Carolyn “Carol” Klaus, 93, Hays, passed away Monday, April 4, 2022, at Via Christi Village.

She was born October 29, 1928, on the 
family farm near St. Peter, Kansas the daughter of Jacob J. and 
Marcianna (Rohleder) Gerstner.&nbsp; She attended school in Collyer up until 
her junior year of high school and graduated from Hays High School in 
1947.&nbsp; On October 18, 1947, she was united in marriage to Wilfred Klaus 
in Pittsburg.&nbsp;

She had numerous jobs within the 
community at: Singer Sewing Company, J.M. McDonalds Department Store, 
St. Joseph’s Family Credit Union, and several banks, until she landed 
her dream job at Edward Jones.&nbsp; After almost two decades, Carolyn 
retired as a limited partner of the firm. &nbsp;She was a member of 
Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church and the Daughters of Isabella.&nbsp;
 She was very active in her church and community teaching sewing classes
 to 4-H children, an instructor for CCD/PSR classes at IHM, a member of 
American Business Women, President and Treasurer for the VFW Auxiliary, a
 member of American Legion Auxiliary, and volunteering for the Friends 
of the Library and IHM funeral dinner committee.&nbsp;&nbsp; When she wasn’t 
volunteering, she doted over her seven grandchildren as often as she 
could.&nbsp; She loved to bake, sew, embroider, as well as garden, especially
 her blackberries.

She is survived by a son: Mark Klaus 
and wife Karen of O’Fallon, MO, two daughters: Donna Harkness of 
Wichita, KS and Jean Pfeifer and husband John of Lawrence, KS, a 
brother: Rudy Gerstner and wife Pam of Sun City, AZ, a sister-in-law: 
Sandra Gerstner of Scott City, KS, three granddaughters: Chelsea McKay 
and husband Grant of Berglenn, Germany, Shannon Klaus of Sunnyvale, CA, 
and Erica Rule and husband Zach of O’Fallon, MO,&nbsp; four grandsons: Jacob 
Pfeifer and wife Emily of Bentonville, AR, Clayton Pfeifer of Manhattan,
 KS, and Reed Pfeifer and Jack Pfeifer, both of Lawrence, KS, and 
numerous nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her 
parents, her husband Wilfred in 2008, a son Arthur in 1969, and a 
son-in-law Charlie Harkness in 2014, as well as six brothers and six 
sisters.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 
10:00 am on Saturday, April 9, 2022, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic
 Church with Fr. Gale Hammerschmidt officiating.&nbsp; Burial will follow in 
St. Joseph Cemetery.&nbsp; Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 8:00 on 
Friday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Saturday, all at the Hays Memorial
 Chapel Funeral Home.&nbsp; A combined Daughters of Isabella and VFW 
Auxiliary rosary will be at 5:30 pm followed by a vigil service at 6:30,
 both on Friday at the funeral home.&nbsp;&nbsp; 

Memorials are suggested in memory
 of Carolyn to: Immaculate Heart of Mary building fund, TMP-Marian High 
School, or to St. John’s Chapel at Via Christi.&nbsp; Condolences and 
memories of Carolyn may be shared with the family at 
www.haysmemorial.com

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1649250921581.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Carolyn “Carol” Klaus, 93, Hays, passed away Monday, April 4, 2022, at Via Christi Village.She was born October 29, 1928, on the 
family farm near St. Peter, Kansas the daughter of Jacob J. and 
Marcianna (Rohleder) Gerstner.&nbsp; She attended school in Collyer up until 
her junior year of high school and graduated from Hays High School in 
1947.&nbsp; On October 18, 1947, she was united in marriage to Wilfred Klaus 
in Pittsburg.&nbsp;She had numerous jobs within the 
community at: Singer Sewing Company, J.M. McDonalds Department Store, 
St. Joseph’s Family Credit Union, and several banks, until she landed 
her dream job at Edward Jones.&nbsp; After almost two decades, Carolyn 
retired as a limited partner of the firm. &nbsp;She was a member of 
Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church and the Daughters of Isabella.&nbsp;
 She was very active in her church and community teaching sewing classes
 to 4-H children, an instructor for CCD/PSR classes at IHM, a member of 
American Business Women, President and Treasurer for the VFW Auxiliary, a
 member of American Legion Auxiliary, and volunteering for the Friends 
of the Library and IHM funeral dinner committee.&nbsp;&nbsp; When she wasn’t 
volunteering, she doted over her seven grandchildren as often as she 
could.&nbsp; She loved to bake, sew, embroider, as well as garden, especially
 her blackberries.She is survived by a son: Mark Klaus 
and wife Karen of O’Fallon, MO, two daughters: Donna Harkness of 
Wichita, KS and Jean Pfeifer and husband John of Lawrence, KS, a 
brother: Rudy Gerstner and wife Pam of Sun City, AZ, a sister-in-law: 
Sandra Gerstner of Scott City, KS, three granddaughters: Chelsea McKay 
and husband Grant of Berglenn, Germany, Shannon Klaus of Sunnyvale, CA, 
and Erica Rule and husband Zach of O’Fallon, MO,&nbsp; four grandsons: Jacob 
Pfeifer and wife Emily of Bentonville, AR, Clayton Pfeifer of Manhattan,
 KS, and Reed Pfeifer and Jack Pfeifer, both of Lawrence, KS, and 
numerous nieces and nephews.She is preceded in death by her 
parents, her husband Wilfred in 2008, a son Arthur in 1969, and a 
son-in-law Charlie Harkness in 2014, as well as six brothers and six 
sisters.Mass of Christian Burial will be at 
10:00 am on Saturday, April 9, 2022, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic
 Church with Fr. Gale Hammerschmidt officiating.&nbsp; Burial will follow in 
St. Joseph Cemetery.&nbsp; Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 8:00 on 
Friday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Saturday, all at the Hays Memorial
 Chapel Funeral Home.&nbsp; A combined Daughters of Isabella and VFW 
Auxiliary rosary will be at 5:30 pm followed by a vigil service at 6:30,
 both on Friday at the funeral home.&nbsp;&nbsp; Memorials are suggested in memory
 of Carolyn to: Immaculate Heart of Mary building fund, TMP-Marian High 
School, or to St. John’s Chapel at Via Christi.&nbsp; Condolences and 
memories of Carolyn may be shared with the family at 
www.haysmemorial.com

Carolyn 'Carol' Klaus

KANSAS CITY (AP) —Maggie Drew’s dad sent her to Circle of Hope Girls’ Ranch in Missouri in 2007, hoping strict Christian teachings would stop his 14-year-old daughter’s teenage rebellion.

Instead, Drew said, she found herself in a nightmare, sexually abused by one of the boarding school's founders and left with permanent spinal injuries after a fall from a hay barn for which she received no medical attention.

Just 25 miles away at another Christian boarding school, Brett Harper says he endured abuse that included staff members stomping on his back.

They are among dozens of people who say they were abused at either Circle of Hope or Agape Boarding School — allegations that helped prompt a new Missouri law aimed at reining in religious boarding schools that for decades went without any oversight by the state.

“I still have nightmares about these people and the things they did to us,” Drew said.

The founders of Circle of Hope&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-fe24ade3e378bfb53796a0af7cd71deb">face around 100 charges</a>, some alleging sexual abuse.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-education-arrests-missouri-springfield-82fb42da6ca67eab3a03238e14421ec3">Agape's doctor</a>&nbsp;is charged with child sex crimes and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-education-child-abuse-kansas-missouri-a97fcf244d041a1468945b10af5f5f76">five employees&nbsp;</a>are accused of assault, though Missouri’s attorney general thinks many more workers should have been charged.

The schools are unrelated and are not affiliated with any particular Christian denomination. But both opened in southwest Missouri under a 1982 state law that gave religious boarding schools free rein and the state no way to monitor how kids were educated. Even the health department had no oversight, including for schools that claimed to address mental health, behavioral and addiction issues.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-michael-brown-0377a84c0cdf657eb2173f90cedb0c30">new law approved last year</a>&nbsp;followed extensive reporting from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article247902155.html">The Kansas City Star</a>&nbsp;that found that several faith-based boarding schools, including Agape, relocated to Missouri after being investigated or shut down for abuse or neglect elsewhere.

Legislators heard testimony from former students such as Chanel Mare, who told of girls at Circle of Hope being forced to eat their own vomit; and James Matthew Lawson, who said he was raped at Agape and called “seizure boy” because of his epilepsy.

The Associated Press generally does not name victims of sexual abuse, but Larson and Drew both came forward publicly to discuss the allegations.

Supporters of religious boarding schools say they provide structure to troubled young people. Megan Stokes, executive director of National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs, said the wrongdoing alleged at Agape and Circle of Hope is exceedingly uncommon.

Yet unlike Missouri and many other states, her trade association requires state licensing for all of its 150 member schools, including the religious ones. Agape is not a member, nor was Circle of Hope.

Boyd and Stephanie Householder opened Circle of Hope in 2006 in the remote town of Humansville. “We use the BIBLE to teach (girls) that they are to obey their Parents and the authority over them,” the school’s website, which has been taken down, stated.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/media-kansas-social-media-archive-michael-brown-87ba63e06f2cc6e7661dc806a6c77da4">The school closed</a>&nbsp;amid a 2020 investigation; 25 girls were removed. In March 2021, Boyd Householder, 72, was charged with 79 crimes and Stephanie, 56, was charged with 22.

Sixteen former residents alleged they were restrained with handcuffs, whipped with belts, and punched. Nearly two dozen counts against Boyd Householder accuse him of sexual contact with girls.

Messages left with the Householders' attorney were not returned. In an August interview with the Star, the couple said the accusers made up their stories.

Drew, now 29, said her life was upended when her brother died in a car wreck in 2007. Her grieving father joined a church in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Drew said that when she refused to wear a skirt and her grades dropped, church leaders persuaded her dad to send her to Circle of Hope.

“It was absolute torture,” said Drew, who also accused the Householders of stealing a $25,000 inheritance from her.

James Clemensen, a retired California trooper, and his wife, Kathy, started Agape in Stockton, Missouri, in 1990. He told a reporter in 2002 that he picked Missouri because of its lack of regulation. He died in October.

Agape serves 120-150 boys ages 12-17. Its website says it's a nonprofit school "designed to show God’s love to teen boys struggling with behavior issues that can threaten their future.”

The school remains open. Five staffers were charged in September with abusing students. In December,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-education-arrests-missouri-springfield-82fb42da6ca67eab3a03238e14421ec3">Dr. David Smock</a>&nbsp;was charged with sexual abuse. He pleaded not guilty in March.

Phone messages left with Agape’s director and Smock's attorney were not returned.

Harper was 14 when he was sent there from his rural Oregon home in 1999. Now 36, he recalled long hours moving large rocks from one pile to another, toting lumber by hand and clearing land. Harper said his injuries have left him unable to keep a job.

“What I went through at Agape primed me for abusive relationships with people, it primed for being an ignorant young man not knowing the way the world worked, it destroyed my family relationship,” Harper said.

Missouri's new law sets minimum health and safety requirements for boarding schools, which still don't have to be licensed. The law mandates background checks for employees; requires adequate food, clothing and medical care for students; and says parents must be allowed access to their children at any time without prior notice.

After a state investigation last year, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt recommended charges against 22 Agape employees. But in Missouri, only the local prosecutor can file charges, and Cedar County Prosecuting Attorney Ty Gaither does not plan to file more.

“The attorney general has his agenda,” Gaither said. “I’m an experienced prosecutor and I filed what I believe are the appropriate charges.”

James Clidence, who taught math at Agape from 2012 to 2015, said he left after witnessing abuses so concerning that his wife contacted federal, state and local authorities. None would investigate, he said.

“I’m for religious liberty. I’m a pastor. But at this point we’re talking about children's well-being,” Clidence, who now leads a Baptist church in Maryland, said.

Harper is among those who question whether religious boarding schools will get real scrutiny in Missouri.

