Wilbert Dean Keller, age 93 of Ellis, 
Kansas passed away Thursday, December 31, 2020 at the Trego Lemke 
Memorial Hospital in WaKeeney, Kansas. He was born May 3, 1927 on the 
family farm in Ellis County, Kansas. He graduated from Ellis High School
 in 1945. On October 16, 1947 he married Fern Nadine Zerfas at Christ 
Lutheran Church in Ellis. Fern preceded Wilbert in death on April 3, 
2017.

Wilbert was a lifelong Ellis County 
farmer and stockman. He was a past member of St. John Lutheran Church, 
current member of Christ Lutheran Church and he was a very active member
 in both. He was a US Army veteran of WWII and was the last WWII veteran
 in Ellis. He was a lifetime member of the Ellis VFW having served as 
commander and the American Legion and also a member of the Sunflower 
Polka Club. Wilbert and Fern had led many wedding marches and he enjoyed
 gardening and fishing.

Survivors include his daughter, Twila 
Large of Ellis; two sons, Tim Keller and wife Aleta and Danny Keller and
 fiancé, Verda Flinn all of Ellis; seven grandchildren, Christine Large,
 Heidi Fawcett and husband Matt all of Phoenix, Arizona, Meredith Keller
 and companion Marlin Sherfick of Ellis, Rachel Armbruster and husband 
Kobe of Paxico, Kansas, Laycie Haas and husband Todd of Antonino, 
Kansas, Emily Burd and husband Shaun of Ellis and Katelyn Steffens and 
husband Erik of Dighton, Kansas as well as 12 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his 
parents; a daughter, Faye Jean Keller; two brothers, Arnold and Herman 
Keller as well as a sister, Adeline Fabrizius.

Due to COVID-19 concerns if you have a 
cough, fever or are not feeling well, please use our e-mail or on-line 
guestbook to share your condolences.&nbsp; Social distancing and wearing 
masks are suggested by family at the visitation and funeral services.

Services will be 10:00 AM Tuesday, 
January 5, 2020 at Christ Lutheran Church in Ellis. Burial will follow 
in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Ellis with military honors courtesy of the Ellis 
VFW Honor Guard and the Hays VFW Honor Guard. Services will be live 
streamed Tuesday, January 5, 2020 at 10 AM on the Christ Lutheran 
Facebook Page 
https://www.facebook.com/Christ-Lutheran-Church-111688785534530&nbsp;

Visitation will be Monday 6 PM – 8 PM with a prayer service at 7 PM and 9 AM until service time all at Christ Lutheran Church.

Arrangements in care of Keithley Funeral Chapel, 400 E. 17th Ellis, KS 67637

Memorials may be made to Christ 
Lutheran Church, Ellis, or the Ellis VFW. Contributions made payable to 
the organization may be sent to Keithley Funeral Homes PO Box 86 Hays, 
KS 67601

Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or by email at keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609615456507.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Wilbert Dean Keller, age 93 of Ellis, 
Kansas passed away Thursday, December 31, 2020 at the Trego Lemke 
Memorial Hospital in WaKeeney, Kansas. He was born May 3, 1927 on the 
family farm in Ellis County, Kansas. He graduated from Ellis High School
 in 1945. On October 16, 1947 he married Fern Nadine Zerfas at Christ 
Lutheran Church in Ellis. Fern preceded Wilbert in death on April 3, 
2017.Wilbert was a lifelong Ellis County 
farmer and stockman. He was a past member of St. John Lutheran Church, 
current member of Christ Lutheran Church and he was a very active member
 in both. He was a US Army veteran of WWII and was the last WWII veteran
 in Ellis. He was a lifetime member of the Ellis VFW having served as 
commander and the American Legion and also a member of the Sunflower 
Polka Club. Wilbert and Fern had led many wedding marches and he enjoyed
 gardening and fishing.Survivors include his daughter, Twila 
Large of Ellis; two sons, Tim Keller and wife Aleta and Danny Keller and
 fiancé, Verda Flinn all of Ellis; seven grandchildren, Christine Large,
 Heidi Fawcett and husband Matt all of Phoenix, Arizona, Meredith Keller
 and companion Marlin Sherfick of Ellis, Rachel Armbruster and husband 
Kobe of Paxico, Kansas, Laycie Haas and husband Todd of Antonino, 
Kansas, Emily Burd and husband Shaun of Ellis and Katelyn Steffens and 
husband Erik of Dighton, Kansas as well as 12 great grandchildren.He was preceded in death by his 
parents; a daughter, Faye Jean Keller; two brothers, Arnold and Herman 
Keller as well as a sister, Adeline Fabrizius.Due to COVID-19 concerns if you have a 
cough, fever or are not feeling well, please use our e-mail or on-line 
guestbook to share your condolences.&nbsp; Social distancing and wearing 
masks are suggested by family at the visitation and funeral services.Services will be 10:00 AM Tuesday, 
January 5, 2020 at Christ Lutheran Church in Ellis. Burial will follow 
in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Ellis with military honors courtesy of the Ellis 
VFW Honor Guard and the Hays VFW Honor Guard. Services will be live 
streamed Tuesday, January 5, 2020 at 10 AM on the Christ Lutheran 
Facebook Page 
https://www.facebook.com/Christ-Lutheran-Church-111688785534530&nbsp;Visitation will be Monday 6 PM – 8 PM with a prayer service at 7 PM and 9 AM until service time all at Christ Lutheran Church.Arrangements in care of Keithley Funeral Chapel, 400 E. 17th Ellis, KS 67637Memorials may be made to Christ 
Lutheran Church, Ellis, or the Ellis VFW. Contributions made payable to 
the organization may be sent to Keithley Funeral Homes PO Box 86 Hays, 
KS 67601Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or by email at keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com

Wilbert Dean Keller

Office of Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan.

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.,
 — chairman and member of the Commerce Subcommittee on Manufacturing, 
Trade and Consumer Protection — called on the Federal Trade Commission to protect seniors from holiday shopping scams. 

In response to 
recent reports of an increase in holiday scams targeting seniors – 
including scams soliciting donations to fake charities and scams falsely
 offering immediate coronavirus vaccination to seniors eager to spend 
the holidays with family – the letter urges the FTC to commit to taking 
action to better educate and assist seniors in recognizing holiday 
scams. The letter also urges the FTC to assist seniors in understanding 
their recourse options should they fall victim to these scams.&nbsp;

“Recent
 reports have highlighted a 14 percent increase in holiday shopping 
scams, including holiday scams targeting seniors—arguably the population
 most vulnerable to both the coronavirus and bad actors,”&nbsp;the senators wrote.&nbsp;“These
 scams range from charity scams soliciting holiday donations for fake 
charities to phone calls falsely offering immediate vaccinations to 
protect against COVID-19 infection.”

“Other reports have 
highlighted a 440 percent increase from October to November in the 
volume of shipping-related scam messages—fake emails and texts about 
delivery and tracking information sent by scammers to consumers in order
 to retrieve their financial account information,”&nbsp;the senators continued.&nbsp;

“Given
 the seriousness of this issue, we urge the FTC to take action to better
 protect seniors and ensure they understand their recourse options 
should they fall victim to these scams.”&nbsp;

In July, Sens. Moran and Klobuchar<a href="https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=74E49070-AC8A-436B-BE49-34676945CC15" target="_blank">&nbsp;led a letter</a>&nbsp;urging
 the FTC to protect seniors from contact tracing scams following reports
 that scammers were posing as contact tracers in an attempt to 
financially exploit consumers and steal their personal identifying 
information, such as Social Security numbers and credit card numbers. 
The letter also urged the FTC to commit to taking action to better 
educate and assist seniors in recognizing legitimate contact tracing and
 understanding their recourse options should they fall victim to these 
scams.

In May, Sens. Moran and Klobuchar introduced legislation to
 protect seniors from scams during the coronavirus pandemic,&nbsp;which 
passed the Senate Commerce Committee this week. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/5/sens-moran-klobuchar-introduce-legislation-to-protect-seniors-from-scams-during-covid-19" target="_blank">Protecting Seniors from Emergency Scams Act</a>&nbsp;directs
 the Federal Trade Commission to report to Congress on scams targeting 
seniors during the coronavirus pandemic and make recommendations on how 
to prevent future scams during emergencies.

The full letter is below and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/0/a/0a6a1828-fa91-4560-8759-353b9a835173/CDC08593706E80039B11B5DA499D624D.1222ftcletter.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.

We
 write to express our concerns regarding recent reports of an increase 
in holiday scams targeting seniors and to ask what actions the Federal 
Trade Commission (FTC) is taking to better protect and educate seniors.

More
 than 17 million confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) cases have now been 
identified in the United States, and many of the most serious cases have
 affected seniors. At the same time, recent reports have highlighted a 
14 percent increase in holiday shopping scams, including holiday scams 
targeting seniors—arguably the population most vulnerable to both the 
coronavirus and bad actors. These scams range from charity scams 
soliciting holiday donations for fake charities to phone calls falsely 
offering immediate vaccinations to protect against COVID-19 infection. 
Other reports have highlighted a 440 percent increase from October to 
November in the volume of shipping-related scam messages—fake emails and
 texts about delivery and tracking information sent by scammers to 
consumers in order to retrieve their financial account information.

Given
 the seriousness of this issue, we urge the FTC to take action to better
 protect seniors and ensure they understand their recourse options 
should they fall victim to these scams. While the FTC has taken 
steps—including publishing consumer protection blogs —to protect seniors
 from holiday scams, additional actions must be taken. We respectfully 
request that you respond to the following questions:&nbsp;

1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;What 
additional measures is the FTC planning to better protect seniors and 
assist them as they become victims of holiday scams?

2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;How is the FTC working with other federal agencies to combat holiday scams?&nbsp;

3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;What efforts is the FTC currently undertaking to educate seniors about holiday scams and how to protect themselves?&nbsp;&nbsp;

4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;What
 additional resources does the FTC need in order to better protect 
seniors from holiday scams and educate them on how to prevent it?

&nbsp;Thank you for your prompt attention to this serious matter. We look forward to your response.

Office of Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan.U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.,
 — chairman and member of the Commerce Subcommittee on Manufacturing, 
Trade and Consumer Protection — called on the Federal Trade Commission to protect seniors from holiday shopping scams. In response to 
recent reports of an increase in holiday scams targeting seniors – 
including scams soliciting donations to fake charities and scams falsely
 offering immediate coronavirus vaccination to seniors eager to spend 
the holidays with family – the letter urges the FTC to commit to taking 
action to better educate and assist seniors in recognizing holiday 
scams. The letter also urges the FTC to assist seniors in understanding 
their recourse options should they fall victim to these scams.&nbsp;“Recent
 reports have highlighted a 14 percent increase in holiday shopping 
scams, including holiday scams targeting seniors—arguably the population
 most vulnerable to both the coronavirus and bad actors,”&nbsp;the senators wrote.&nbsp;“These
 scams range from charity scams soliciting holiday donations for fake 
charities to phone calls falsely offering immediate vaccinations to 
protect against COVID-19 infection.”“Other reports have 
highlighted a 440 percent increase from October to November in the 
volume of shipping-related scam messages—fake emails and texts about 
delivery and tracking information sent by scammers to consumers in order
 to retrieve their financial account information,”&nbsp;the senators continued.&nbsp;“Given
 the seriousness of this issue, we urge the FTC to take action to better
 protect seniors and ensure they understand their recourse options 
should they fall victim to these scams.”&nbsp;In July, Sens. Moran and Klobuchar<a href="https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=74E49070-AC8A-436B-BE49-34676945CC15" target="_blank">&nbsp;led a letter</a>&nbsp;urging
 the FTC to protect seniors from contact tracing scams following reports
 that scammers were posing as contact tracers in an attempt to 
financially exploit consumers and steal their personal identifying 
information, such as Social Security numbers and credit card numbers. 
The letter also urged the FTC to commit to taking action to better 
educate and assist seniors in recognizing legitimate contact tracing and
 understanding their recourse options should they fall victim to these 
scams.In May, Sens. Moran and Klobuchar introduced legislation to
 protect seniors from scams during the coronavirus pandemic,&nbsp;which 
passed the Senate Commerce Committee this week. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/5/sens-moran-klobuchar-introduce-legislation-to-protect-seniors-from-scams-during-covid-19" target="_blank">Protecting Seniors from Emergency Scams Act</a>&nbsp;directs
 the Federal Trade Commission to report to Congress on scams targeting 
seniors during the coronavirus pandemic and make recommendations on how 
to prevent future scams during emergencies.The full letter is below and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/0/a/0a6a1828-fa91-4560-8759-353b9a835173/CDC08593706E80039B11B5DA499D624D.1222ftcletter.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.Dear Chairman Simons:We
 write to express our concerns regarding recent reports of an increase 
in holiday scams targeting seniors and to ask what actions the Federal 
Trade Commission (FTC) is taking to better protect and educate seniors.More
 than 17 million confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) cases have now been 
identified in the United States, and many of the most serious cases have
 affected seniors. At the same time, recent reports have highlighted a 
14 percent increase in holiday shopping scams, including holiday scams 
targeting seniors—arguably the population most vulnerable to both the 
coronavirus and bad actors. These scams range from charity scams 
soliciting holiday donations for fake charities to phone calls falsely 
offering immediate vaccinations to protect against COVID-19 infection. 
Other reports have highlighted a 440 percent increase from October to 
November in the volume of shipping-related scam messages—fake emails and
 texts about delivery and tracking information sent by scammers to 
consumers in order to retrieve their financial account information.Given
 the seriousness of this issue, we urge the FTC to take action to better
 protect seniors and ensure they understand their recourse options 
should they fall victim to these scams. While the FTC has taken 
steps—including publishing consumer protection blogs —to protect seniors
 from holiday scams, additional actions must be taken. We respectfully 
request that you respond to the following questions:&nbsp;1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;What 
additional measures is the FTC planning to better protect seniors and 
assist them as they become victims of holiday scams?2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;How is the FTC working with other federal agencies to combat holiday scams?&nbsp;3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;What efforts is the FTC currently undertaking to educate seniors about holiday scams and how to protect themselves?&nbsp;&nbsp;4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;What
 additional resources does the FTC need in order to better protect 
seniors from holiday scams and educate them on how to prevent it?&nbsp;Thank you for your prompt attention to this serious matter. We look forward to your response.

