Patrick John “Pat” Foster, 52, of Salina, went to be with his Lord and Savior Sunday, May 8, 2016. He was born January 20, 1964 in McPherson, the son of Wayne and Lillian Foster. He married Julie Schnepf, September 25, 1999, in Salina and adopted his daughter Brianna in April 2000.

Pat started working in Radio Broadcasting when he was 16 years old and was recognizable radio personality in the Salina and McPherson area. Pat attended Hutchinson Junior College. He was an avid drummer and musician and was a member of many bands, including the band called “Whirlwind”. Pat was the owner of Foster Group Advertising and most recently Sales and Marketing Manager at Harley Davidson of Salina. Pat was a long time member and ambassador at the Chamber of Commerce and was the current Chairman of Ambassadors. He also has served on the board of directors at Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Pat was preceded in death by his father, Wayne; brother, Mike; father and mother-in-law, Wallace and Darlene Schnepf; and many beloved pets.

He is survived by his wife, Julie; daughter, Brianna Quinley and husband Kevin; mother, Lillian Foster; brother, Jeff Foster and Amy Sarver; treasured golden retrievers, Jackson and Jemma; several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews; and many cherished friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, May 12, 2016, at Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. Eighth St., Salina, with a private family inurnment in McPherson Mausoleum, McPherson Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Julie Foster, in care of the mortuary.

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William Reuben Soderquist, 89, of Salina, Kansas, passed this life on May 5, 2016 in Salina. He was born on February 26, 1927, on the family farm near Vleits, Kansas, the youngest of four children born to Reuben and Grace (Logerstrom) Soderquist.

Bill attended a one-room country school before graduating from Frankfort High School in 1944. For several years he helped on the family farm while working occasionally for neighbors. Then, in 1950, through help from his brother Ray, Bill obtained a job in Denver with an Allis-Chalmers Dealer. A few years later, he began working with a large Caterpillar Agency as a field representative, involved primarily with servicing super-sized strip-mining machinery. This job took him throughout Colorado. As a result he established homes in Durango, Loveland, Pueblo and Grand Junction as well as Denver during those thirty years.

Upon retiring in 1981, Bill moved back to the Plains trying several locations before settling in Salina. Here he worked part-time for Dillons and Walmart when he wasn’t on evangelistic campaigns throughout the states as well as similar trips to Kenya and Russia. Bill continued this interest until age began to limit his activities. He was a member of the Salina Church of Christ for the 22 years he resided in Salina.

Bill is survived by his brother John, and nieces Karen McIntosh, Margaret Strecker, Jane Kabes and Diane LaBoube, and nephew Leland Soderquist.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, a baby sister, and one brother, Ray.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, May 13, at the Salina Church of Christ, 1646 North 9th Street with burial at the Salem Lutheran Cemetery, Axtell, Kansas at approximately 2:30 p.m. Ryan Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials may be made to the Salina Church of Christ.

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Maurice Allen “Moe” Benson, 89, of Salina died May 9, 2016. He was born Oct. 9, 1926 in Seaforth, Minn., the son of Oscar and Gladys Benson.

Moe moved to Salina in 1946 and was a self employed Contractor. He was a World War II veteran, an active member of St. Mary’s Parish, and a 40 year contributing member of AA.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Karlin Benson, of the home; sons, Larry, Rick, and Mark of Salina, Tom of Frisco, Texas, and Andy, of Chaska, Minn; daughter, Myra, of Salina; 20 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

“Big Moe” was one of 13 brothers. Three of them survive; Ron of Pelican Rapids, Minn., Jerry of Virginia Beach, Va., and Mike of Topeka.

Vigil services will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 11, at Ryan Mortuary, Salina.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 12, at St. Mary’s Queen of the Universe Catholic Church, Salina. Maurice’s ashes will be inurned in the Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Salina.

Memorials are suggested to St. Mary’s Parish or Alcoholics Anonymous.

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Abilene, Kansas
Sherry Soelter.
Once upon a time, on March 19, 1925, in Topeka, KS, Clyde and Elsie Morris, brought a perfect baby girl into the world. They chose to name her Ruth Charlene, though this is not the name most of you will remember her by. Her parents were inspired by this success and went on to bring four more perfect children into the world: Phil, Clyde, Dale and Arlene. Only one, Clyde, will be greeting her on this leg of her journey.