“How many things have to happen before they act?” he asked.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632608030678.png" alt="Agape Ranch-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Agape Ranch-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By JIM SALTERKANSAS CITY (AP) —Maggie Drew’s dad sent her to Circle of Hope Girls’ Ranch in Missouri in 2007, hoping strict Christian teachings would stop his 14-year-old daughter’s teenage rebellion.Instead, Drew said, she found herself in a nightmare, sexually abused by one of the boarding school's founders and left with permanent spinal injuries after a fall from a hay barn for which she received no medical attention.Just 25 miles away at another Christian boarding school, Brett Harper says he endured abuse that included staff members stomping on his back.They are among dozens of people who say they were abused at either Circle of Hope or Agape Boarding School — allegations that helped prompt a new Missouri law aimed at reining in religious boarding schools that for decades went without any oversight by the state.“I still have nightmares about these people and the things they did to us,” Drew said.The founders of Circle of Hope&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-fe24ade3e378bfb53796a0af7cd71deb">face around 100 charges</a>, some alleging sexual abuse.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-education-arrests-missouri-springfield-82fb42da6ca67eab3a03238e14421ec3">Agape's doctor</a>&nbsp;is charged with child sex crimes and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-education-child-abuse-kansas-missouri-a97fcf244d041a1468945b10af5f5f76">five employees&nbsp;</a>are accused of assault, though Missouri’s attorney general thinks many more workers should have been charged.The schools are unrelated and are not affiliated with any particular Christian denomination. But both opened in southwest Missouri under a 1982 state law that gave religious boarding schools free rein and the state no way to monitor how kids were educated. Even the health department had no oversight, including for schools that claimed to address mental health, behavioral and addiction issues.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-michael-brown-0377a84c0cdf657eb2173f90cedb0c30">new law approved last year</a>&nbsp;followed extensive reporting from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article247902155.html">The Kansas City Star</a>&nbsp;that found that several faith-based boarding schools, including Agape, relocated to Missouri after being investigated or shut down for abuse or neglect elsewhere.Legislators heard testimony from former students such as Chanel Mare, who told of girls at Circle of Hope being forced to eat their own vomit; and James Matthew Lawson, who said he was raped at Agape and called “seizure boy” because of his epilepsy.The Associated Press generally does not name victims of sexual abuse, but Larson and Drew both came forward publicly to discuss the allegations.Supporters of religious boarding schools say they provide structure to troubled young people. Megan Stokes, executive director of National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs, said the wrongdoing alleged at Agape and Circle of Hope is exceedingly uncommon.Yet unlike Missouri and many other states, her trade association requires state licensing for all of its 150 member schools, including the religious ones. Agape is not a member, nor was Circle of Hope.Boyd and Stephanie Householder opened Circle of Hope in 2006 in the remote town of Humansville. “We use the BIBLE to teach (girls) that they are to obey their Parents and the authority over them,” the school’s website, which has been taken down, stated.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/media-kansas-social-media-archive-michael-brown-87ba63e06f2cc6e7661dc806a6c77da4">The school closed</a>&nbsp;amid a 2020 investigation; 25 girls were removed. In March 2021, Boyd Householder, 72, was charged with 79 crimes and Stephanie, 56, was charged with 22.Sixteen former residents alleged they were restrained with handcuffs, whipped with belts, and punched. Nearly two dozen counts against Boyd Householder accuse him of sexual contact with girls.Messages left with the Householders' attorney were not returned. In an August interview with the Star, the couple said the accusers made up their stories.Drew, now 29, said her life was upended when her brother died in a car wreck in 2007. Her grieving father joined a church in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Drew said that when she refused to wear a skirt and her grades dropped, church leaders persuaded her dad to send her to Circle of Hope.“It was absolute torture,” said Drew, who also accused the Householders of stealing a $25,000 inheritance from her.James Clemensen, a retired California trooper, and his wife, Kathy, started Agape in Stockton, Missouri, in 1990. He told a reporter in 2002 that he picked Missouri because of its lack of regulation. He died in October.Agape serves 120-150 boys ages 12-17. Its website says it's a nonprofit school "designed to show God’s love to teen boys struggling with behavior issues that can threaten their future.”The school remains open. Five staffers were charged in September with abusing students. In December,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-education-arrests-missouri-springfield-82fb42da6ca67eab3a03238e14421ec3">Dr. David Smock</a>&nbsp;was charged with sexual abuse. He pleaded not guilty in March.Phone messages left with Agape’s director and Smock's attorney were not returned.Harper was 14 when he was sent there from his rural Oregon home in 1999. Now 36, he recalled long hours moving large rocks from one pile to another, toting lumber by hand and clearing land. Harper said his injuries have left him unable to keep a job.“What I went through at Agape primed me for abusive relationships with people, it primed for being an ignorant young man not knowing the way the world worked, it destroyed my family relationship,” Harper said.Missouri's new law sets minimum health and safety requirements for boarding schools, which still don't have to be licensed. The law mandates background checks for employees; requires adequate food, clothing and medical care for students; and says parents must be allowed access to their children at any time without prior notice.After a state investigation last year, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt recommended charges against 22 Agape employees. But in Missouri, only the local prosecutor can file charges, and Cedar County Prosecuting Attorney Ty Gaither does not plan to file more.“The attorney general has his agenda,” Gaither said. “I’m an experienced prosecutor and I filed what I believe are the appropriate charges.”James Clidence, who taught math at Agape from 2012 to 2015, said he left after witnessing abuses so concerning that his wife contacted federal, state and local authorities. None would investigate, he said.“I’m for religious liberty. I’m a pastor. But at this point we’re talking about children's well-being,” Clidence, who now leads a Baptist church in Maryland, said.Harper is among those who question whether religious boarding schools will get real scrutiny in Missouri.“How many things have to happen before they act?” he asked.

State regulates church boarding schools after abuse allegations

On October 15, 1928, the small town of Bellaire in Smith County, Kansas grew by one.&nbsp;


  Dr. I. E. Nickell made a house call and delivered a bouncing baby girl
 to Floyd and Mary Agnes (Morgan) Dick.&nbsp; Floyd proudly said, “That's 
making them pretty fine, isn't it?”&nbsp; The baby girl was given the name 
Barbara Joanne Dick.&nbsp; She was named after two of her parent’s favorite 
movie stars of the time:&nbsp; Barbara Stanwyck and Joan Crawford.&nbsp; Dr. 
Nickell made a mistake on the birth certificate and spelled her middle 
name as “Joanne.”&nbsp; That little girl grew up going by the name of 
“Joanne” or “Jody” as her father nicknamed her and only used her first 
name when signing legal documents.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

In 1931, another daughter 
was born, Joyce, and Joanne became the “big sister” and “guardian.”&nbsp; 
Their sisterly bond lasted their entire lives.&nbsp; &nbsp; 

Floyd was a 
school teacher by trade and got permission from the school 
superintendent to let his girls start their education in the Womer, 
District 21 school where he was teaching at the time.&nbsp; As it turned out,
 Floyd was their only teacher during their grade school years.&nbsp; Joanne 
attended Smith Center High School and graduated in the Class of 1946.&nbsp; 
After high school, she attended a summer school program at Ft. Hays 
Teacher's College and earned her teaching certificate.&nbsp; She taught 
school for several years prior to her marriage.&nbsp; She also worked for Dr.
 I. E. Nickell, the same doctor who brought her into the world.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; 
&nbsp;

On June 3, 1950 in the Methodist Parsonage in Mankato, Kansas, Joanne 
married Alvin C. Hill. The couple was married by Alvin's cousin, Rev. W.
 Carl Green.&nbsp; They began their married life on a farm 5 miles southeast 
of Smith Center that remained their home for many years.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Joanne 
was the mother of four children.&nbsp; Her first, Barbara Jane, was born in 
1952 and died in 1954.&nbsp; It was a loss that Joanne carried in her heart 
for the rest of her life.&nbsp; Her second child, Mary Jane, was born in 
1955.&nbsp; A son, Alan C. was born in 1958.&nbsp; Her last child, Patricia 
“Patty” was born in 1966.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

In the early 1960's, Joanne began a 
secretarial career at the Smith County Courthouse.&nbsp; She worked for the 
County Extension Agent, the County Treasurer's office, and finally in 
the County Attorney's office. Joanne loved working with numbers and her 
meticulous book keeping skills remained with her throughout her life.&nbsp; 
After leaving the courthouse, Joanne worked for a local insurance 
agent.&nbsp; She took the courses to become licensed and enjoyed that career 
for a number of years.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

When Alvin was diagnosed with cancer, 
the couple decided to turn the farming operation over to their son and 
move into Smith Center.&nbsp; They purchased a home at 218 N. Grant.&nbsp; That 
became the house where her family would congregate on holidays.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Alvin passed away in 1987.&nbsp; They were married 37 years.&nbsp; Joanne and her
 little dog, Scruffy, made a new life.&nbsp; Joanne was always involved in 
church whether it was the Presbyterian, Crystal Plains Church, the South
 Brethran Church in Portis, the Nazarene Church, or her current church 
home of Central Community Church in Smith Center.&nbsp; Her faith was 
unshakeable and she enjoyed reading her Bible, exploring the stories and
 history of Biblical times, and spending time in the presence of her 
Savior.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Any time of day was a good time for a cup of coffee!&nbsp; 
Joanne enjoyed coffee with friends at the Jiffy Burger, with her 
daughter Patty and grand dog, Belle, in the mornings.&nbsp; Joanne kept a 
supply of Vienna Sausages and would cut one up in little pieces, and 
feed them to Belle who would patiently wait on her daily treat.&nbsp; She 
also enjoyed coffee with her little “club” of high school friends.&nbsp; 
Coffee was also enjoyed while working a crossword puzzle, a Suduko 
puzzle, or a jigsaw puzzle.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

In 1994, Joanne surprised her 
children with the news that she was dating!&nbsp; She married Francis Runyon 
on November 26, 1994.&nbsp; She was escorted down the aisle by her oldest 
grandson.&nbsp; Thus began a new phase of life.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;She and Francis 
enjoyed pulling the camper to various locations and seeing the sights.&nbsp; 
She loved going to the Black Hills.&nbsp; If they could find a fishing hole, 
that made the trip even better.&nbsp; They were always busy doing something 
until “older age” began to creep up.&nbsp; They loved visits from the 
grandchildren and great-grandchildren.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

As the years crept up,
 Joanne slowed down, but didn’t give up!&nbsp; Health issues required that 
Francis move to the Smith Center Health and Rehab, and Joanne would 
faithfully pick up his laundry several times a week, wash it, and then 
iron.&nbsp; She would say, “I hate seeing wrinkles in men’s shirts!”&nbsp; The 
pandemic brought her social life to a screeching halt.&nbsp; No more coffee 
parties at Jiffy Burger.&nbsp; Only going to the grocery store when needed.&nbsp; 
The one thing that didn’t come to a halt was her weekly appointment to 
get her hair washed, set, and styled at the beauty shop by Patty.&nbsp; 
Throughout the pandemic, Joanne enjoyed her daily phone calls from 
Francis, her kids, and grandkids.&nbsp; She enjoyed her step-daughter, 
Joanna, popping in for a quick visit.&nbsp; She adored seeing her 
great-grandchildren and her one great-great grandson!&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Until 
recently, Joanne was living life to its fullest at the age of 93 years!&nbsp;
 She lived in her own house.&nbsp; She cooked her own meals.&nbsp; In the summer, 
she would make pickled beets and pass them out to anyone who would enjoy
 them!&nbsp; Her recipe was tops!&nbsp; She read here Bible daily aided by her 
large magnifying glass.&nbsp; And, she drove (probably not her wisest choice 
due to her cataracts).&nbsp; She always managed to find her way home safely.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Joanne passed away at the Smith Center Health and Rehab on Thursday, March 31, 2022.&nbsp; &nbsp;
 &nbsp; &nbsp;

Joanne was preceded in death by her parents, Floyd and Agnes Dick, 
her infant daughter, Barbara Jane, her husband, Alvin, and sister, 
Joyce.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;She leaves behind a wonderful legacy and memories with 
her husband, Francis Runyon, Smith Center; her daughter, Mary Jane 
McIntire of Salina, KS; son Alan (Lynne) Hill of rural Smith County; and
 daughter Patricia (Darren) of Smith Center, step-daughter, Joanna 
Runyon of Smith Center; 9 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and 1 
great-great grandson.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Joanne was a fiercely independent woman 
who taught her children right from wrong, instilled them with 
self-confidence, and gave them pride.&nbsp; She taught them to love God and 
say their prayers nightly.&nbsp; She kissed many skinned knees and wrapped 
each of us in a warm hug!&nbsp; Hers was a long life that was well-lived.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

We celebrate her life, her memories, and her new heavenly home!&nbsp;
 &nbsp; 

