Ronald Francis Werner passed away on February 24, 2022, at the age of 77, at the Rooks County Health Center in Plainville.

Robert E. Fields, age 80, of Hays, Kansas, died Tuesday, February 22, 2022, at the Good Samaritan Society of Hays.

He was born September 3, 1941, in Colby, Kansas, to Floyd H. and Nina H. (Kersenbrock) Fields. He married Della (Dreiling) on May 11, 1968, at Colby, Kansas.

He worked at the Kansas State Research and Extension Center in Hays for 25 years, and he retired in 2003. Robert grew up on a farm at Colby and was a 1960 graduate of Colby High School. He served in the Kansas National Guard, and attended Saint Joseph Catholic Church, Hays.

Doris Joan “Jo” Pruitt, age 92, passed away peacefully on February 20, 2022, with family by her side. She was greatly loved and will be greatly missed.

Doris was born on December 24, 1929, in Phillips County to Warren Lemuel and Nora Helen (Chance) VanEaton. She enjoyed time spent with two big brothers, and later, a younger sister.

Survivors include two daughters: Jolene Deisher of Woodward, Okla., Melanie Pruitt-Tillberg (Michael) of Salina; a sister, Carmen Rice of Kensington; and many nieces and nephews.

Leona Drullinger, Woodston, passed away on February 19, 2022, at the Kearney Regional Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska, at the age of 59.

She was born on August 10, 1962, to Floyd Allen Blair and Frances Marie (Redfield) Blair in Norton, Kansas. She had four children: Richard, Charity, Kelsy, and Brandon.

She was united in marriage to Richard Drullinger on August 2, 1981. He later passed away in 2010.

Betty Ann Hunter, formerly of Plainville, passed away on February 18, 2022, at the Sheridan County Health Complex in Hoxie at the age of 77.

Ervin Lee Keeler, age 80, passed away February 12, 2022, at his home in Ellis, Kansas.

He was born July 13, 1941, in Sterling, Colorado.

Ervin married Judith May Sue February 3, 1963, in Bogue, Kansas, at Sue’s parents house. He dedicated his life to Jehovah in May 1974 in Russell, Kansas, in a horse trough on the same day his wife was baptized. Ervin and Sue had four children and five grandchildren.

Father James P. Grennan, 97, of Russell, Kansas, died on Tuesday, February 15, 2022, at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell, Kansas.

Father James Grennan was born Dec. 28, 1924, north of Beloit to William James and Mary (Doyle) Grennan. He grew up near Jamestown and attended St. Mary Parish. He was the second youngest of a family of 13. He attended Jamestown High School for two years and finished high school and college at St. Louis Preparatory Seminary in St. Louis. He was ordained on May 13, 1951, at the old Sacred Heart Cathedral by Bishop Frank Thill. 

Eldo F. Graham passed away February 10, 2022, in Norton at the age of 92. 

He was born July 22, 1929, in Long Island, KS, the son of Forest & Elsie (Hollingshead) Graham.

Survivors include his wife LaVerne of Norton; three sons, Timothy and Greg of Norton and Kent of Stockton; his daughter, Patricia Graham of Blairsville, Ga.; his brother Leo of Long Island; two sisters, Delores Patterson of Phillipsburg and Eudora Hempler of Wamego; 12 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

Cremation was planned. A graveside service will be held at a later date.

Our gentle and loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend Gerald Orr left this earth and joined our mother on January 24, 2022.  He was blessed with 90 great years and many adventures along the way. On January 16,1932, the world welcomed Gerald Kelly Orr. He was born to William (Bill) and Grace Kelly Orr in Stockton, Kansas. He and his family later moved to nearby Woodston, Kansas where he and his three younger brothers would make their mark in the close-knit community.

Phillipsburg resident Mike Engling passed away February 12, 2022,  peacefully at his home surrounded by family and friends at the age of 64.

He was born October 17, 1957, in Plainville, the son of Edward M. Engling Sr. and Clara R. (Golembiewski) Engling. He graduated from Plainville High School.

Following high school, Mike went to work for Tom’s Machine and Welding Service in Plainville, then for Kyle Railroad in 1989 in Phillipsburg. He later returned to Tom’s Machine followed by G&S Roustabout in Damar.