Melva V. Norton, 93, of Salina, died Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2015. She was born Dec. 7, 1922, in Iowa City, Iowa, the daughter of Charles and Hattie (Close) Wheeler.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Carlyle A. “Corky” Norton; her daughter, Melvina Sue Norton; her son, Charles “Chuckie” Norton; and grandsons, Thomas Schaeffer and John W. Norton.

Melva is survived by her son, Robert Norton; daughter, Carolyn Schaeffer; 13 grandchildren; and 36 great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 21, at Greenwood Cemetery, Niles, with a luncheon to follow at the Niles Community Center.

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James A. Griffin, 86, of Salina, died Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015. He was born Oct. 28, 1929, in Edgerton, Minn., to James and Ruby Griffin. He served in the Air Force from 1949 to 1953.

He and his wife, Nadine (Entrikin), were married Oct. 7, 1956. They farmed in the Holland community of Dickinson County.

James served on the organizing Board of Directors for Dickinson County Rural Water District No. 2 and the Board of Directors of North Central Kansas Co-op.

Survivors include his wife, Nadine; children, Jon, of Benbrook, Texas, Jay (Jane), of Edwardsville, Ill., and Jim (Susan), of Lenexa; and four grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings, Ronald, of Edgerton, Minn., Art, of Wilmar, Minn., Edith Halsted, of Albany, Ore., Mary Hunter, of North Las Vegas, Nev., Iris Bueoy, of Signal Hill, Calif., and Marjie Veld, of Parker, Ariz.

Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 22, at Sunrise Presbyterian Church, Salina.

Memorials may be made to the Irish Foundation (Entrikin/Griffin Scholarship Fund) or Dickinson County Historical Society, in care of Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. Eighth St., Salina 67401.

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Rhiannon “Ana Jean” Wills, 17, of Livingston, Mont., and formerly of Salina, died in a vehicle accident in the early morning, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015. Ana was born Sept. 26, 1998, in Salina. She was the daughter of Jake and Kris Wills. Ana was currently attending school at Park High, in Livingston.

As Ana’s family deals with the shock, despair and anger, they know that as horrible as this has been they would go through it one hundred more times to have known Rhiannon’s love.

She loved with all her heart. All she wanted on this earth was to be able to help others. She was sweet, she was kind, and she was charming and had a silly funny streak. Rhiannon was humble. She never knew her beauty or how much she was thought of by others. She was beautiful from the outside – in and will be forever remembered that way. With her around, joy filled her parent’s lives every day. Know peace Rhiannon, know peace …

Ana was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Connie and Robert Edwards. Rhiannon is survived by her loving and adoring parents, Kris and Jake Wills, and her brother, Skylar, all of Salina; paternal grandparents, Ken Wills, of Livingston, and Jody Weldy of Wichita; special aunt, Darnell Wills, and her partner, Bob Moore, of Livingston; her favorite uncle, William Van Riper, of Salina; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends.

Visitation with the family receiving friends will be from 6-8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 21, at Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. Eighth, Salina. Celebration of life will be at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 22, at Ryan Mortuary with Rev. Paul Long officiating.

Memorials may be made to the family.

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Dale C. Reese, 89, of Salina, passed away Dec. 16, 2015. He was born Sept. 14, 1926 in Gypsum, the son of Harry and Lucy (VanVoorst) Reese. Dale graduated from Gypsum High School and then attended both Elgin Watchmakers College and Waltham Watchmakers School. He started Dale Reese Jewelry Store in 1945 in Salina and later entered the oil business with Dale Reese Oil Company. He married Shirley Joy Ogier on November 15th, 1952. She passed away January 20th, 2005.

Dale leaves behind one son, Dave and his wife Barbara, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma; one daughter, Diane and her husband Ralph Currie, of Lexington, Kentucky; six grandchildren, Rhys (Jason) Delaney, Parker (Lesli) Reese, Cameron (Abby) Currie, Natalie Reese, Alex Currie, and Thomas Reese; four great-grandchildren, Currie and Charley Joy Delaney, Rylan and Braxton Reese; sister, Luetta Chaltas; and brother, Ralph Reese.

Dale was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Charlene McNary; and brothers, Frank and Don Reese.

Dale and Shirley loved to dance and with Shirley’s passing Dad joined and danced with the Jolly Mixers of Salina. There he met Patty Loux who was his partner both on and off the dance floor for many years. Besides dancing, Dale belonged to the American Legion and Masonic Temple.

Services are pending at this time.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Salina, 730 Holly Lane Salina, KS 67401.

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Avis Mildred Viola, age 95, passed away on Wednesday, December 16, 2015. She was born on November 26, 1920 in Lost Springs, Kansas the daughter of Ezra and Ethel (Teel) Clark. She was a lifelong Dickinson County resident graduating from Abilene High School.
She was married to Norman Wells on May 22, 1942 in Abilene. She then married Ralph H. Viola in Abilene at the Kirby House on June 24, 2005. She was preceded in death by her first husband Norman; sisters Anna Barlow, Marie Crawford, Geneva Geise, and brothers Ezra and Arthur Clark. She is survived by her loving husband Ralph of the home; sisters Frances Kohrs of Gladstone, Missouri, Ethel Steel of Hemet, California, and Genevieve Valk of Kingston, New York. There also several nieces and nephews surviving.
Avis worked for Duckwalls early in her life then worked for JC Penney for 33 years and for the Fashion Maker Dress Shop for 15 years.
Avis was an avid Abilene supporter. She was a life member of the Dickinson County Historical Society, a life member of the Talmage Museum, and a life member of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF). She was an active member of the Abilene Elks Lodge, a corporate sponsor of “Historic Abilene”, a supporter of the Wakefield Museum, the Dickinson County Arts Council, and the Great Plains Theatre. She was a sponsor of CAF aircraft from Wichita for the Abilene Fly-In. She was a member of the First Christian Church in Abilene and also attended Mount Pleasant Evangelical Presbyterian Church with her husband. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and regular attendee of the monthly meetings of the Women’s Christian Organization.
Funeral services for Avis will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, December 22, 2015 at the First Christian Church in Abilene with Reverend Jason Kohler and Reverend Mark Stanger officiating. Her final resting place will be in the Abilene Cemetery. Following the graveside service there will be a luncheon provided at the church. Friends may sign the register book after 3:00 p.m. Sunday and from 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Monday at the funeral home and until service time Tuesday at church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Women’s Christian Organization of Abilene or to the American Legion Auxiliary of Abilene and may be sent in care of the Martin-Becker-Carlson Funeral Home, 414 NW 3rd, Abilene, Kansas 67410.