A private family graveside service will take place Saturday, April 
16, 2022, at Crystal Plains Cemetery, Smith County, KS, with Pastor 
Dennis Lambert officiating.&nbsp; Memorials may be given to Barbara J. Runyon
 Memorial Fund and can be sent in care of All Faiths Funeral Chapel, 113
 S. Madison St., Smith Center, KS&nbsp; 66967.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1649006692639.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>On October 15, 1928, the small town of Bellaire in Smith County, Kansas grew by one.&nbsp;
 Dr. I. E. Nickell made a house call and delivered a bouncing baby girl
 to Floyd and Mary Agnes (Morgan) Dick.&nbsp; Floyd proudly said, “That's 
making them pretty fine, isn't it?”&nbsp; The baby girl was given the name 
Barbara Joanne Dick.&nbsp; She was named after two of her parent’s favorite 
movie stars of the time:&nbsp; Barbara Stanwyck and Joan Crawford.&nbsp; Dr. 
Nickell made a mistake on the birth certificate and spelled her middle 
name as “Joanne.”&nbsp; That little girl grew up going by the name of 
“Joanne” or “Jody” as her father nicknamed her and only used her first 
name when signing legal documents.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;In 1931, another daughter 
was born, Joyce, and Joanne became the “big sister” and “guardian.”&nbsp; 
Their sisterly bond lasted their entire lives.&nbsp; &nbsp; Floyd was a 
school teacher by trade and got permission from the school 
superintendent to let his girls start their education in the Womer, 
District 21 school where he was teaching at the time.&nbsp; As it turned out,
 Floyd was their only teacher during their grade school years.&nbsp; Joanne 
attended Smith Center High School and graduated in the Class of 1946.&nbsp; 
After high school, she attended a summer school program at Ft. Hays 
Teacher's College and earned her teaching certificate.&nbsp; She taught 
school for several years prior to her marriage.&nbsp; She also worked for Dr.
 I. E. Nickell, the same doctor who brought her into the world.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; 
&nbsp;On June 3, 1950 in the Methodist Parsonage in Mankato, Kansas, Joanne 
married Alvin C. Hill. The couple was married by Alvin's cousin, Rev. W.
 Carl Green.&nbsp; They began their married life on a farm 5 miles southeast 
of Smith Center that remained their home for many years.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Joanne 
was the mother of four children.&nbsp; Her first, Barbara Jane, was born in 
1952 and died in 1954.&nbsp; It was a loss that Joanne carried in her heart 
for the rest of her life.&nbsp; Her second child, Mary Jane, was born in 
1955.&nbsp; A son, Alan C. was born in 1958.&nbsp; Her last child, Patricia 
“Patty” was born in 1966.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;In the early 1960's, Joanne began a 
secretarial career at the Smith County Courthouse.&nbsp; She worked for the 
County Extension Agent, the County Treasurer's office, and finally in 
the County Attorney's office. Joanne loved working with numbers and her 
meticulous book keeping skills remained with her throughout her life.&nbsp; 
After leaving the courthouse, Joanne worked for a local insurance 
agent.&nbsp; She took the courses to become licensed and enjoyed that career 
for a number of years.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;When Alvin was diagnosed with cancer, 
the couple decided to turn the farming operation over to their son and 
move into Smith Center.&nbsp; They purchased a home at 218 N. Grant.&nbsp; That 
became the house where her family would congregate on holidays.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; 
&nbsp;Alvin passed away in 1987.&nbsp; They were married 37 years.&nbsp; Joanne and her
 little dog, Scruffy, made a new life.&nbsp; Joanne was always involved in 
church whether it was the Presbyterian, Crystal Plains Church, the South
 Brethran Church in Portis, the Nazarene Church, or her current church 
home of Central Community Church in Smith Center.&nbsp; Her faith was 
unshakeable and she enjoyed reading her Bible, exploring the stories and
 history of Biblical times, and spending time in the presence of her 
Savior.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Any time of day was a good time for a cup of coffee!&nbsp; 
Joanne enjoyed coffee with friends at the Jiffy Burger, with her 
daughter Patty and grand dog, Belle, in the mornings.&nbsp; Joanne kept a 
supply of Vienna Sausages and would cut one up in little pieces, and 
feed them to Belle who would patiently wait on her daily treat.&nbsp; She 
also enjoyed coffee with her little “club” of high school friends.&nbsp; 
Coffee was also enjoyed while working a crossword puzzle, a Suduko 
puzzle, or a jigsaw puzzle.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;In 1994, Joanne surprised her 
children with the news that she was dating!&nbsp; She married Francis Runyon 
on November 26, 1994.&nbsp; She was escorted down the aisle by her oldest 
grandson.&nbsp; Thus began a new phase of life.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;She and Francis 
enjoyed pulling the camper to various locations and seeing the sights.&nbsp; 
She loved going to the Black Hills.&nbsp; If they could find a fishing hole, 
that made the trip even better.&nbsp; They were always busy doing something 
until “older age” began to creep up.&nbsp; They loved visits from the 
grandchildren and great-grandchildren.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;As the years crept up,
 Joanne slowed down, but didn’t give up!&nbsp; Health issues required that 
Francis move to the Smith Center Health and Rehab, and Joanne would 
faithfully pick up his laundry several times a week, wash it, and then 
iron.&nbsp; She would say, “I hate seeing wrinkles in men’s shirts!”&nbsp; The 
pandemic brought her social life to a screeching halt.&nbsp; No more coffee 
parties at Jiffy Burger.&nbsp; Only going to the grocery store when needed.&nbsp; 
The one thing that didn’t come to a halt was her weekly appointment to 
get her hair washed, set, and styled at the beauty shop by Patty.&nbsp; 
Throughout the pandemic, Joanne enjoyed her daily phone calls from 
Francis, her kids, and grandkids.&nbsp; She enjoyed her step-daughter, 
Joanna, popping in for a quick visit.&nbsp; She adored seeing her 
great-grandchildren and her one great-great grandson!&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Until 
recently, Joanne was living life to its fullest at the age of 93 years!&nbsp;
 She lived in her own house.&nbsp; She cooked her own meals.&nbsp; In the summer, 
she would make pickled beets and pass them out to anyone who would enjoy
 them!&nbsp; Her recipe was tops!&nbsp; She read here Bible daily aided by her 
large magnifying glass.&nbsp; And, she drove (probably not her wisest choice 
due to her cataracts).&nbsp; She always managed to find her way home safely.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Joanne passed away at the Smith Center Health and Rehab on Thursday, March 31, 2022.&nbsp; &nbsp;
 &nbsp; &nbsp;Joanne was preceded in death by her parents, Floyd and Agnes Dick, 
her infant daughter, Barbara Jane, her husband, Alvin, and sister, 
Joyce.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;She leaves behind a wonderful legacy and memories with 
her husband, Francis Runyon, Smith Center; her daughter, Mary Jane 
McIntire of Salina, KS; son Alan (Lynne) Hill of rural Smith County; and
 daughter Patricia (Darren) of Smith Center, step-daughter, Joanna 
Runyon of Smith Center; 9 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and 1 
great-great grandson.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Joanne was a fiercely independent woman 
who taught her children right from wrong, instilled them with 
self-confidence, and gave them pride.&nbsp; She taught them to love God and 
say their prayers nightly.&nbsp; She kissed many skinned knees and wrapped 
each of us in a warm hug!&nbsp; Hers was a long life that was well-lived.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;We celebrate her life, her memories, and her new heavenly home!&nbsp;
 &nbsp; A private family graveside service will take place Saturday, April 
16, 2022, at Crystal Plains Cemetery, Smith County, KS, with Pastor 
Dennis Lambert officiating.&nbsp; Memorials may be given to Barbara J. Runyon
 Memorial Fund and can be sent in care of All Faiths Funeral Chapel, 113
 S. Madison St., Smith Center, KS&nbsp; 66967.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Barbara J. Runyon

On 29 March 2022, Pat Dumcum, 78, of Osborne, Kansas set out on her last
 adventure. She passed peacefully at the Hays Medical Center, Hays, 
Kansas. Pat was born on October 31, 1943 in Little field Texas to 
Charlie and June (Sellers) Johnson. 


Pat was a spunky ball of fire and had a great passion for her 
family, creativity of all things DYI, cooking and not afraid to try new 
things. She also enjoyed junkin and loved the challenge of a good 
negotiation and getting everything to fit in her car and/or trailer.


Pat was never afraid to roll up her sleeves to get the job done.  
She worked in the food service arena and eventually obtained her 
Dietician certificate for healthcare. She used her love of cooking and 
baking to create many wonderful edible delights from appetizers to 
beautiful hand carved fruit pieces to 5 and 6 course meals.


Throughout her life, she was always willing to step out of the norm 
for adventure. She spent many hours traveling across the Midwest on her 
motorcycle. She took many of her family members on trips to her favorite
 state, Colorado, where they would enjoy river-rafting, zip-lining and 
being catapulted out over the vista. She always managed to bring a bit 
of Colorado home with her each time.


Pat is survived by her sister, Jodi Brummer of Osborne KS and her 
daughters, Judy Lacey of Chanute KS, Patti Vancil of Temple Tx, Kim 
Hampton of Ulysses KS, Mariah Seeley of McPherson KS, Jodi Boland of 
Alton KS and Sheila Conway of Osborne KS. She leaves behind 15 
grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.


She is preceded in death by her husband Jerry Dumcum, her parents, 2 brothers, 1 sister and a beloved brother-in-law.&nbsp;

Click <a href="https://www.rfmortuaries.com/obituaries/Pat-Dumcum?obId=24423614#/celebrationWall">HERE</a> for service details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648645399053.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>On 29 March 2022, Pat Dumcum, 78, of Osborne, Kansas set out on her last
 adventure. She passed peacefully at the Hays Medical Center, Hays, 
Kansas. Pat was born on October 31, 1943 in Little field Texas to 
Charlie and June (Sellers) Johnson. 
Pat was a spunky ball of fire and had a great passion for her 
family, creativity of all things DYI, cooking and not afraid to try new 
things. She also enjoyed junkin and loved the challenge of a good 
negotiation and getting everything to fit in her car and/or trailer.
Pat was never afraid to roll up her sleeves to get the job done. 
She worked in the food service arena and eventually obtained her 
Dietician certificate for healthcare. She used her love of cooking and 
baking to create many wonderful edible delights from appetizers to 
beautiful hand carved fruit pieces to 5 and 6 course meals.
Throughout her life, she was always willing to step out of the norm 
for adventure. She spent many hours traveling across the Midwest on her 
motorcycle. She took many of her family members on trips to her favorite
 state, Colorado, where they would enjoy river-rafting, zip-lining and 
being catapulted out over the vista. She always managed to bring a bit 
of Colorado home with her each time.
Pat is survived by her sister, Jodi Brummer of Osborne KS and her 
daughters, Judy Lacey of Chanute KS, Patti Vancil of Temple Tx, Kim 
Hampton of Ulysses KS, Mariah Seeley of McPherson KS, Jodi Boland of 
Alton KS and Sheila Conway of Osborne KS. She leaves behind 15 
grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her husband Jerry Dumcum, her parents, 2 brothers, 1 sister and a beloved brother-in-law.&nbsp;Click <a href="https://www.rfmortuaries.com/obituaries/Pat-Dumcum?obId=24423614#/celebrationWall">HERE</a> for service details.

Pat Dumcum

EL PASO, Texas&nbsp;– Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect wanted for murder in Kansas.

On March 28, U.S. Border Patrol Agents&nbsp;in the El Paso&nbsp;Sector&nbsp;arrested a U.S.&nbsp;citizen wanted for&nbsp;murder in Wichita.

The El Paso Station&nbsp;Border Patrol Agent encountered an individual walking along&nbsp;the south side of the Border Barrier&nbsp;near Fonseca Drive&nbsp;and Cesar E. Chavez/Border Highway, according to a media release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

When agents questioned the individual as to his citizenship, the man stated that he was a U.S.&nbsp;citizen and that he had&nbsp;just&nbsp;entered the United States&nbsp;from Mexico, illegally,&nbsp;by attempting to drive his truck across the Rio Grande.&nbsp;

The individual, later identified as 25-year-old Patricio Gomez, was taken into custody, for the illegal entry,&nbsp;and transported to the station for further investigation.&nbsp;Record checks revealed that he had an extensive criminal history&nbsp;and an&nbsp;active&nbsp;warrant&nbsp;out of&nbsp;Wichita,&nbsp;Kansas,&nbsp;for&nbsp;murder.

Gomez was&nbsp;remanded to the&nbsp;custody of the&nbsp;El Paso County Sheriff’s&nbsp;Office&nbsp;waiting&nbsp;to be extradited to Wichita.&nbsp;&nbsp;

On October 1, Wichita police issued an alert in an attempt to locate Gomez.

Just before 6:30p.m. Sept. 30, 2021. officers responded to a shooting call at a hotel in the 9400 block of East Corporate Hills.&nbsp; Upon arrival, officers located 42-year-old Michael Martinez who had been shot.&nbsp; He was pronounced deceased on the scene.

The investigation revealed&nbsp;Patricio&nbsp;along with a woman arrived at the hotel regarding an illegal drug transaction.&nbsp; During the transaction, a disturbance ensued and&nbsp;Gomez&nbsp;fired multiple shots at Martinez, striking him.&nbsp;&nbsp;Gomez&nbsp;and the woman fled the scene in a black Cadillac Escalade.