Moran urges FTC to protect seniors from scams

KANSAS CITY (AP) — When Andre Avery drives his commercial truck through Detroit, he keeps his pistol close.

Avery, 57, grew up in the Motor City and is aware that homicides and shootings are surging, even though before the pandemic they were dropping in Detroit and elsewhere. His gun is legal, and he carries it with him for protection.

“I remain extremely alert,” said Avery, who now lives in nearby Belleville. “I’m not in crowds. If something looks a little suspicious, I’m out of there.”

In Detroit, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia and even smaller Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Milwaukee, 2020 has been deadly not only because of the pandemic, but because gun violence is spiking.

Authorities and some experts say there is no one clear-cut reason for the spike. They instead point to social and economic upheaval caused by the COVID-19 virus, public sentiment toward police following George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis police custody and a historic shortage of jobs and resources in poorer communities as contributing factors. It’s happening in cities large and small, Democrat and Republican-led.

Two years ago, Detroit had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/c43536132a0996ba53d763cae281c084">261 homicides</a>&nbsp;— the fewest in decades. The tally has hovered around there with about 786 shootings for a city of more than 672,000.

But with only a few days left in 2020, homicides already have topped 300, while non-fatal shootings are up more than 50% at more than 1,124 through the middle of December.

“I think the pandemic — COVID — has had a significant emotional impact on people across the country,” Detroit Police Chief James Craig said. “Individuals are not processing how they manage disputes. Whether domestics, arguments, disputes over drugs, there’s this quickness to use an illegally carried firearm.”

About 7,000 guns had been seized through mid-December in Detroit, with more than 5,500 arrests for illegal guns. There were 2,797 similar arrests last year.

“I’ve not seen a spike like this. But when it’s happening in other cities — some smaller — what do we all have in common?” Craig said of the slayings and shootings. “That’s when you start thinking about COVID.”

Washington, D.C., a city of about 700,000, has seen more than 187 homicides this year, eclipsing last year’s total by more than 20. Among the most horrible: A 15-month-old baby boy was shot to death during a drive-by shooting.

“We’re all sick of the heinous crimes in our city,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser.

Crime in parts of the U.S. dropped during the early weeks of the pandemic when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bbb7adc88d3fa067c5c1b5c72a1a8aa6">stay-at-home orders closed businesses and forced many people to remain indoors.</a>

University of Pennsylvania economics professor David Abrams said crime began to spike in May and June when initial orders in some states were lifted.

Some people “may have been a little stir crazy,” Abrams said. “At the end of May, George Floyd’s killing led to protests and looting. That led to police reform movements. Any of that could have potentially affected individual behavior and also the police response to that.”

Calls for some cities to reduce funding for police departments may have led some officers to take a less aggressive approach to policing, he added.

What the COVID-19 virus did was exacerbate all of the frustration and anger that some in Black and brown communities already were dealing with, according to retired Michigan State University sociology professor Carl Taylor. The virus has killed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-coronavirus-deaths-top-3-million-e2bc856b6ec45563b84ee2e87ae8d5e7">more than 300,000 people&nbsp;</a>across the country, with minority communities hardest hit.

“The COVID has been absolutely the trigger of an everlasting bomb that’s exploding in many parts of our community,”

Nowhere is that more true than inside people’s homes. “The COVID crisis and the economic shutdown is forcing people into their homes, creating conditions where people are more volatile,” said Kim Foxx, the top prosecutor in Cook County, which includes Chicago. And the most jarring statistic that illustrates that volatility is this: The number of domestic-related homicides in the nation’s third-largest city are up more than 60% compared with last year.

President Donald Trump claimed spiking crime was somehow related to massive protests over police brutality that swept the nation this year, but the majority of those protests were peaceful. Trump also claimed the crime was concentrated in Democratic-run cities, but there have been spikes in Republican-run cities as well. Federal agents and resources were poured into Detroit and a number of other cities this summer to help local authorities collar the rising crime rates.

By early October, more homicides — 363 — were recorded&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-homicide-shootings-violence-philadelphia-ebe03dcb7e05777b7e73892e46b78b01">in Philadelphia&nbsp;</a>than the 356 committed in 2019. There were 354 killings&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-new-york-violent-crime-new-york-city-violence-6d7e05e85b81d4281a14d3a03981d677">in New York</a>&nbsp;through Oct. 11 — 90 more than at the same time last year.

Between Jan. 1 and Nov. 5, 165 homicides were recorded in Milwaukee,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-homicide-milwaukee-shootings-5179d42d4cc421ce1178e6834b55f66e">the most&nbsp;</a>since 1991. And in Chicago, after three years of falling homicide numbers, the totals skyrocketed to 739 in mid-December compared with 475 at the same point last year.

Even smaller cities like Grand Rapids are suffering. By mid-December there were 35 homicides compared with 16 through all of 2019 and nine the year before. From this January to October, non-fatal shootings topped 200 in the city, which is home to about 200,000 people. Over the same period last year there were 131 non-fatal shootings.

“This year, is it because of COVID? The political polarization we have seen?” asked Sgt. Dan Adams, spokesman for the Grand Rapids Police Department. “This year has been a year like no other. I don’t think you can point to any one ‘why.’”

It is the same for other mid-sized cities. Last year, there were 18 homicides in Rockford, a city of about 170,000 people in northern Illinois. More than 30 have been killed so far this year,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rockford-shootings-illinois-c0692de8b46ca5cc8f642855eb2eef15">including three Saturday&nbsp;</a>at a bowling alley.

“As we come to the end of this most difficult year and we look ahead at this New Year upon us, we know that this type of violence needs to stop,” Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara said.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — When Andre Avery drives his commercial truck through Detroit, he keeps his pistol close.Avery, 57, grew up in the Motor City and is aware that homicides and shootings are surging, even though before the pandemic they were dropping in Detroit and elsewhere. His gun is legal, and he carries it with him for protection.“I remain extremely alert,” said Avery, who now lives in nearby Belleville. “I’m not in crowds. If something looks a little suspicious, I’m out of there.”In Detroit, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia and even smaller Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Milwaukee, 2020 has been deadly not only because of the pandemic, but because gun violence is spiking.Authorities and some experts say there is no one clear-cut reason for the spike. They instead point to social and economic upheaval caused by the COVID-19 virus, public sentiment toward police following George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis police custody and a historic shortage of jobs and resources in poorer communities as contributing factors. It’s happening in cities large and small, Democrat and Republican-led.Two years ago, Detroit had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/c43536132a0996ba53d763cae281c084">261 homicides</a>&nbsp;— the fewest in decades. The tally has hovered around there with about 786 shootings for a city of more than 672,000.But with only a few days left in 2020, homicides already have topped 300, while non-fatal shootings are up more than 50% at more than 1,124 through the middle of December.“I think the pandemic — COVID — has had a significant emotional impact on people across the country,” Detroit Police Chief James Craig said. “Individuals are not processing how they manage disputes. Whether domestics, arguments, disputes over drugs, there’s this quickness to use an illegally carried firearm.”About 7,000 guns had been seized through mid-December in Detroit, with more than 5,500 arrests for illegal guns. There were 2,797 similar arrests last year.“I’ve not seen a spike like this. But when it’s happening in other cities — some smaller — what do we all have in common?” Craig said of the slayings and shootings. “That’s when you start thinking about COVID.”Washington, D.C., a city of about 700,000, has seen more than 187 homicides this year, eclipsing last year’s total by more than 20. Among the most horrible: A 15-month-old baby boy was shot to death during a drive-by shooting.“We’re all sick of the heinous crimes in our city,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser.Crime in parts of the U.S. dropped during the early weeks of the pandemic when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bbb7adc88d3fa067c5c1b5c72a1a8aa6">stay-at-home orders closed businesses and forced many people to remain indoors.</a>University of Pennsylvania economics professor David Abrams said crime began to spike in May and June when initial orders in some states were lifted.Some people “may have been a little stir crazy,” Abrams said. “At the end of May, George Floyd’s killing led to protests and looting. That led to police reform movements. Any of that could have potentially affected individual behavior and also the police response to that.”Calls for some cities to reduce funding for police departments may have led some officers to take a less aggressive approach to policing, he added.What the COVID-19 virus did was exacerbate all of the frustration and anger that some in Black and brown communities already were dealing with, according to retired Michigan State University sociology professor Carl Taylor. The virus has killed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-coronavirus-deaths-top-3-million-e2bc856b6ec45563b84ee2e87ae8d5e7">more than 300,000 people&nbsp;</a>across the country, with minority communities hardest hit.“The COVID has been absolutely the trigger of an everlasting bomb that’s exploding in many parts of our community,”Nowhere is that more true than inside people’s homes. “The COVID crisis and the economic shutdown is forcing people into their homes, creating conditions where people are more volatile,” said Kim Foxx, the top prosecutor in Cook County, which includes Chicago. And the most jarring statistic that illustrates that volatility is this: The number of domestic-related homicides in the nation’s third-largest city are up more than 60% compared with last year.President Donald Trump claimed spiking crime was somehow related to massive protests over police brutality that swept the nation this year, but the majority of those protests were peaceful. Trump also claimed the crime was concentrated in Democratic-run cities, but there have been spikes in Republican-run cities as well. Federal agents and resources were poured into Detroit and a number of other cities this summer to help local authorities collar the rising crime rates.By early October, more homicides — 363 — were recorded&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-homicide-shootings-violence-philadelphia-ebe03dcb7e05777b7e73892e46b78b01">in Philadelphia&nbsp;</a>than the 356 committed in 2019. There were 354 killings&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-new-york-violent-crime-new-york-city-violence-6d7e05e85b81d4281a14d3a03981d677">in New York</a>&nbsp;through Oct. 11 — 90 more than at the same time last year.Between Jan. 1 and Nov. 5, 165 homicides were recorded in Milwaukee,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-homicide-milwaukee-shootings-5179d42d4cc421ce1178e6834b55f66e">the most&nbsp;</a>since 1991. And in Chicago, after three years of falling homicide numbers, the totals skyrocketed to 739 in mid-December compared with 475 at the same point last year.Even smaller cities like Grand Rapids are suffering. By mid-December there were 35 homicides compared with 16 through all of 2019 and nine the year before. From this January to October, non-fatal shootings topped 200 in the city, which is home to about 200,000 people. Over the same period last year there were 131 non-fatal shootings.“This year, is it because of COVID? The political polarization we have seen?” asked Sgt. Dan Adams, spokesman for the Grand Rapids Police Department. “This year has been a year like no other. I don’t think you can point to any one ‘why.’”It is the same for other mid-sized cities. Last year, there were 18 homicides in Rockford, a city of about 170,000 people in northern Illinois. More than 30 have been killed so far this year,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rockford-shootings-illinois-c0692de8b46ca5cc8f642855eb2eef15">including three Saturday&nbsp;</a>at a bowling alley.“As we come to the end of this most difficult year and we look ahead at this New Year upon us, we know that this type of violence needs to stop,” Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara said.___

As COVID-19 ravages US, shootings, killings also up

Bruce James Wittman, age 49, died on December 28, 2020 at the Ness 
County Hospital, Ness City.&nbsp; Bruce was born on October 8, 1971 in Larned
 to Calvin and Earlene (Roberts) Wittman.

He graduated from Bazine High School in 1990.&nbsp; He received his 
Certified Nurses Aid certificate in 1999 and worked in Lacrosse as a 
Certified Nurses Aid from 1999 to 2009.&nbsp; Currently, he was a cattleman 
and hired hand for local farmers around Bazine.&nbsp;

Bruce is survived by his parents, Calvin and Earlene Wittman of 
Bazine, his 3 brothers, Mark Wittman of Memphis, TN, Darin Wittman and 
his wife, Amanda, of Bazine, and Luke Wittman of Great Bend; niece, 
Tenley, of Bazine, nephew, Tuff, and niece, Saylor, of Great Bend. He is
 also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.&nbsp; He is 
preceded in death by his grandparents, Theodore and Wilma Wittman and 
Earl and Esther Roberts, his uncle, Raymond and cousin, Aaron Gathman.&nbsp; &nbsp;

A family only funeral is scheduled for Saturday, January 2, 2021, 
1:00 p.m. at the St. Paul Congregational Church, Bazine where Bruce was a
 lifetime member.&nbsp; A graveside service will follow at 2:00 p.m. at the 
Bazine Cemetery.&nbsp; All are welcome to attend and celebrate the life of 
Bruce at the graveside services where social distancing and mask will be
 required.&nbsp; Viewing will be held at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City 
on Friday, January 1, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. with the 
family present from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Memorial Contributions may be given to the St. Paul Congregational Church, Bazine or the Bazine Cemetery.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609531756926.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Bruce James Wittman, age 49, died on December 28, 2020 at the Ness 
County Hospital, Ness City.&nbsp; Bruce was born on October 8, 1971 in Larned
 to Calvin and Earlene (Roberts) Wittman.He graduated from Bazine High School in 1990.&nbsp; He received his 
Certified Nurses Aid certificate in 1999 and worked in Lacrosse as a 
Certified Nurses Aid from 1999 to 2009.&nbsp; Currently, he was a cattleman 
and hired hand for local farmers around Bazine.&nbsp;Bruce is survived by his parents, Calvin and Earlene Wittman of 
Bazine, his 3 brothers, Mark Wittman of Memphis, TN, Darin Wittman and 
his wife, Amanda, of Bazine, and Luke Wittman of Great Bend; niece, 
Tenley, of Bazine, nephew, Tuff, and niece, Saylor, of Great Bend. He is
 also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.&nbsp; He is 
preceded in death by his grandparents, Theodore and Wilma Wittman and 
Earl and Esther Roberts, his uncle, Raymond and cousin, Aaron Gathman.&nbsp; &nbsp;A family only funeral is scheduled for Saturday, January 2, 2021, 
1:00 p.m. at the St. Paul Congregational Church, Bazine where Bruce was a
 lifetime member.&nbsp; A graveside service will follow at 2:00 p.m. at the 
Bazine Cemetery.&nbsp; All are welcome to attend and celebrate the life of 
Bruce at the graveside services where social distancing and mask will be
 required.&nbsp; Viewing will be held at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City 
on Friday, January 1, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. with the 
family present from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.Memorial Contributions may be given to the St. Paul Congregational Church, Bazine or the Bazine Cemetery.

