Obituaries
Leona 'June' Horn
TOPEKA — Leona ”June” Horn, 79, died Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012, at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan., where she was surrounded by her loving family. She was born Nov. 13, 1933, on the family farmstead in rural Labette County to Issac William and Florence Leona (Cunningham) Strickland. She graduated from Labette County High School in Altamont. She married Billy Dean Horn in Picher, Okla., on Aug. 18, 1951.  To this 61 ...
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Helen Tustison
Helen Tustison, 91, of Parsons died at 8:05 a.m. Friday, Dec. 28, 2012, at the Elmhaven West. She had been in failing health. She was born Aug. 10, 1921, in Parsons to Perry T. and Eliza J. (Hitchcock) LaRue. She graduated from Parsons High School in 1939 and attended Parsons Junior College. Later she attended Louisiana State University. On Dec. 25, 1941, (Christmas Day) she and Leonel Tustison were married in the First Presbyterian Church ...
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Leonel E. “Tut” Tustison
Leonel E. “Tut” Tustison, 93, of Parsons died at 11:34 p.m. Friday, Dec. 28, 2012, at the Elmhaven West. His wife, Helen, preceded him in death earlier the same day. He was born in Parsons on Jan. 28, 1919, to Leon E. and Nell G. (Harkness) Tustison. He graduated from Parsons High School in 1937 and also attended the University of Arizona, the University of New Mexico and Louisiana State University. He moved to Baton Rouge, La., in 1942 and...
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Lucille Eleanor ‘Midge’ Miller
WICHITA — Lucille Eleanor “Midge” Miller, 84, died Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012. She was born Nov. 24, 1928, in Newton, N.J., to Minna (Echkardt) and Oscar Hubert Frenzke. She graduated from New Jersey College for Women (now Douglass College) in 1946 with a bachelor of science degree. She earned a master of Christian education at Biblical Seminary in New York. On May 29, 1945, she married Milton Miller. They served in churches in Southeast Kansas ...
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Richard D. Sublett
Richard D. Sublett, 36, of Parsons died unexpectedly early Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012, at his home. Further obituary details will be announced by the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home of Parsons.
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Helen Tustison
Helen Tustison, 91, of Parsons died at 8:05 a.m. Friday, Dec. 28, 2012, at Elmhaven West. She is survived by her husband, Leonel Tustison, who is in critical condition. The Carson-Wall Funeral Home will announce further obituary details and funeral arrangements.
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David V. Richardson
David V. Richardson, 82, of Parsons died at 4:50 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012, at Elmhaven West. He had been in failing health. He was born April 30, 1930, in St. Paul to Verlyn E. and Flossie M. (Morgan) Richardson. He grew up in St. Paul and attended St. Paul public schools. At age 14 he started working on the Katy Railroad in Parsons and at age 19 for the Ankortite Co., now Dayton Superior Corp. He retired in 1992. In 1950 he enlisted ...
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Kenneth C. 'Pappy' Kirchhofer Jr.
Kenneth C. "Pappy" Kirchhofer Jr., 62, of Parsons died at his home at 3:15 a.m. Monday, Dec. 24, 2012. He had been in failing health. He was born at Bartlesville, Okla., on Aug. 13, 1950, to Kenneth C. Sr. and Wanda Lee (Bird) Kirchhofer. He attended school in Dewey, Okla. He was a brick layer and worked construction. He is survived by two daughters, Kay Cee Kirchhofer of McCune and Sunny Hedges of Elk City; a son, Kenny Joe Bromagem of Bartle...
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Kenneth C. 'Pappy' Kirchhofer Jr.
Kenneth C. "Pappy" Kirchhofer Jr., 62, of Parsons died at his home at 3:15 a.m. Monday, Dec. 24, 2012. He had been in failing health. Further obituary details will be announced by the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home.
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Eli Walker Reed
BUHLER — Eli Walker Reed, 22, of Buhler died Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012, at his home. He was born Nov. 4, 1990, in Newton the son of Kelly E. and Jolene (Stover) Reed. He had played basketball and football at Buhler High School and was a student at Kansas State University. Survivors include his parents, Kelly and Jolene Reed of Buhler; a sister, Audra Reed of Spearville; a brother, Terry Reed of Hutchinson; grandparents, Mick Walker of Pittsburg...
