Obituaries

Apr 21, 2021

Connie Diane Bredfeldt was born June 19, 1937, to Tom and Thelma Starr, from Raymond, KS.  She died April 21, 2021, at Hospice House, Hutchinson, KS.  Connie was married to Sherrill Bredfeldt in 1961, spending most of their married life in Hutchinson, following a short, but impactful time living in Scotland.  She was a surgical nurse, a career she...

Apr 20, 2021

Harvey D. Nisly, 88, of Hutchinson, died April 20, 2021, at his home. He was born on March 29, 1933, in Hutchinson, to Daniel and Lizzie (Borntrager) Nisly.

Harvey was God's faithful servant for many years. He was heavily involved with prison ministry and other outreach organizations that would lead people to Jesus. Harvey was a devoted...

Apr 19, 2021

Madlyn Kay Valgren, 80, died April 19, 2021, at Pleasant View Home, Inman. She was born July 23, 1940, in Dodge City, to Ray and Elizabeth (Houser) Wingert.

In addition to being a homemaker, Madlyn worked in the cafeteria at Cessna. She loved embroidery and enjoyed bargain shopping at thrift stores, flea markets, and estate sales. Madlyn...

Apr 19, 2021

Nancy L. McConnell, 67, died April 19, 2021, at Hospice House, Hutchinson. She was born November 12, 1953, in Larned, to Kenneth E. McConnell and Margaret "Yvonne" (Mammel) McConnell Josephson.

Nancy retired from the Hutchinson Clinic Human Resources Department, after 40 years of service. She enjoyed traveling, the outdoors, and LOVED to play golf.  But, Nancy's most...

Apr 18, 2021

Carolyn Joyce Dority, 81, died April 18, 2021, at Pleasant View Home, Inman.  She was born July 4, 1939, in Hutchinson, to William Robert and Lola Fern (Uncapher) Demoret.

Carolyn retired as custodian at Nickerson High School.  She enjoyed crocheting, singing, and visiting with anyone she encountered, no matter if she knew them or they were a...

Apr 17, 2021

Darcy Lynn Wilson, 57, died April 17, 2021, at her home on Lake Rabon, South Carolina. She was born October 6, 1963, in Hutchinson.

Darcy attended Nickerson schools and graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1981. She attended Hutchinson Community College.

Darcy worked in sales and later as a houseparent and mentor for children in...

Apr 17, 2021

Kevin L. Sollenberger, 71, passed away April 17, 2021, at hospice, in Delphos, KS after a long battle with multiple myeloma.  He was the son of Gilbert L. and Thelma J. Sollenberger.

Kevin lived most of his life in the Nickerson and Hutchinson area, and attended schools in those communities.  He was employed in farming and trucking...

Apr 16, 2021

John Alvin Scherling, 74, of Wichita, KS, passed away April 16, 2021 surrounded by family.

He was born June 13, 1946, in Hutchinson, KS to Alvin and Louise Scherling. John graduated from Emporia State University and was a teacher and musical director at Buhler High School for over 20...

Apr 15, 2021

Robert "Bobby" "Smiley" Orlin Middleton, 81, of Hutchinson, died April 15, 2021, at Hospice House. He was born November 19, 1939, in Cromwell, Oklahoma, to Mart and Pearlie (Meeks) Middleton.

Bobby graduated from high school in Cromwell. In 1963, he began his service in the United States Army. Bobby worked for Eaton Corporation as a machinist for...

Apr 14, 2021

Robert Conway "Bob" Hornbeck, 87, died April 14, 2021, at Hospice House, Hutchinson.  He was born July 27, 1933, in Chanute, to George and Jane (Hamill) Hornbeck.

Bob graduated from Hutchinson High School and worked over 25 years for Panhandle Eastern.  He enjoyed hunting and fishing.

On August 13, 1955, he married Norma June Buckley,...

Apr 13, 2021

Carol Jean Berry, 84, died April 13, 2021, at Hospice House, Hutchinson.  She was born October 1, 1936, in Hutchinson, to Julius and Edna Anna (Thomason) Brack.

Carol graduated from Hutchinson High School.  She retired from Eaton Corporation in 1999, where Carol worked for over 30 years.

Carol is survived by: four nieces, and numerous...

Apr 13, 2021

Tommy Allan 'Tom' Reed, 83, of Hutchinson, died April 13, 2021, at Wesley Medical Center, Wichita. He was born June 16, 1937, in Hutchinson, to Ray and Vara (Gagnebin) Reed.

Tom attended Hutchinson High School and Hutchinson Community College. He served in the United States Navy from 1954 to 1958. Tom worked at Winchester Packing Company for...

Apr 13, 2021

Ronald 'Ron' D. Proffitt, 72, passed away April 13, 2021, at Smoky Hill Rehabilitation Center, Salina.  He was born April 22, 1948, in Sterling, to Gilbert Arlos and Twila 'Jo' (Fleming) Proffitt.

Ron was a 1966 graduate of Sterling High School.  Following graduation, he served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War from 1966 to...

Apr 12, 2021

Betty Ketch Parker Rayl, 91, of Tulsa, OK, died April 12, 2021, at Heritage Point of Tulsa. She was born May 31, 1929, in Douglas, KS, to Ernest and Ollie (Breshears) Ketch.

Betty graduated from Haven High School in 1947, and then attended Adela Hale Business College. She worked for Dillon's in the accounting department, until she...

Apr 11, 2021

Sue Ann Franko, 76, of Hutchinson, died April 11, 2021, at Hospice House. She was born November 13, 1944, in Hutchinson, to Sam and Marian Williams.

Marian died when Sue was 5 years old and Violet Morgan cared for her and legally adopted her after Sam's death.

Sue graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1962...

Apr 11, 2021

Margaret 'Peggy' Louise Watson Engelhardt (Margaret Louise Miller), of Brightwaters, NY, passed away on April 11, 2021.  She was born in Estancia, New Mexico, on March 28, 1929.  Raised in Estancia and Langdon, KS, Peggy received her Bachelor's Degree from the University of Kansas, Master's Degree from Hofstra University, and taught 7th and 8th grade English at Brentwood Junior...

Apr 8, 2021

Rev. Eric John Zacharias, 101, of Pretty Prairie, died April 8, 2021, at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. He was born February 18, 1920, in Herbert, Saskatchewan, Canada, to Rev. John E. and Marie H. (Klassen) Zacharias.

Eric graduated from Herbert High School in 1939, Urbana College in 1941, and both Boston University and Swedenborg School of Religion...

Apr 8, 2021

Mildred Yvonne "Mert" Harness, 80, died April 8, 2021, at her home.  She was born February 13, 1941, in Muskogee, OK, to Luther A. and Oetta P. (Nelson) Crawford, Sr.

After graduating high school, Mert received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing.  She enjoyed her career as a registered nurse, before serving as an interim administrator for...

Apr 8, 2021

Robert Paul "Bob" Fischer, passed away April 8, 2021, at Good Samaritan Society-Hutchinson Village.  He was born November 24, 1924, in Great Bend, to Paul F. and Neva (Mellies) Fischer.

Bob was a 1943 graduate of Hudson High School, Hudson.  He served in the United States Army from 1944 to 1946.  Bob was a farmer and stockman...

Apr 7, 2021

Cheri Burnell, 72, of Hutchinson, died April 7, 2021, at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. She was born on September 13, 1948, in Englewood, Colorado, to Eugene and Betty (Sandstedt) Uphoff.

Cheri graduated high school in Englewood. She worked as a mortgage processor. On March 10, 2001, Cheri married Jerry Burnell in Mansville, Colorado.

She is...