Bruce James Wittman

John Reynold Farrell, 91, of Russell, Kansas, died on Wednesday, December 30, 2020, at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell, Kansas.

John was born on October 11, 1929, in Abbeyville, Louisiana, the son of James and Eunice (Herbert) Farrell.  He grew up in Graham County, Kansas and graduated from Palco High School in the class of 1947.  After high school he graduated from Fort Hays State University with a bachelor’s degree in education.  He moved to Russell, Kansas, in 1955, to take a job with the USD 407 school district, teaching elementary education.  He met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Laureen Goetz on May 30th, 1956, in Victoria, Kansas.  From this union they were blessed with two children Joel and Lynn.  In 1956, John was selected to be the principal at Bickerdyke school and later also at Simpson school, and continued to work for the Russell public schools until he retired in 1993.  He was a longtime member of St. Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Russell.  He was also a longtime member of the Russell Rotary Club and the Russell V.F.W. Post #6240.  He enjoyed playing tennis and golf and spending time with friends.  Most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family. 

Surviving family include his wife, of 64 years, Laureen; son Joel Farrell and wife Janet of Boston, Massachusetts; daughter Lynn Farrell of Kansas City, Kansas; brothers Joe Farrell and wife Ellen of Hill City, Kansas, Bob Farrell and wife Donna of Hill City, Kansas and Larry Farrell and wife Anita of Olpie, Kansas; sisters are Sister Rose Farrell of Silver City, New Mexico, Marleen Dockins and husband Ronnie of Casper, Wyoming, Agnes Steichen of Madison, Wisconsin and Joan Dolen and husband Mike of Topeka, Kansas; 2 grandchildren Jacob and Javian Farrell.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Anna Riemann.

A funeral mass to celebrate John’s life will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday, January 05, 2021, at the St. Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Russell, Kansas.  Burial will follow at the St. Fidelis Catholic Cemetery in Victoria, Kansas.  Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 8 P.M. on Monday, January 04, 2021, at the mortuary.  Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609531447195.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>John Reynold Farrell, 91, of Russell, Kansas, died on Wednesday, December 30, 2020, at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell, Kansas.John was born on October 11, 1929, in Abbeyville, Louisiana, the son of James and Eunice (Herbert) Farrell. He grew up in Graham County, Kansas and graduated from Palco High School in the class of 1947. After high school he graduated from Fort Hays State University with a bachelor’s degree in education. He moved to Russell, Kansas, in 1955, to take a job with the USD 407 school district, teaching elementary education. He met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Laureen Goetz on May 30th, 1956, in Victoria, Kansas. From this union they were blessed with two children Joel and Lynn. In 1956, John was selected to be the principal at Bickerdyke school and later also at Simpson school, and continued to work for the Russell public schools until he retired in 1993. He was a longtime member of St. Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Russell. He was also a longtime member of the Russell Rotary Club and the Russell V.F.W. Post #6240. He enjoyed playing tennis and golf and spending time with friends. Most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family. Surviving family include his wife, of 64 years, Laureen; son Joel Farrell and wife Janet of Boston, Massachusetts; daughter Lynn Farrell of Kansas City, Kansas; brothers Joe Farrell and wife Ellen of Hill City, Kansas, Bob Farrell and wife Donna of Hill City, Kansas and Larry Farrell and wife Anita of Olpie, Kansas; sisters are Sister Rose Farrell of Silver City, New Mexico, Marleen Dockins and husband Ronnie of Casper, Wyoming, Agnes Steichen of Madison, Wisconsin and Joan Dolen and husband Mike of Topeka, Kansas; 2 grandchildren Jacob and Javian Farrell.He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Anna Riemann.A funeral mass to celebrate John’s life will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday, January 05, 2021, at the St. Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Russell, Kansas. Burial will follow at the St. Fidelis Catholic Cemetery in Victoria, Kansas. Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 8 P.M. on Monday, January 04, 2021, at the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.

John Reynold Farrell

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Thanks to the government paying nearly 40% of their income, U.S. farmers were expected to end 2020 with higher profit than 2019 and the best net income in seven years, the Department of Agriculture said in its latest farm income forecast.

Farmers faced challenges throughout 2020 that included the impact of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bb54595393a14fcd867476996ef94129">trade dispute</a>&nbsp;s; low prices that drove down cash receipts for corn, cotton, wheat, chicken, cattle and hogs; and weather difficulties such as drought in some areas and an unusual August wind&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-news-iowa-chicago-storms-property-damage-e7bfc5351814eb111f90f540d605514a">storm</a>&nbsp;stretching from South Dakota to Ohio that centered on Iowa.

Farm cash receipts are forecast to decrease nearly 1% to $366.5 billion, the lowest in more than a decade, measured in real dollars. Direct federal government payments saved farmers’ bottom line: Farmers overall saw a 107% increase in direct payments from 2019, when a third of net income came directly from the government.

The impact of the money varies from one farm to another, depending on whether a farmer owns the land, has significant capital to draw from, has manageable debt and aggressively manages wide commodity price swings.

“The payment to one farm could be a matter of life and death of that farm and for another farm maybe just makes it not quite as bad of a year as it was going to be and everywhere in between,” said Mike Paustian, a farmer who raises hogs and grows soybeans and corn near Walcott in eastern Iowa. “I’ve described it as: If you’re drowning and somebody throws you a life preserver, you’re not going to argue too much about grabbing ahold of it.”

Excluding USDA loans and insurance indemnity payments made by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, farmers are expected to receive $46.5 billion from the government, the largest direct-to-farm payment ever. That includes $32.4 billion in assistance through coronavirus&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-financial-markets-iowa-archive-donald-trump-659457209d5ae93177ee529590f5a1b7">pandemic relief</a>&nbsp;food assistance and Paycheck Protection Program payments to farmers. Additional support comes from more traditional revenue loss programs due to low commodity prices, compensation for trade disruptions resulting from tariff battles and conservation programs assistance.

Federal court bankruptcy data indicates 433 U.S. farms filed for reorganization as of Sept. 30, down from 454 during the same period the previous year.

Overall, net farm income in the United States is expected to increase 43% from 2019 to $119.6 billion, the USDA estimated. Farmers will see the highest level of net farm income, a broad measure of profitability, since 2013, the agency said.

One northeast Iowa farmer said without the federal money it would have been difficult to make ends meet this year but it began to feel like the government checks were motivated by politics from a president seeking support for reelection.

“At first it did help, but then we kept getting payments and I don’t know that those were warranted,” said Rick Juchems, 65, who grows corn and soybeans and custom raises hogs. “The markets had already recovered quite a bit and they’re recovering yet more, so it helps some but it’s one of those things that the second one was more than we needed.”

In a late October campaign appearance in Omaha, Nebraska, President Donald Trump said he believed farmers were better off getting government payments than relying solely on their farming receipts.

“In fact, some people say our farmers do better now than when they actually had a farm,” he said.

Many top farm states voted again for Trump in November, including Iowa, Nebraska, Texas and Kansas. Several, however, left Trump to vote for Democrat Joe Biden, including Wisconsin, Michigan and Georgia.

Bill Gordon, who with his father raises soybeans and corn in southwestern Minnesota, hopes for improved free trade agreements and a less confrontational approach under Biden in 2021.

“Volatility definitely causes volatility,” he said. “And so if we can get these free trade agreements set up, that are better, and not as confrontational but still benefit both sides, that just benefits agriculture and rural America.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Thanks to the government paying nearly 40% of their income, U.S. farmers were expected to end 2020 with higher profit than 2019 and the best net income in seven years, the Department of Agriculture said in its latest farm income forecast.Farmers faced challenges throughout 2020 that included the impact of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bb54595393a14fcd867476996ef94129">trade dispute</a>&nbsp;s; low prices that drove down cash receipts for corn, cotton, wheat, chicken, cattle and hogs; and weather difficulties such as drought in some areas and an unusual August wind&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-news-iowa-chicago-storms-property-damage-e7bfc5351814eb111f90f540d605514a">storm</a>&nbsp;stretching from South Dakota to Ohio that centered on Iowa.Farm cash receipts are forecast to decrease nearly 1% to $366.5 billion, the lowest in more than a decade, measured in real dollars. Direct federal government payments saved farmers’ bottom line: Farmers overall saw a 107% increase in direct payments from 2019, when a third of net income came directly from the government.The impact of the money varies from one farm to another, depending on whether a farmer owns the land, has significant capital to draw from, has manageable debt and aggressively manages wide commodity price swings.“The payment to one farm could be a matter of life and death of that farm and for another farm maybe just makes it not quite as bad of a year as it was going to be and everywhere in between,” said Mike Paustian, a farmer who raises hogs and grows soybeans and corn near Walcott in eastern Iowa. “I’ve described it as: If you’re drowning and somebody throws you a life preserver, you’re not going to argue too much about grabbing ahold of it.”Excluding USDA loans and insurance indemnity payments made by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, farmers are expected to receive $46.5 billion from the government, the largest direct-to-farm payment ever. That includes $32.4 billion in assistance through coronavirus&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-financial-markets-iowa-archive-donald-trump-659457209d5ae93177ee529590f5a1b7">pandemic relief</a>&nbsp;food assistance and Paycheck Protection Program payments to farmers. Additional support comes from more traditional revenue loss programs due to low commodity prices, compensation for trade disruptions resulting from tariff battles and conservation programs assistance.Federal court bankruptcy data indicates 433 U.S. farms filed for reorganization as of Sept. 30, down from 454 during the same period the previous year.Overall, net farm income in the United States is expected to increase 43% from 2019 to $119.6 billion, the USDA estimated. Farmers will see the highest level of net farm income, a broad measure of profitability, since 2013, the agency said.One northeast Iowa farmer said without the federal money it would have been difficult to make ends meet this year but it began to feel like the government checks were motivated by politics from a president seeking support for reelection.“At first it did help, but then we kept getting payments and I don’t know that those were warranted,” said Rick Juchems, 65, who grows corn and soybeans and custom raises hogs. “The markets had already recovered quite a bit and they’re recovering yet more, so it helps some but it’s one of those things that the second one was more than we needed.”In a late October campaign appearance in Omaha, Nebraska, President Donald Trump said he believed farmers were better off getting government payments than relying solely on their farming receipts.“In fact, some people say our farmers do better now than when they actually had a farm,” he said.Many top farm states voted again for Trump in November, including Iowa, Nebraska, Texas and Kansas. Several, however, left Trump to vote for Democrat Joe Biden, including Wisconsin, Michigan and Georgia.Bill Gordon, who with his father raises soybeans and corn in southwestern Minnesota, hopes for improved free trade agreements and a less confrontational approach under Biden in 2021.“Volatility definitely causes volatility,” he said. “And so if we can get these free trade agreements set up, that are better, and not as confrontational but still benefit both sides, that just benefits agriculture and rural America.”

Federal checks salvage otherwise dreadful 2020 for US farms

Louise Staab, age 98, of Hays, Kansas passed away Tuesday, Dec. 29 at Via Christi Assisted Living in Hays.

She was born October 27, 1922 in Ellis County to Henry and Clara (Pfannenstiel) Meier. She married Joseph A. Staab on August 9, 1950 in Antonino. He preceded her in death May 23, 2013. Louise was a homemaker. She enjoyed playing cards, baking, and spending time with her family. She was a member of St. Catherine Catholic Church, Catherine Christian Mothers, Hays Daughters of Isabella and the Hays VFW Auxiliary. She is survived by two sons, Garry (JoAnn) of Hays and Dennis (Diane) of Basehor; six daughters, Barbara McCormick, Sharon Howard, Diana Staab, Pam Munsch (Cory) all of Hays, Donna Perez (Gabe) of Lenexa, and Joann Lang (Brian) of Shawnee; a son-in-law, Tom Pfannenstiel of WaKeeney; a brother, Ernie Meier of Hays; three sisters, Rosie Schmidt of Hays, Leota Legleiter and Berdy Herrman both of Great Bend, 17 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Wanda Pfannenstiel; brothers, Milton, Walter, Robert, and Ralph Meier; sisters, Tina Ross and Gladys Moore; sons-in-law, Bob McCormick and Chuck Howard, and three infant granddaughters. Due to COVID-19 concerns if you have a cough, fever or are not feeling well, please use our e-mail or online guestbook to share your condolences. Social distancing and wearing masks are suggested by family at the visitation and funeral services. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 2 at St. Catherine Catholic Church, Catharine. Burial will follow in the St. Catherine Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Brock's Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine St., Hays, KS 67601. Rosary service led by the Catharine Christian Mothers and Hays Daughters of Isabella will be at 6:30 p.m. Friday followed by a parish vigil at 7 p.m., all at the funeral chapel. Memorial contributions are suggested to St. Catherine’s Church, HaysMed Hospice or Via Christi of Hays. Condolences may be left by guest book at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com/" target="_blank">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a>&nbsp;or by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com" target="_blank">keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1609429642964.jpeg" alt="Louise Staab" />
 <figcaption>Louise Staab</figcaption>
 </figure>Louise Staab, age 98, of Hays, Kansas passed away Tuesday, Dec. 29 at Via Christi Assisted Living in Hays.She was born October 27, 1922 in Ellis County to Henry and Clara (Pfannenstiel) Meier. She married Joseph A. Staab on August 9, 1950 in Antonino. He preceded her in death May 23, 2013. Louise was a homemaker. She enjoyed playing cards, baking, and spending time with her family. She was a member of St. Catherine Catholic Church, Catherine Christian Mothers, Hays Daughters of Isabella and the Hays VFW Auxiliary. She is survived by two sons, Garry (JoAnn) of Hays and Dennis (Diane) of Basehor; six daughters, Barbara McCormick, Sharon Howard, Diana Staab, Pam Munsch (Cory) all of Hays, Donna Perez (Gabe) of Lenexa, and Joann Lang (Brian) of Shawnee; a son-in-law, Tom Pfannenstiel of WaKeeney; a brother, Ernie Meier of Hays; three sisters, Rosie Schmidt of Hays, Leota Legleiter and Berdy Herrman both of Great Bend, 17 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Wanda Pfannenstiel; brothers, Milton, Walter, Robert, and Ralph Meier; sisters, Tina Ross and Gladys Moore; sons-in-law, Bob McCormick and Chuck Howard, and three infant granddaughters. Due to COVID-19 concerns if you have a cough, fever or are not feeling well, please use our e-mail or online guestbook to share your condolences. Social distancing and wearing masks are suggested by family at the visitation and funeral services. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 2 at St. Catherine Catholic Church, Catharine. Burial will follow in the St. Catherine Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Brock's Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine St., Hays, KS 67601. Rosary service led by the Catharine Christian Mothers and Hays Daughters of Isabella will be at 6:30 p.m. Friday followed by a parish vigil at 7 p.m., all at the funeral chapel. Memorial contributions are suggested to St. Catherine’s Church, HaysMed Hospice or Via Christi of Hays. Condolences may be left by guest book at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com/" target="_blank">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a>&nbsp;or by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com" target="_blank">keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com</a>

