Obituaries

Apr 9, 2023

Howard Bill Jackson, 95, passed away April 9, 2023, at Good Samaritan Society-Hutchinson Village.  He was born April 27, 1927, in Wichita, KS, to Howard Leslie Jackson and Edith Marie (Stone) Jackson.

Bill was a graduate of Hutchinson High School.  His parents founded Jackson Frozen Food, Inc. in 1946, and he began working in the store.  Bill...

Apr 9, 2023

Karen Kaye Rickett, 83, died April 9, 2023, at Hospice House, Hutchinson. She was born February 11, 1940, in Hutchinson, to Elmer and Velma (Rich) Norquist.

In 1958 she married Michael Arthur McKeown and they had three sons together. She then married Bobby Dale Rickett on April 21, 1972. He passed away on May 13, 2003. They...

Apr 8, 2023

Carl G. Hobbs, 74, of South Hutchinson, died April 8, 2023, at his home. He was born March 24, 1949, in Hutchinson, to Dale C. and Mary A. (Wilson) Hobbs.

Carl graduated from Nickerson High School in 1967. He owned and operated Carl's Meat Market in Nickerson for over 20 years. Carl drove a school bus for...

Apr 6, 2023

Joseph Lee "Joe" Koehn, son of Harold and Ruby (Friesen) Koehn, was born April 25, 1983, in Coffeyville, Kansas. He passed away on April 6, 2023, at his home in Inman.

At the tender age of two, Joe, together with his sister Heidi, were welcomed into Harold and Ruby's home with open arms.

At times...

Apr 6, 2023

Ethel Estalene Ferguson, 87, of Hutchinson, died April 6, 2023, at Legend Senior Living. She was born March 16, 1936, in Burr Oak, to Alfred Edgar and Verda May (Dillon) Glover.

Estalene graduated from Haviland Friends Academy in 1953 and Friends Bible College, Haviland, in 1955. She enjoyed cooking, playing games, puzzles, journaling, traveling, and spending time...

Apr 4, 2023

Leora 'Lee' Faye Hard, 83, of Hutchinson, KS, entered into the kingdom of Heaven, amid much rejoicing by those gone on before, on April 4, 2023, breaking free from the chains of dementia.

She was born on December 26, 1939, to Lloyd and Ethel Smith in Arion, Iowa.  Leora graduated from Dow City Area Community High School...

Apr 4, 2023

Ofelia "Faye" (Rodriguez) Garcia, 93, died April 4, 2023, at Hospice House, Hutchinson. She was born September 12, 1929, in Newton, to Severo and Teresa (Grajeda) Rodriguez.

Faye was a housewife and dedicated her time to her children. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, and cooking, but there was not anything she loved more than spending time with her...

Apr 3, 2023

Donald Gale Gillock, 83, formerly of South Hutchinson, passed away April 3, 2023 in his home in Lawrence, with his family by his side. He was born May 7, 1939, in Nickerson, to George and Esther (Moore) Gillock.

Don graduated from Nickerson High School in 1958. He was a welder and retired from Hesston Corporation in 2001...

Apr 2, 2023

Mark Eugene Smith, 69, passed away April 2, 2023, at his home.  He was born March 11, 1954, in Hutchinson, KS, to Albert Eugene Smith and JoAnne (St. Clair) Smith.

Mark was a graduate of Buhler High School, Buhler, KS.  He worked at Mid-America Redi-Mix Inc., as a truck driver and mechanic.

On December 28,...

Apr 1, 2023

Loren Leo Morris, 60, passed away on April 1, 2023, in his home, surrounded by family. He was born on March 26, 1963, in Lexington, NE to Leo and Jerry (Smith) Morris.

Loren spent his childhood in Minden, NE. He moved to Kansas to attend college and met Pam Meadows at Faith Mennonite Church in South Hutchinson....

Apr 1, 2023

Kent Darrell Smith, 56, of Hutchinson, died April 1, 2023, at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis in Wichita. He was born February 1, 1967, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to James Whitcomb and Yvonne Smith.

Kent graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1985 and attended Hutchinson Community College. He was a standout basketball and track athlete in high...

Mar 31, 2023

Lewis "LD" Daniel Ensminger, 85, died March 31, 2023, at Hospice House, Hutchinson. He was born April 30, 1937, in Bushong, KS, to Oscar Daniel and Clara DeLilah (Carpenter) Ensminger.

LD graduated from Fargo Senior High School, Fargo, OK in 1957. He then joined the National Guard in Oklahoma for 12 years. After the military, LD worked...

Mar 31, 2023

Betty L. Reinert, age 95, of Hester Care Center, passed peacefully March 31, 2023, at Hospice House.   She was born March 23, 1928, in Redfield, Iowa, to Clair and Effie (Kisling) Miller.

Betty graduated from high school in Redfield, IA. She and her husband, Carroll, moved to Hutchinson from Wichita, Kansas in 1960.   Betty was the most...

Mar 29, 2023

Randy Lee Stockemer, 62, died March 29, 2023, at Hospice House, Hutchinson. He was born December 15, 1960, in Wichita, to Leroy John and Mary Annette (Rau) Stockemer.

Randy graduated from Garden City High School in 1979. He moved to Colorado Springs for several years where he worked as a truck driver for approximately 12 years. Randy...

Mar 28, 2023

Darrell Keith Ediger, 79, of Sterling, died March 28, 2023, at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. He was born October 23, 1943, in Hutchinson, to Henry and Minnie (Peters) Ediger.

Darrell graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1961 and attended Hutchinson Community College. He started working as a carpet apprentice for Wiley's in 1961, then became a partner...

Mar 27, 2023

Mary Lois Fletchall, 98, died peacefully March 27, 2023, at Thorne Care Center, Hutchinson.  She was born May 2, 1924, in Jackson County, Kansas, to Arthur and Effie (Kroth) Venneberg.

Mary graduated from Havensville High School, Havensville, KS, and attended Strickler Business College in Topeka.  She worked three years at Southwestern Bell Telephone, and after moving to...

Mar 25, 2023

Melvin 'Mel' Eugene Gough, 95, passed away March 25, 2023, at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center.  He was born November 7, 1927, in Erie, KS, to Arthur Festus Gough and Opal Jane (Killian) Gough.

Mel served in the United States Air Force from December 1945 to December 1948.  He was a lifelong truck driver.  Mel drove for Eaton...

Mar 25, 2023

Rosa Ellen Thomas, 83, of Wichita, died Saturday, March 25, 2023, at LakePoint El Dorado. Born on December 20, 1939, in Brimson, Missouri, she was the daughter of Harl Kenneth and Dorothy Mae (Little) Wiles.

On November 28, 1959, Rosa married Larry Leroy Thomas in New London, Iowa. They moved to Hutchinson in 1965, and lived there...

Mar 24, 2023

Shirley Ann Wenner, 74, died March 24, 2023, at Pleasant Hills Assisted Living. She was born July1, 1948, in Caldwell, to Everett and Dora Lacey.

Shirley graduated from Caldwell High School in 1966, and went on to attend Salt City Business College. She worked as an administrative assistant for USD 308 for 29 years. Shirley enjoyed cooking...

Mar 22, 2023

Carol June Gellinger, 85, passed away March 22, 2023, at Pinnacle Park, Salina, KS.  She was born September 15, 1937, in Quincy, WV, to Elwood F. Thornton and Gertrude S. (Stewart) Thornton.

Carol was a 1955 graduate of Dupont High School, Belle, WV.  She worked in the accounting office at Eaton Corporation, retiring in 1998 with over...