Elizabeth E. “Betty” Heitschmidt, 91, passed away Dec. 30, 2015. She was born Jan. 24, 1924 on a farm near Geneseo, KS to William and Lillian Allen Bailey.

Elizabeth graduated from Ellsworth High School and then attended Fort Hays State. She began a teaching career in a one room school north of Holyrood. She taught many years as a teacher and substitute in the Holyrood school system.

Elizabeth married Marvin Heitschmidt in Ellsworth on Aug. 2, 1945. He passed away Oct. 9, 1991.

For nineteen years, Elizabeth owned and operated Betty’s dry good store in Holyrood. She was a 4-H leader in Ellsworth County for twenty years. She was also a charter member of the Ellsworth county Health Care Foundation. She was a member of the St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Holyrood.

Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Martin Luther Bailey of Ellsworth.

Survivors are son, Art (Linda) Heitschmidt of Wichita; grandson, Darren (Julie) Heitschmidt of Lindsborg; granddaughter, Darcie Wilson (Mike) of Wichita; five great grandchildren, Brett, Addie, Ty Heitschmidt, Brynn, and Avery Wilson. She is also survived by a brother, Keith Bailey of Ellsworth.

Visitation will be 1-8 p.m., Sun. Jan. 3, 2016 at Parsons Funeral Home, Ellsworth.

A celebration of life will be held at 2:30 p.m., Mon. Jan. 4, 2016 at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Holyrood with burial following in the church cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Holyrood, Plum Creek Plaza, or the Halstead Health and Rehab, c/o, Parsons Funeral Home, PO Box 45, Ellsworth, KS 67439.

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Helen Frances Black, 88, died Thursday, Dec, 31, 2015, at Village Manor after a brief illness.

She was born Sept. 1, 1927, in Union, New Jersey, the daughter of Jack and Grace (Brackett) Hughes. Her father, Jack Hughes, was a carpenter and her mother, Grace, was a homemaker. Helen’s parents grew up in Soddy, Tenn., near Chattanooga. Helen, along with her sister, Jacqueline, and her brothers, Paul, Ronnie, Larry, Sonny, and Jerry grew up in Daytona Beach, Florida. Helen loved everything about school. After high school, she had several jobs including working with a team of auditors who posed as customers, purchased an item with cash and then the cash register totals were checked to make sure the cashiers were reporting cash sales accurately. Helen was a telephone operator during World War II, based in Key West. Later, she managed a feed store, owned and operated a restaurant, and along with her daughter Robin, planned events for client weekends in Abilene. She co-owned the B & B Kennels greyhound farm in Chanute.

Helen met the man she would marry, Robert J. (Bob) Black, at the Daytona Beach Kennel Club. Bob trained greyhounds at the racetrack and Helen and a girlfriend were drawn to the excitement of the races. When the race meet closed at Daytona Beach, the dogs and their trainers moved on to Colorado Springs for the summer. Helen and a friend won some bets at the track, bought Greyhound bus tickets and headed for Colorado Springs. Gambling didn’t work out for them, her friend went home, and Helen married Bob. They tell the story that they were married between turnouts (greyhound friends will understand the term immediately) by a judge, and the party was in the back lot at the track.

After their marriage in August 1948, they followed the greyhound circuit until 1958, when they bought a greyhound farm west of Chanute. They called that home base until recently.

If you asked Helen what her greatest joy in this life she would say her children and family. Her children, Terry Davidson Lisman Jackson and her husband, Lee; Patty Black Moore and her husband, Bud; Robin Black and her husband, Duane Schrag; and Bill Black and his wife, O’Donna; her grandchildren, Kim Lisman Shull and Rich, Wendy Lisman Cota and Robert, Amanda Sherck DiCaprio and Todd, Rachel Sherck Zenger and Drew, Colin Black and Jessica, and Kyle Black; her great-grandchildren, Shaun and Ryan Cota, Charlotte Black, and Jack Zenger. Her extended family includes nephews, nieces, cousins and her many friends.