Louise Staab

Earl Eugene Moss was born on October 11, 1933, at his family farm 11 west
 and ½ mile North of Hoxie, Kansas. He unexpectedly passed away 
December 25, 2020, at the Sheridan County Health Complex. 
 Earl attended grade school in the Bloomfield township school. This 
school house would eventually become the home he and Opal would share 
for over 67 years until his passing. He attended Hoxie High School his 
freshman year before transferring to Menlo High School where he 
graduated in 1951. After High School, Earl attended Fort Hays State for
 one semester until his true calling brought him home to farm.
 Earl had a great passion for basketball and played at Menlo High 
School where they placed third in State his Senior year. He also 
played on the Hoxie town team, where he was known for his “patented turn
 around fade away jump shot!”
 In the summer of 1952, Earl met the love of his life, Opal Barnett. 
 They were united in marriage at Opal’s parents' home north of Rexford 
June 2nd 1953. In order to get the Bloomfield School house ready for 
them to move into they had to auger wheat out of the basement. 
 Earl loved his community and was a great leader. He served as a 
county committee man for the ASCS office, Board of Directors of First 
National Bank, Elder at Hoxie Christian Church and a Past Exhaulted 
Ruler of the Hoxie Elks Lodge. 
 Earl was also a visionary and entrepreneur. He was one of the first
 farmers for Sheridan County to drill an irrigation well. He was one 
of the first in the area to introduce the use of a grain cart in 
harvest. In 1969, he was one of the original nine owners in the Hoxie 
Feed Lot. 
 Earl had a quick wit and great sense of humor. The only thing Earl 
loved more than card playing, golf and fishing, were his friendships and
 his family. And honestly, he became good friends with everyone he met!
 Earl is survived by his wife Opal; sons, Tim Moss and wife Dana of 
Selden, Kansas and Gary Moss and wife Teri of Hoxie, Kansas; sister, 
Margaret Muelenkamp of Oakley, Kansas; six grandchildren; seven 
step-grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and eight 
step-great-grandchildren; and many relatives and friends.
 He was preceded in death by his infant son, James Allen Moss; 
parents, James W. and Orpha M. Moss; and brother, Johnnie Moss; and 
sister, Esther Woofter.
 A funeral service is planned for Wednesday, December 30, 2020, 10:30
 A.M. at the Hoxie Christian Church in Hoxie, Kansas. Visitation will 
be held on Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at the Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home
 from Noon until 6:30 P.M. Family will receive friends from 5:00 to 
6:00 P.M. Memorials are suggested to the Earl Moss Memorial and may be 
sent in care of Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, PO Box 987, Hoxie, Kansas. 
 Words of comfort may be left at www.mickeyleopoldfuneral.com. This 
service will be livestreamed by Open Spaces Sports. Please check the 
website, www.mickeyleopoldfuneral.com for the link to the service.
 Earl and Opals commitment to their 67 year marriage, along with his 
faith and trust in Jesus allowed Earl to maintain his positive outlook 
on life despite his health struggles.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1609089155077.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Earl Eugene Moss was born on October 11, 1933, at his family farm 11 west
 and ½ mile North of Hoxie, Kansas. He unexpectedly passed away 
December 25, 2020, at the Sheridan County Health Complex. 
 Earl attended grade school in the Bloomfield township school. This 
school house would eventually become the home he and Opal would share 
for over 67 years until his passing. He attended Hoxie High School his 
freshman year before transferring to Menlo High School where he 
graduated in 1951. After High School, Earl attended Fort Hays State for
 one semester until his true calling brought him home to farm.
 Earl had a great passion for basketball and played at Menlo High 
School where they placed third in State his Senior year. He also 
played on the Hoxie town team, where he was known for his “patented turn
 around fade away jump shot!”
 In the summer of 1952, Earl met the love of his life, Opal Barnett. 
 They were united in marriage at Opal’s parents' home north of Rexford 
June 2nd 1953. In order to get the Bloomfield School house ready for 
them to move into they had to auger wheat out of the basement. 
 Earl loved his community and was a great leader. He served as a 
county committee man for the ASCS office, Board of Directors of First 
National Bank, Elder at Hoxie Christian Church and a Past Exhaulted 
Ruler of the Hoxie Elks Lodge. 
 Earl was also a visionary and entrepreneur. He was one of the first
 farmers for Sheridan County to drill an irrigation well. He was one 
of the first in the area to introduce the use of a grain cart in 
harvest. In 1969, he was one of the original nine owners in the Hoxie 
Feed Lot. 
 Earl had a quick wit and great sense of humor. The only thing Earl 
loved more than card playing, golf and fishing, were his friendships and
 his family. And honestly, he became good friends with everyone he met!
 Earl is survived by his wife Opal; sons, Tim Moss and wife Dana of 
Selden, Kansas and Gary Moss and wife Teri of Hoxie, Kansas; sister, 
Margaret Muelenkamp of Oakley, Kansas; six grandchildren; seven 
step-grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and eight 
step-great-grandchildren; and many relatives and friends.
 He was preceded in death by his infant son, James Allen Moss; 
parents, James W. and Orpha M. Moss; and brother, Johnnie Moss; and 
sister, Esther Woofter.
 A funeral service is planned for Wednesday, December 30, 2020, 10:30
 A.M. at the Hoxie Christian Church in Hoxie, Kansas. Visitation will 
be held on Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at the Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home
 from Noon until 6:30 P.M. Family will receive friends from 5:00 to 
6:00 P.M. Memorials are suggested to the Earl Moss Memorial and may be 
sent in care of Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, PO Box 987, Hoxie, Kansas. 
 Words of comfort may be left at www.mickeyleopoldfuneral.com. This 
service will be livestreamed by Open Spaces Sports. Please check the 
website, www.mickeyleopoldfuneral.com for the link to the service.
 Earl and Opals commitment to their 67 year marriage, along with his 
faith and trust in Jesus allowed Earl to maintain his positive outlook 
on life despite his health struggles.

Earl E. Moss

Michael Marshall Ayala, 68 of Leoti, KS died December 27, 2020 in Garden City, KS after a lengthy illness. He was born in La Junta, CO on October 11, 1952 to Nash and Virginia (Jaquez) Ayala. 

Michael was the youngest of three children, him being the only boy. He attended West Elementary, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School and junior high at St. Patrick’s Catholic School all in La Junta. He was fortunate to be able to attend 4 years of high school at Roncalli Catholic All-Boys school in Pueblo, CO, graduating with honors. After high school, he attended Otero Junior College for two years, transferring to Adams State College in Alamosa. 

He moved to Colorado Springs, working in construction for two years. Returning to La Junta, he was a fixture at Warehouse Liquors from 1979-1989. In 1990, he moved to Leoti, KS, hiring on at the Kansas Department of Transportation, working his way from maintenance to supervisor, retiring in 2015. Upon his retirement, he enjoyed following the local sports teams of Leoti and any and all sporting events, especially his beloved Denver Broncos. 

Michael was known for his care-free attitude, sense of humor which was above and beyond most. His sharp wit was tempered by his smile and laughter. He used to say his claim to fame was his starring roll as a field worker in Mr. Majestyk, filmed in La Junta in 1974. 

He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Ledia (Torrez) Ayala, his father, Nash Ayala, Sister, Margaret (Roy) Grasmick, Nephew, Matthew (Jill) Valdez, Niece, Erika Valdez, brother-in laws, Alvin Torrez, Joe (Darlene) Torrez, Blas (Tammi) Torrez and sister-in-law Catalina (Jim) Harris and several relatives. 

He was preceded in death by his mother, Virginia (Jaquez) Ayala, sister, Alice Jean Valdez, mother and father in-law, Mike and Rose Torrez, brother-in-laws, Eddie, Gilbert, Tim and Pete Torrez, both paternal and maternal grandparents, along with several uncles and aunts. 

In lieu of funeral services, he will be cremated and services to be held in La Junta at a later date.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1609192270162.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Michael Marshall Ayala, 68 of Leoti, KS died December 27, 2020 in Garden City, KS after a lengthy illness. He was born in La Junta, CO on October 11, 1952 to Nash and Virginia (Jaquez) Ayala. Michael was the youngest of three children, him being the only boy. He attended West Elementary, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School and junior high at St. Patrick’s Catholic School all in La Junta. He was fortunate to be able to attend 4 years of high school at Roncalli Catholic All-Boys school in Pueblo, CO, graduating with honors. After high school, he attended Otero Junior College for two years, transferring to Adams State College in Alamosa. He moved to Colorado Springs, working in construction for two years. Returning to La Junta, he was a fixture at Warehouse Liquors from 1979-1989. In 1990, he moved to Leoti, KS, hiring on at the Kansas Department of Transportation, working his way from maintenance to supervisor, retiring in 2015. Upon his retirement, he enjoyed following the local sports teams of Leoti and any and all sporting events, especially his beloved Denver Broncos. Michael was known for his care-free attitude, sense of humor which was above and beyond most. His sharp wit was tempered by his smile and laughter. He used to say his claim to fame was his starring roll as a field worker in Mr. Majestyk, filmed in La Junta in 1974. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Ledia (Torrez) Ayala, his father, Nash Ayala, Sister, Margaret (Roy) Grasmick, Nephew, Matthew (Jill) Valdez, Niece, Erika Valdez, brother-in laws, Alvin Torrez, Joe (Darlene) Torrez, Blas (Tammi) Torrez and sister-in-law Catalina (Jim) Harris and several relatives. He was preceded in death by his mother, Virginia (Jaquez) Ayala, sister, Alice Jean Valdez, mother and father in-law, Mike and Rose Torrez, brother-in-laws, Eddie, Gilbert, Tim and Pete Torrez, both paternal and maternal grandparents, along with several uncles and aunts. In lieu of funeral services, he will be cremated and services to be held in La Junta at a later date.&nbsp;

Michael Marshall Ayala

Margaret Ann Brack, age 76, of Ellis, Kansas, passed away Saturday, December 26, 2020, at the&nbsp;Good Samaritan Society, Ellis, after a short battle with cancer. 

She was the eldest daughter of Frank J and Hanora (Henderson) Keller born on May 4th, 1944 in WaKeeney, Kansas.&nbsp;She attended Ellis High School graduating in 1962. On October 5, 1963 she married the love of her life,&nbsp;Morris Brack, in Ellis at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Margaret lived all of her adult life in Ellis, living on the farm with Morris, for many years she worked at Alloway’s Restaurant in the days of the buffet, patrons came from far and wide to eat the buffet especially on Mother's Days, Easter and Memorial Day weekend. She always spoke with pride of the days feeding the local families and friends as well as those who came to Ellis to visit. In more recent years she could be seen doing maintenance at Spruce Village, and making crafts and meals for some of her adopted residents there. She also worked at Meal site and with her daughter Margo at the Ellis Golf Club. All who knew Margaret knew she truly had a heart of gold, if she had a dollar, it meant someone else had 75 cents, she never wanted any attention for her kindness and good deeds, preferring instead to remain in the background. She loved anything to do with family, crafts, puzzles, sewing, canning, cooking, baking, attending the kids and grandkids games and activities and racing, especially racing, always cheering for her #8B Kaishen Brack and #08 Dakota Sproul. Margaret loved her husband Morris, taking care of him daily as he faded away from Alzheimer’s and was heartbroken when he passed away only 1.5 years ago. Without a doubt her greatest pride and joy was her 3 children, her grandchildren and her great grandchildren, her unselfish love and the gleam in her eyes, along with her warm smile were heartwarming, anytime she was around them. Her kindness and love of her family was apparent every day as she put everyone before herself and never asked anything in return since “she didn't want to bother anyone.”

She is survived by her son Mark Brack (Gail), two daughters, Maryl (Tim) Gottschalk and Margo Brack, all of Ellis, Three sisters, Virginia (Gina Sproul, Judy Kuhn and Deanna Wellbrock, all of Hays. Grandchildren, Jerome Gottshalk (Jenni), Kimberly Gottschalk, Keisha Ghumm (Ethan) Kaishen Brack; step grandchildren, Sarah Dreiling (Joe) Todd Walker, and Christy Schoenthaler (Devin) great grandchildren, Julian Gottschalk, Braxton Ghumm: and great step grandchildren, Elizabeth Dreiling, Eli Dreiling, Emmitt Dreiling and Easton Schoenthaler.