Police located the Cadillac outside of a hotel in Park City.&nbsp; 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648742338695.png" alt="Gomez from a Sept. 2021 arrest in Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Gomez from a Sept. 2021 arrest in Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>EL PASO, Texas&nbsp;– Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect wanted for murder in Kansas.On March 28, U.S. Border Patrol Agents&nbsp;in the El Paso&nbsp;Sector&nbsp;arrested a U.S.&nbsp;citizen wanted for&nbsp;murder in Wichita.The El Paso Station&nbsp;Border Patrol Agent encountered an individual walking along&nbsp;the south side of the Border Barrier&nbsp;near Fonseca Drive&nbsp;and Cesar E. Chavez/Border Highway, according to a media release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.When agents questioned the individual as to his citizenship, the man stated that he was a U.S.&nbsp;citizen and that he had&nbsp;just&nbsp;entered the United States&nbsp;from Mexico, illegally,&nbsp;by attempting to drive his truck across the Rio Grande.&nbsp;The individual, later identified as 25-year-old Patricio Gomez, was taken into custody, for the illegal entry,&nbsp;and transported to the station for further investigation.&nbsp;Record checks revealed that he had an extensive criminal history&nbsp;and an&nbsp;active&nbsp;warrant&nbsp;out of&nbsp;Wichita,&nbsp;Kansas,&nbsp;for&nbsp;murder.Gomez was&nbsp;remanded to the&nbsp;custody of the&nbsp;El Paso County Sheriff’s&nbsp;Office&nbsp;waiting&nbsp;to be extradited to Wichita.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633117408445.png" alt="Gomez-photo Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Gomez-photo Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>On October 1, Wichita police issued an alert in an attempt to locate Gomez.Just before 6:30p.m. Sept. 30, 2021. officers responded to a shooting call at a hotel in the 9400 block of East Corporate Hills.&nbsp; Upon arrival, officers located 42-year-old Michael Martinez who had been shot.&nbsp; He was pronounced deceased on the scene.The investigation revealed&nbsp;Patricio&nbsp;along with a woman arrived at the hotel regarding an illegal drug transaction.&nbsp; During the transaction, a disturbance ensued and&nbsp;Gomez&nbsp;fired multiple shots at Martinez, striking him.&nbsp;&nbsp;Gomez&nbsp;and the woman fled the scene in a black Cadillac Escalade.Police located the Cadillac outside of a hotel in Park City.&nbsp;

Wanted Kan. murder suspect captured by U.S. Border agents

Herman Edwin Meyer, age 81 of Flasher, ND died Wednesday, &nbsp;March 30, 2022, at Via&nbsp;Christi&nbsp;Village Care Center, Hays, Kansas. &nbsp; He was born March 21, 1941, in Flasher, ND on the family farm east of Flasher, ND. &nbsp;He was the seventh of 12 children and a twin to Henry, born to Carl A. and Louise (Wilson) Meyer.&nbsp;

On April 24, 1964, in Married Lavila Unser in the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Mandan, ND. They lived on the Homestead of his grandparents until October 29, 2020, when they were moved to a nursing home in KS to be closer to their children.

He was baptized on Palm Sunday April 6, 1941, and confirmed at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Flasher, ND. &nbsp;He started school in a one-room schoolhouse 1.5 miles east of their home and finished his schooling at Flasher High School, graduating in 1959. &nbsp;He was NDRA 1994 Sportsman of the year and also charter contributor to the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame.&nbsp;

During their years on the Diamond Lazy M ranch, they raised sheep for many years, also running 270 head of cattle the current breed were Red Angus. He taught his children to show sheep and steers in 4-H leading to grand champion stock. &nbsp;&nbsp;

He was active in the Pleasant Valley 4-H Club and part of the 1958 State Champion Judging Team. &nbsp;Herman also served on the Flasher School board for 3 years. Serving as president for one year.

He sheared sheep for many years and was a pick-up man for the Rodeo Circuit with trained dogs to help. At the age of 41, he road saddle bronc at the Old Timers Rodeo in Raleigh.&nbsp;

Survivors include his wife, Lavila; his children, Shelly Lippert and husband Tom, Hays, KS; Christie Scholl and husband Ken, Peyton, CO; his grandchildren, Tyler (Brittney) Patzner; Travis (Kayla) Patzner; Taylor Patzner; Briony (Justin) Janisse; Karna (Brandon) Prime; Trina (Matthew) Nipe;&nbsp;his bonus grandchildren, Michelle Rader; Chelsea (John) Moore; Cameron (Kelly Lippert;&nbsp;his eight great-grandchildren;&nbsp;his seven bonus great grandchildren;&nbsp;his siblings, Doris Klatt, Menomonie, WI; &nbsp;Henry (Janet) Meyer, Flasher, ND; Robert (Ilene)Meyer, Max, ND; Arnold (Sharon) Meyer, Kindred, ND; Lori (Doug) Andrews, Rapid City, SD; his two sisters-in-law; his two brothers-in-law; and a cousin, Mary Jane Scherf, Wales, WI; and many, nieces and nephews and their families.

Herman was preceded in death by his Son, Ross William Meyer; &nbsp;his parents, Carl and Louise Meyer; his brothers, Walter, James, and Ray; his sisters, Marjorie, Carol and Florence; and his two grandsons, Austin and Tanner.

Services will be at 2:00 P.M. Friday, April 1, 2022, at Via Christi Village Chapel, 2522 Canterbury Drive, Hays, Kansas with Pastor Timm O. Meyer officiating.&nbsp;&nbsp;The family will receive friends from 1:00 to 2:00 P.M. Friday, at Via Christi Village Chapel.

Additional Services will be at 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, April 5, 2022, at the Redeemer Lutheran Church, 904 8th&nbsp;Ave, SE in Mandan, ND. with Pastor Ryan Wolfe officiating .Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Monday, and from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, at the Church. &nbsp;Burial will be in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Flasher, ND.&nbsp; &nbsp; 

The family suggests memorials to the Redeemer Lutheran Church.&nbsp; &nbsp;Services are entrusted to Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22ndStreet, Hays, Kansas 67601 and Weigel Funeral Home, 309, 4thAve. NW Mandan, North Dakota 58554

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648747356427.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Herman Edwin Meyer, age 81 of Flasher, ND died Wednesday, &nbsp;March 30, 2022, at Via&nbsp;Christi&nbsp;Village Care Center, Hays, Kansas. &nbsp; He was born March 21, 1941, in Flasher, ND on the family farm east of Flasher, ND. &nbsp;He was the seventh of 12 children and a twin to Henry, born to Carl A. and Louise (Wilson) Meyer.&nbsp;On April 24, 1964, in Married Lavila Unser in the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Mandan, ND. They lived on the Homestead of his grandparents until October 29, 2020, when they were moved to a nursing home in KS to be closer to their children.He was baptized on Palm Sunday April 6, 1941, and confirmed at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Flasher, ND. &nbsp;He started school in a one-room schoolhouse 1.5 miles east of their home and finished his schooling at Flasher High School, graduating in 1959. &nbsp;He was NDRA 1994 Sportsman of the year and also charter contributor to the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame.&nbsp;During their years on the Diamond Lazy M ranch, they raised sheep for many years, also running 270 head of cattle the current breed were Red Angus. He taught his children to show sheep and steers in 4-H leading to grand champion stock. &nbsp;&nbsp;He was active in the Pleasant Valley 4-H Club and part of the 1958 State Champion Judging Team. &nbsp;Herman also served on the Flasher School board for 3 years. Serving as president for one year.He sheared sheep for many years and was a pick-up man for the Rodeo Circuit with trained dogs to help. At the age of 41, he road saddle bronc at the Old Timers Rodeo in Raleigh.&nbsp;Survivors include his wife, Lavila; his children, Shelly Lippert and husband Tom, Hays, KS; Christie Scholl and husband Ken, Peyton, CO; his grandchildren, Tyler (Brittney) Patzner; Travis (Kayla) Patzner; Taylor Patzner; Briony (Justin) Janisse; Karna (Brandon) Prime; Trina (Matthew) Nipe;&nbsp;his bonus grandchildren, Michelle Rader; Chelsea (John) Moore; Cameron (Kelly Lippert;&nbsp;his eight great-grandchildren;&nbsp;his seven bonus great grandchildren;&nbsp;his siblings, Doris Klatt, Menomonie, WI; &nbsp;Henry (Janet) Meyer, Flasher, ND; Robert (Ilene)Meyer, Max, ND; Arnold (Sharon) Meyer, Kindred, ND; Lori (Doug) Andrews, Rapid City, SD; his two sisters-in-law; his two brothers-in-law; and a cousin, Mary Jane Scherf, Wales, WI; and many, nieces and nephews and their families.Herman was preceded in death by his Son, Ross William Meyer; &nbsp;his parents, Carl and Louise Meyer; his brothers, Walter, James, and Ray; his sisters, Marjorie, Carol and Florence; and his two grandsons, Austin and Tanner.Services will be at 2:00 P.M. Friday, April 1, 2022, at Via Christi Village Chapel, 2522 Canterbury Drive, Hays, Kansas with Pastor Timm O. Meyer officiating.&nbsp;&nbsp;The family will receive friends from 1:00 to 2:00 P.M. Friday, at Via Christi Village Chapel.Additional Services will be at 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, April 5, 2022, at the Redeemer Lutheran Church, 904 8th&nbsp;Ave, SE in Mandan, ND. with Pastor Ryan Wolfe officiating .Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Monday, and from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, at the Church. &nbsp;Burial will be in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Flasher, ND.&nbsp; &nbsp; The family suggests memorials to the Redeemer Lutheran Church.&nbsp; &nbsp;Services are entrusted to Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22ndStreet, Hays, Kansas 67601 and Weigel Funeral Home, 309, 4thAve. NW Mandan, North Dakota 58554

Herman Edwin Meyer

Rose Marie Feldkamp, 93, of Seneca, died on Tuesday evening,&nbsp;March 29, 2022, at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca.&nbsp;

Rose was born on February 3, 1929, in Seneca,&nbsp;to&nbsp;Walter and Theresa Hays Becker. She attended Sts. Peter and Paul School and graduated on May 17, 1946. After graduation,&nbsp;she worked for Lanning and&nbsp;Drumm&nbsp;Law Office for&nbsp;five&nbsp;years as a secretary.&nbsp;

On August 29, 1950 she married Lloyd Feldkamp at Sts. Peter and Paul&nbsp;Catholic Church in Seneca. The&nbsp;couple lived&nbsp;south of Seneca until 1956,&nbsp;when they moved to Axtell, Kansas,&nbsp;wherethey resided&nbsp;until 1995, at which&nbsp;time they returned&nbsp;Seneca.&nbsp;

Rose&nbsp;was a true farmers wife, working alongside&nbsp;her husband on the farm. &nbsp;She&nbsp;was thebookkeeper&nbsp;for St. Michael&nbsp;Catholic Church in Axtell for many years, while they were a member of the&nbsp;parish.&nbsp;While a member of Sts. Peter &amp; Paul Catholic church she volunteered at&nbsp;funeral dinners for many years.&nbsp;Rose loved to embroidery, crochet,&nbsp;sew&nbsp;and&nbsp;cook; she relished the time visiting with her&nbsp;family and grandchildren. Rose was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic&nbsp;Church in&nbsp;Seneca&nbsp;and&nbsp;St. Ann’s&nbsp;Altar&nbsp;Sodality.

Rose was preceded in death by her husband,&nbsp;Lloyd on May 28, 2010;&nbsp;her son, Kevin on February 27, 1986;&nbsp;great-grandchildren, Aiden Meinhardt on May 2, 2009 and Micah Lierz&nbsp;on&nbsp;October&nbsp;18, 2021; her son-in-law,&nbsp;Robert Stallbaumer August 21, 2018; and her brother,&nbsp;Walter&nbsp;Becker&nbsp;on March 24, 2011.