Helen was a member of the High Prairie Methodist Church and a long time supporter of the Children’s School Closet, which gives area children school supplies and coats. She was a member of the Wichita chapter of the Antique Doll Club for many years. She loved poodles and one of her standard poodles, Sam, won his class at the Poodle Club of America Dog Show in Philadelphia. Helen was a 4-H leader for the High Prairie Pioneers. She made the best potato salad, had a green thumb for plants, collected original art and beautiful glass, was a painter in her own right, had an enviable sense of style, and enjoyed giving a party. One of her favorite memories was their 50th anniversary rodeo weekend surrounded by family and friends with rodeo events, poetry by granddaughter Rachel, family history presented by daughter Robin, and entertainment provided by Cloud Scout Lee.

A service celebrating her life will be held in the spring. Memorials may be sent to High Prairie United Methodist Church, Altoona, Kansas and may be sent in care of the Martin Becker Carlson Funeral Home, 414 NW 3rd, Abilene, Kansas 67410

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Laurel Jean Koehn, 85, of Galva, Kansas, passed away at 10:17 a.m., Wednesday, December 30th, 2015 suddenly, at McPherson Hospital, McPherson, Kansas.

Jean was born in McPherson, Kansas on February 4, 1930, a daughter of Maude Adella (Grant) and Ward VanBuren Myers.

Jean attended Liberty Country School, and graduated from Galva High School, Galva, Kansas.

Jean was a member of Galva United Methodist Church Galva, KS.

Jean was a homemaker and she took great pride in providing for her family in this manner. She was a secretary for the Galva Schools from 1961 to 1977 and later returned to the Canton Galva Schools as an Aide and Para in 1991.

Jean enjoyed family, shopping, camping at the lake and traveling in her camper throughout the U.S.

Laurel Jean Myers was united in marriage to Galen L. Ek on July 18, 1948 in Salina, Kansas. The young couple established their first home together in McPherson. Galen died on March 13, 1990. Jean was united in marriage to Vernon Ray “Ham” Koehn in January of 1992 at the Glass Chapel in Arkansas. They established their first home together in Galva, Kansas..

Jean is survived by her husband of over 23 years Vernon “Ham” Koehn, of Galva, Kansas; her children and their spouses, Gail L. Wedel and her husband Charles, of Galva, Kansas, Steven W. Ek and his wife Tammy, of Many, LA, and Brad G. Ek and his wife Susan, of Galva, Kansas; her step-children, Cindy Turner, of Clovis, New Mexico, Brent V. Koehn, of Wichita, Kansas, her 11 grandchildren, Ty Wedel and his wife Kim, Kristin Sangals and her husband Craig, Keri Welch and her husband Kirk, Leah Grant, Justin Ek and his wife Stephanie, Heath Ek, Megan Carter and her husband Brice, Tanya Hanserik and her husband Nick, Melissa Reves and her husband Bruce, Seth Ek and his wife Laurie, Jonas Koehn; her 15 great-grandchildren, Tanner Wedel, Ariel Wedel, Zachary Sangals, Caden Sangals, Connar Rausch, Jaedyn Grant, Schyler Ek, Sierra Ek, Braegyn Carter, Jayce Carter, Kaylee Hanserik, Keaton Hanserik, Cooper Reves, Tyler Ek, Brandon Ek; many nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Galen Ek; brothers Kermit, Kendall “Bud”, and Kurt Myers and sisters, Joan Myers, Patricia Bishop, Donna Koehn, and Gloria Owens and a granddaughter Sara Span.

Friends are invited to call on Sunday, January 3, 2016 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Glidden – Ediger Chapel, McPherson, Kansas.

The funeral service will be held at Galva Christian Church, Galva, Kansas, at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, January 4th, 2016 with Reverend Phil Radatz officiating.

The final resting place will be at the Empire Cemetery Galva, Kansas.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Galva Senior Center and they can be sent in care of the Glidden – Ediger Funeral Home; 222 West Euclid Street; McPherson, Kansas 67460.

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Arline Julia Soukup, 101, passed away December 30, 2015 at the Mennonite Friendship Communities in South Hutchinson, KS. She was born May 2, 1914 North of Ellsworth, KS to Frank and Emma (Riegel) Bettenbrock. When she was 7, they moved South of Carneiro by the Smoky Hill River, which is now Kanopolis Lake. She went to Yingst Grade School No. 18 and graduated from Ellsworth High School. She lived in Ellsworth County for 99 years and then moved to Hutchinson to live with her daughter.