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Lowell L. ‘Shorty’ Rhodes
Lowell L. “Shorty” Rhodes, 81, of Parsons, a retired owner of Wichita Southeast Kansas Transit, died at 4:18 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2012, at his home. He had been in failing health. He was born on Dec. 28, 1930, at Tampa, Kan., to Harry W. and Lillie (Hegle) Rhodes. He grew up on the family ranch near Tampa and attended country schools. He graduated from Durham High School in 1948. He married Marilyn Peterson on Sept. 10, 1950, at Lost Sprin...
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Stephen ‘Steve’ Francis VanLeeuwen
BRAZILTON — Stephen “Steve” Francis VanLeeuwen, 60, of Brazilton died at 8:45 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012. Surrounded by his loving family, in a room of prayer, Steve left this world for Heaven. He joked a few weeks before his death that God was looking for a new addition and his family is comforted knowing Steve is now dancing with the angels. Steve was born on May 9, 1952, in Parsons to Paul “Pat” and Maxene (Hudson) VanLeeuwen. He grew up ...
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Arthur W. ‘Art’ Nance
Arthur W. “Art” Nance, 88, of Parsons died at 7:38 a.m. Friday, Dec. 21, 2012, at his home. He had been in failing health. He was born on July 16, 1924, in Parsons to William Bloomer and Mildred Nadine (Geisenhoner) Nance. He graduated from Parsons High School and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He witnessed the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima and was stationed in the Subic Bay when the treaty ending WWII was signed. On June 7, 19...
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Lowell ‘Shorty’ Rhodes
Lowell “Shorty” Rhodes, 81, of Parsons died at 12:20 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012, at his home. Carson-Wall Funeral Home will announce further obituary details and service arrangements later.
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Mary Bess Joslin
Mary Bess Joslin, 79, a longtime Parsons resident, went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus at 10:06 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012, at Labette Health in Parsons. She was born on Oct. 30, 1933, at Neodesha to Paul and Ruth Ann (Randall) Stephens. She grew up at Neodesha and attended Neodesha schools, graduating from Neodesha High School in 1951. She attended the University of Missouri and later the University of Kansas, where she received a bac...
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Ray F. Likins
CHERRYVALE — Ray F. Likins, 79, of Cherryvale died Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012, at Via Christy St. Francis Medical Center, Wichita. He was born on Jan. 29, 1933, in Parsons to Clifford Erwin and Julia Opal (Atherton) Likins. He graduated from Labette County Community High School in Altamont. He was a self-employed farmer until retiring in 1970. Survivors include two sisters, LaDonna Fern Likins Brothers of Cherryvale and Margie Ellen Likins Prate...
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Ethel Finnerty
Ethel Finnerty, 90, of Parsons died at 5:05 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012, at Elmhaven West nursing home in Parsons. She had been in failing health for several years. She was born on Dec. 23, 1921, in the Rosedale area of Kansas City, Kan., to William L. and Fannie M. (Stambaugh) Morgan. She grew up in that area, helping in the family dry-cleaning shop, and graduated from Rosedale High School in 1939. On April 14, 1940, she married Richard “Di...
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Howard 'Wayne' Knight
CHERRYVALE — Howard “Wayne” Knight,71, of Cherryvale died Friday, Dec. 14, 2012, at Labette Health in Parsons. He was born Oct. 10, 1941, in Liberty the son of George and Shirley (Thornton) Knight. He grew up in the Cherryvale area and attended Cherryvale schools. He served in the Marines. He married Cecilia Oakleaf. They later divorced. Mr. Knight was a self-employed carpenter. Survivors includes a daughter Shelli Blair of Altamont; three so...
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Myrle E. Spencer
Myrle E. Spencer, 86, former longtime Oswego and Altamont resident, died at 3:55 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012, at the Presbyterian Manor in Parsons. He was born Feb. 8, 1926, near Bartlett to Ernest and Marie (Allison) Spencer. He grew up and attended school in the rural Edna area and graduated from high school at Labette County Community High School in Altamont in 1943. He served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. Follow...
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Ronald L. Madl
ALTAMONT — Ronald L. Madl, 79, of Altamont died at 9:55 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14, 2012, at his home surrounded by his family. He was born Aug. 29, 1933, at rural Erie to Louis E. and Marguerite (Whitworth) Madl. He grew up and attended school at St. Paul. He had worked at filling stations in St. Paul following high school. He entered the United States Navy in March 1956 and served until December 1957 when he was honorably discharged. He worked for...
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