She is survived by her six daughters, Donna Stallbaumer of&nbsp;Seneca, Linda (Charles) Schreiner of Topeka,&nbsp;Terry (Glen) McNeil of Hays, Gayle (Robert) Meyer of Sabetha, Becky (Mark) Lierz of Seneca, Kathy (David)&nbsp;Anstaett, of Tecumseh;&nbsp;four sons, Larry (Andrea) Feldkamp of Manhattan, Randy (Mary) Feldkamp of Fairbury, Nebraska, Fred (Maggie) Feldkamp of Axtell and Darin (Kim) Feldkamp of Topeka; 24 grandchildren;&nbsp;and 27 great-grandchildren.&nbsp;

Rosaries will be prayed at 2 &amp; 7&nbsp;PM&nbsp;on&nbsp;Thursday, March 31, 2022, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Mass of Christian Burial will be&nbsp;celebrated at&nbsp;11&nbsp;AM&nbsp;on&nbsp;Friday, April 1, 2022, at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. &nbsp;Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Memorials can be given in&nbsp;Rose’s memory, to the Nemaha County&nbsp;Meals on Wheels&nbsp;Program, and sent in care of the family.&nbsp;

To express your sympathy and for more information visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.lauerfuneralhome.com/">www.lauerfuneralhome.com</a>&nbsp;.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648672058861.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Rose Marie Feldkamp, 93, of Seneca, died on Tuesday evening,&nbsp;March 29, 2022, at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca.&nbsp;Rose was born on February 3, 1929, in Seneca,&nbsp;to&nbsp;Walter and Theresa Hays Becker. She attended Sts. Peter and Paul School and graduated on May 17, 1946. After graduation,&nbsp;she worked for Lanning and&nbsp;Drumm&nbsp;Law Office for&nbsp;five&nbsp;years as a secretary.&nbsp;On August 29, 1950 she married Lloyd Feldkamp at Sts. Peter and Paul&nbsp;Catholic Church in Seneca. The&nbsp;couple lived&nbsp;south of Seneca until 1956,&nbsp;when they moved to Axtell, Kansas,&nbsp;wherethey resided&nbsp;until 1995, at which&nbsp;time they returned&nbsp;Seneca.&nbsp;Rose&nbsp;was a true farmers wife, working alongside&nbsp;her husband on the farm. &nbsp;She&nbsp;was thebookkeeper&nbsp;for St. Michael&nbsp;Catholic Church in Axtell for many years, while they were a member of the&nbsp;parish.&nbsp;While a member of Sts. Peter &amp; Paul Catholic church she volunteered at&nbsp;funeral dinners for many years.&nbsp;Rose loved to embroidery, crochet,&nbsp;sew&nbsp;and&nbsp;cook; she relished the time visiting with her&nbsp;family and grandchildren. Rose was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic&nbsp;Church in&nbsp;Seneca&nbsp;and&nbsp;St. Ann’s&nbsp;Altar&nbsp;Sodality.Rose was preceded in death by her husband,&nbsp;Lloyd on May 28, 2010;&nbsp;her son, Kevin on February 27, 1986;&nbsp;great-grandchildren, Aiden Meinhardt on May 2, 2009 and Micah Lierz&nbsp;on&nbsp;October&nbsp;18, 2021; her son-in-law,&nbsp;Robert Stallbaumer August 21, 2018; and her brother,&nbsp;Walter&nbsp;Becker&nbsp;on March 24, 2011.She is survived by her six daughters, Donna Stallbaumer of&nbsp;Seneca, Linda (Charles) Schreiner of Topeka,&nbsp;Terry (Glen) McNeil of Hays, Gayle (Robert) Meyer of Sabetha, Becky (Mark) Lierz of Seneca, Kathy (David)&nbsp;Anstaett, of Tecumseh;&nbsp;four sons, Larry (Andrea) Feldkamp of Manhattan, Randy (Mary) Feldkamp of Fairbury, Nebraska, Fred (Maggie) Feldkamp of Axtell and Darin (Kim) Feldkamp of Topeka; 24 grandchildren;&nbsp;and 27 great-grandchildren.&nbsp;Rosaries will be prayed at 2 &amp; 7&nbsp;PM&nbsp;on&nbsp;Thursday, March 31, 2022, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Mass of Christian Burial will be&nbsp;celebrated at&nbsp;11&nbsp;AM&nbsp;on&nbsp;Friday, April 1, 2022, at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. &nbsp;Burial will be in the church cemetery.Memorials can be given in&nbsp;Rose’s memory, to the Nemaha County&nbsp;Meals on Wheels&nbsp;Program, and sent in care of the family.&nbsp;To express your sympathy and for more information visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.lauerfuneralhome.com/">www.lauerfuneralhome.com</a>&nbsp;.

Rose Marie Feldkamp

Lowell Arden Blickenstaff was born October 12, 1936, in Oberlin, Kansas, to
 Florence Blickenstaff (Hayes) And Edgar Blickenstaff. Lowell passed 
away Saturday, March 26, 2022, at the age of 85 at the Smith County 
Memorial Hospital, following a 35 year struggle with heart disease.
 After graduating in 1954, he moved with his family to rural Beaver 
City to farm. He made the long drive back to Smith Center to pursue his 
relationship with his bride to be Ardyus Lambert. They were united in 
marriage on June 1, 1956. They were blessed with three children Rodney 
Wayne, Cynthia Jo, and Carla Jean. Sometime around 1961 they move back 
to Smith County to establish a farmstead of their own. In 1992 they 
moved into the Lambert home where they currently reside.
 Lowell’s lifelong career was farming and taking care of cattle. 
Once his heart condition made him medically retire he picked up going to
 auctions for a friend Gayle Jones. Speaking of his heart condition he 
had quite an interesting story about his 1st heart attack ambulance 
trip. First ambulance caught fire on the way to the farm; sent a second 
one and it broke down. Then the gurney wouldn’t fit through the front 
door with him on it so they had to take him out through the picture 
window. It was just like Lowell to kick things off with a bang. Over the
 years he used all nine lives and possibly more. Lowell had a talent 
like no other. I don’t know anyone that is or was a better Deer Hunter 
but not intentionally. I’m pretty sure he even hit more than one deer 
in a day going to and from coffee. He had many passions in his life but 
he would make sure he made time for grandkids and friends. He played 
cards, enjoyed drinking coffee with his buddies including hanging out at
 Freddy Kolb’s auction house. 
 He never missed a chance of being a jokester and or telling jokes. 
Lowell had a gorilla suit/masks and loved to make his grandkids squeal. 
In his older years he moved on to other masks and wigs to continue his 
shenanigans. Another past time of his was turkey hunting and cat 
fishing. One of his favorite fishing memories was the day he went pond 
fishing with Cindy’s crew. His pole was the only lucky one &amp; hardly 
had enough string to reach the water. Lowell and Ardyus had several dogs
 over the years one Pokie but several Klide’s. Keep the same name and 
you don’t have to update the doghouse. He was known in the surrounding 
communities as the owner of the well-behaved dog on the toolbox. 
 Lowell is survived by his wife Ardyus of the home, son Rod 
Blickenstaff of Smith Center, daughters, Cindy Ratliff (Warren) of Glade
 Kansas, and Carla Aduddell significant other Rod Cassida of Camdenton 
MO.
 Grandchildren:
 Brandy (Ratliff)Shelton, Tony Blickenstaff (Nikki), Amber (Ratliff) 
Gower (James), Angie (Blickenstaff) Hahn (Travis), Edward Aduddell 
(Stevie Giancola), Nicki (Aduddell) Rothove(Jake)
 Great grandkids:
 Jaret, Kale &amp; Cole Shelton ,AJ, Mason, Jayten, Ayden, and 
Ainsley Blickenstaff, Clint, Peyton &amp; Cooper Gower, Coryn, Ashlyn 
&amp; Haden Hahn, Baely Hansen, Kyrian, Pyper &amp; Edward Aduddell, 
Jacey, Briella &amp; Briggs Rothove and a host of nieces, nephews, 
family and friends. 
 Lowell was preceded in death by his parents Florence and Edgar 
Blickenstaff, brother Duane Blickenstaff, sister Sharon and (Dale) 
Warner and great granddaughter Ali Shelton.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Click <a href="https://www.rfmortuaries.com/obituaries/Lowell-Arden-Blickenstaff?obId=24412328#/celebrationWall">HERE</a> for service details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648756058341.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Lowell Arden Blickenstaff was born October 12, 1936, in Oberlin, Kansas, to
 Florence Blickenstaff (Hayes) And Edgar Blickenstaff. Lowell passed 
away Saturday, March 26, 2022, at the age of 85 at the Smith County 
Memorial Hospital, following a 35 year struggle with heart disease.
 After graduating in 1954, he moved with his family to rural Beaver 
City to farm. He made the long drive back to Smith Center to pursue his 
relationship with his bride to be Ardyus Lambert. They were united in 
marriage on June 1, 1956. They were blessed with three children Rodney 
Wayne, Cynthia Jo, and Carla Jean. Sometime around 1961 they move back 
to Smith County to establish a farmstead of their own. In 1992 they 
moved into the Lambert home where they currently reside.
 Lowell’s lifelong career was farming and taking care of cattle. 
Once his heart condition made him medically retire he picked up going to
 auctions for a friend Gayle Jones. Speaking of his heart condition he 
had quite an interesting story about his 1st heart attack ambulance 
trip. First ambulance caught fire on the way to the farm; sent a second 
one and it broke down. Then the gurney wouldn’t fit through the front 
door with him on it so they had to take him out through the picture 
window. It was just like Lowell to kick things off with a bang. Over the
 years he used all nine lives and possibly more. Lowell had a talent 
like no other. I don’t know anyone that is or was a better Deer Hunter 
but not intentionally. I’m pretty sure he even hit more than one deer 
in a day going to and from coffee. He had many passions in his life but 
he would make sure he made time for grandkids and friends. He played 
cards, enjoyed drinking coffee with his buddies including hanging out at
 Freddy Kolb’s auction house. 
 He never missed a chance of being a jokester and or telling jokes. 
Lowell had a gorilla suit/masks and loved to make his grandkids squeal. 
In his older years he moved on to other masks and wigs to continue his 
shenanigans. Another past time of his was turkey hunting and cat 
fishing. One of his favorite fishing memories was the day he went pond 
fishing with Cindy’s crew. His pole was the only lucky one &amp; hardly 
had enough string to reach the water. Lowell and Ardyus had several dogs
 over the years one Pokie but several Klide’s. Keep the same name and 
you don’t have to update the doghouse. He was known in the surrounding 
communities as the owner of the well-behaved dog on the toolbox. 
 Lowell is survived by his wife Ardyus of the home, son Rod 
Blickenstaff of Smith Center, daughters, Cindy Ratliff (Warren) of Glade
 Kansas, and Carla Aduddell significant other Rod Cassida of Camdenton 
MO.
 Grandchildren:
 Brandy (Ratliff)Shelton, Tony Blickenstaff (Nikki), Amber (Ratliff) 
Gower (James), Angie (Blickenstaff) Hahn (Travis), Edward Aduddell 
(Stevie Giancola), Nicki (Aduddell) Rothove(Jake)
 Great grandkids:
 Jaret, Kale &amp; Cole Shelton ,AJ, Mason, Jayten, Ayden, and 
Ainsley Blickenstaff, Clint, Peyton &amp; Cooper Gower, Coryn, Ashlyn 
&amp; Haden Hahn, Baely Hansen, Kyrian, Pyper &amp; Edward Aduddell, 
Jacey, Briella &amp; Briggs Rothove and a host of nieces, nephews, 
family and friends. 
 Lowell was preceded in death by his parents Florence and Edgar 
Blickenstaff, brother Duane Blickenstaff, sister Sharon and (Dale) 
Warner and great granddaughter Ali Shelton.&nbsp;&nbsp;Click <a href="https://www.rfmortuaries.com/obituaries/Lowell-Arden-Blickenstaff?obId=24412328#/celebrationWall">HERE</a> for service details.

Lowell Arden Blickenstaff

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers that if 
they're unable to file their tax return by this year's April 18 
deadline, there's an easy, online option to get more time to complete 
their return.

Taxpayers who need more time to complete their return can request an 
automatic six-month extension to file. An extension allows for extra 
time to gather, prepare and file paperwork with the IRS; however, 
taxpayers should be aware that:

Individual tax filers, regardless of income, can use IRS Free File to
 electronically request an automatic tax-filing extension. The fastest 
and easiest way to get an extension is through <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">IRS Free File</a> on IRS.gov. Taxpayers can electronically request an extension on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4868.pdf">Form 4868</a>&nbsp;PDF.
 Filing this form gives taxpayers until October 17 to file their tax 
return. To get the extension, taxpayers must estimate their tax 
liability on this form and should timely pay any amount due.

Other fast, free and easy ways to get an extension include using IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">Direct Pay</a>, the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/eftps-the-electronic-federal-tax-payment-system">Electronic Federal Tax Payment System</a> or by paying with a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-taxes-by-credit-or-debit-card">credit or debit card or digital wallet</a>.
 There's no need to file a separate Form 4868 extension request when 
making an electronic payment and indicating it's for an extension. The 
IRS will automatically count it as an extension.

