Delores N. “Dee” Leiker, 73, of Salina, passed away Saturday, January 18th, at Bethany Home in Lindsborg.
Dee was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado on February 1, 1940, to the late Gladys (Root) Bettenbrock and Howard Lawrence.
Dee was a 1958 graduate of Salina High School. She worked as a receptionist and office manager at several physicians clinics in Salina.
Dee married Don Stevenson on May 17, 1958. She later married Rick Leiker on January 30, 1974 in Salina.
Dee enjoyed bowling, jigsaw puzzles, crafts, Denver Broncos football, and the many pets she loved and cared for. She was also an avid camper and took many camping trips with Rick.
Survivors include her husband Rick of Salina; son, Dennis (Rita) Stevenson, of Salina; daughters, Linda (Bill) Gray, of Salina, Crystal (Joe) Crick, of Salina; stepdaughters, Richelle Leiker, of Victoria, Kansas, and Debra Leiker, of Salina; granddaughter, Jessica (Travis) Murray, of Smolan, Kansas; great grandson, Trenton Murray; 4 step-grandchildren, and many step-great grandchildren; as well as numerous extended family members and her beloved pets.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and brother, George Lawrence.
Visitation will be at Carlson-Geisendorf Funeral Home from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 21, 2014. Family will greet friends from 6-8. Cremation will follow and private family inurnment will take place.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Dee’s name to Bethany Home; 321 N. Chestnut; Lindsborg, Kansas 67456.
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Dr. Josephine “Jody” Anderson, Salina’s first female doctor, died at her home Friday, Jan. 17, 2014, following an extended illness. She was the daughter of R. Joe and Stella Anderson and was born Feb. 25, 1932, at St. John’s Hospital in Salina.
She attended Salina schools and graduated in 1951 from the Baldwin School in Bryn Mawr, Penn.
Dr. Anderson was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority at the University of Kansas from which she was graduated in 1955. She attended the University of Kansas Medical School, was a member of Alpha Omega Alpha, the senior honor society for medical students, and was one of only four women graduates in 1959. She interned at the University of Oregon Medical School in Portland, served two residencies there, one in internal medicine and one in hematology, before returning in 1964 to Salina where she joined the Mowery Clinic. She was a member of the American Board of Internal Medicine.
In Salina, she was a member of Christ Cathedral where she served on the Vestry, Saline County Medical Association, and Salina Country Club where she participated in the Ladies Golf Association. She also participated in the Salina Municipal Ladies Golf Association where she was City Senior Women’s Golf Champion one year. Dr. Anderson also served on the board of St. Francis Boys Home for a number of years.
She was preceded in death by her parents; niece, Elizabeth Matthews, of Los Angeles; and longtime friend and associate, Henry S. Dreher.
She is survived by a sister, Nancy F. Matthews, of California; brother, Robert J. Anderson and wife, Marcia, of Salina; nephew and nieces, Robert S. Matthews, of Portland, Ore., and children Amanda Matthews, of Portland, and Joe (Tiffany) Matthews, of San Francisco, Josephine (Scott) Adair and children Maggie, Thomas, J. Scott, and Lizzie Adair, of Los Angeles, Jane (Jim) Bush and children Joe and Lauren Bush, of Overland Park, Nancy (Troy) Colwell and children Ella and Brody Sullivan, and Susie (Stephen) Wilson and children Ben, Alec and Lia, all of Lawrence, Kan.
One of Dr. Anderson’s greatest pleasures was taking her nephew and nieces on what they described as “Auntie Mame” trips to various destinations around the world when they were still very young. The memories and tales from their travels are still recounted whenever members of their families gather together.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014, at Christ Cathedral with Dean Benjamin Thomas officiating. Interment will be private in Roselawn Cemetery, Salina.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Henry S. Dreher Scholarship Fund at University of Kansas Medical School at Salina. Ryan Mortuary, Salina, is handling arrangements.
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Bernard “Bernie” J. Long, 91, of Salina, passed away Jan. 8, 2014, at Hospice Of Salina. Bernard was born April 26, 1922, in Junction City to Mr. and Mrs. George and Katie (Ponting) Long.
Bernard worked as a jeweler for 55 years and then for Salina Parks and Recreation during hisretirement.
He is survived by his children, Robert Long, of Houston, Barbara Long, of Salina, and Brian (Misty) Long, of Salina; four grandchildren: and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Bernice A. Long.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 901 E. Neal, Salina.
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Warren Boyd Merrill, 72, of Salina, passed away peacefully at home Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014, after a long and heroic battle with lung cancer. Warren was born Sept. 26, 1941, to Boyd and Ruby Merrill in Omaha, Neb.
He graduated from Salina High School and attended Kansas Wesleyan University. He was a partner in B&W Electrical Contractors from 1966 to 2005 and a member of NECA. He served on the Twin Valley School Board for eight years and was a member of Bennington Lions Club. Warren was a member of Sunrise Presbyterian Church and served on the Session there. He was active in Profs and Mariners.
Warren enjoyed outdoor activities, including hunting, boating, archery and snow skiing. More than anything, he loved time with the children of his family, reading, telling stories, laughing and playing games.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Donette Paddock. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Rose Marie (Graham) Merrill; sister, Andrea Dougan of Grants Pass, Ore.; brother-in-law, Harold Paddock, of Belton Mo.; three children, Suann (Tana) Luther-Ford, of Topeka, Jeff Merrill, of Brookville, and Paula (Tony) Bergmeier, of Salina; eight grandchildren, Tessa (Dan), Kellie, Jeremy, Jesse, Jessica, Miranda, Ashlynd and Paedyn; eight great-grandchildren; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
The family will welcome guests from 6-8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, at Sunrise Presbyterian Parlor.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at Sunrise Presbyterian Church, 825 E. Beloit, Salina 67401.
Memorial donations can be made to Sunrise Presbyterian Church or Johnson Center for Basic Cancer Research, Kansas State University, 1 Chalmers Hall, 1700 Anderson Ave., Manhattan 66506, and may be sent to or left in care of Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. Eighth St., Salina 67410.