At 14, she met little Bobby Soelter who, not long after, would grow up to be tall, dark, and handsome Robert Soelter. He would be her constant companion for her adventures over the next seven decades. Bob was the one who first nicknamed her “Sherry”, as we know her. They continued the family tradition and brought three perfect children into the world, Eric, Michael, and Laura, who Bob and Sherry raised in Abilene.

While Sherry may have described herself as a housewife, anyone who knew her knows that this only brushes the surface. Cooking probably started as just part of the job description, but she soon transcended the basics of feeding her family and elevated her recipes to an art form for which she will fondly be remembered. Her creative nature also guided her to pursue many other art forms including pottery, textiles, and painting to name a few. In addition to creating art, she held a deep appreciation of the beauty in the world around her, including wild flowers, birds, and architecture.

Besides caring for her family, she cared for many people in the community, starting with her role as a troop leader for both the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, art teacher at St. Andrew’s School, and volunteer for the Red Cross and Meals-on-Wheels. She continually expanded her involvement in the community throughout her life, going on to be a member of the Kansas and Dickinson County Arts Councils, Friends of the Library, and a supporter of the Great Plains Theater. She even reached out beyond her community, hosting participants in the People-to-People exchange and the Abilene-Minori Japanese Sister City Program.

Her full commitment to causes larger than herself shows in her dedication to learn foreign languages while traveling around the world and presenting herself gracefully to many different cultures, all the while, building lasting relationships. In summary, we know that Sherry will be missed not only by her family who love her very much, but by everyone she touched throughout her life.

For our part, we will send her off with a few words found by her oldest son ,Eric, for this occasion and three onions on a cocktail spear (carefully placed in a Ziplock bag) that we know she would never leave home without.

In another time’s forgotten space, your eyes looked from your mother’s face;
wildflower seed on the sand and stone, may the four winds blow her safely home.

A celebration of her life will be held 10:00 AM Saturday, May 14th, at the Eisenhower Park Rose Garden.

Condolences: https://dannerfuneralhome.net/

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Salina, Kansas

Alfred A. “Hap” Loader
97, passed away Tuesday, May 10th, in Salina. He was born February 12, 1919 near Industry, the son of Charles and Edith (Bosch) Loader. Growing up in the area, Hap attended local schools. He was a World War II Army veteran serving in the Philippines. He had farmed in the Industry Community and had been employed by Gilmore Tadge in Clay Center. On April 7, 1972 he married Nadine Ringle. The early years of their marriage was spent farming until moving to Salina in 1986. She preceded him in death May 17, 1999. Hap enjoyed spending his leisure time fishing. He was also preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Lee Loader.
Hap is survived by a brother, Dale Loader of Enterprise.
Graveside services will be held 11:00 AM Friday, May 13th, at the Greenridge Cemetery near Industry. The family suggests memorial contributions in his name be made to the Elsie Brooks Cancer Fund. They may be left at or sent in care of the Danner Funeral Home POB 758 Abilene, Kansas 6410.

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Enterprise, Kansas

Martha Jean Whiteside-Meahl-Keith died at the age of 91 in Enterprise, Kansas on May 10th. She was born in Newtown, Indiana to James and Bessie Whiteside on April 29, 1925; grew up in Newtown, and was married to John P Meahl, also of Indiana on August 31, 1946. They met in Lafayette, Indiana shortly after John’s WWII military service
ended.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her first husband, John Meahl, who passed away on October 30, 1990. She and John had 3 sons: John Meahl Jr who resides in Cynthiana, Ky, James Meahl who serves aboard a US government military supply ship in Asia, and Jeff Meahl and his wife Beth of Enterprise, Ks. Martha remarried on April 30, 1999 to Alva Keith in Corpus Christi, Tx. Alva preceded her in death on January 13, 2002.
She is also survived by two grandchildren, Tim Meahl of Roeland Park, Ks, and Robyn Meahl of Berlin, Germany, and her stepdaughter, Janece Bueche of Plano, Texas.

A memorial service will be held at the Newtown Community Church in Newtown,
Indiana on May 16th at 1 pm preceded by a visitation at 12 pm. Burial will be at the
Newtown cemetary immediately afterwards.
Danner Funeral Home is handling local arrangements.