The IRS reminds taxpayers that a request for an extension provides extra time to file a tax return, but not extra time to pay any
 taxes owed. Payments are still due by the original deadline. Taxpayers 
should file even if they can't pay the full amount. By filing either a 
return on time or requesting an extension by the April 18 filing 
deadline, they'll avoid the late-filing penalty, which can be 10 times 
as costly as the penalty for not paying.

Taxpayers who pay as much as they can by the due date, reduce the 
overall amount subject to penalty and interest charges. The interest 
rate is currently four percent per year, compounded daily. The 
late-filing penalty is generally five percent per month and the 
late-payment penalty is normally 0.5 percent per month.

The IRS will work with taxpayers who cannot pay the full amount of 
tax they owe. Other options to pay, such as getting a loan or paying by 
credit card, may help resolve a tax debt. Most people can set up a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/online-payment-agreement-application">payment plan</a> on IRS.gov to pay off their balance over time.

Certain eligible taxpayers get more time to file without having to ask for extensions. These include:

The deadline to submit 2021 tax returns or an extension to file 
and pay tax owed this year falls on April 18, instead of April 15, 
because of the Emancipation Day holiday in the District of Columbia. 
Taxpayers in Maine or Massachusetts have until April 19, 2022, to file 
their returns due to the Patriots' Day holiday in those states.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers that if 
they're unable to file their tax return by this year's April 18 
deadline, there's an easy, online option to get more time to complete 
their return.Taxpayers who need more time to complete their return can request an 
automatic six-month extension to file. An extension allows for extra 
time to gather, prepare and file paperwork with the IRS; however, 
taxpayers should be aware that:<ul>
 <li>An extension to file their return doesn't grant them an extension to pay their taxes,</li><li>They should estimate and pay any owed taxes by their regular deadline to help avoid possible penalties and</li><li>They must file their extension no later than the regular due date of their return.</li>
 </ul><h2>E-file an extension form for free</h2>Individual tax filers, regardless of income, can use IRS Free File to
 electronically request an automatic tax-filing extension. The fastest 
and easiest way to get an extension is through <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">IRS Free File</a> on IRS.gov. Taxpayers can electronically request an extension on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4868.pdf">Form 4868</a>&nbsp;PDF.
 Filing this form gives taxpayers until October 17 to file their tax 
return. To get the extension, taxpayers must estimate their tax 
liability on this form and should timely pay any amount due.<h2>Get an extension when making a payment</h2>Other fast, free and easy ways to get an extension include using IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">Direct Pay</a>, the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/eftps-the-electronic-federal-tax-payment-system">Electronic Federal Tax Payment System</a> or by paying with a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-taxes-by-credit-or-debit-card">credit or debit card or digital wallet</a>.
 There's no need to file a separate Form 4868 extension request when 
making an electronic payment and indicating it's for an extension. The 
IRS will automatically count it as an extension.<h2>Important reminders on extensions</h2>The IRS reminds taxpayers that a request for an extension provides extra time to file a tax return, but not extra time to pay any
 taxes owed. Payments are still due by the original deadline. Taxpayers 
should file even if they can't pay the full amount. By filing either a 
return on time or requesting an extension by the April 18 filing 
deadline, they'll avoid the late-filing penalty, which can be 10 times 
as costly as the penalty for not paying.Taxpayers who pay as much as they can by the due date, reduce the 
overall amount subject to penalty and interest charges. The interest 
rate is currently four percent per year, compounded daily. The 
late-filing penalty is generally five percent per month and the 
late-payment penalty is normally 0.5 percent per month.The IRS will work with taxpayers who cannot pay the full amount of 
tax they owe. Other options to pay, such as getting a loan or paying by 
credit card, may help resolve a tax debt. Most people can set up a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/online-payment-agreement-application">payment plan</a> on IRS.gov to pay off their balance over time.<h2>Other automatic extensions</h2>Certain eligible taxpayers get more time to file without having to ask for extensions. These include:<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/us-citizens-and-resident-aliens-abroad">U.S. citizens and resident aliens</a> who live and work outside of the United States and Puerto Rico get an <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/us-citizens-and-resident-aliens-abroad-automatic-2-month-extension-of-time-to-file">automatic 2-month</a>
 extension to file their tax returns. They have until June 15 to file. 
However, tax payments are still due April 18 or interest will be 
charged.</li><li>Members of the military on duty outside the United States and 
Puerto Rico also receive an automatic two-month extension to file. Those
 serving in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/combat-zones">combat zones</a> have up to 180 days after they leave the combat zone to file returns and pay any taxes due. Details are available in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p3.pdf">Publication 3, Armed Forces' Tax Guide</a>&nbsp;PDF.</li><li>When the President makes a disaster area declaration, the IRS can <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/extension-of-time-to-file-your-tax-return">postpone certain taxpayer deadlines</a> for residents and businesses in the affected area. People can find information on the most recent tax relief for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-relief-in-disaster-situations">disaster situations</a> on the IRS website.</li>
 </ul>The deadline to submit 2021 tax returns or an extension to file 
and pay tax owed this year falls on April 18, instead of April 15, 
because of the Emancipation Day holiday in the District of Columbia. 
Taxpayers in Maine or Massachusetts have until April 19, 2022, to file 
their returns due to the Patriots' Day holiday in those states.

Haven't filed your taxes yet? Here's how to get an extension

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

Melva was born August 24, 1935, in Dorrance, Kansas.&nbsp; The daughter of Walter and Minnie (Kaufman) Rassette.&nbsp; She grew up south of Dorrance on a farm and graduated from Dorrance High School with the class of 1953.&nbsp; The summer of her junior and senior year, Melva worked at the Russell State Bank.&nbsp; After graduation, she earned a permanent position and worked there for 35 years.&nbsp; She retired in 1996.&nbsp; Melva married Franklin Dean Peirano on October 17, 1954.&nbsp; They celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary in 2021.&nbsp; Their union was blessed with three children; Alan, Brenda, Curtis.&nbsp; They made their home in Russell, Kansas and retired there.

She was very active in her children's sports during their youth, taught Sunday school at Saint John's Lutheran Church and loved music.&nbsp; She was remembered for teaching her Sunday School classes songs on the autoharp.&nbsp; Melva also played the piano and was the main focus each Christmas with many carols.&nbsp; She assisted with the Brownies and Girl Scout Troups.

Melva is survived by husband Frank of the home: son, Alan Peirano (Pam) of Derby, Kansas, daughter, Brenda (Tom) of Bristol Connecticut, son, Curtis Peirano of Lake Wood, Colorado; sisters, Cleo Plaggerman (Larry) of Salina, Kansas, Pat Schempp (Andy) of Salina, Kansas, and Betty Ehrlich of Russell, Kansas: brother, Don Rassette (Cheryl) of El Paso, Texas; six grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

Melva was preceded in death by her father Walter and mother Minnie; brother Ronald Rassette, sister Linda Weeks and brother-in-law Leroy Chet Ehrlich.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Celebration of Melva’s Life will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, April 1, 2022, at the St. John Lutheran Church of Russell.&nbsp; A private burial of ashes will take place at a later date.&nbsp; Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Thursday, March 31, 2022, at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.&nbsp; A 

Memorial has been established with St. John Lutheran Church.&nbsp; Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648235324614.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Melva Arlene (Rassette) Peirano, 86, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Thursday, March 24, 2022, at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell, Kansas.&nbsp;Melva was born August 24, 1935, in Dorrance, Kansas.&nbsp; The daughter of Walter and Minnie (Kaufman) Rassette.&nbsp; She grew up south of Dorrance on a farm and graduated from Dorrance High School with the class of 1953.&nbsp; The summer of her junior and senior year, Melva worked at the Russell State Bank.&nbsp; After graduation, she earned a permanent position and worked there for 35 years.&nbsp; She retired in 1996.&nbsp; Melva married Franklin Dean Peirano on October 17, 1954.&nbsp; They celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary in 2021.&nbsp; Their union was blessed with three children; Alan, Brenda, Curtis.&nbsp; They made their home in Russell, Kansas and retired there.She was very active in her children's sports during their youth, taught Sunday school at Saint John's Lutheran Church and loved music.&nbsp; She was remembered for teaching her Sunday School classes songs on the autoharp.&nbsp; Melva also played the piano and was the main focus each Christmas with many carols.&nbsp; She assisted with the Brownies and Girl Scout Troups.Melva is survived by husband Frank of the home: son, Alan Peirano (Pam) of Derby, Kansas, daughter, Brenda (Tom) of Bristol Connecticut, son, Curtis Peirano of Lake Wood, Colorado; sisters, Cleo Plaggerman (Larry) of Salina, Kansas, Pat Schempp (Andy) of Salina, Kansas, and Betty Ehrlich of Russell, Kansas: brother, Don Rassette (Cheryl) of El Paso, Texas; six grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.Melva was preceded in death by her father Walter and mother Minnie; brother Ronald Rassette, sister Linda Weeks and brother-in-law Leroy Chet Ehrlich.&nbsp;&nbsp;Celebration of Melva’s Life will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, April 1, 2022, at the St. John Lutheran Church of Russell.&nbsp; A private burial of ashes will take place at a later date.&nbsp; Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Thursday, March 31, 2022, at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.&nbsp; A Memorial has been established with St. John Lutheran Church.&nbsp; Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.

Melva Arlene (Rassette) Peirano

WASHINGTON (AP) — Thanks to a sudden $140 million cash infusion, officials in Broward County, Florida, recently broke ground on a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.broward.org/CCExpansion/pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">high-end hotel</a>&nbsp;that will have views of the Atlantic Ocean and an 11,000-square-foot spa.

In New York, Dutchess County pledged $12 million for renovations of a&nbsp;<a href="https://dutchesstourism.com/listingsv/dutchess-stadium" target="_blank">minor league baseball stadium</a>&nbsp;to meet requirements the New York Yankees set for their farm teams.

And in Massachusetts, lawmakers delivered $5 million to pay off debts of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.emkinstitute.org/" target="_blank">Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate</a>&nbsp;in Boston, a nonprofit established to honor the late senator that has struggled financially.

The three distinctly different outlays have one thing in common: Each is among the scores of projects that state and local governments across the United States are funding with federal coronavirus relief money despite having little to do with combating the pandemic, a review by The Associated Press has found.

The expenditures amount to a fraction of the $350 billion made available through last year’s&nbsp;<a href="https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/coronavirus/assistance-for-state-local-and-tribal-governments/state-and-local-fiscal-recovery-funds" target="_blank">American Rescue Plan</a>&nbsp;to help state and local governments weather the crisis. But they are examples of uses of the aid that are inconsistent with the rationale that Democrats offered for the record $1.9 trillion bill: The cash was desperately needed to save jobs, help those in distress, open schools and increase vaccinations.

Republicans are already balking at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-business-health-congress-e5b411a879b2becf3e342fea3b0df981">additional money for pandemic relief that President Joe Biden has requested,</a>&nbsp;and programs that seem far removed from ones that directly combat the virus will probably add to the resistance in the GOP.

“They need to give us an accounting,” said Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, who tried unsuccessfully to amend the Democrats’ bill last year to add more limits on how the money could be spent. “Show us how you’ve already spent the money Congress gave you,” he said, adding, “It’s hard to imagine how a four-star hotel is helping to solve the pain of COVID.”

Many of the projects identified by the AP echo pork-barrel spending disasters such as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fe1ef497194642dab18792e14a61e27a">Alaska’s $398 million “Bridge to Nowhere,”</a>&nbsp;which was canceled in 2007 after a public uproar.

But with permissive Treasury Department rules governing how the pandemic money can be spent, state and local governments face few limitations. New Jersey allocated $15 million for upgrades to sweeten the state’s bid to host the 2026 World Cup. In Woonsocket, Rhode Island, officials allocated $53,000 for a remodeling of City Hall.

“Outrageous” and “just nuts” is how Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., described some of the expenditures, which she said were an affront to responsible local governments.

“Our hospitals were overwhelmed because of the pandemic and somebody now has a hotel somewhere?” she added.

Included among the projects and expenditures identified by the AP:

—$400 million&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-prisons-montgomery-kay-ivey-8a7d30c43f4e61987051368a9604fda9">to build new prisons in Alabama</a>, accounting for nearly one-quarter of the total aid the state will receive through the program.

—tens of millions of dollars for tourism marketing campaigns in Puerto Rico ($70 million), Washington, D.C. ($8 million) and Tucson, Arizona ($2 million). The city of Alexandria, Virginia, also announced it would spend $120,000 to give its tourism website a makeover.

—$6.6 million to replace irrigation systems at two golf courses in Colorado Springs.

—$5 million approved by Birmingham, Alabama, to support the 2022 World Games. The event features niche sporting contests such as DanceSport, korfball and flying disc.

