Obituaries
Donald G. Ruttgen Sr.
OSWEGO — Donald G. Ruttgen Sr., 82, of rural Oswego died at 2:43 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011, at Elmhaven West nursing home in Parsons. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Ruttgen, of the home. The graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Fairview Cemetery near Bartlett. Friends may call at their convenience after 1 p.m. Thursday at Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Altamont. The funeral home will announce complete obituary details lat...
full story
William E. Boecker
WINFIELD — William E. Boecker, 86, formerly of Parsons, died at 5:17 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14, 2011, at the Kansas Veterans Home in Winfield. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lillian Boecker, on June 11, 2007. Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, Parsons, will announce complete obituary details later. Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.
full story
Alvah ‘Sie’ Everett Ellison
ROCKLIN, Calif. — Alvah “Sie” Everett Ellison, 96, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011, at his home in Rocklin, Calif. He was born on March 14, 1915, in Girard. Sie was a graduate of Labette County High School in Altamont, Class of 1933. A resident of Rocklin for 31 years, he assisted others as long as his strength allowed and was an inspiration to those who knew him. He was a faithful member of his church, a veteran of both the U.S...
full story
Shirley A. Olenhouse
Shirley A. Olenhouse, 77, of Parsons, a former Erie resident, died at 3:15 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011, at the home of her daughter, Christine Montross near Edna. She had been in failing health, but her death was unexpected. She was born on Jan. 30, 1934, at Milwaukee, Wis., to John Clarence “Jack” and Hazel (Graf) Grey. She grew up at Milwaukee and attended Lutheran schools there, graduating from Milwaukee Lutheran High School in 1951. She m...
full story
Mary Charlotte Smith Overman
OSWEGO — Mary Charlotte Smith Overman, 89, of Oswego died at 2:57 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, 2011, at her home after a brief illness. Mary was born on Feb. 6, 1922, in Bartlett to John Henry and Grace Lula (Fritz) Smith. She graduated from Bartlett High School. Mary worked as the court clerk at the courthouse in Oswego for several years. She was a member of Oswego Christian Church. She married Homer Lloyd “Bus” Overman in 1956 in Oswego. He precede...
full story
Dixie L. Lewis
ALTAMONT — Dixie L. Lewis, 64, of Altamont died at 5:01 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, 2011, at Clarehouse in Tulsa. She was born on Oct. 18, 1947, in Coffeyville to Roy and Maxine (Kastler) Schell. She grew up and attended schools in Altamont, graduating from Labette County High School in 1965. She married Ronald W. “Ron” Lewis on Aug. 1, 1965, in Altamont at United Methodist Church. Following their marriage, they lived in Athens, Greece, and El Paso...
full story
Albert H. ‘Buzz’ Curtis
Albert H. “Buzz” Curtis, 81, a longtime Parsons resident, died at 10:23 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 13, in the emergency room of Labette Health. He was born on Aug. 30, 1930, in Parsons to Willard “Bill” and Edna (Coleman) Curtis. He had lived in Parsons nearly all of his life. He was self-employed as a logger and for seven years was employed by Day and Zimmermann. During the urban renewal project in Parsons, he worked in demolition. He was a member of ...
full story
Johnston Lynn Lucky
EDNA — Johnston Lynn Lucky, 64, of Edna died on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011, at Labette Health in Parsons. He was born in Pasadena, Texas, to Johnston and Delores (Gorman) Lucky. He grew up in Golden Acres in Pasadena, where he attended school and received his high school education. After high school, Lynn worked for Don Love for many years doing construction. Survivors include five daughters, Twana Willburn of Houston, Sherry Jones of Crosby, Tex...
full story
James I. ‘Sonny’ Ledbetter
EDNA — James I. “Sonny” Ledbetter, 82, of Edna died at 2:20 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011, at Coffeyville Regional Medical Center. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Dorothy (Foister) Ledbetter, of the home. He was born June 5, 1929, at rural Vinita, Okla., to Irvy C. and Aimee (White) Ledbetter. He grew up on Big Creek, Okla., south of Edna. He attended country schools and joined the Army in March 1951. Following his discharge in Februar...
full story
James I. ‘Sonny’ Ledbetter
EDNA — James I. “Sonny” Ledbetter, 82, of Edna died at 2:20 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011, at Coffeyville Regional Medical Center. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy (Foister) Ledbetter of the home. The service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Edna United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Edna Elm Grove Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday at the church. Memorials are suggested to Edna United Methodist Church and m...