She was preceded in death by her husband Morris, her parents, and brothers Al and Darrell Keller, and brother in law Chuck Sproul. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Thursday, December 31, 2020 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Ellis. Inurnment will follow in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Ellis. Memorial visitation will be Thursday 9:30 AM until service time with a rosary service will be at 10:00 AM all at St. Mary's Church. Memorial contributions are suggested to Ellis Meal Site or Ellis Food Pantry. Arrangements in care of Keithley Funeral Chapel 400 E. 17th Ellis, KS 67637.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1609178333727.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Margaret Ann Brack, age 76, of Ellis, Kansas, passed away Saturday, December 26, 2020, at the&nbsp;Good Samaritan Society, Ellis, after a short battle with cancer. She was the eldest daughter of Frank J and Hanora (Henderson) Keller born on May 4th, 1944 in WaKeeney, Kansas.&nbsp;She attended Ellis High School graduating in 1962. On October 5, 1963 she married the love of her life,&nbsp;Morris Brack, in Ellis at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Margaret lived all of her adult life in Ellis, living on the farm with Morris, for many years she worked at Alloway’s Restaurant in the days of the buffet, patrons came from far and wide to eat the buffet especially on Mother's Days, Easter and Memorial Day weekend. She always spoke with pride of the days feeding the local families and friends as well as those who came to Ellis to visit. In more recent years she could be seen doing maintenance at Spruce Village, and making crafts and meals for some of her adopted residents there. She also worked at Meal site and with her daughter Margo at the Ellis Golf Club. All who knew Margaret knew she truly had a heart of gold, if she had a dollar, it meant someone else had 75 cents, she never wanted any attention for her kindness and good deeds, preferring instead to remain in the background. She loved anything to do with family, crafts, puzzles, sewing, canning, cooking, baking, attending the kids and grandkids games and activities and racing, especially racing, always cheering for her #8B Kaishen Brack and #08 Dakota Sproul. Margaret loved her husband Morris, taking care of him daily as he faded away from Alzheimer’s and was heartbroken when he passed away only 1.5 years ago. Without a doubt her greatest pride and joy was her 3 children, her grandchildren and her great grandchildren, her unselfish love and the gleam in her eyes, along with her warm smile were heartwarming, anytime she was around them. Her kindness and love of her family was apparent every day as she put everyone before herself and never asked anything in return since “she didn't want to bother anyone.” She is survived by her son Mark Brack (Gail), two daughters, Maryl (Tim) Gottschalk and Margo Brack, all of Ellis, Three sisters, Virginia (Gina Sproul, Judy Kuhn and Deanna Wellbrock, all of Hays. Grandchildren, Jerome Gottshalk (Jenni), Kimberly Gottschalk, Keisha Ghumm (Ethan) Kaishen Brack; step grandchildren, Sarah Dreiling (Joe) Todd Walker, and Christy Schoenthaler (Devin) great grandchildren, Julian Gottschalk, Braxton Ghumm: and great step grandchildren, Elizabeth Dreiling, Eli Dreiling, Emmitt Dreiling and Easton Schoenthaler. She was preceded in death by her husband Morris, her parents, and brothers Al and Darrell Keller, and brother in law Chuck Sproul. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Thursday, December 31, 2020 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Ellis. Inurnment will follow in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Ellis. Memorial visitation will be Thursday 9:30 AM until service time with a rosary service will be at 10:00 AM all at St. Mary's Church. Memorial contributions are suggested to Ellis Meal Site or Ellis Food Pantry. Arrangements in care of Keithley Funeral Chapel 400 E. 17th Ellis, KS 67637.

Margaret Ann Brack

SALINE COUNTY —Rolling Hills Zoo (RHZ) is celebrating the birth of the zoo’s second giraffe calf born in the Zoo, according to a media release from the zoo.

Since October 15th the RHZ staff has been on high alert as they awaited the birth, which was expected to happen sometime before Dec. 18.&nbsp; (The gestation time for a giraffe is normally 13-15 months and Billie, RHZ’s female giraffe, was in her 15 month at time of the birth.)

On Dec. 17 at 7:23 p.m., Billie gave birth to a healthy male calf.&nbsp; &nbsp;Once the calf was born, Billie went to work cleaning him and by 9:14 p.m. the calf was on his feet and taking his first steps.&nbsp; Standing close to six feet tall, the calf is nursing and doing well.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

As with any first time mother, there is a heightened concern, not only about the pregnancy and birth, but also with her mothering skills and the attention she will need to give to her calf.&nbsp;&nbsp; Fortunately for all concerned, Billie’s pregnancy and delivery have gone well.&nbsp;

“We are so excited for this little one’s birth,” shared Kathy Tolbert, RHZ’s interim director.&nbsp; &nbsp;“Not only does he carry on the legacy of BT, the male giraffe that we lost in October, but he has also brought a bright spot to the Zoo in the midst of what has been a challenging year for so many.&nbsp;&nbsp; We look forward to introducing him to Zoo guests in the New Year.”

This was Btuanya’s (BT) second calf sired, with the first being JoJo in 2016.&nbsp; (BT passed away in October 2020.)&nbsp; &nbsp;As the zoo’s ten-year-old female giraffe, this is Billie’s first offspring.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Billie was born February 22, 2010, at Dickerson Park Zoo, Missouri.&nbsp; Her parents were both from Dickerson Park Zoo, mother – Gidget, who is now 28 years old, and father – Stretch, who passed away at 23 years old. Billie arrived at Rolling Hills Zoo on Oct. 17, 2011.&nbsp;

But it wasn’t until 2014 that Billie was recommended for breeding with BT as part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP).&nbsp;&nbsp; At that time Billie would not allow BT to breed with her so Zuri, RHZ’s other female giraffe, moved ahead &nbsp;of the rotation and ended up breeding with BT first, giving birth to JoJo on Nov. 27, 2016.&nbsp;&nbsp; After JoJo’s departure from RHZ, the keepers were able successfully breed Billie with BT in September 2019.

At this time the giraffe barn is closed for public viewing.&nbsp; The Zoo asks for the public’s patience and understanding as they allow time for the mother and calf to bond.&nbsp; It is also critical during this time that the mother does not get spooked and accidently kick her calf. &nbsp;For now, only the keepers are entering the building as necessary and the pair is being monitored via cameras throughout the day and night.&nbsp;

Once the keepers feel that mother and calf are ready, an announcement will be made that the Giraffe Barn Viewing Room is once again open to visitors.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1609166562849.jpeg" alt="Billie and her new calf -Photo courtesy Rolling Hills Zoo" />
 <figcaption>Billie and her new calf -Photo courtesy Rolling Hills Zoo</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —Rolling Hills Zoo (RHZ) is celebrating the birth of the zoo’s second giraffe calf born in the Zoo, according to a media release from the zoo.Since October 15th the RHZ staff has been on high alert as they awaited the birth, which was expected to happen sometime before Dec. 18.&nbsp; (The gestation time for a giraffe is normally 13-15 months and Billie, RHZ’s female giraffe, was in her 15 month at time of the birth.)On Dec. 17 at 7:23 p.m., Billie gave birth to a healthy male calf.&nbsp; &nbsp;Once the calf was born, Billie went to work cleaning him and by 9:14 p.m. the calf was on his feet and taking his first steps.&nbsp; Standing close to six feet tall, the calf is nursing and doing well.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;As with any first time mother, there is a heightened concern, not only about the pregnancy and birth, but also with her mothering skills and the attention she will need to give to her calf.&nbsp;&nbsp; Fortunately for all concerned, Billie’s pregnancy and delivery have gone well.&nbsp;“We are so excited for this little one’s birth,” shared Kathy Tolbert, RHZ’s interim director.&nbsp; &nbsp;“Not only does he carry on the legacy of BT, the male giraffe that we lost in October, but he has also brought a bright spot to the Zoo in the midst of what has been a challenging year for so many.&nbsp;&nbsp; We look forward to introducing him to Zoo guests in the New Year.”This was Btuanya’s (BT) second calf sired, with the first being JoJo in 2016.&nbsp; (BT passed away in October 2020.)&nbsp; &nbsp;As the zoo’s ten-year-old female giraffe, this is Billie’s first offspring.&nbsp;&nbsp;Billie was born February 22, 2010, at Dickerson Park Zoo, Missouri.&nbsp; Her parents were both from Dickerson Park Zoo, mother – Gidget, who is now 28 years old, and father – Stretch, who passed away at 23 years old. Billie arrived at Rolling Hills Zoo on Oct. 17, 2011.&nbsp;But it wasn’t until 2014 that Billie was recommended for breeding with BT as part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP).&nbsp;&nbsp; At that time Billie would not allow BT to breed with her so Zuri, RHZ’s other female giraffe, moved ahead &nbsp;of the rotation and ended up breeding with BT first, giving birth to JoJo on Nov. 27, 2016.&nbsp;&nbsp; After JoJo’s departure from RHZ, the keepers were able successfully breed Billie with BT in September 2019.At this time the giraffe barn is closed for public viewing.&nbsp; The Zoo asks for the public’s patience and understanding as they allow time for the mother and calf to bond.&nbsp; It is also critical during this time that the mother does not get spooked and accidently kick her calf. &nbsp;For now, only the keepers are entering the building as necessary and the pair is being monitored via cameras throughout the day and night.&nbsp;Once the keepers feel that mother and calf are ready, an announcement will be made that the Giraffe Barn Viewing Room is once again open to visitors.

New baby giraffe at Kansas zoo

Jerrold D. Culver, 85, went to be with the Lord on December 14, 2020, at 
St Catherine Hospital in Garden City. He was born on January 29, 1935,&nbsp; in Freedom, Oklahoma the son of Ervin Chester &amp; Dorotha Ardella 
(Doud) Culver. He married Peggy Joan Reed on October 15, 1955.&nbsp; She died
 on October 12, 2020. 
Jerry grew up around Alva, Oklahoma, leaving home at an early age he 
worked road construction throughout the Midwest. While working on 
Highway 96 from Dighton to Scott City he met his future wife. They 
lived and worked in Liberal for a short period and then returned to 
Dighton in 1958 where he worked at the Farmers Co-op Elevator. A flood 
in 1967 took Jerry to Fairbanks, Alaska to help relocate his sister’s 
family while repairs were made to their home and he loved it. In the 
Summer of 1968 the Culver family re-located to Fairbanks with hope of 
employment on the Alaska Pipeline. He worked for Becker Drilling as 
line wide foreman where soil and geological samples were taken. These 
crews traveled the mainline right of way in roll-agon camps prior to the
 haul road being built. Post pipeline Jerry worked for the United 
Nations instructing and teaching offshore drilling in Thailand and 
Burma. Jerry finished his working career at the City of Fairbank Garage
 as a mechanic. He was responsible for maintenance of the fire trucks 
and ambulances. Jerry was building Beauty Shops for his wife through 
out their life together. It seemed to him like every few years. 
Retiring in 2003 he enjoyed hunting and fishing and was an avid Harley 
rider. He belonged to the H.O.G. of Fairbanks. He loved to ride and 
meet people. There was not anyone he would not speak to and had a heart
 of gold. All manner of activities with his family were important to 
him and also enjoyed playing cards, especially cribbage. He moved back 
to Kansas in 2016. 
He is survived by his Son- Donald (Buster) Culver of Fairbanks, Alaska 
and Grandson Caleb Culver, Granddaughter Shyla Culver both of Fairbanks 
and Great-Grandsons- Ezra Culver and Orion Culver. Son-Kirk &amp; Diana
 Culver of Dighton, Granddaughter- Vanessa Culver of Seattle, 
Washington, Grandson- Cameron Culver of North Pole, Alaska, 
Great-Granddaughters- Harper and Charley, Grandson Rick &amp; Samantha 
Culver of Decatur, Illinois, Great-Grandson- Jerry Culver, 
Great-Granddaughter- Viviann Culver, 2 Brothers- Gene Culver of Guymon, 
Oklahoma and Kim Culver of Texarkana, Texas and 3 Sisters- Marion 
Sunderland of Fairbanks, Alaska, Wilma Ridgeway of Perry, Oklahoma and 
Lakita James of Perry, Oklahoma. He was preceded in death by his 
Parents, Wife and Brother- Norman Culver. 
A Memorial service for Jerry and Peggy will be held in late summer 2021 
at Fairbanks, Alaska. Condolences may be posted at 
www.garnandfuneralhomes.com. 
Boomhower Funeral Home of Dighton, Kansas is in charge of arrangements.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1609166745369.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Jerrold D. Culver, 85, went to be with the Lord on December 14, 2020, at 
St Catherine Hospital in Garden City. He was born on January 29, 1935,&nbsp; in Freedom, Oklahoma the son of Ervin Chester &amp; Dorotha Ardella 
(Doud) Culver. He married Peggy Joan Reed on October 15, 1955.&nbsp; She died
 on October 12, 2020. 
Jerry grew up around Alva, Oklahoma, leaving home at an early age he 
worked road construction throughout the Midwest. While working on 
Highway 96 from Dighton to Scott City he met his future wife. They 
lived and worked in Liberal for a short period and then returned to 
Dighton in 1958 where he worked at the Farmers Co-op Elevator. A flood 
in 1967 took Jerry to Fairbanks, Alaska to help relocate his sister’s 
family while repairs were made to their home and he loved it. In the 
Summer of 1968 the Culver family re-located to Fairbanks with hope of 
employment on the Alaska Pipeline. He worked for Becker Drilling as 
line wide foreman where soil and geological samples were taken. These 
crews traveled the mainline right of way in roll-agon camps prior to the
 haul road being built. Post pipeline Jerry worked for the United 
Nations instructing and teaching offshore drilling in Thailand and 
Burma. Jerry finished his working career at the City of Fairbank Garage
 as a mechanic. He was responsible for maintenance of the fire trucks 
and ambulances. Jerry was building Beauty Shops for his wife through 
out their life together. It seemed to him like every few years. 
Retiring in 2003 he enjoyed hunting and fishing and was an avid Harley 
rider. He belonged to the H.O.G. of Fairbanks. He loved to ride and 
meet people. There was not anyone he would not speak to and had a heart
 of gold. All manner of activities with his family were important to 
him and also enjoyed playing cards, especially cribbage. He moved back 
to Kansas in 2016. 
He is survived by his Son- Donald (Buster) Culver of Fairbanks, Alaska 
and Grandson Caleb Culver, Granddaughter Shyla Culver both of Fairbanks 
and Great-Grandsons- Ezra Culver and Orion Culver. Son-Kirk &amp; Diana
 Culver of Dighton, Granddaughter- Vanessa Culver of Seattle, 
Washington, Grandson- Cameron Culver of North Pole, Alaska, 
Great-Granddaughters- Harper and Charley, Grandson Rick &amp; Samantha 
Culver of Decatur, Illinois, Great-Grandson- Jerry Culver, 
Great-Granddaughter- Viviann Culver, 2 Brothers- Gene Culver of Guymon, 
Oklahoma and Kim Culver of Texarkana, Texas and 3 Sisters- Marion 
Sunderland of Fairbanks, Alaska, Wilma Ridgeway of Perry, Oklahoma and 
Lakita James of Perry, Oklahoma. He was preceded in death by his 
Parents, Wife and Brother- Norman Culver. 
A Memorial service for Jerry and Peggy will be held in late summer 2021 
at Fairbanks, Alaska. Condolences may be posted at 
www.garnandfuneralhomes.com. 
Boomhower Funeral Home of Dighton, Kansas is in charge of arrangements.