—$2.5 million to hire new parking enforcement officers in Washington, D.C.

—$2 million to help Pottawattamie County, Iowa, purchase a privately owned ski area.

—$1 million to pay off overdue child support in St. Louis. A city memo states that owing child support stops some people from looking for work because the overdue payments are garnished from paychecks; the program would “empower individuals” by paying down a portion.

—$300,000 to establish a museum in Worcester, Massachusetts, honoring Major Taylor, a famed Black bicycle rider from the turn of the 20th century known as the “Worcester Whirlwind” who died in 1932.

Liz Bourgeois, a spokeswoman for the Treasury Department, called the program a success that allowed state and local governments to “recover from financial distress” and “achieve their own strategies for restoring jobs and industries hit by the pandemic.”

“Ultimately local governments are accountable to their communities on their decisions on how best to use their funds,” Bourgeois said in a statement.

In Broward County, officials defended their planned 29-story, 800-room hotel, which will be owned by the county but operated by a private management group.

They also contest whether federal money is technically being used for the project. Broward County initially routed $140 million in federal coronavirus aid to the project, which ran against Treasury Department rules that generally bar spending the money on large capital projects.

To get around the prohibition, the county adopted a common workaround.

<a href="https://broward.legistar1.com/broward/meetings/2022/2/1096_A_County_Commission_22-02-22_Regular_Meeting_Agenda.pdf" target="_blank">The agenda from a Feb. 22 county board meeting</a>&nbsp;details how: In a back-to-back series of unopposed votes, commissioners clawed back the federal money they had given to the hotel. They then transferred it to the county’s general fund, describing it as a federal payment to cover lost tax revenue, which is an acceptable use. Then the cash was transferred from the general fund right back to the project.

County Administrator Monica Cepero insisted “no federal funds will be used to pay any of the cost of developing the Hotel Project.”

“The County has reviewed the Treasury guidance and modified its use of (the) funds,” she said in a statement.

Some lawmakers in Congress, however, are nonplussed.

“They are basically money laundering funding that is meant to help communities that are suffering,” said Spanberger, who called for more oversight.

Local officials in New York’s Dutchess County, home to the $12 million minor league stadium project, said in a statement that the expenditure was “completely and absolutely consistent” with Congress’ intent for the money.

“It’s ironic that this criticism emanates from the same congressional members who have brought back pork barrel earmarks,” said Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro.

The Edward Kennedy Institute did not respond to messages seeking comment on the $5 million in coronavirus aid received from Massachusetts. The institute operated at a $27 million loss between 2015 and 2019, according to tax filings from those years, the most recent that are publicly available.

Even in cases where local and state officials may have violated the spending rules, the sheer volume of money pumped out presents a challenge for government oversight offices that are often understaffed and poorly funded.

“The amount of money that went out was so massive and so far beyond anything that has ever been spent in our country before, that our capacity to audit every dollar spent is clearly stretched,” Romney said.

But groups that lobby on behalf of local governments in Washington say the spending rules were written permissively in order to give as much flexibility as possible.

“Counties should be able to determine what’s best for them,” said Mark Ritacco, director of government affairs for the National Association of Counties. “Their residents will decide whether that was appropriate or not at the ballot box.”

The new findings track closely with AP’s previous reporting, which found in October that states and large cities had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-states-cities-spend-federal-pandemic-funds-191dce8c75b0f5159691f0606d910d74">spent just a tiny fraction of their relief funding</a>&nbsp;six months after it was approved. That was despite their pleas for the emergency cash when Congress was still debating it.

Some school districts also had so much extra federal pandemic cash that they spent it on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-school-funding-sports-5b468b260ebd2593e53f03f9104d9bca">new sports stadiums, arenas and football turf.</a>&nbsp;In other instances, states used discretionary funding to further&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-education-coronavirus-pandemic-school-choice-efe85ad624d092b6eff700b635103a02">school choice initiatives</a>&nbsp;that they had failed to get through their legislatures.

Rich Delmar, the deputy inspector general for the Treasury Department, declined to say whether the office had any active investigations into uses of the state and local pot of money.

“All projects are potentially subject to audit and investigation,” Delmar said in an email, adding that “we are actively engaging in oversight.”

Biden, meanwhile, has said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-congress-7bba01ec15bdc406c793bc835f717cd1">his administration urgently needs more money</a>&nbsp;to pay for things that are directly related to the pandemic.

Without it, the White House says, the administration won’t be able to replenish depleted stockpiles of vaccines and therapeutics. Republican say winning their support will hinge on it being paid for with money that was already appropriated.

A deal that leaders struck this month would have been paid for by recouping some aid intended for states. But the agreement fell apart after several governors objected and rank-and-file House Democrats rebelled.

At least one Democrat sought to raise campaign cash off her opposition to clawing local money back.

“We had a bit of a fight when they tried to take money away from Michigan,” reads a fundraising email from Michigan Rep. Debbie Dingell. “I was not going to let the Midwest get harmed. We won.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1638285832314.png" alt="“Outrageous” and “just nuts” is how Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., described some of the expenditures, which she said were an affront to responsible local governments." />
 <figcaption>“Outrageous” and “just nuts” is how Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., described some of the expenditures, which she said were an affront to responsible local governments.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Thanks to a sudden $140 million cash infusion, officials in Broward County, Florida, recently broke ground on a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.broward.org/CCExpansion/pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">high-end hotel</a>&nbsp;that will have views of the Atlantic Ocean and an 11,000-square-foot spa.In New York, Dutchess County pledged $12 million for renovations of a&nbsp;<a href="https://dutchesstourism.com/listingsv/dutchess-stadium" target="_blank">minor league baseball stadium</a>&nbsp;to meet requirements the New York Yankees set for their farm teams.And in Massachusetts, lawmakers delivered $5 million to pay off debts of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.emkinstitute.org/" target="_blank">Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate</a>&nbsp;in Boston, a nonprofit established to honor the late senator that has struggled financially.The three distinctly different outlays have one thing in common: Each is among the scores of projects that state and local governments across the United States are funding with federal coronavirus relief money despite having little to do with combating the pandemic, a review by The Associated Press has found.The expenditures amount to a fraction of the $350 billion made available through last year’s&nbsp;<a href="https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/coronavirus/assistance-for-state-local-and-tribal-governments/state-and-local-fiscal-recovery-funds" target="_blank">American Rescue Plan</a>&nbsp;to help state and local governments weather the crisis. But they are examples of uses of the aid that are inconsistent with the rationale that Democrats offered for the record $1.9 trillion bill: The cash was desperately needed to save jobs, help those in distress, open schools and increase vaccinations.Republicans are already balking at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-business-health-congress-e5b411a879b2becf3e342fea3b0df981">additional money for pandemic relief that President Joe Biden has requested,</a>&nbsp;and programs that seem far removed from ones that directly combat the virus will probably add to the resistance in the GOP.“They need to give us an accounting,” said Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, who tried unsuccessfully to amend the Democrats’ bill last year to add more limits on how the money could be spent. “Show us how you’ve already spent the money Congress gave you,” he said, adding, “It’s hard to imagine how a four-star hotel is helping to solve the pain of COVID.”Many of the projects identified by the AP echo pork-barrel spending disasters such as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fe1ef497194642dab18792e14a61e27a">Alaska’s $398 million “Bridge to Nowhere,”</a>&nbsp;which was canceled in 2007 after a public uproar.But with permissive Treasury Department rules governing how the pandemic money can be spent, state and local governments face few limitations. New Jersey allocated $15 million for upgrades to sweeten the state’s bid to host the 2026 World Cup. In Woonsocket, Rhode Island, officials allocated $53,000 for a remodeling of City Hall.“Outrageous” and “just nuts” is how Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., described some of the expenditures, which she said were an affront to responsible local governments.“Our hospitals were overwhelmed because of the pandemic and somebody now has a hotel somewhere?” she added.Included among the projects and expenditures identified by the AP:—$400 million&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-prisons-montgomery-kay-ivey-8a7d30c43f4e61987051368a9604fda9">to build new prisons in Alabama</a>, accounting for nearly one-quarter of the total aid the state will receive through the program.—tens of millions of dollars for tourism marketing campaigns in Puerto Rico ($70 million), Washington, D.C. ($8 million) and Tucson, Arizona ($2 million). The city of Alexandria, Virginia, also announced it would spend $120,000 to give its tourism website a makeover.—$6.6 million to replace irrigation systems at two golf courses in Colorado Springs.—$5 million approved by Birmingham, Alabama, to support the 2022 World Games. The event features niche sporting contests such as DanceSport, korfball and flying disc.—$2.5 million to hire new parking enforcement officers in Washington, D.C.—$2 million to help Pottawattamie County, Iowa, purchase a privately owned ski area.—$1 million to pay off overdue child support in St. Louis. A city memo states that owing child support stops some people from looking for work because the overdue payments are garnished from paychecks; the program would “empower individuals” by paying down a portion.—$300,000 to establish a museum in Worcester, Massachusetts, honoring Major Taylor, a famed Black bicycle rider from the turn of the 20th century known as the “Worcester Whirlwind” who died in 1932.Liz Bourgeois, a spokeswoman for the Treasury Department, called the program a success that allowed state and local governments to “recover from financial distress” and “achieve their own strategies for restoring jobs and industries hit by the pandemic.”“Ultimately local governments are accountable to their communities on their decisions on how best to use their funds,” Bourgeois said in a statement.In Broward County, officials defended their planned 29-story, 800-room hotel, which will be owned by the county but operated by a private management group.They also contest whether federal money is technically being used for the project. Broward County initially routed $140 million in federal coronavirus aid to the project, which ran against Treasury Department rules that generally bar spending the money on large capital projects.To get around the prohibition, the county adopted a common workaround.<a href="https://broward.legistar1.com/broward/meetings/2022/2/1096_A_County_Commission_22-02-22_Regular_Meeting_Agenda.pdf" target="_blank">The agenda from a Feb. 22 county board meeting</a>&nbsp;details how: In a back-to-back series of unopposed votes, commissioners clawed back the federal money they had given to the hotel. They then transferred it to the county’s general fund, describing it as a federal payment to cover lost tax revenue, which is an acceptable use. Then the cash was transferred from the general fund right back to the project.County Administrator Monica Cepero insisted “no federal funds will be used to pay any of the cost of developing the Hotel Project.”“The County has reviewed the Treasury guidance and modified its use of (the) funds,” she said in a statement.Some lawmakers in Congress, however, are nonplussed.“They are basically money laundering funding that is meant to help communities that are suffering,” said Spanberger, who called for more oversight.Local officials in New York’s Dutchess County, home to the $12 million minor league stadium project, said in a statement that the expenditure was “completely and absolutely consistent” with Congress’ intent for the money.“It’s ironic that this criticism emanates from the same congressional members who have brought back pork barrel earmarks,” said Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro.The Edward Kennedy Institute did not respond to messages seeking comment on the $5 million in coronavirus aid received from Massachusetts. The institute operated at a $27 million loss between 2015 and 2019, according to tax filings from those years, the most recent that are publicly available.Even in cases where local and state officials may have violated the spending rules, the sheer volume of money pumped out presents a challenge for government oversight offices that are often understaffed and poorly funded.“The amount of money that went out was so massive and so far beyond anything that has ever been spent in our country before, that our capacity to audit every dollar spent is clearly stretched,” Romney said.But groups that lobby on behalf of local governments in Washington say the spending rules were written permissively in order to give as much flexibility as possible.“Counties should be able to determine what’s best for them,” said Mark Ritacco, director of government affairs for the National Association of Counties. “Their residents will decide whether that was appropriate or not at the ballot box.”The new findings track closely with AP’s previous reporting, which found in October that states and large cities had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-states-cities-spend-federal-pandemic-funds-191dce8c75b0f5159691f0606d910d74">spent just a tiny fraction of their relief funding</a>&nbsp;six months after it was approved. That was despite their pleas for the emergency cash when Congress was still debating it.Some school districts also had so much extra federal pandemic cash that they spent it on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-school-funding-sports-5b468b260ebd2593e53f03f9104d9bca">new sports stadiums, arenas and football turf.</a>&nbsp;In other instances, states used discretionary funding to further&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-education-coronavirus-pandemic-school-choice-efe85ad624d092b6eff700b635103a02">school choice initiatives</a>&nbsp;that they had failed to get through their legislatures.Rich Delmar, the deputy inspector general for the Treasury Department, declined to say whether the office had any active investigations into uses of the state and local pot of money.“All projects are potentially subject to audit and investigation,” Delmar said in an email, adding that “we are actively engaging in oversight.”Biden, meanwhile, has said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-congress-7bba01ec15bdc406c793bc835f717cd1">his administration urgently needs more money</a>&nbsp;to pay for things that are directly related to the pandemic.Without it, the White House says, the administration won’t be able to replenish depleted stockpiles of vaccines and therapeutics. Republican say winning their support will hinge on it being paid for with money that was already appropriated.A deal that leaders struck this month would have been paid for by recouping some aid intended for states. But the agreement fell apart after several governors objected and rank-and-file House Democrats rebelled.At least one Democrat sought to raise campaign cash off her opposition to clawing local money back.“We had a bit of a fight when they tried to take money away from Michigan,” reads a fundraising email from Michigan Rep. Debbie Dingell. “I was not going to let the Midwest get harmed. We won.”