Arline married John Soukup, Jr. on March 4, 1946. He preceded her in death in 1995. After they were married, they lived in John’s grandparents’ (Homolka) house South of Black Wolf for a short time, and then moved to Arline’s grandparents’ (Bettenbrock) house for several years. John farmed and Arline helped him do many things on the farm.

Arline is survived by her children, Sharon Soukup of Hutchinson; Donald (Lonnie) Soukup of Ellsworth; and Elaine (Jerry) Legere of Ft. Worth, TX; grandchildren, Luke (Amber) Soukup of Kanopolis; Tyler Soukup (Lana Mitchell) of Carrollton, TX; Leah (Thyra) Sanders of Ft. Worth, TX; and Bryan Legere of Sugar Land, TX; and great grandchildren, Katelyn and Sydney Soukup; Max Legere, Tyra and TC Sanders, and Reid and Eli Mitchell.

Visitation will be from 1-8 p.m., Sunday Jan. 3, 2016 at Parsons Funeral Home, Ellsworth, with family present from 6-8 p.m.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday Jan. 4, 2016 at Parsons Funeral Home with burial following in the Ellsworth Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Mosaic of Ellsworth or the Ellsworth County Historical Society, c/o, Parsons Funeral Home, PO Box 45, Ellsworth, KS 67439.

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Lois Maxine (Luckey) Woods was born on the family farm south of Glen Elder, Kansas, on April 12, 1927. She was the eighth of ten children born to Weldon Wilbur and Florence Pleasant (Deeds) Luckey. She went to meet her Lord and Savior on December 28, 2015.

Lois attended Antelope grade school, Glen Elder. She had her first job as a sophomore in high school, doing housework for a woman from 5 am – midnight with no breaks, seven days a week. As a junior and senior in high school Lois worked so that she could stay in Glen Elder and graduate with her class in 1944. She had fond memories of working for Mrs. Frank (Ethyl) Humes. Lois also worked for Ethel’s daughter Jeanette and husband Wilson Neff at Neff’s Grocery Store after school and Saturdays 8 am – midnight.

After graduation, Lois moved to Salina to attend Brown Mackie School of Business. She worked in the office as well as at People’s Cafeteria to put herself through school. In the spring of 1945, she was recruited by Production Credit Corp., Beloit, to become their secretary. That fall she went to work for the Beloit Farm Bureau Office. She then went to work for the Mitchell County Extension Office.

Lois met Rex Woods in the spring of 1947, and they were married September 7, 1947, in Beloit. Since Rex was attending the University of Kansas, they made their home in Lawrence. Lois put Rex through school by working as the only secretary for 3 lawyers. One was a former Kansas Attorney General, one a Lawrence City Attorney and member of the Kansas House of Representatives, and one was a Criminal Lawyer and State Senator.

In 1950, she and Rex moved to Salina where Lois was a secretary for a lawyer until the day before her son Rod was born. She typed at home for the next five years. After her youngest child went to kindergarten, she went back to work. She worked for Rex until the 1970’s.

After she and Rex got a divorce, Lois became the receptionist at Kansas Technical Institute and worked there through the transition to K-State Salina. She worked there until her retirement.

Lois loved playing bridge and played into her 80’s. She believed she stayed healthy because of her daily trips to the YWCA at 6:30 in the morning to do aquacize. Maintaining her home and yard and doing her church’s newsletter were her favorite pastimes.

Lois is preceded in death by: her parents; brothers – John, Lawrence, and Noel; sisters – Blanche, Medora, Nola and Bernice; and daughter – Pam Nowak.

She is survived by: son – Rod and wife, Sue Woods, Belleville; daughter – Terri and husband, Steve Melby, Mankato; Seven grandchildren – Christina Nowak, Kelle, and husband, Bob Hull, Bethany and husband, Clay Cass, Ericka and husband, Clint Berry, Aaron Melby, Ryan Woods, and Hillary Woods. Three great-grandchildren – Jace, Torah, and Tyler Hull; brothers, Francis and Weldon; many, many nieces and nephews; and many other relatives and friends.

