Velma Marie (Svanda) Cornett, age 75 of Belleville, Kansas, passed away on January 11, 2023.
The last of six children born to Charles and Mabel Svanda, she was born in Fairbury, Nebraska, on April 29th, 1947.
Velma attended Washington Grade School and High School in Washington, Kansas.
Elvis Eugene Givens passed away on January 9, 2023, at his home in Stockton, at the age of 65.
He was born on October 7, 1957, to Bobby Ann Litz in Henderson, Ky. He was married to Patricia Shaffer on June 27, 1980. They were blessed with three children: David, Robert, and Tanya.
Longtime Norton resident and businessman James L. Ohlsen, age 92, passed away January 10, 2023, at his home after a short illness.
James “Jim” was born December 21, 1930, in Whiting, Kansas, the son of Fred and Ruby (Richelsen) Ohlsen. He grew up there and graduated from Whiting High School in 1950.
Jim farmed with his dad and brother Bill. He also helped his dad in the grocery store that his dad owned.
Marjorie Boeckner, age 90, of Hays, Kansas passed away January 10, 2023, at Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas.
She was born November 7, 1932, to Mike Loreg and Eva (Cline) Loreg in Codell, Kansas.
She graduated Plainville High School, and later married Dean Boeckner in Newton, Kansas.
Steven Dale "Steve" Schindler, age 66, of Topeka, passed away on Saturday, December 31, 2022, at his home in Topeka.
He was born on November 7, 1956, in El Paso, Texas, the son of Abe "Junior" and Shirley (Trible) Schindler.
Steve graduated from Stockton High School in 1974. He then attended Beloit Business School. He had resided in Topeka since 2007 and was employed by Acosta Sales and Marketing.
He married Joyce D. Murphy on March 21, 2012, in Las Vegas, Nev.
Berdena Ruth (Veatch) Whisman, of Palco, passed away on January 8, 2023, at her home in Palco, at the age of 92.
She was born on March 24, 1930, to Cletus and Lucy (Coddington) Veatch in Hays. She married George D. Whisman on May 27, 1948. They were blessed with three children: Carol, Nancy, and Daren.
Dale Arpin was born in Hays on April 15, 1952, to Alfred and Marcella Arpin. Dale passed in the comfort of his home on December 13, 2022, with his loving family and friends by his side.
He grew up in a small Kansas town harvesting wheat with his dad. Dale attended Colby College and took classes at the School of Mines. After college, he worked for a painting and drywalling company. In the late '70s, Dale moved to Colorado and worked for Adams County as a Traffic Engineer for 32 years.
Betty Jane (Mayhew) Edson, age 93, Plainville, died January 6, 2023, at Brookdale Fairdale Assisted Living in Salina, surrounded by her loving family.
She was born 10 February 1929 on the family farm outside of Plainville. She was the daughter of Chalmar Mayhew and Anna (Cerrow) Mayhew. Her grandparents were original homesteaders in Rooks County from the 1870s.
Kathleen Mary Brown, age 78, of Hill City, Kansas, passed away January 2, 2023.
She was born Kathleen Mary Newell May 2, 1944, in Damar, Kansas. She was the second daughter born to Lawrence and Rita (Brin) Newell. As she grew so did the family—a total of nine children.
Kathy attended school in Damar. As a young woman she met a boy from Natoma by the name of Lyle Gene Brown. He was the love of her life. Lyle and Kathy were married April 15, 1961. The couple were blessed with eight children: Darrell, Lila, Ricky, Shawn, Tracey, Gale, Cindy, and Tony.
Richard B. “Dick” Cherry, age 95, Plainville, passed Friday, January 6, 2023, at Redbud Village in Plainville.
He was born April 16, 1927, in Coldwater, Kansas to Blanche (Newton) Stanfield. Dick volunteered for the Navy at 17 years old, January 4, 1945, serving during World War II through September 1947. He was part of the air crew on a B-25 and PBJ-1 and some of his last missions were flying planes back from Japan after the war. He was honored two months ago by Senator Jerry Moran as one of the last remaining World War II veterans alive from Rooks County.
