers. This career finally landed him in Merced, Calif., where he lived for over 30 years.

His post-Air Force career was multi-faceted, including working on flight simulators, teaching, and working with vegetables. After he retired, he worked summers in several of the nation’s national parks, where he applied his passion for environmentalism and the outdoors. In his long and varied career, he only missed a single day of work.

He was an active member of his community as a soccer coach and volunteer educator. He was married to Terry Ross, originally of Great Falls, Mont., from 1973 to 1991. He is survived by his three children, Casey, Ryan, and Erika; one grandson; his mother, Marjorie Enos, Perry; and three sisters and three brothers.

A memorial service will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 22 at the Gazebo Rose Garden in Apple Gate Park in Merced, Calif. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. July 5 at the Enos farm, 8954 22nd Road, at Perry. One can go online to enos@KU.edu or call (785) 865-5718 for details before July 3. Memorial contribution can be made to any environmental cause.

Ronald E. Houghtelin, 77, Owatonna, Minn., died June 13, 2008, at his home. He was born Feb. 6, 1931, in Owatonna to Elmer and Alta Brock Houghtelin and graduated from Owatonna High School.

He married Margaret Hammond of the Valley Falls community Nov. 12, 1955, in Topeka. Mr. Houghtelin worked as a bridge inspector and surveyor for the Minnesota Department of Transportation until 1971. The couple then distributed Shaklee products for 35 years.

He had his own business as Ron’s Sound and worked many years during his retirement. He was a member of the Waseca Senior Band, playing mainly harmonica and button accordion. He entertained at rest homes and bluegrass music jams. He worked many years researching genealogy and sharing family history. He was a member of the American Legion and the First Church of God.

Ron is survived by his wife, Marge; daughters, Pamela Beard, Naples, Fla., and Brenda Stegall, Owatonna; son, Robert Houghtelin, Owatonna; two grandchildren; four sisters, Romayne Moore, Owatonna, Lois Pope, Portland, Ore., Vyonne Long, Duluth, Minn., and Carol Purcell, Boring, Ore.; and a brother, Paul Houghtelin, St. Louis Park, Minn. A sister, Mavis Houghtelin, preceded him in death.

Funeral services were June 17 at First Church of God. Burial was in the Owatonna Memorial Gardens Cemetery with honors provided by the Steele County Military Funeral Unit. Michaelson Funeral Home, Owatonna, was in charge of arrangements.

Carl Joseph Noll, 84, Nortonville, died June 15, 2008, at the Village Villa Nursing Home, Nortonville. Mr. Noll was born Aug. 25, 1923, in the Mooney Creek community, the son of Fred and Ella Bertels Noll.

He lived most of his life in that community. He worked in Leavenworth as a carpenter for several years, ran a bulldozer for 10 years for Raymond Schrick, and was a road grader operator for 27 years for the Jefferson County Road Department. He also farmed. He was a member of the Corpus Christi Church, Mooney Creek.

He married Joan Elaine Chmidling June 3, 1947, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Nortonville. She survives of the home. Other survivors include four sons, Larry Noll, Nortonville, Dale Noll, Oskaloosa, and Fred Noll and Leon Noll, both of Atchison; two daughters, Bonnie Schrick, Easton, and Marie McDaniel, Atchison; a brother, Melvin Noll, Atchison; five sisters, Esther Arpin, Salina, Eulaine Schmidt, Winchester, Gelene Weishaar and Freida Weishaar, both Nortonville, and Rita January, Lyons; 15 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. A brother, LeRoy Noll, preceded him in death.

Mass of Christian Burial was June 18 at Corpus Christi Church. Burial was in the Corpus Christi Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made to the Corpus Christi Cemetery. The O’Trimble Funeral Home, Nortonville, handled arrangements.

Ruth Vera Robbins, 84, Tonganoxie, died June 14, 2008, at Tonganoxie Nursing Center. She was born Oct. 12, 1923, in Kansas City, the daughter of William McKinley and Mary Ellen Campbell Shingleton.

She was a charter member of West Haven Baptist Church, a volunteer at Good Shepherd Thrift Shop, and belonged to Rinda Chapter No. 82, Order of the Eastern Star, all of Tonganoxie.

She married Ralph H. Robbins Jan. 18, 1941. The family owned Midwest Carpet Co. for many years. She is survived by her husband of the home; two sons, David Robbins, Tonganoxie, and Phillip Robbins, Lawrence; three daughters, Mary Boudreaux, Tonganoxie, Linda Owen, Oskaloosa, and Melanie Chapman, Tonganoxie; a brother, Keith Shingleton, Gladstone, Mo; 14 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson.

Services were June 18 at West Haven Baptist Church, Tonganoxie. Burial was in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Kansas City. Memorials can be made to the Andy Robbins Scholarship Fund and sent in care of Quisenberry Funeral Home, PO Box 993, Tonganoxie, 66086.

Mary P. Erpelding, 94, formerly of Cummings, died June 14, 2008, at the Atchison Medicalodge. Mary P. Raffety was born July 6, 1913, in Mountain Grove, Mo., the daughter of James. W. and Adeline Roberson Raffety.

She lived and worked with her husband on the dairy farm in the Pardee community until February 2003. She was a member of the United Methodist Church, Cummings, the “We Can’t Give Up Circle” of the church, the Senior Citizens of Effingham, and the Happy Hour Club.

She was married to Aloysius Erpelding Feb. 16, 1949, in Leavenworth. He preceded her in death June 3, 1983. Survivors include three daughters, Barbara Nichols, Nortonville, Patricia Larson, Warsaw, Mo., and Coleen Murphy, Atchison; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. A brother, Elvyn Raffety, and a sister, Bernice Merritt, preceded her in death.

Funeral services were June 17 at the Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home. Burial was in the Oak Hill Cemetery, Atchison. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Atchison Medicalodge Activity Fund or the Camp Geiger Boy Scout Camp Capital improvements Fund.