Jerrold D. Culver

Paul B. Hines, 78, passed away December 27, 2020, at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, Larned,

He was born October 7, 1942, in Brookville; the son of Bernard and 
Emma Bealby Hines.&nbsp; A longtime area resident, he was a diesel mechanic 
for Gibson-Titus-Stafford, which later became Doonan Peterbilt of Great 
Bend.&nbsp; They moved to Nebraska, then in 1999 moved to Salina where he 
worked at Kenworth, then moved back to Larned from Salina in 2017.

On October 9, 1966, he married Carolyn Felsted in Larned.&nbsp; She passed away September 30, 2020.

Survivors include; two sons; Richard Lee (Stacy) Hines, Larned and 
Jeffrey P. Hines (Chelsey Ruiz), Salina; a brother, Herb (Sandy) 
Henderson, Peculiar, MO; a brother-in-law, Alan (Mary Jo) Felsted, 
Orlando; a sister-in-law, Dianne Morse (John Johnson), Great Bend; three
 grandchildren, Jefery Bray, Emma Hines, Sebastian Hines; and one great 
grandson, Isaiah Bray and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife and a son, Curtis Hines.

Cremation has taken place and no services are planned at this time.&nbsp; A
 private family graveside inurnment will be held at a later date.

Memorials may be given to the Pawnee County Humane Society, in care 
of Beckwith Mortuary, P.O. Box 477, Larned, KS 67550.&nbsp; Personal 
condolences may be left for the family at <a href="http://www.beckwithmortuary.com">www.beckwithmortuary.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1609164742901.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Paul B. Hines, 78, passed away December 27, 2020, at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, Larned,He was born October 7, 1942, in Brookville; the son of Bernard and 
Emma Bealby Hines.&nbsp; A longtime area resident, he was a diesel mechanic 
for Gibson-Titus-Stafford, which later became Doonan Peterbilt of Great 
Bend.&nbsp; They moved to Nebraska, then in 1999 moved to Salina where he 
worked at Kenworth, then moved back to Larned from Salina in 2017.On October 9, 1966, he married Carolyn Felsted in Larned.&nbsp; She passed away September 30, 2020.Survivors include; two sons; Richard Lee (Stacy) Hines, Larned and 
Jeffrey P. Hines (Chelsey Ruiz), Salina; a brother, Herb (Sandy) 
Henderson, Peculiar, MO; a brother-in-law, Alan (Mary Jo) Felsted, 
Orlando; a sister-in-law, Dianne Morse (John Johnson), Great Bend; three
 grandchildren, Jefery Bray, Emma Hines, Sebastian Hines; and one great 
grandson, Isaiah Bray and nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife and a son, Curtis Hines.Cremation has taken place and no services are planned at this time.&nbsp; A
 private family graveside inurnment will be held at a later date.Memorials may be given to the Pawnee County Humane Society, in care 
of Beckwith Mortuary, P.O. Box 477, Larned, KS 67550.&nbsp; Personal 
condolences may be left for the family at <a href="http://www.beckwithmortuary.com">www.beckwithmortuary.com</a>.

Paul B. Hines

Donald Dale Paxson, 82, of Penokee, died December 23, 2020, in Hill 
City, Kansas. He was born October 14, 1938, in Penokee, Kansas to Oliver
 Franklin and Ella Mae “Barrit” Paxson.  

He was the youngest of three 
sons, following in the footsteps of Jim, the oldest and Bob, the middle.
 Don attended Penokee Grade School and was a graduate of Hill City 
High School. During his years in high school, he enjoyed participating 
in sports, especially basketball and track. He joined FFA and was a very
 active member, where he held many offices not only locally, but state 
offices as well. He became the first Hill City Member to receive the 
prestigious American Farmer Degree. For the rest of his life, Don 
remained an avid FFA Alumni Member. 
 On August 26, 1956, Don married the love of his life, Rea Burton at 
Prairie Home Methodist Church. Throughout their marriage, the Methodist 
Church was their anchor through thick and thin. They were an inseparable
 couple from their junior year of high school to the day the Lord called
 him home. To this union four children were born: Susan Ileene, Terry 
Lynn, Sandra Dee and Gary Dale.
 Farming was in Don’s blood from a very young age. He was also a 
cattleman and worked in petroleum management. He later became involved 
in irrigation with Ron Nickelson and Sol Roehl; thus, Northwest Electric
 and Irrigation was born. 
 Don was a 50-year member and Past Master of the Mason’s Millbrook 
Lodge AF &amp; AM #281, Eastern Star, South Solomon Shrine Club, and 
Isis Shrine Temple in Salina. As a lifetime Graham County resident, Don 
was always willing and ready to make Graham County a great place to 
live, work and play. He was a very community involved person. Don and 
Rea served as Republican County Chairman and Chairwoman for years. He 
served as a board member of the Penokee/Morland School District, the 
Water Authority, and the Graham County Hospital Board for over 30 years.
 As a member of Farm Bureau, he not only was a board member in his 
own county, but also on the regional and state level for years. 
 He was active in the Graham County Conservation District, faithfully
 attending meetings here as well as in Topeka. He was a trustee of 
Mid-West Hospitals and traveled all over the United States to represent 
all small hospitals, holding state, regional and national offices for 
years. He always felt he needed to support the community hospitals and 
do all he could to keep them current with new technologies. He strived 
to give the community an understanding of how vital he felt the hospital
 was to everyone.
 	Don was preceded in death by his parents and his son Terry Lynn. 
Survivors include his wife Rea Paxson of the home; daughter Susan 
Ileene (John) Borgstrom and their four children: daughter Anna (Tony) 
Borders and daughter, Kora; son Ashley (Kris) Borgstrom; daughter Holly 
and boyfriend Lucas; and son Gabe; the four children of Terry Lynn 
Paxson: daughter Jenny (Jarrod) Smith and their three daughters Kally, 
Abby, and Maggy and son Jaxson; son Heath (Mandy) Paxson and son Thane; 
daughter Devin and boyfriend Will and daughter Terralynn; and daughter 
Gabs; daughter Sandra Dee (Larry) Wenzl and their children: son Eugene 
(Kelly) Wenzl, and their daughters Katherine and Brynne; son Don 
(Kaitie) Wenzl and son Terry; daughter Atarah Sauter and husband Eric 
and daughter Marielle; son Gary Dale (Marjorie) Paxson and his daughter 
Chelsea Fountaine and husband Bob; and his two brothers Jim (Wordna) 
Paxson and family, and Bob (Greta) Paxson and family. 
 Family was a very important part of Don’s life. Weekend trips to 
Webster Lake in the old bus were a little piece of heaven. That old bus 
made it on many other adventures around the country in its time. If he 
met a stranger, in no time at all they were treated as a friend. His 
zest for life was contagious - from his gift of gab, his singing at many
 community functions, to leading you out on the dance floor! “Don as 
husband, dad, granddad, great-granddad and friend, you are leaving an 
empty place in our hearts, but you have given us a legacy of family, 
God, and community.”

Click <a href="https://www.stinemetzfh.com/obituaries/Donald-Dale-Paxson?obId=19420612#/celebrationWall">HERE</a> for service details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1609164420555.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Donald Dale Paxson, 82, of Penokee, died December 23, 2020, in Hill 
City, Kansas. He was born October 14, 1938, in Penokee, Kansas to Oliver
 Franklin and Ella Mae “Barrit” Paxson. He was the youngest of three 
sons, following in the footsteps of Jim, the oldest and Bob, the middle.
 Don attended Penokee Grade School and was a graduate of Hill City 
High School. During his years in high school, he enjoyed participating 
in sports, especially basketball and track. He joined FFA and was a very
 active member, where he held many offices not only locally, but state 
offices as well. He became the first Hill City Member to receive the 
prestigious American Farmer Degree. For the rest of his life, Don 
remained an avid FFA Alumni Member. 
 On August 26, 1956, Don married the love of his life, Rea Burton at 
Prairie Home Methodist Church. Throughout their marriage, the Methodist 
Church was their anchor through thick and thin. They were an inseparable
 couple from their junior year of high school to the day the Lord called
 him home. To this union four children were born: Susan Ileene, Terry 
Lynn, Sandra Dee and Gary Dale.
 Farming was in Don’s blood from a very young age. He was also a 
cattleman and worked in petroleum management. He later became involved 
in irrigation with Ron Nickelson and Sol Roehl; thus, Northwest Electric
 and Irrigation was born. 
 Don was a 50-year member and Past Master of the Mason’s Millbrook 
Lodge AF &amp; AM #281, Eastern Star, South Solomon Shrine Club, and 
Isis Shrine Temple in Salina. As a lifetime Graham County resident, Don 
was always willing and ready to make Graham County a great place to 
live, work and play. He was a very community involved person. Don and 
Rea served as Republican County Chairman and Chairwoman for years. He 
served as a board member of the Penokee/Morland School District, the 
Water Authority, and the Graham County Hospital Board for over 30 years.
 As a member of Farm Bureau, he not only was a board member in his 
own county, but also on the regional and state level for years. 
 He was active in the Graham County Conservation District, faithfully
 attending meetings here as well as in Topeka. He was a trustee of 
Mid-West Hospitals and traveled all over the United States to represent 
all small hospitals, holding state, regional and national offices for 
years. He always felt he needed to support the community hospitals and 
do all he could to keep them current with new technologies. He strived 
to give the community an understanding of how vital he felt the hospital
 was to everyone.
 	Don was preceded in death by his parents and his son Terry Lynn. 
Survivors include his wife Rea Paxson of the home; daughter Susan 
Ileene (John) Borgstrom and their four children: daughter Anna (Tony) 
Borders and daughter, Kora; son Ashley (Kris) Borgstrom; daughter Holly 
and boyfriend Lucas; and son Gabe; the four children of Terry Lynn 
Paxson: daughter Jenny (Jarrod) Smith and their three daughters Kally, 
Abby, and Maggy and son Jaxson; son Heath (Mandy) Paxson and son Thane; 
daughter Devin and boyfriend Will and daughter Terralynn; and daughter 
Gabs; daughter Sandra Dee (Larry) Wenzl and their children: son Eugene 
(Kelly) Wenzl, and their daughters Katherine and Brynne; son Don 
(Kaitie) Wenzl and son Terry; daughter Atarah Sauter and husband Eric 
and daughter Marielle; son Gary Dale (Marjorie) Paxson and his daughter 
Chelsea Fountaine and husband Bob; and his two brothers Jim (Wordna) 
Paxson and family, and Bob (Greta) Paxson and family. 
 Family was a very important part of Don’s life. Weekend trips to 
Webster Lake in the old bus were a little piece of heaven. That old bus 
made it on many other adventures around the country in its time. If he 
met a stranger, in no time at all they were treated as a friend. His 
zest for life was contagious - from his gift of gab, his singing at many
 community functions, to leading you out on the dance floor! “Don as 
husband, dad, granddad, great-granddad and friend, you are leaving an 
empty place in our hearts, but you have given us a legacy of family, 
God, and community.”Click <a href="https://www.stinemetzfh.com/obituaries/Donald-Dale-Paxson?obId=19420612#/celebrationWall">HERE</a> for service details.

Donald Dale Paxson

Lifelong Goodland, KS resident E. Evelyn Schindler Barnes, 97, passed away on Saturday, December 26, 2020, at Diversicare in Larned, KS.

She was born in rural Sherman County, KS on October 30, 1923, to Fred and Emma (Krayca) Schindler.&nbsp; She grew up on the family farm north of Goodland with her sisters Ethel and Mabel.

After finishing school, she taught in a country school until she met the love of her life John F. Barnes.&nbsp; They married on February 19, 1944, in Atwood, KS.&nbsp; They moved to the Schindler farm where she resided until 2011.&nbsp; To this marriage, one son Larry Fred Barnes was born in 1947.&nbsp; She spent the last 9 years in Larned to be close to her son.

Evelyn loved farming, crafting, playing cards, gardening and collecting.&nbsp; She entertained many family and friends through the years, and took great care of all the people she knew.&nbsp; She loved visits from all her grandchildren.

Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband John suddenly on December 24, 1989, and two sisters Ethel Schindler and Mabel Leonard.

She is survived by her son Larry Barnes of Larned, KS, three grandsons; Leonard Barnes of St. Francis, KS, Dustin Barnes of Larned, KS and Blain Barnes of Conway Springs, KS, and one granddaughter Amber Barnes of Goodland, KS. &nbsp; She is also survived by five great grandsons; Jon, Eric, Aidan, Kutter and Conley Barnes, three great great grandchildren, one niece Judy Althoff and a special nephew David Leonard and his family Lori, Micheal and Megan.

Evelyn was a special lady who held a large place in everyone’s hearts.&nbsp; She will be dearly missed by her family.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, December 31, 2020 at 10:30 AM MT at Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland with Reverend Paul McNall officiating.&nbsp; Burial will follow in the Goodland Cemetery.&nbsp; Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 31, 2020 from 9:30 to 10:30 AM MT at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be designated to the Sherman County Historical Society or to Diversicare of Larned and may be left at the services or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.

Online condolences for the family may be left at <a href="http://www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com">www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com</a>.