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DATELINE:  Lyons, Kansas
NAME:  Loma N. McAtee
AGE:  88 yrs
DATE OF DEATH: December 18, 2015
PLACE OF DEATH: Rice County District Hospital
DATE OF BIRTH: February 5, 1927
PLACE OF BIRTH: Bushton, Kansas
PARENTS: Harry and Dola Cassingham Groth
RESIDENCE: longtime Lyons formerly of Claflin, St. Francis and Grand Island, Neb.
OCCUPATION: she was the head Cook for the Claflin Elementary School System and
later cooked at the Senior Center at St. Francis, Sales Clerk and in Motel Management
EDUCATION: Graduated from Bushton High School in 1945
MEMBERSHIPS: First Baptist Church, Lyons; former member of Frederick Baptist Church
and Claflin United Methodist Church; Music Club, Lyons
DATE OF MARRIAGE:  October 15, 1946
PLACE OF MARRIAGE: Frederick, Ks.
SPOUSE: Victor A. McAtee
SPOUSE DECEASED DATE: October 22, 2007
SURVIVORS: 2 Sons, Terry & Jean McAtee, Great Bend, Farrell & Becky McAtee, St. Francis; Daughter-in-law, Kathy McAtee, Yukon, Okla.; 10 Grandchildren,  18 Great Grandchildren
PRECEDED IN DEATH BY:  Parents; Son, Randy McAtee; 2 Brothers, Vernon Groth,
Raymond Groth
SERVICES:  2:00 P.M. Monday, December 21, 2015 at First Baptist Church, Lyons, Kansas
OFFICIATING:  Rev. Joel Grizzle
BURIAL: Lyons Municipal Cemetery
VISITATION:  1:00 to 4:00 P.M., Sunday, December 20, 2015, at Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons
with family present.
MEMORIAL: First Baptist Church or Hospital District # 1 of Rice County Swingbed in care
of the funeral home.

Earl Delaine “Bull” Turnbull passed away Wednesday, December 16, 2015 at Rooks County Health Center in Plainville, Kansas at the age of 82. He was born on October 26, 1933 in Rooks County, Kansas to the late Earl and Grace (Odle) Turnbull. Growing up in Rooks County, he graduated from Stockton High School with the Class of 1951.

On June 15, 1952 he was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Wilma Hrabe, at the Stockton United Methodist Church. Bull enlisted in the United States Army in 1953 and served during the Korean War conflict. In 1955, after being Honorably Discharged, he returned home to continue farming on Bow Creek. They were blessed with four daughters, Cindy, Cheryl, Jan, and Jill and enjoyed 63 wonderful years of marriage.

Through determination and his strong work ethic, Bull established Turnbull Advertising in 1980. He had many loyal customers and was dedicated to them, always striving to provide the best service possible. His business relationships led to lifelong friendships, which is why he loved his work.

A member of the Stockton United Methodist Church and lifetime member of VFW Post 8873 of Stockton, Bull was a great neighbor, friend, and community-minded man. He enjoyed golf, K-State football, gardening, woodworking, and welding. He loved designing and creating new projects, with his latest idea being featured in the November 2015 issue of Farm Journal Magazine. He received the top award for his versatile welding vise. Along with visiting their daughters and their families, Bull and Wilma enjoyed traveling and spending time with friends. One of his highlights this year was going on the Honor Flight to Washington DC.

Bull never met a stranger and could strike up a conversation with anyone. He enjoyed meeting people and making lifelong friendships. Bull always took time to visit, and was never without a good joke. His natural wit and sense of humor will be greatly missed.

Bull is survived by his wife, Wilma Turnbull of the home in Stockton; daughters Cindy Hageman and husband John of The Woodlands, TX, Cheryl Dunning and husband Steve of Leawood, Jan Hageman and husband Blaine of McPherson, and Jill Turnbull Gallegos and husband Plu of Overland Park; sister Bonnie Denson and husband Joe of Emporia; grandchildren Lindsey and Matthew Whitlock, Kristen Hageman, Sarah Hageman, Caroline and David Clemmensen, Anne and Robert Pitts, Hunter Dunning, Barton Hageman II, Grace Hageman, Hadley Hageman, Hannah Hageman, Jacob Gallegos, and Jonathan Gallegos; and great-granddaughter Everyn Hageman-Whitlock. He was preceded in death by his parents.

It has been said, “The most important thing a father can do for his children is love their mother.” Bull was a living example of this truth every day of his life. He lived life to the fullest. His life, his love, and his legacy will live on forever in the hearts and lives of those who loved him.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, December 21, 2015 at the United Methodist Church in Stockton, with burial following in the Stockton Cemetery with Military Honors by Stockton V.F.W. Post #8873 and Fort Riley Honor Guard. Visitation will be Sunday from 1:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with family receiving friends from 4:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. at the funeral home.