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Council Grove – Nancy Jeanne Laudemann, 69, of White City, Kansas, passed away Monday, May 9, 2016, at Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan, Kansas, after a long, hard-fought battle with cancer.

Nancy was born October 20, 1946, in Emporia, Kansas, the daughter of James and Mary (Crocker) Palmer. She graduated from White City High School in 1964 and from Kansas State University in 1968, with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education.  Nancy taught at White City Elementary School from 1968, until her retirement in 2010.  She was proud of her 42 years of teaching. Even in retirement she continued to volunteer for several years at White City Elementary.

Nancy and Galen became high school sweethearts and married July 10, 1966. They made their home in White City where they raised two children, Jarrod and Stephanie.

Nancy was a lifetime member of the White City United Methodist Church. She led the memorial committee, and served as co-chair on the turkey supper committee for several years.  She was also an avid supporter of MYF, especially during their Cupid’s Candelight Dinner events.

Nancy survived breast cancer in 1995 and began working tirelessly to help others by volunteering for the American Cancer Society and was an active member of Relay For Life of Morris County.  Nancy was selected to serve as the Chair of the Regional Council for Kansas Region of ACS. She was also honored with the Spirit of Relay Award in 2007.

Nancy was a creative spirit who began her love of crafts as a child in 4-H. Later in life she developed a wide array of talents including:  tailoring, pottery, beading, fiber arts, and quilting.  Nancy was blessed with a green thumb as she brought her love of flowers and plants to her classroom and home.

Her parents preceded her in death. Nancy is survived by her husband Galen, of the home; son Jarrod Laudemann, Christine Doucette, and grandson, Adrian James, of White City/Manhattan and daughter Stephanie Laudemann, White City; sister, Patricia Rucker and husband David, of Golden, Colorado; and a large circle of family and friends.

Nancy was a loving teacher, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and friend.  She touched many lives and will be missed by many.

A visitation for family and friends will be Wednesday, May 11, 2016, from 6 to 8 pm at the Fellowship Hall of the White City United Methodist Church.

Memorial services will be Thursday, May 12, at 11 am, at the White City United Methodist Church.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Nancy Laudemann Education Memorial Fund, White City United Methodist Church, or the Relay For Life of White City.

A private burial service will be held at St. John’s Cemetery, White City.

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Carol J. Keil-Sawyer, 79, of WaKeeney, Kansas, and
former Russell resident died on Monday, May 09, 2016, at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas.

Carol was born on December 01, 1936, in rural Barton County, Kansas, the daughter of Gerhard and Elma (Galliart) Keil.  She grew up in the Barton County and Russell area and graduated from Russell High School in the class of 1953.  She was united in marriage to Leon A. Keil on  August 14, 1955 in Russell, Kansas and from this union Carol and Leon had a son they named Bradley.  Leon preceded her in death on February 09, 2003.  Bradley also preceded her in death in 2005.
For many years she worked at the city of Russell as the secretary to the city manager.  She also worked with UMB Bank as a customer representative and also worked as a secretary with Sprint.  She was a longtime member of St. John Lutheran Church of Russell.  Later, she found love again and was united in marriage to Lionel B. Sawyer on December 01, 2005, in Wichita, Kansas.  Carol and Lionel spent the rest of Carol’s life living in WaKeeney, Kansas.  Throughout her life she was also a member of the Trego County-Lemke Hospital Auxiliary and gift shop, V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary and the Red Cross Blood Drive.  She enjoyed playing bridge, flower gardening, fishing,  traveling, Friday night dinners with family and friends and watching baseball, especially the Kansas City Royals.  Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family.

Surviving family include her husband Lionel Sawyer of the home; sisters Deloris Nuss of Russell, Kansas and Geraldine Counts of Lawrence, Kansas; 3 step children and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Leon A. Keil and son Bradley L. Keil.

A celebration of Carol’s life will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Friday, May 13, 2016, at the St. John Lutheran Church in Russell, Kansas, with Pastor Roger Dennis officiating.  Burial will follow at the St. John Lutheran Cemetery in Russell.  Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 8 P.M. on Thursday, May 12, 2016, at the mortuary.  Family will be present to greet guests from 6 P.M. to 7 P.M. Thursday evening.  Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.