full story
Robert L. ‘Bob’ Westhoff
FARLINGTON — Robert L. “Bob” Westhoff, 58, of Farlington died in the emergency room of Via Christi Medical Center in Pittsburg at 4:52 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011. He was born on July 23, 1953, at Greenbush to Sylvester and Celia (Sevart) Westhoff. He graduated from St. Paul High School. He was self-employed as a large equipment mechanic throughout his adult life. He was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church. Survivors include a son, Michael “...
full story
Zachary Scott ‘Zach’ Harding
Zachary Scott “Zach” Harding, 21, of Parsons died early Saturday morning, Nov. 5, 2011, near Erie from injuries sustained in a car-train accident. He was born on July 24, 1990, in Parsons to Scott William and Rachael Lynn (Looney) Harding. He grew up and attended school in St. Paul and was a 2008 graduate of St. Paul High School. He attended Labette Community College and Pittsburg State University. While attending PSU, he was a member of Pi Ka...
full story
Jeanne (Randall) Bowman
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. — Jeanne (Randall) Bowman, 68, of Blue Springs, Mo., died at 8:47 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011, at the Kansas City Hospice House. She had been in failing health for several years. She was born on Aug. 4, 1943, in Parsons to Raymond and Louise (Bayless) Randall. She graduated from Parsons High School in 1961 and from Parsons Junior College in 1963. On Sept. 17, 1965, she married John Bowman in Kansas City, Mo. She had lived in ...
full story
Zachary Scott ‘Zach’ Harding
Zachary Scott “Zach” Harding, 21, of Parsons died early Saturday morning, Nov. 5, 2011, near Erie from injuries sustained in a car-train accident. The service will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Wesley United Methodist Church in Parsons. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Memorials are suggested to the Kale Harding Educational Fund and may be ...
full story
Robert L. ‘Bob’ Westhoff
Robert L. “Bob” Westhoff, 58, of Farlington died at 4:52 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011, in the emergency room of Via Christi Medical Center in Pittsburg. Carson-Wall Funeral Home of St. Paul will announce complete obituary details and funeral arrangements later.
full story
John Wesley Bonine
John Wesley Bonine, 76, of rural Parsons died at 12:02 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011, at Via Christi St. Francis Hospital in Wichita. He had been in failing health for several months. He was born on Oct. 5, 1935, at Erie to Clifford Lee Bonine and Ida Nona (Pierce) Bonine. He grew up and attended school at Erie and Parsons, where he graduated from Parsons High School in 1953. Following high school, he entered the U.S. Army and served for 22 year...
full story
Ruth Margaret (Schmidt) Sutton
CLAREMORE, Okla. — Ruth Margaret (Schmidt) Sutton, 89, a former longtime Oswego resident, passed from this life on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011, at Claremore Regional Hospital ollowing a brief illness. Ruth was born April 30, 1922, in Oswego, Kansas, to Clarence and Margaret Schmidt. She grew up on the family farm just outside of Oswego with her five sisters and two brothers. After completing grades one through eight at Oak Grove School, she gradua...
full story
Mertie Riepe
Mertie Riepe, 80, of Parsons died at 10:14 a.m. Friday, Nov. 4, 2011, at Via Christi St. Francis Hospital in Wichita. She was born on May 15, 1931, in Parsons to Alfred Estle and Adeline M. (Pasley) Manners, longtime farmers in the rural area east of Parsons. She grew up on the family farm and graduated from Labette County Community High School at Altamont. On July 1, 1951, she married Max A. Riepe in Parsons. After their marriage, they live...
full story
Margaret Willcockson
Margaret Willcockson, 99, a resident of Parsons Presbyterian Manor, died there at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011. She was born on Sept. 21, 1912, at Pomeroy, Wash., to Thomas E. and Olive E. (Gregory) Douglas. She grew up and attended schools at Urich, Mo., graduating from high school in 1931. On April 16, 1931, she married Otho W. Willcockson at Garden City, Mo. He preceded her in death on Aug. 10, 1979. The Willcocksons lived in Borger,...
full story
Christina Maria (Martinez) Young
COLLINSVILLE, Okla. — Christina Maria (Martinez) Young, 55, of Collinsville, Okla., a former Parsons resident, died at 10:45 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011, at Hillcrest Hospital in Tulsa. She had been critically ill the past two weeks. She was born on June 30, 1956, in Parsons to Richard and Phyllis (Curtis) Martinez. She graduated from Parsons High School in 1974 and attended Labette Community College. For the past 17 years, she had worked a...
full story