Obits
Mary Ellen Cochren, 98, originally from Whiting, passed away Sunday, May 5, 2024, at Villa St. Francis Nursing Home in Olathe.
She was born Feb. 20, 1926 in Whiting, KS, the daughter of B. Ernest and Kathryn R. (Snyder) Williams.
Mary attended Whiting High School until her junior year and...
Donald Charles “Don” Figgins, 86, formerly of Meriden, died Friday, May 3, 2024, at home in Topeka of acute myeloid leukemia.
He was born April 26, 1938, in Topeka, the son of Jesse Lois “Pat” Figgins and Edna Esther (Root) Smith. He graduated from Holton High School in 1957 and served in the Navy...
Judy Lee Armstrong, 80, of Topeka, formerly of Holton, passed away Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at Midland Care in Topeka.
She was born Dec. 10, 1943, in Ft. Bragg, N.C., the daughter of Roy and Lelah (Truman) McKinsey.
Judy graduated from Holton High School in 1962; she was proud of her cheerleading...
Rita Ferne Walder, 81, Auburn, died Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at Midland Care Hospice House.
She was born April 13, 1943, in Fort Scott, the daughter of Carl and Rhoda Claborn Johnson. She attended Holton High School as a freshman and graduated from Mayetta High School in 1961.
Mrs. Walder worked at...
Ricky Joseph Schuetz, affectionately known as Rick to his family and friends, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at Midland Care in Topeka, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Born on Feb. 16, 1955, in Hiawatha, Rick’s journey through life was marked by...
Bernita Bee Hawley, 91, of De Soto, formerly of Goff, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 28, 2024.
Bee was born Jan. 7, 1933, in rural Ellis County, and was the second eldest of six children, to the parents of Earl and Bernadine Murphy. She and her siblings grew up in Covert, where Bee...
Laurence “Larry” William Rilinger was born Aug. 9, 1941, to William Andrew Rilinger and Rose Catherine Schmidt Rilinger. He was the second of five children including Nadine (George) Mergenmeier, Peggy (Verness) Heinen, Kathleen (Neal) Douglas and Tom (Diane) Rilinger.
Growing up on the family farm...
Sue Hubbard, 78, of Horton, died Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at Stormont-Vail Health Center in Topeka.
She was born March 15, 1946, in Talihina, Okla., the daughter of Williston and Miriam Samuels Samuel.
Mrs. Hubbard worked as a dental assistant for Indian Health Services for 31 years. She first...
Skip Kendall lived an extraordinary life. He was born in small-town Holton to Forrest Hardy Kendall and Grace Editha Reed. Forrest was the town doctor and everyone called him Doc. Doc and Editha named their first-born Forrest Hardy Kendall Jr., but everyone called him Skip.
Skip’s achievements...
Jay Bruce VanNortwick, 71, Havensville, died Sunday, April 21, 2024, at The Pines of Holton with family by his side.
He was born Feb. 25, 1953, in Lawrence, the son of Cecil Lee and Alice Marie Funk VanNortwick. He attended Holton High School.
Mr. VanNortwick served in the Kansas Army National...