Funeral services have been entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1609164267185.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Lifelong Goodland, KS resident E. Evelyn Schindler Barnes, 97, passed away on Saturday, December 26, 2020, at Diversicare in Larned, KS.She was born in rural Sherman County, KS on October 30, 1923, to Fred and Emma (Krayca) Schindler.&nbsp; She grew up on the family farm north of Goodland with her sisters Ethel and Mabel.After finishing school, she taught in a country school until she met the love of her life John F. Barnes.&nbsp; They married on February 19, 1944, in Atwood, KS.&nbsp; They moved to the Schindler farm where she resided until 2011.&nbsp; To this marriage, one son Larry Fred Barnes was born in 1947.&nbsp; She spent the last 9 years in Larned to be close to her son.Evelyn loved farming, crafting, playing cards, gardening and collecting.&nbsp; She entertained many family and friends through the years, and took great care of all the people she knew.&nbsp; She loved visits from all her grandchildren.Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband John suddenly on December 24, 1989, and two sisters Ethel Schindler and Mabel Leonard.She is survived by her son Larry Barnes of Larned, KS, three grandsons; Leonard Barnes of St. Francis, KS, Dustin Barnes of Larned, KS and Blain Barnes of Conway Springs, KS, and one granddaughter Amber Barnes of Goodland, KS. &nbsp; She is also survived by five great grandsons; Jon, Eric, Aidan, Kutter and Conley Barnes, three great great grandchildren, one niece Judy Althoff and a special nephew David Leonard and his family Lori, Micheal and Megan.Evelyn was a special lady who held a large place in everyone’s hearts.&nbsp; She will be dearly missed by her family.Funeral services will be held on Thursday, December 31, 2020 at 10:30 AM MT at Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland with Reverend Paul McNall officiating.&nbsp; Burial will follow in the Goodland Cemetery.&nbsp; Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 31, 2020 from 9:30 to 10:30 AM MT at the funeral home.Memorial contributions may be designated to the Sherman County Historical Society or to Diversicare of Larned and may be left at the services or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.Online condolences for the family may be left at <a href="http://www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com">www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com</a>.Funeral services have been entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.

E. Evelyn Schindler Barnes

William “Bill” Brungardt, age 79, of Branson, Missouri, passed away 
on December 22, 2020.&nbsp; Bill was born in Hays, Kansas, on October 30, 
1941, to H. F. “Ham” and Regina Brungardt. Preceded in death by his 
parents, brother H. James, and sister Joyce Ann.

Bill and Marcie were married for 56 years and had three children, 
Brenda, Michael, and Kurt.&nbsp; He was a devoted husband, father, papa, and 
great-grandfather.&nbsp; He was a member of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic 
Church.

He proudly served in the U.S. Army after attending Kansas University 
in Lawrence, Kansas.&nbsp; He graduated from Fort Hays State College with a 
degree in Business Administration.&nbsp; He owned and operated a Western Auto
 Hardware Store in Victoria, Kansas, until 1979 when he moved to Rogers,
 Arkansas, to spend time in the Ozarks enjoying the great outdoors with 
his family.&nbsp; He retired from Moser’s in 2007 after 28 years of service.&nbsp;
 After 38 years in Rogers, Bill, and his wife moved to Branson, 
Missouri.&nbsp; He enjoyed the local music shows, new friends from the area, 
and being close to his great-grandson.

Some of his favorite pastimes were restoring antique cars, boating, 
skiing, attending NASCAR races and football games with his family.&nbsp; He 
had a strong faith, sweet demeanor, a good sense of humor, and a loving 
smile.

He is survived by the love of his life, Marcie, and his children 
Brenda and Brian Hedrick, Mike and Jennifer Brungardt, and Kurt and 
Heidi Brungardt.&nbsp; He is also survived by his grandchildren Megan and 
fiancé Jacob Huckabey, Abby and Josh Smith, Matt and Alicia Brungardt, 
Luke and Jordan Brungardt, Sarah Brungardt, Rachel Brungardt, and 
great-grandson Jackson William Smith.

His memorial will be closed to the public. In lieu of flowers, please
 make a donation the Parkinson’s Foundation. Arrangements and cremation 
are under the direction of Cremations of the Ozarks.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1609089712401.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>William “Bill” Brungardt, age 79, of Branson, Missouri, passed away 
on December 22, 2020.&nbsp; Bill was born in Hays, Kansas, on October 30, 
1941, to H. F. “Ham” and Regina Brungardt. Preceded in death by his 
parents, brother H. James, and sister Joyce Ann.Bill and Marcie were married for 56 years and had three children, 
Brenda, Michael, and Kurt.&nbsp; He was a devoted husband, father, papa, and 
great-grandfather.&nbsp; He was a member of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic 
Church.He proudly served in the U.S. Army after attending Kansas University 
in Lawrence, Kansas.&nbsp; He graduated from Fort Hays State College with a 
degree in Business Administration.&nbsp; He owned and operated a Western Auto
 Hardware Store in Victoria, Kansas, until 1979 when he moved to Rogers,
 Arkansas, to spend time in the Ozarks enjoying the great outdoors with 
his family.&nbsp; He retired from Moser’s in 2007 after 28 years of service.&nbsp;
 After 38 years in Rogers, Bill, and his wife moved to Branson, 
Missouri.&nbsp; He enjoyed the local music shows, new friends from the area, 
and being close to his great-grandson.Some of his favorite pastimes were restoring antique cars, boating, 
skiing, attending NASCAR races and football games with his family.&nbsp; He 
had a strong faith, sweet demeanor, a good sense of humor, and a loving 
smile.He is survived by the love of his life, Marcie, and his children 
Brenda and Brian Hedrick, Mike and Jennifer Brungardt, and Kurt and 
Heidi Brungardt.&nbsp; He is also survived by his grandchildren Megan and 
fiancé Jacob Huckabey, Abby and Josh Smith, Matt and Alicia Brungardt, 
Luke and Jordan Brungardt, Sarah Brungardt, Rachel Brungardt, and 
great-grandson Jackson William Smith.His memorial will be closed to the public. In lieu of flowers, please
 make a donation the Parkinson’s Foundation. Arrangements and cremation 
are under the direction of Cremations of the Ozarks.

William 'Bill' Brungardt

Anthony Benedict “Tony” Malsom, 99, died December 24, 2020, at Hays 
Medical Center, Hays.&nbsp; He was born October 16, 1921 at Hays, to Fred and
 Mary (Keller) Malsom.&nbsp; Tony married Beata (Dinkel) Sept. 27, 1944, in 
Collyer.&nbsp; Beata died June 18, 2000.&nbsp; He then married Flossie (Meyeres) 
Ptacek Oct. 28, 2006, in Great Bend.&nbsp; She survives.

Tony, a Great Bend resident and retired farmer moving from Collyer, 
proudly served his country during WW II, in the U.S. Army.&nbsp; After 
returning home at the end of the war he and his wife, Bea, began to 
build their life in Collyer, KS. Initially he opened a small welding 
shop, then a general repair shop, a liquor store and eventually took on 
the Ford Tractor Implement dealership. Tony was currently a member of 
Prince of Peace Parish and life member of American Legion Argonne Post 
180, both of Great Bend, and former member of the V.F.W. and St. Michael
 Catholic Church,&nbsp; both in Collyer.&nbsp; Over the years, he has enjoyed 
dancing, flying, midget and stock car racing, boating, skydiving, and 
zip lining.

He was fortunate to have a very full life filled with family and 
friends that he dearly cherished, and that cherished him as well. He was
 preceded in death by his parents Fred and Mary (Keller) Malsom, his 
step mother, Kate (Richmeier) Malsom, his first wife, Beata, grandson, 
Eric; brothers, George, Larry, Frank, Carl, Ted, John, Steve, Laverne, 
and Richard. His surviving family is his wife, Florence “Flossie”; four 
children Dwayne Malsom of Ellis, Karen Jones (Roger) of Aurora, Col., 
Darlene Malsom, The Woodlands, Texas and Keith Malsom (Donna) of Ft. 
Collins, Col.; five step children, Karen Bond (Greg) of Sylvan Grove, 
Duane Ptacek of Yutan, Neb., Ron Ptacek (Virginia) of Russell, Rick 
Ptacek (Kim) of Victoria and Keith Ptecek of the home; siblings, 
Katherine Reitmayer of Quinter, Jim Yanda (Gwen) of White Salmon, Wash.,
 Barbara Kinderknecht (Tom) of Park, Carol McIntosh (Allen) of Quinter 
and Rita Mader (Kirby) of Quinter; five grand children, eight great 
grandchildren, 20 step grandchildren and 36 step great grandchildren; 
and a host of nieces and nephews all across the country.

Vigil services will be 9:00 a.m., with visitation starting at 8:30 
a.m.,&nbsp; Wednesday, December 30, 2020, followed by a Mass of Christian 
Services at 10:30, both at St. Michael Catholic Church,&nbsp; Collyer.&nbsp; 
Father Justin Palmer will preside.&nbsp; Interment will follow at 11:30 a.m. 
at St. Michael Catholic Cemetery, Collyer, with military honors 
conducted by Ft. Riley Honor Guard.&nbsp; Visitation will be Noon to 9:00 
p.m., Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at Bryant Funeral Home, Great Bend.&nbsp; 
Memorials may be made to Kansas for Life, in care of Bryant Funeral 
Home.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1609089039178.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Anthony Benedict “Tony” Malsom, 99, died December 24, 2020, at Hays 
Medical Center, Hays.&nbsp; He was born October 16, 1921 at Hays, to Fred and
 Mary (Keller) Malsom.&nbsp; Tony married Beata (Dinkel) Sept. 27, 1944, in 
Collyer.&nbsp; Beata died June 18, 2000.&nbsp; He then married Flossie (Meyeres) 
Ptacek Oct. 28, 2006, in Great Bend.&nbsp; She survives.Tony, a Great Bend resident and retired farmer moving from Collyer, 
proudly served his country during WW II, in the U.S. Army.&nbsp; After 
returning home at the end of the war he and his wife, Bea, began to 
build their life in Collyer, KS. Initially he opened a small welding 
shop, then a general repair shop, a liquor store and eventually took on 
the Ford Tractor Implement dealership. Tony was currently a member of 
Prince of Peace Parish and life member of American Legion Argonne Post 
180, both of Great Bend, and former member of the V.F.W. and St. Michael
 Catholic Church,&nbsp; both in Collyer.&nbsp; Over the years, he has enjoyed 
dancing, flying, midget and stock car racing, boating, skydiving, and 
zip lining.He was fortunate to have a very full life filled with family and 
friends that he dearly cherished, and that cherished him as well. He was
 preceded in death by his parents Fred and Mary (Keller) Malsom, his 
step mother, Kate (Richmeier) Malsom, his first wife, Beata, grandson, 
Eric; brothers, George, Larry, Frank, Carl, Ted, John, Steve, Laverne, 
and Richard. His surviving family is his wife, Florence “Flossie”; four 
children Dwayne Malsom of Ellis, Karen Jones (Roger) of Aurora, Col., 
Darlene Malsom, The Woodlands, Texas and Keith Malsom (Donna) of Ft. 
Collins, Col.; five step children, Karen Bond (Greg) of Sylvan Grove, 
Duane Ptacek of Yutan, Neb., Ron Ptacek (Virginia) of Russell, Rick 
Ptacek (Kim) of Victoria and Keith Ptecek of the home; siblings, 
Katherine Reitmayer of Quinter, Jim Yanda (Gwen) of White Salmon, Wash.,
 Barbara Kinderknecht (Tom) of Park, Carol McIntosh (Allen) of Quinter 
and Rita Mader (Kirby) of Quinter; five grand children, eight great 
grandchildren, 20 step grandchildren and 36 step great grandchildren; 
and a host of nieces and nephews all across the country.Vigil services will be 9:00 a.m., with visitation starting at 8:30 
a.m.,&nbsp; Wednesday, December 30, 2020, followed by a Mass of Christian 
Services at 10:30, both at St. Michael Catholic Church,&nbsp; Collyer.&nbsp; 
Father Justin Palmer will preside.&nbsp; Interment will follow at 11:30 a.m. 
at St. Michael Catholic Cemetery, Collyer, with military honors 
conducted by Ft. Riley Honor Guard.&nbsp; Visitation will be Noon to 9:00 
p.m., Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at Bryant Funeral Home, Great Bend.&nbsp; 
Memorials may be made to Kansas for Life, in care of Bryant Funeral 
Home.

Anthony Benedict 'Tony' Malsom

Dale Francis Pfannenstiel, age 58, of Hays, Kansas died Thursday, December 24, 2020, at Hays Medical Center, Hays, Kansas.&nbsp; He was born on November 24, 1962, in Hays, Kansas to Francis J. and Mildred Louise (Karlin) Pfannenstiel.&nbsp; He married Julie Ann (Mermis) on October 21, 1989, at Ellis, Kansas.

He worked a number of years at Eagle Cable TV in Hays, and the last few years at HESS Services.&nbsp; He also worked at Pepsi and Coors in Hays.&nbsp; Dale grew up in Antonino and Hays, attended Antonino Grade School, Thomas More Prep High, and was a 1982 graduate of Hays High School.&nbsp; He enjoyed camping, the Andy Griffith Show, and his dogs.&nbsp;

Survivors include his wife, Julie Pfannenstiel, of the home; six daughters, Cassandra Davied and husband, Scott; Rachel Klaus and husband, Luke; Rebecca Brady and husband, Aaron, all of Hays, KS; Amanda Pfannenstiel, Wichita, KS; Lacey Pfannenstiel and Lindsey Pfannenstiel, both of Kansas City, KS; one sister, Denise Becker and husband, Mark, Plainville, KS; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Frank B. and Mary (Rupp) Mermis, Hays, KS; one brother-in-law, Jerry Mermis, Hays, KS; two sisters-in-law, Charlene Mermis; Benita Meyers and husband, Steve, both of Hays, KS; his cousin, James Leiker and wife, Cherie, Shawnee, KS; five grandchildren, Evan, Levi and Adam Brady; DeShon Williams-Shepherd and Timothy Smith; and his four dogs, Malea, Alex, Sadie and Aussie.

