Obituaries

May 19, 2025

Willard K. "Bill" Boldenow, 96, of Hutchinson, died May 19, 2025, at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. He was born April 2, 1929, in Hoisington, to William J. and Helen C. (Lettau) Boldenow.

Bill graduated from Hoisington High School, Kansas State University, and received a master's degree in education from Fort Hays State University. He served with the...

May 19, 2025

John "Kirk" Cottingham, 85, of Hutchinson, died May 19, 2025, at Pleasant Hills, Hutchinson. He was born July 21, 1939, in McPherson, to John and Vivian (Steeves) Cottingham. Kirk graduated from Newton High School in 1957 and obtained his bachelor's degree from University of Kansas in 1961. He was a financial advisor with A.G. Edwards before retiring in 2000....

May 19, 2025

Leonard Michael Keller, 76, died May 19, 2025, at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. He was born September 26, 1948, in Belleville, IL, to Leonard and Armilda June (Coon) Keller.

Leonard graduated from Falls City High School, Falls City, NE. He worked as a carpenter for many years and later on at Casino White Cloud in surveillance, White...

May 17, 2025

Margaret Louise Raya Tafolla, 82, died May 17, 2025, at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. She was born November 2, 1942, Hutchinson, KS, to Frank and Luz (Castor) Raya Sr.

Margaret graduated from Hutchinson High School and worked for Grede Foundary, Inc., Hutchinson.

Margaret was a very active member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church,...

May 16, 2025

Virginia I. Waggoner, 81, of South Hutchinson, died May 16, 2025. She was born December 7, 1943, in Syracuse, Kansas, to John and Myrtle (Parks) Bee.

Virginia loved crossword puzzles, playing cards, and gameshows. She was very determined to keep her independence. Her hobbies kept her mind sharp. Virginia loved her trusty canine companion, Jojo, who was...

May 16, 2025

Joe A. Banks, 74, of Hutchinson, died surrounding by his family on May 16, 2025, at his home. He was born February 20, 1951, in Stafford to Howard and Millie (Rice) Banks.

Joe graduated from Fairfield High School with the class of 1969. After graduation, he joined the United States Marines and proudly served for four years,...

May 16, 2025

Glenys Irene Schneider, 96, died May 16, 2025, at Cedarhurst of Wichita. She was born December 8, 1928, at Grace Hospital, Hutchinson, to Robert Baker and Flora Maude (McAtee) McDill.

Glenys graduated from Nickerson High School in 1945 and attended Kansas State University. She was a bookkeeper for banks in Sterling and Independence, as well as helping...

May 16, 2025

Billey Joe "B.J." Eckert, 83, died May 16, 2025, at Hospice House, Hutchinson.  He was born April 10, 1942, in Denver, CO, to Earl and Laberta (Cook) Eckert.

Billey was a welder, retiring from Shield Industries in South Hutchinson.  He enjoyed spending time woodworking, tinkering in his garage, and morning coffee at McDonalds.  Billey was quiet, humble,...

May 16, 2025

Donna Lou Strube, 81, formerly of Claflin, died May 16, 2025, at her home at Good Samaritan Society – Hutchinson Village. She was born May 4, 1944, in Great Bend, KS, to Albert H. and Viola L. (Knop) Soeken.

Donna graduated from Claflin High School in 1962. She attended Kansas State University, and received her cosmetology license...

May 15, 2025

Kathy was born in Hutchinson, Kansas, on December 15,1963 and got her midwestern values from her parents Lew and Julane Ediger. She got her work ethic, boundary setting skills and business sense from her father and her playfulness and conversation skills from her mother. Kathy's grandparents, Art and Mary Smisor, managed the Landmark Hotel.  When Kathy was three and...

May 14, 2025

Steven D. "Steve" Langvardt, 71 of Hutchinson died May 14, 2025 at Select Specialty Hospital in Wichita, Kansas. Steve was born August 25, 1953 in Junction City to Frank Eldon and Sarah Maye (Diehl) Langvardt.

Steve attended high school in Junction City, Kansas; Mesa, Arizona; and graduated from Clay Center, Kansas. He attended Kansas State University, Manhattan,...

May 10, 2025

Harold Andrew "Andy" Fields, 88, died May 10, 2025.

He was a proud veteran, serving in the United States Navy from 1954-1963.

Per Andy's request, cremation has taken place and no services will be held.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice House, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N....

May 9, 2025

Terry L. Spaniol, 66, died at Hutchinson Regional Hospital on May 9, 2025, surrounded by her family. Terry was born June 24, 1958, in Hutchinson, to Billy Spaniol and Zella (Landes) Spaniol.

Terry grew up in Plevna and graduated from Fairfield High School in 1977. She was a waitress at Anchor Inn on and off for the...

May 9, 2025

Jonathan A. "Jon" Shanks, 47, of South Hutchinson, died May 9, 2025. He was born December 9, 1977, in Colby to Ralph and Lily (Lorraine) Shanks.

Jon worked at Lowen Sign Company for many years. He worked at Gregory Inc. for the past three years.  Jon was a person who craved knowledge and loved obtaining new information....

May 8, 2025

Joseph Allen "Joe" Winkler, 53, formerly of Wichita, died May 8, 2025, at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. He was born on October 27, 1971, in Hutchinson, to Stephen Allen "Steve" and Kathryn Louise "Kathy" (Burdette) Winkler.

Joe was a graduate of Hutchinson High School and Hutchinson Community College with an associate of arts. He then attended Wichita...

May 8, 2025

James P. "Jim" Branan, 66, of South Hutchinson, died May 8, 2025, at his residence. Jim was born April 6, 1959, in Hoisington, to Robert and Berdetta (Burkhead) Branan.

Jim was a long-time diesel mechanic. Prior to retirement, he was a transit operator and a mechanic for Hutchinson Community College. He was able to repair anything on...

May 6, 2025

Bettie Jane Brooks, 81, died May 6, 2025, at home surrounded by her family, after a brief illness.  She was born December 22, 1943, in Guymon, OK, to Byron G. and Mary Magdalene (Froelich) Brown, Jr.

Bettie graduated from Hooker High School, Hooker, OK, in 1961, and Union Adventist University, Lincoln, NE, with her bachelor's degree in...

May 6, 2025

Shirley Louise (Green) Banz Macklin, 88, died May 6, 2025, at her daughter's home in Oklahoma City, OK. She was born February 2, 1937, in Hutchinson, Kansas, to Edwin Douglas and Celestia "Lenora" (Harris) Green.  She was an only child until 14, when sister Donna was born, then Susan in 1955.  She loved-loved-loved her little sisters, and, later, their...

May 6, 2025

FOUNTAIN HILLS, AZ- June Louise Lowrey was born in Hutchinson Kansas on May 20, 1924 to Lawrence I. and Elsie Lowrey. She married her beloved husband Frederick I "Bud" Shaffer, Jr., immediately after his discharge from the Army Air Corp on March 5, 1946 in Denver, Colorado.

They lived in Hutchinson until 1998, when they, along with...

May 4, 2025

Margaret Louise "Marg" Dwyer, 86, of Hutchinson, passed away Sunday, May 4, 2025, at Hospice House, Hutchinson. She was born May 15, 1938, in Hutchinson, to Frank and Steffie (Bogdanovecz) Votruba.

Margaret graduated from St. Teresa Catholic High School and earned an AA in Business at Hutchinson Community College. After college, she met the love of her...