A celebration of life services for Lois Woods will be (were) held Saturday January 1, 2016, at 2:00 p.m. from the Melby Mortuary, Mankato, Kansas. Pastor Dennis Beckmann officiated. Pat Grout was the pianist. Pall bearers were: Ryan Woods, Bob Hull, Clay Cass, Clint Berry, Dean Sandlin, Mitch Morgan, and Jon Weisbecker. Honorary bearers were: David Nowak, Chrissy Nowak, Kelle Hull, Bethany Cass, Ericka Melby, Aaron Melby, Hillary Woods, and Rob Morgan. Interment was in High Prairie Cemetery, Glen Elder, Kansas. Visitation will be (was) Friday, January 1, 2016, at the Melby Mortuary Chapel, Mankato, from 2pm to 4 pm. The family requests that memorials go to Lois Woods Memorial Fund.

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Neolin Drexel Taylor, 85, of Topeka, quietly slipped from this life into a heavenly life with his Lord on December 28, 2015.

Neolin was born on October 5, 1930, in Woodston, KS, the son of Lewis and Estella Taylor. He married Opal Conn on July 30, 1950 and they spent 65 happy years together. He is survived by his wife and 4 children: Verna (Gary) Napier, Topeka; Drusilla (Dan) Emmot, Beloit; Bruce (Pam) Taylor, Gardner; Trudi (Rick) Lee, Big Pine, CA.

Neolin’s passion in life was his ministry at the First Baptist Church in Mankato for 13 years following retirement. Although he was an only child, his family surpassed expectations, giving him 13 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren, all of whom had a special place in his heart.

The family will greet friends from 9:00-10:30 on January 4, 2016 at First Baptist Church in Mankato with services at 10:30. Burial will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery, Mankato.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, 625 East South St, Mankato, KS 66956.

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Barbara Ann “Bobbie” Witt, 83, of Russell,
Kansas, passed peacefully Wednesday, December 30, 2015 at the Via Christi St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, Kansas.

Bobbie was born October 7, 1932 in Hutchinson, Kansas, the daughter of Lester and Geneva (Ferry) Glover.  Bobbie was a cheerleader for the Hutchinson Hugh School Salt Hawks, where she graduated in 1950.  She was a member of Delta Gamma Sorority at the University of Kansas where she graduated in May of 1955 with a degree in English.  She married Cecil Witt on June 11, 1955 in Hutchinson.  Bobbie and Cecil spent two years in
Japan while Cecil was on active duty with the U.S. Air Force.  They later made their home in Russell where they enjoyed playing golf and bridge with their many friends.  Bobbie enjoyed gardening and was a talented painter, avid reader and quite the professional shopper.  What Bobbie loved more than anything was spending time with her family, especially during vacations to Colorado and Las Vegas.  She absolutely adored Christmas and loved decorating her home for the holidays.  Bobbie and Cecil are members of St. Mary, Queen of Angels Catholic Church.

Bobbie is survived by her husband of 60 years, Cecil of the home; four children, Stephanie Elliott (Tim) of Overland Park, Kansas, Cecil Witt, Jr. and Amy Roberts of Lenexa, Kansas, Bruce Witt (Janice) of Maize, Kansas and Amy McFarland (Mark) of Lenexa, Kansas.  Bobbie also leaves behind grandchildren who adored her, Alicia Billings and Toby Mitchell, Jordan Billings (Heather), Megan Machen (Ben), Michael Elliott, Suzanne Stockton (Aaron), Cecil “Trey” Witt, III, Taylor Witt, Todd Witt, Nicole Witt,
Sarah Witt, Madison Witt, Erin McFarland and Blake McFarland; and great grandchildren, Conner Witt, Audrey Billings and Elliott Machen.  She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Patricia (Glover) Fishback.

Celebration of the Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 A.M. Monday, January 4, 2015 at the St. Mary, Queen of Angels Catholic Church.  Burial will follow at the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery.  Visitation will be held from Noon to 5:00 PM Sunday, January 3, 2015 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary.  A Vigil will be held at 7:00 PM Sunday at the St. Mary, Queen of Angels Catholic Church.  Memorials have been established with St. Mary’s Catholic Church or Russell Regional Hospital.  Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.