Obituaries

Jan 23, 2026

Donald Gene Merklein was born August 30, 1936, at home, on the farm, in Prairie View, KS to John (Jack) and Hazel Merklein. He passed peacefully from this life on January 23, 2026, at the Phillips County Retirement Center at the age of 89.

He attended a one-room school in Brush Creek, a rural school in Luctor, and graduated from Phillipsburg...

Jan 21, 2026

Phillipsburg resident, Alice Whitney, passed away on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at the Hays Medical Center, Hays, KS, at the age of 97.

She was born on April 4, 1928 in Stockton, KS the daughter of Walter and Ella Belle (Betts) Shearer.  She was a homemaker.

Alice was united in marriage to Keith Whitney in Phillipsburg, KS on June 22, 1947.  He...

Jan 10, 2026

Rita Irene Schoeni Wichers Kleinschmidt was born on October 2, 1947, and passed away on January 10, 2026, at the age of 78, in Lincoln, Nebraska.

She was the daughter of the late Wayne Arthur and Lucille (Grauerholz) Schoeni. She had four siblings: Carole Thompson (Eldon), Jan Ziegler (Bob), Arden Schoeni, and Cheryl Gibbs. She was preceded...

Jan 5, 2026

Ness City resident, Ronald E Surface, passed away quietly at his home on January 5, 2026, at the age of 80.

He was born September 26, 1945, in McPherson, Kansas to Leroy and Goldie (Vosburg) Surface, graduated from Hoisington High School and joined the Navy in 1965. He served until 1969 leaving the Navy as a Petty Officer Third Class. He...

Jan 2, 2026

Norton resident, Linda Lee Scheetz, passed away on January 2, 2026, at the Andbe Home, in Norton, Kansas, at the age of 67.

Linda Lee Scheetz was born on August 13, 1958, in Norton, Kansas, to her parents John Robert and Delores Leona (Hillebrand) Gilgenbach.

Linda is preceded in death by her son John Scheetz....

Jan 2, 2026

Delores Berniece (DeBey) Elliott, daughter of Wilber and Edith (Lowrey) DeBey, was born on the DeBey family farm in Bow Creek Township, Phillips County, Kansas, on February 6, 1934. She welcomed the loving arms of her Heavenly Father, who lifted her to heaven on Friday, January 2, 2026, just 35 days shy of her 92nd birthday.

Delores...

Dec 27, 2025

Phillipsburg resident, Phillip Jordan Eller, passed away peacefully asleep in his Phillipsburg home, on Saturday, December 27th, 2025, at the age of 33.

He was born on May 21st, 1992, in Holdrege, Nebraska, to William (Willie) Eller and Starla Conner.

From early on in life, Phillip had a dangerous balance of orneryness and charm. You...

Dec 26, 2025

Wayne Glen Hanke passed away peacefully on Friday, December 26, 2025, at the age of 95, at Phillips County Retirement Center, Phillipsburg. He was born to Oscar and Louise (Meyer) Hanke on August 2, 1930. He was baptized at Emmanuel Lutheran church in Stuttgart on August 31, 1930. He was confirmed on August 6, 1944. He spent his whole...

Dec 21, 2025

Longtime cowboy, Ronald "Sid" Sidman, passed away on December 21, 2025, at the Smith County Hospital, in Smith Center, Kansas, at the age of 68.

Ronald Lynn Sidman was born on April 4, 1957, in Phillipsburg, Kansas, to parents Warren and Hazel (Dowty) Sidman. He was united in marriage to Betty Ferguson on November 25, 1977, and...

Dec 20, 2025

Phillipsburg resident, Cody Steven Harmon, passed away on Saturday, December 20, 2025, in Graham County, Kansas, at the age of 33.

He was born on December 8, 1992, in Phillipsburg, the son of Steven Harmon and Kristy Rogers.

Cody was preceded in death by his father, Steven, and son Titan John Harmon.

Cody...

Dec 19, 2025

On Friday, December 19, 2025, Leona (Clow) Fink passed away at the age of 96, at Logan Manor Community, in Logan, Kansas.

Leona was born on August 28, 1929, to Alfred Ross and Myrte Perlina (O'Connor) Clow as the youngest of six children. She was raised on a farm a few miles South of Waldo, Kansas. Leona's...

Dec 15, 2025

Juanita Rupke Tracy passed away peacefully on Monday, December 15th, in Phillipsburg, KS, at the age of 98.

She was born on April 13th, 1927, in Long Island, KS, the youngest of 11 children. She was the daughter of William Rupke and Hendrikje (Hattie) Konjer Rupke.  Juanita attended school in Long Island, KS.

Juanita and...

Dec 3, 2025

Isabell Burton Krouse peacefully returned to her Heavenly Home and the arms of Jesus Christ on December 3, 2025 at the Phillips County Hospital in Phillipsburg, KS, a week before her 90th birthday.

She was born in Afton, WY, December 10, 1935 the daughter of Stewart and Cora Leona (Swainston) Burton.  She grew up milking cows on...

Nov 26, 2025

Phillipsburg resident, Daniels "Dan" Lee Heinze, Sr., went to be with the Lord on November 26, 2025, at the Good Samaritan Hospital,  in Kearney, Nebraska, at the age of 86.

Daniels Lee Heinze, Sr. was born on January 20, 1939, in Lucas, Kansas, to his parents Edwin Leo Heinze and Wilmadean D. (Daniels) Brockman.

Dan...

Nov 24, 2025

Phillipsburg resident, Gary Lee Dart, passed away on November 24, 2025, at the Phillips County Hospital, in Phillipsburg, Kansas, at the age of 87.

Gary was born on June 17, 1938, in Haddam, Kansas, to his parents Roy Franklin and Bonnie Irene (Folkner) Dart.

He was united in marriage to Wanda Lee Allen on September...

Nov 23, 2025

Former Phillipsburg resident Clinton Ernest White passed away November 23rd, 2025 at the Hillcrest Nursing Home of McCook, NE at the age of 95.

Clinton was born January 24, 1930 in Agra, KS the son of Ernest Albert White and Ruth Emergene White.

He was married on October 28, 1950 to Mildred (Millie) Marie Lawson....

Nov 20, 2025

Logan Resident, Veda Arleen Brasted, passed away Thursday, November 20, 2025, in the Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas, at the age of 87.

Veda was born January 18, 1938, to her parents, Myron (Mike) and Mercedes Horn in Logan, Kansas.

On November 1, 1958, Veda married her husband Ivan Brasted in the courthouse in...

Nov 18, 2025

Leona Marie Surface passed away at Cedar Village Nursing home in Ness City, KS, on November 18, 2025. She was born at Limes Maternity Clinic Logan, KS on November 19, 1948 to Elvin" Bud" and Charlotte Bittel-Nichol.  She grew up on the family farm on Bow Creek in Rooks County. Leona attended grade school and high school in Logan,...

Nov 18, 2025

Rural Phillipsburg resident, Edward B. O'Rourke III, passed away Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas at the age of 71. He was born November 13, 1954, in Warner Robins, Georgia to parents Edward and Jacqueline (Kennedy) O'Rourke.

He is preceded in death by his parents, wife Petra Christine (Wagner) O'Rourke, and...

Nov 15, 2025

Kirwin, KS resident Abbie Jean Henry passed away Saturday morning November 15, 2025 at her home at the age of 84.

She was born September 28, 1941 in Hill City, KS the daughter of Ray and Abbie (Bass) LaRue.  She was united in marriage to Virgil Henry on July 30, 1966 in Phillipsburg, KS.

Survivors...