WICHITA – L. Howard Runft, 82, died Friday, January 29th, 2016, (Kansas Day) at the Hynes Memorial Hospice Center in Wichita.  He was born December 10th, 1933, at Herington, the son of Leland D. and Geneva M. (Stewart) Runft.

Funeral service will be at 1:00 PM, Monday, February 1st, 2016, at the First United Methodist Church, Wichita.  Military Committal will be at 4:00 PM, Monday, at the Sunset Hill Cemetery, Herington.  The family will receive friends Sunday, January 29th, from 3 to 5pm at Wichita’s First United Methodist Church, Pallor B (Second Floor).  Services are under direction of the Zeiner Funeral Home, Herington Chapel.

Mr. Runft retired in 1993, from USD 259, Wichita, from Education and Administration.  He begin his teaching career at Buckland High School; then taught at Wichita South High, and then Wichita West High; and finally taught Vo-Tech (East High) – Wichita Area Vo-Technical College and was Night Education Principal.  He also coached Little League Football, and High School Football.

Graduated from Herington High School in 1952.  Served in the U.S. Marine Corps, as a Sergeant, in the Korean War.  He was an active member of the Marine Corps League Air Capital Detachment #773, and the Korean War Veterans Association of Wichita, and held numerous offices.  He and his wife Claire were members of the First United Methodist Church in Wichita.  Also he was the founding member of the Wichita Toy Trains Club.

He married Claire A. Hyde, on December 12, 1953, at the United Methodist Church, Herington; she survives of the home.  Also, survived by two (2) daughters: Glenda Broadbent (husband- Craig) of Wichita, and Roylynn Runft-Vogel (husband-Ric Vogel) of Centennial, CO; a son Roger Runft (wife-Kimberly) of Wichita; five (5) granddaughters: Jana Bowman (husband-Chad) and their son Jack of Lenexa, Courtney Runft of New York City, Jessie Eckert (husband-Darrell) of Copan, OK, Jeris Broadbent of Wichita, & Corynn Vogel of Centennial, CO.

The family requests memorials, in lieu of flowers, to the Melanoma & Lymphoma Cancers Society; and they may be sent in care of the Zeiner Funeral Home, Herington Chapel, 404 S. Broadway, Herington, KS, 67449-3038.

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A. “Walt” Diers
(May 8, 1919 – January 28, 2016)

Funeral services will be at 10 AM Thursday, February 4 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Downs followed by burial in Prairie Grove Cemetery in Cawker City. Visitation will be from 6-7:30 PM Wednesday at the Waconda Funeral Chapel in Cawker City. Memorials may be given to Solomon Valley Hospice or the Church.

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DATELINE: Little River, Kansas NAME: Elbert L. Ham(m) AGE: 75 DATE OF DEATH: January 29, 2016 PLACE OF DEATH: Sandstone Heights Nursing Home, Little River, Kansas DATE OF BIRTH: April 17, 1940 PLACE OF BIRTH: Barada, Nebraska PARENTS: Samuel D. & Mabel (Wheeldon) Ham RESIDENCE: He has resided in Little River, KS. for the past two years, formerly of Richland, MS. OCCUPATION: Elbert was owner/operator of Ham Construction in Mississippi for thirty years, prior to that he worked as a lineman for Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway EDUCATION: He graduated from Tecumseh High School, Tecumseh, NE, with the class of 1958. VETERAN: He served in the Nebraska Army National Guard from 1962 to 1966 SURVIVORS: Ex-wife, Sondra and their children, Kenny and Connie; ex-wife Dianne Williams, and their daughter, Pamela Blades, Little River, KS.; ex-wife, Gracie Ham and their son, Shawn Ham of (*) Tennessee; ex-wife Katie Ham; brother, Lloyd Ham, Garland, TX.; 4 grandchildren, Benjamin Blades, Wyatt Blades, Colton Ham, Carter Ham PRECEDED IN DEATH BY: Parents, Samuel & Mabel Ham; daughter, Patricia Ham; sister, Vaneta Bullock MEMORIAL: Elbert Ham Memorial Fund or Elbert’s Grandchildren’s Education Fund or Disabled American Veterans in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons, Kansas