Plainville resident J.D. Brunnemer passed away on Monday, April 14, 2025, at the Rooks County Health Center in Plainville at the age of 90.
He was born July 27, 1934, in Cawker City, Kansas, the son of Lester Brunnemer and Evelyn (Haines) Brunnemer.
Carl Frederick 'Fred' Goff, 74, passed away peacefully on April 11, 2025, in the comfort of his home in WaKeeney, Kansas, surrounded by the love of his family.
He was born on March 8, 1951, in Hays, Kansas, to Lyle and Bonnie (Thomas) Goff.
Susanne (Desbien) Bell, known to her family and friends as “Susie”, passed away on April 8, 2025, at the age of 66.
She was born in Plainville, Kansas, on December 23, 1958, to Harvey and Doris (Overturf) Desbien. As the baby of the family, she was welcomed into the family by her older sister, Debbie. She attended Bogue schools and graduated from Hill City High School in 1977.
Donald Wayne Munsell, 86, of Natoma, passed away on April 3, 2025, at Redbud Village in Plainville.
He was born on February 13, 1939, to Chesley Charles and Mary Ellen (Brown) Munsell in Russell, Kansas. He married Judith Marie (Thompson) in Winfield, Kansas on August 1, 1969.
Father William J. Surmeier, 85, passed away on April 3, 2025.
He was born in Hays, Kansas, on January 7, 1940, the second son of Anton and Gertrude (Fellhoelter) Surmeier.
He attended St. Paul's Catholic School in Angelus, Kansas, Thomas County Grade School in Oakley, and St. Francis High School Seminary in Victoria. He attended college and theology at Conception Seminary, Conception, Missouri, and was ordained a priest for the Salina Diocese on May 27, 1965, in his home parish in Oakley.
Crystal Ann "Chris" Trauer, age 86, of Hays, passed away on March 31, 2025.
She was born August 7, 1938, in Pueblo, Colorado, to Lyle and Evelyn (Weight) Scott.
She married Robert Dennis in Pueblo, Colo., and had three children: Lauree, Steve, and Mike. She grew up in Pueblo, Colo., and was a 1956 graduate of Central High School. While living in Colorado, Chris worked at Woolworths in Denver, and in 1972, they moved to Ellis, as her husband worked on the railroad. She and Robert later separated.
Elda Mae (Widener) Lyon, 84, passed away Friday, March 21, 2025, at Sunporch of Smith County, Smith Center.
She was born on September 4, 1940, in rural Phillips County, the daughter of Esbon and Gertrude (Wehrli) Widener. Elda grew up on a farm north of Gretna, KS. She graduated from the 8th grade in Phillipsburg in May 1955. She and her family moved to Gaylord shortly after.
Dorothy Mae Sutton, 95, Hays, passed away Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at Brookdale Senior Living.
She was born May 12, 1929, on the family farm near Zurich, the daughter of Albert and Daisy Mae (Sparks) Lowry. Dorothy graduated from Webster High School.
She was united in marriage to Cleo D. Sutton, and four children were born into this union. Dorothy and Cleo opened their home and hearts to more children when she provided daycare and they were foster parents. She also worked at The Style Shop and was a secretary for the Hill City school district.
Sandi Nix passed away on March 24, 2025, at the Solomon Valley Manor in Stockton at the age of 75.
She was born on July 27, 1949. She was 75 years old and would have turned 76 later this year. In recent years, she battled Alzheimer's or a form of dementia—I'm not sure which diagnosis she had precisely. Many of you may not remember her well, as the last Nix Family Reunion she was able to attend was in 2017 in Hill City, South Dakota. It was shortly after that gathering, she began to show signs of the disease.
Erma Alberta (Stithem) Graham-Sander passed away at the age of 82 on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at the Logan Manor Community Services assisted living facility.
She was born on February 15, 1943, to Albert C. “Bud” and Frances L. (Knouf) Stithem in Hays. Raised in Zurich, she attended Zurich Grade School and graduated from Palco High School in 1961. She then attended Fort Hays State University where she met her husband Mitchell S. “Mick” Graham Sr. They were married on July 25, 1964, in Hays, KS.