Pandemic relief spending had little to do with combating pandemic

Angel Daniel Lopez Ramírez, 10, passed away March 24, 2022, at UKMC –
 Great Bend in Great Bend, Kansas. He was born on October 8, 2011, in 
Mesa, Arizona to Fernando Lopez and Martha Ramírez.

Known for being funny and energetic, Angel was also kind and loved to
 volunteer. He often shared of time he spent with his family, whom he 
was extremely proud to be a part of.

Survivors include, his father, Fernando Lopez; his mother, Martha 
Ramírez; three sisters, Maribel, Elizabeth, and Iridian Ramírez; one 
brother, Fernando Ramirez; and many other family members.

A Vigil with rosary will be at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 29, 2022, at
 Bryant Funeral Home. Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m., 
Wednesday, March 30, 2022, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, with 
Father Aneesh Parappanattu presiding. Interment will follow at Great 
Bend Cemetery North.

Ángel Daniel López Ramírez, de 10 años, falleció el 24 de marzo de 
2022 en UKMC – Great Bend en Great Bend, Kansas. Él nació en 8 de 
octubre de 2011 en Mesa, Arizona, hijo de Fernando Lopez y Martha 
Rameriez.

Conocido por se divertido y enérgico, Ángel también era amable y le 
encantaba ser voluntario. A menudo compartió el tiempo que pasó con su 
familia, de la que estaba extramadamente orgilloso de ser parte.

Los sobrevivientes incluyen, su padre, Fernando Lopez; su madre, 
Martha Ramirez; tres hermanas, Maribel, Elizabeth y Iridian Ramirez; un 
hermno, Fernando Lopez Ramirez; y muchos otros miembros de la familia.

Una Vigilia con rosario será a las 7:00 p.m., el martes 29 de marzo 
de 2022, a las Bryant Funeral Home. El funeral se llevará a cabo a las 
10:30 a.m., miércoles 30 de marzo de 2022, en la Iglesia Católica St. 
Rose of Lima, con el Padre Aneesh Parappanattu presidiendo. El entierro 
seguirá en Great Bend Cemetery North.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648336260203.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Angel Daniel Lopez Ramírez, 10, passed away March 24, 2022, at UKMC –
 Great Bend in Great Bend, Kansas. He was born on October 8, 2011, in 
Mesa, Arizona to Fernando Lopez and Martha Ramírez.Known for being funny and energetic, Angel was also kind and loved to
 volunteer. He often shared of time he spent with his family, whom he 
was extremely proud to be a part of.Survivors include, his father, Fernando Lopez; his mother, Martha 
Ramírez; three sisters, Maribel, Elizabeth, and Iridian Ramírez; one 
brother, Fernando Ramirez; and many other family members.A Vigil with rosary will be at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 29, 2022, at
 Bryant Funeral Home. Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m., 
Wednesday, March 30, 2022, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, with 
Father Aneesh Parappanattu presiding. Interment will follow at Great 
Bend Cemetery North.--------Ángel Daniel López Ramírez, de 10 años, falleció el 24 de marzo de 
2022 en UKMC – Great Bend en Great Bend, Kansas. Él nació en 8 de 
octubre de 2011 en Mesa, Arizona, hijo de Fernando Lopez y Martha 
Rameriez.Conocido por se divertido y enérgico, Ángel también era amable y le 
encantaba ser voluntario. A menudo compartió el tiempo que pasó con su 
familia, de la que estaba extramadamente orgilloso de ser parte.Los sobrevivientes incluyen, su padre, Fernando Lopez; su madre, 
Martha Ramirez; tres hermanas, Maribel, Elizabeth y Iridian Ramirez; un 
hermno, Fernando Lopez Ramirez; y muchos otros miembros de la familia.Una Vigilia con rosario será a las 7:00 p.m., el martes 29 de marzo 
de 2022, a las Bryant Funeral Home. El funeral se llevará a cabo a las 
10:30 a.m., miércoles 30 de marzo de 2022, en la Iglesia Católica St. 
Rose of Lima, con el Padre Aneesh Parappanattu presidiendo. El entierro 
seguirá en Great Bend Cemetery North.

Angel Daniel Lopez Ramírez

Robert “Bob” Edward Beiker passed away on March 23, 2022, at Hays 
Medical Center in Hays, Kansas, at the age of 61. He was born on October
 23, 1960, in Plainville, Kansas, to Joseph and Elvera (Holzhauer) 
Beiker. Bob was united in marriage to Stacey (Denney) Beiker on October 
3, 1981, in Plainville, Kansas. The couple was blessed with two sons: 
Josh and BJ.
 Bob was a lifelong resident of Plainville. He graduated from 
Plainville High School with the class of 1979 and attended Salina Area 
Vocational Technical School for two years before working a short stent 
in Russell for Lauries Heating then spent some time at Murfin Drilling 
and Lightening Well Service. He moved back to his hometown in the early 
2000’s and started his own business, Double B Tank Service, which he 
owned and operated until his passing. Bob enjoyed the outdoors, hunting,
 working cattle, and was known for being a little loud and even a little
 ornery. 
 Bob was a hardworking and caring man. While he strived for 
perfection in all that he did, he knew how to have fun and enjoy life 
along the way. He will be greatly missed, but his memory will serve as 
an inspiration to those who knew him… always do what you love, and 
always love what you do.
 He is survived by his mother, Elvera Beiker of Plainville, KS; wife,
 Stacey Beiker of Plainville, KS; sons, Josh (Christa) Beiker of Hays, 
KS and BJ (Megan) Beiker of Hays, KS; siblings, Sue Beiker of Aurora, 
CO, Chris (Bob) Sauber of Salina, KS, Ken (Michelle) Beiker of Wichita, 
KS, Gene (Julia) Beiker of Rossville, KS; and two grandchildren, Taryn 
and Avryn Beiker.
 Bob is preceded in death by his father, Joseph Beiker; and siblings, Tom Beiker, Doug Beiker and Steve Beiker.
 A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, March 31, 2022,
 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Plainville. Visitation will be 
held on Wednesday at the funeral home from 2PM until 8PM with a Vigil 
Service and Rosary starting at 7PM.
 Memorials are suggested to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and may 
be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 320 SW 2nd St., 
Plainville, KS 67663.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648311680230.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Robert “Bob” Edward Beiker passed away on March 23, 2022, at Hays 
Medical Center in Hays, Kansas, at the age of 61. He was born on October
 23, 1960, in Plainville, Kansas, to Joseph and Elvera (Holzhauer) 
Beiker. Bob was united in marriage to Stacey (Denney) Beiker on October 
3, 1981, in Plainville, Kansas. The couple was blessed with two sons: 
Josh and BJ.
 Bob was a lifelong resident of Plainville. He graduated from 
Plainville High School with the class of 1979 and attended Salina Area 
Vocational Technical School for two years before working a short stent 
in Russell for Lauries Heating then spent some time at Murfin Drilling 
and Lightening Well Service. He moved back to his hometown in the early 
2000’s and started his own business, Double B Tank Service, which he 
owned and operated until his passing. Bob enjoyed the outdoors, hunting,
 working cattle, and was known for being a little loud and even a little
 ornery. 
 Bob was a hardworking and caring man. While he strived for 
perfection in all that he did, he knew how to have fun and enjoy life 
along the way. He will be greatly missed, but his memory will serve as 
an inspiration to those who knew him… always do what you love, and 
always love what you do.
 He is survived by his mother, Elvera Beiker of Plainville, KS; wife,
 Stacey Beiker of Plainville, KS; sons, Josh (Christa) Beiker of Hays, 
KS and BJ (Megan) Beiker of Hays, KS; siblings, Sue Beiker of Aurora, 
CO, Chris (Bob) Sauber of Salina, KS, Ken (Michelle) Beiker of Wichita, 
KS, Gene (Julia) Beiker of Rossville, KS; and two grandchildren, Taryn 
and Avryn Beiker.
 Bob is preceded in death by his father, Joseph Beiker; and siblings, Tom Beiker, Doug Beiker and Steve Beiker.
 A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, March 31, 2022,
 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Plainville. Visitation will be 
held on Wednesday at the funeral home from 2PM until 8PM with a Vigil 
Service and Rosary starting at 7PM.
 Memorials are suggested to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and may 
be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 320 SW 2nd St., 
Plainville, KS 67663.&nbsp;

Robert 'Bob' Edward Beiker

October 23, 1960
 -
 March 23, 2022

An obituary is pending with Plumer Overlease Funeral Homes.

Click <a href="https://www.plumeroverlease.com/obituaries/Robert-Bob-Edward--Beiker?obId=24397710#/celebrationWall">HERE</a> for service details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648233363466.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>October 23, 1960
 -
 March 23, 2022An obituary is pending with Plumer Overlease Funeral Homes.Click <a href="https://www.plumeroverlease.com/obituaries/Robert-Bob-Edward--Beiker?obId=24397710#/celebrationWall">HERE</a> for service details.

Louis R. Beil, 81, passed away March 22, 2022 at Trinity Manor Nursing Home, Dodge City, KS.

He was born October 7, 1940 in Redding, CA, the son of Louis A. and 
Imogene Evans Beil.&nbsp; A longtime area resident, he was a supervisor at 
Crustbuster for 42 years and was a lifelong farmer/rancher.

He was a member of Chester Hawkins American Legion Post #290, 
Jetmore, Masonic Lodge, Dodge City and he served in the United States 
Army. He loved all sports, but especially the Wildcats, Chiefs, Dodgers 
and the Lakers.

On August 16, 1966, he married Veldivia June Lauppe in Great Bend, KS.&nbsp; She survives.

Other survivors include: two sons, Brian (Robin) Beil, Jetmore, Dale 
(Shirley) Vincent, Emporia, KS,; daughter, Robin (Erik) Beil Herrera, 
Poulsbo, WA; two sisters, Mary (Carl) Conley and Joan (Horst) Hillman, 
both of Clearwater, KS; nine grandchildren; three great grandchildren 
and his precious dog, Sadie.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Kenneth Beil; sister, Vinita Beil and a grandson, Brenton Lynn Beil.

Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 28, 2022 at United 
Presbyterian Church, Jetmore, with Rev. Mark Durham presiding.&nbsp; 
Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, with family present 
from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Beckwith Funeral Home, Jetmore.&nbsp; Burial will be
 in the Fairmount Cemetery, Jetmore with military graveside rites.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648214076088.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Louis R. Beil, 81, passed away March 22, 2022 at Trinity Manor Nursing Home, Dodge City, KS.He was born October 7, 1940 in Redding, CA, the son of Louis A. and 
Imogene Evans Beil.&nbsp; A longtime area resident, he was a supervisor at 
Crustbuster for 42 years and was a lifelong farmer/rancher.He was a member of Chester Hawkins American Legion Post #290, 
Jetmore, Masonic Lodge, Dodge City and he served in the United States 
Army. He loved all sports, but especially the Wildcats, Chiefs, Dodgers 
and the Lakers.On August 16, 1966, he married Veldivia June Lauppe in Great Bend, KS.&nbsp; She survives.Other survivors include: two sons, Brian (Robin) Beil, Jetmore, Dale 
(Shirley) Vincent, Emporia, KS,; daughter, Robin (Erik) Beil Herrera, 
Poulsbo, WA; two sisters, Mary (Carl) Conley and Joan (Horst) Hillman, 
both of Clearwater, KS; nine grandchildren; three great grandchildren 
and his precious dog, Sadie.He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Kenneth Beil; sister, Vinita Beil and a grandson, Brenton Lynn Beil.Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 28, 2022 at United 
Presbyterian Church, Jetmore, with Rev. Mark Durham presiding.&nbsp; 
Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, with family present 
from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Beckwith Funeral Home, Jetmore.&nbsp; Burial will be
 in the Fairmount Cemetery, Jetmore with military graveside rites.Memorials may be given to Chester Hawkins American Legion Post #290 
or Hospice of the Prairie in care of Beckwith Funeral Home, Box 663 
Jetmore, KS 67854.&nbsp;