&nbsp;He was preceded in death by his parents; one grandson, Zachary Davied; one brother, David Pfannenstiel; one sister, Donna Steckline; his aunt, Rita Pfannenstiel, who raised him after his mother died.

&nbsp;A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, December 30, 2020, at&nbsp;Our Lady Help of Christian Catholic Church, Antonino, Kansas.&nbsp; Burial will be in Our Lady Help of Christian Cemetery, Antonino.

A vigil service and rosary will be at 7:00 P.M. Tuesday, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Tuesday, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, and from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, at the church.&nbsp; &nbsp;

The family suggests memorials to the family in care of the mortuary.

Due to the coronavirus if you have a cough, fever or are not feeling well, please use our e-mail or online guestbook.&nbsp; Social distancing and wearing masks will be required at the visitation and funeral services.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Condolences can be sent via e-mail to <a href="mailto:clinesmortuary@eaglecom.net">clinesmortuary@eaglecom.net</a> or can be left at guest book at <a href="http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1608997234197.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Dale Francis Pfannenstiel, age 58, of Hays, Kansas died Thursday, December 24, 2020, at Hays Medical Center, Hays, Kansas.&nbsp; He was born on November 24, 1962, in Hays, Kansas to Francis J. and Mildred Louise (Karlin) Pfannenstiel.&nbsp; He married Julie Ann (Mermis) on October 21, 1989, at Ellis, Kansas.He worked a number of years at Eagle Cable TV in Hays, and the last few years at HESS Services.&nbsp; He also worked at Pepsi and Coors in Hays.&nbsp; Dale grew up in Antonino and Hays, attended Antonino Grade School, Thomas More Prep High, and was a 1982 graduate of Hays High School.&nbsp; He enjoyed camping, the Andy Griffith Show, and his dogs.&nbsp;Survivors include his wife, Julie Pfannenstiel, of the home; six daughters, Cassandra Davied and husband, Scott; Rachel Klaus and husband, Luke; Rebecca Brady and husband, Aaron, all of Hays, KS; Amanda Pfannenstiel, Wichita, KS; Lacey Pfannenstiel and Lindsey Pfannenstiel, both of Kansas City, KS; one sister, Denise Becker and husband, Mark, Plainville, KS; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Frank B. and Mary (Rupp) Mermis, Hays, KS; one brother-in-law, Jerry Mermis, Hays, KS; two sisters-in-law, Charlene Mermis; Benita Meyers and husband, Steve, both of Hays, KS; his cousin, James Leiker and wife, Cherie, Shawnee, KS; five grandchildren, Evan, Levi and Adam Brady; DeShon Williams-Shepherd and Timothy Smith; and his four dogs, Malea, Alex, Sadie and Aussie.&nbsp;He was preceded in death by his parents; one grandson, Zachary Davied; one brother, David Pfannenstiel; one sister, Donna Steckline; his aunt, Rita Pfannenstiel, who raised him after his mother died.&nbsp;A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, December 30, 2020, at&nbsp;Our Lady Help of Christian Catholic Church, Antonino, Kansas.&nbsp; Burial will be in Our Lady Help of Christian Cemetery, Antonino.A vigil service and rosary will be at 7:00 P.M. Tuesday, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601.&nbsp; &nbsp;Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Tuesday, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, and from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, at the church.&nbsp; &nbsp;The family suggests memorials to the family in care of the mortuary.Due to the coronavirus if you have a cough, fever or are not feeling well, please use our e-mail or online guestbook.&nbsp; Social distancing and wearing masks will be required at the visitation and funeral services.&nbsp; &nbsp;Condolences can be sent via e-mail to <a href="mailto:clinesmortuary@eaglecom.net">clinesmortuary@eaglecom.net</a> or can be left at guest book at <a href="http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a>

Dale Francis Pfannenstiel

By C.J. JANOVY <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/12/23/here-are-wishes-of-comfort-for-kansas-when-goodwill-toward-men-is-hard-to-find/">Kansas Reflector</a>

I’m not much for 
Christmas. I’ve spent more than half a century hoping each December’s 
wishes of peace on earth and goodwill to men would come true, only to be
 eternally disappointed.

But I still wish joy to 
those who can find it in these darkest days of the year. And this year I
 wish comfort to some people in particular.

I wish comfort to county health officers and other public health workers who, as thanks for <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/08/31/meet-the-epis-at-the-center-of-kansas-effort-to-manage-covid-19-and-all-scary-diseases/">their expertise in trying to keep people safe</a>, have been overruled by incompetent politicians and <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/11/12/kansas-public-health-workers-are-not-your-enemies-theyre-your-neighbors/">threatened with violence</a>.

Go ahead and test Kansas’ 
level of Christmas spirit by sitting for four minutes with this NBC News
 story about Jennifer Bacani McKenney, of Fredonia:

A couple of weeks after her segment on NBC, McKenney was <a href="https://www.cnn.com/videos/health/2020/12/16/public-health-workers-kansas-cuomo-cpt-vpx.cnn">interviewed on CNN</a> with Gianfranco Pezzino, just after <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/12/14/high-risk-health-care-workers-in-kansas-get-first-doses-of-covid-19-vaccine/">Pezzino resigned as the Shawnee County health director</a>.

“We know that 
commissioners and legislators, they don’t have a medical background but 
we do,” McKenney told Chris Cuomo. “And we’ve been training for this 
kind of thing for years, and so we hope that we could advise our elected
 officials and help them to make the best decisions possible. But that’s
 not always happening.”

I wish comfort to those 
elected officials who are trying to do the right thing, like Dodge City 
Mayor Joyce Warshaw, who submitted her immediate resignation 10 days 
before Christmas.

“Warshaw’s heavy decision 
was made with concerns for her safety after being met with aggression, 
including threats via phone and email from Dodge City citizens, 
following extreme backlash due to <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/investigations/2020/12/11/small-town-dragged-its-feet-mask-mandates-thousands-got-sick/6481416002/">an article by USA Today</a> published on Dec. 11, regarding the mask mandate,” according to the <a href="https://www.dodgeglobe.com/story/news/local/2020/12/15/dodge-city-mayor-joyce-warshaw-resigns-effective-immediately/3913222001/">Dodge City Daily Globe</a>.

Dodge City detectives <a href="https://www.dodgeglobe.com/story/news/2020/12/17/joyce-warshaw-relieved-outcome-but-points-troubling-incidents/3943676001/">soon determined</a>
 the most frightening emails weren’t direct threats to Warshaw but 
instead were more likely generic blasts from a man in Kentucky who told 
police he’d sent the emails “due to his frustrations and after having 
‘had a few beers.’ ”

But it’s hard to blame Warshaw for quitting, considering the toxicity of these times.

“Prosecutors accused a man in Wichita, Kan., of <a href="https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article246513655.html" target="_blank">threatening to kidnap and kill that city’s mayor </a>over a mask ordinance,” the New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/16/us/after-personal-threats-over-a-local-mask-mandate-the-dodge-city-kansas-mayor-resigns.html">reminded us in its recap</a>
 of Dodge City developments. “And the mayor of Kansas City, Mo., 
received a text message that referred to him using a racial slur <a href="https://twitter.com/QuintonLucasKC/status/1277628265851686912/photo/1" target="_blank">and suggested he should be lynched</a> for requiring masks.”

USA Today’s stories from western Kansas were powerful if not what a lot of Kansans wanted to hear.

Its Dec. 12 report from “<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/12/12/coronavirus-deaths-highest-us-rural-republican-leaning-county/3828902001/">The Deadliest Place in America</a>” — Gove County — serves as a kind of memorial to all that we’ve lost: our people and our humanity.

When the story ran, Gove 
County Sheriff Allan Weber was in a Denver hospital, where he’d been 
“flown by a medical plane” in October. “Weber, 64, was reelected to his 
post from his hospital bed at Swedish Medical Center in Denver on Nov. 
3.,” USA Today reported. “He first tested positive Sept. 28.”

On Dec. 18, the Facebook page for the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Gove-County-Sheriffs-Office-1109472199078950/">Gove County Sheriff’s Office</a> remembered him in words befitting the season.

One more time in the 
spirit of the season: “In an extension of the ties that bind us as a 
community, let us also settle into a mindset of peace and wellbeing for 
one another to honor his memory.”

May this wish from the 
Gove County Sheriff’s Office come true, and may it be a comfort to the 
families of 2,448 Kansans who aren’t around this Christmas.

C.J. Janovy is a veteran journalist with deep roots in the Midwest. Before joining the Kansas Reflector, she was an editor and reporter at Kansas City’s NPR affiliate, KCUR. Before that, she edited the city’s alt-weekly newspaper, The Pitch.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1608742446687.png" alt="Jennifer Bacani McKenney of Fredonia spoke with NBC News for a Dec. 4 story about McKenney's difficulties as a county health officer during COVID-19. (Screen capture by Kansas Reflector) " />
 <figcaption>Jennifer Bacani McKenney of Fredonia spoke with NBC News for a Dec. 4 story about McKenney's difficulties as a county health officer during COVID-19. (Screen capture by Kansas Reflector) </figcaption>
 </figure>By C.J. JANOVY <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/12/23/here-are-wishes-of-comfort-for-kansas-when-goodwill-toward-men-is-hard-to-find/">Kansas Reflector</a>I’m not much for 
Christmas. I’ve spent more than half a century hoping each December’s 
wishes of peace on earth and goodwill to men would come true, only to be
 eternally disappointed.But I still wish joy to 
those who can find it in these darkest days of the year. And this year I
 wish comfort to some people in particular.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>I wish comfort to county health officers and other public health workers who, as thanks for <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/08/31/meet-the-epis-at-the-center-of-kansas-effort-to-manage-covid-19-and-all-scary-diseases/">their expertise in trying to keep people safe</a>, have been overruled by incompetent politicians and <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/11/12/kansas-public-health-workers-are-not-your-enemies-theyre-your-neighbors/">threatened with violence</a>.Go ahead and test Kansas’ 
level of Christmas spirit by sitting for four minutes with this NBC News
 story about Jennifer Bacani McKenney, of Fredonia:<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RX8pYps1Hag"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>A couple of weeks after her segment on NBC, McKenney was <a href="https://www.cnn.com/videos/health/2020/12/16/public-health-workers-kansas-cuomo-cpt-vpx.cnn">interviewed on CNN</a> with Gianfranco Pezzino, just after <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/12/14/high-risk-health-care-workers-in-kansas-get-first-doses-of-covid-19-vaccine/">Pezzino resigned as the Shawnee County health director</a>.“We know that 
commissioners and legislators, they don’t have a medical background but 
we do,” McKenney told Chris Cuomo. “And we’ve been training for this 
kind of thing for years, and so we hope that we could advise our elected
 officials and help them to make the best decisions possible. But that’s
 not always happening.”I wish comfort to those 
elected officials who are trying to do the right thing, like Dodge City 
Mayor Joyce Warshaw, who submitted her immediate resignation 10 days 
before Christmas.“Warshaw’s heavy decision 
was made with concerns for her safety after being met with aggression, 
including threats via phone and email from Dodge City citizens, 
following extreme backlash due to <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/investigations/2020/12/11/small-town-dragged-its-feet-mask-mandates-thousands-got-sick/6481416002/">an article by USA Today</a> published on Dec. 11, regarding the mask mandate,” according to the <a href="https://www.dodgeglobe.com/story/news/local/2020/12/15/dodge-city-mayor-joyce-warshaw-resigns-effective-immediately/3913222001/">Dodge City Daily Globe</a>.Dodge City detectives <a href="https://www.dodgeglobe.com/story/news/2020/12/17/joyce-warshaw-relieved-outcome-but-points-troubling-incidents/3943676001/">soon determined</a>
 the most frightening emails weren’t direct threats to Warshaw but 
instead were more likely generic blasts from a man in Kentucky who told 
police he’d sent the emails “due to his frustrations and after having 
‘had a few beers.’ ”But it’s hard to blame Warshaw for quitting, considering the toxicity of these times.“Prosecutors accused a man in Wichita, Kan., of <a href="https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article246513655.html" target="_blank">threatening to kidnap and kill that city’s mayor </a>over a mask ordinance,” the New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/16/us/after-personal-threats-over-a-local-mask-mandate-the-dodge-city-kansas-mayor-resigns.html">reminded us in its recap</a>
 of Dodge City developments. “And the mayor of Kansas City, Mo., 
received a text message that referred to him using a racial slur <a href="https://twitter.com/QuintonLucasKC/status/1277628265851686912/photo/1" target="_blank">and suggested he should be lynched</a> for requiring masks.”USA Today’s stories from western Kansas were powerful if not what a lot of Kansans wanted to hear.Its Dec. 12 report from “<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/12/12/coronavirus-deaths-highest-us-rural-republican-leaning-county/3828902001/">The Deadliest Place in America</a>” — Gove County — serves as a kind of memorial to all that we’ve lost: our people and our humanity.When the story ran, Gove 
County Sheriff Allan Weber was in a Denver hospital, where he’d been 
“flown by a medical plane” in October. “Weber, 64, was reelected to his 
post from his hospital bed at Swedish Medical Center in Denver on Nov. 
3.,” USA Today reported. “He first tested positive Sept. 28.”Sheriff Weber didn’t make it.On Dec. 18, the Facebook page for the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Gove-County-Sheriffs-Office-1109472199078950/">Gove County Sheriff’s Office</a> remembered him in words befitting the season.<figure>
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 </figure>One more time in the 
spirit of the season: “In an extension of the ties that bind us as a 
community, let us also settle into a mindset of peace and wellbeing for 
one another to honor his memory.”May this wish from the 
Gove County Sheriff’s Office come true, and may it be a comfort to the 
families of 2,448 Kansans who aren’t around this Christmas.C.J. Janovy is a veteran journalist with deep roots in the Midwest. Before joining the Kansas Reflector, she was an editor and reporter at Kansas City’s NPR affiliate, KCUR. Before that, she edited the city’s alt-weekly newspaper, The Pitch.