Benjamin Eugene Vidricksen, age 88, of Salina, Kansas, passed away peacefully into God’s open arms on September 14, 2015, surrounded by his loving children.
‘Senator Ben’, as he was affectionately called by many, was born on June 11, 1927, the son of the late Henry Vidricksen and the late Ruby Roberts Vidricksen. He was the second born of the couple’s 5 children, all of whom were born at home on their farm west of New Cambria, Kansas.
After graduating from Salina High School in 1944, Ben chose to serve his country by enlisting in the United States Navy, serving fourteen months in the South Pacific Islands. Upon his return he enrolled at Kansas Wesleyan University, earning his AB degree in pre-law in 1951. During this time he met and married his wife of 41 years, the late Lola Nienke Vidricksen. The couple had five children.
After being hired in 1947 and working for five years as a field representative for Kraft Dairy, Ben was asked to take the position of plant manager in their creamery in O’Neill, Nebraska. His growing family enjoyed the next 7 years in this small community. It was in the year 1958 that he returned to Salina to join his brother, Bob, and his mother Ruby, in owning and managing Weber’s Drive In, the Red Hen Lounge and the well known family restaurant, Betty’s Fried Chicken. Over the next 3 decades, the businesses grew to include the Salina Restaurant Equipment Company, the Cavalier Club, and Vidricksen’s Catering. In the midst of becoming a successful businessman, Ben helped to form and became squadron leader for the Saline County Flying Deputies, delivering blood for the Red Cross. He recalled their many missions with a sense of purpose and pride.
His dream of public service came to pass when he was appointed to fill the newly vacated 24th district Kansas Senate position in 1979. He was successfully re-elected five times, tirelessly serving his constituents for a total of 21 years. The accomplishments that most define his career include his 16-year position as Assistant Majority Leader, the Highway 81 Comprehensive Transportation Initiative, and being finance chair for the “Ad Astra” Capital Dome Sculpture project.
Survivors include his five children: Nancy Richardson of Kansas City, Kansas; Janice (Marvin) Mattison, of New Cambria, Kansas; Benjamin II (Karen) Vidricksen, of Kipp, Kansas; Penny Monroe of Kansas City, Missouri, Jeffery (Julie) Vidricksen of Goddard, Kansas, 14 grand-children; two step-grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; three step great-grandchildren; brother, Bob, and brother, Fred, both of Salina, Kansas. Many nieces and nephews also survive. He was preceded in death by his father, Henry; mother, Ruby; brother, Norman; sister, Helen; and two step great-grandchildren, Mystique Bird and Ethan Lassley.
Services for Senator Vidricksen will be held on Saturday, September 19, at 11:00 am, at Sam’s Chapel, 100 E. Claflin, Salina, Kansas, Pastor Loren Houltberg officiating. Visitation will be held on Friday, Septemebr 18, at Ryan’s Mortuary from 2:00 – 7:00 pm, the family receiving visitors from 5:00 – 7:00 pm.
Those wishing to do so may make memorial contributions to the Benjamin E. Vidricksen Memorial Community Fund at Emmanuel Foursquare Gospel Church to continue his legacy of selflessly serving his community. In honor of Ben’s wonderful care, memorials may also be made to the nursing department of Eaglecrest Retirement Community.
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John E. Gardiner, 63, died Sept 14, 2015. He was born November 6, 1951 in Hays, KS. the son of Gordon and Mary Anne (McConahay) Gardiner. John graduated from Salina High School in 1969. He worked for Snap-On Tools in Hutchinson, Gates Lear Jet in Wichita and the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Dept.
John served in the Army doing a tour in Korea, where he earned a black belt in Hap Ki Do, and served in several positions in the Army Reserve, before ending as a Budget Analyst for the 89th Army Reserve where he was writing policies for the entire Army Reserve to follow.
When he was 30, John was one of the youngest Parkinson’s patients doctors had ever seen. He went to KU Med Center and was put on various experimental medications for Parkinson’s, including 1 drug that had only been given to 3 other people in the world. John was also the second person to ever receive a STN (Sub-Thalamic Nucleus) implant for his Parkinson’s. He later had bilateral STN’s implanted which significantly increased his quality of life by decreasing his Parkinson’s symptoms.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Gordon A. Gardiner, Jr. & David C. Gardiner.
He is survived by his siblings: Margery L. & husband Donald Good; Christlieb E. & wife Julie all of Salina, KS; Gary G. & wife, Darlene of York, SC; Heidi A. and husband Keith Eschliman of Hutchinson, KS; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be 11:00 am Friday Sept. 18, 2015 at the Ryan Mortuary, Salina. Friends may call at the mortuary on Thursday from 4 until 8:00 pm where the family will receive friends from 4 until 6 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorder Center at the University of Kansas Medical Center or the Wounded Warrior Project in care of the funeral home.
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Toby Lloyd Wardlow, 49, of Salina, passed away Monday, Sept. 14, 2015. He was born Oct. 8, 1965, in Ponca City, Okla.
Toby enjoyed and excelled in working with computers, loved music, movies and family. He was a Lowe’s sub-contractor and owner of T&J Construction in Salina. He was a member of the Labor Building Association of Salina, former auxiliary officer for Ellsworth Police Department, and former owner of Alpha Systems in Ellsworth.
Toby was preceded in death by his wife, Norma; and grandparents, Hershel L. Ray, J.R. Kelly and Billie June Kelly.
He is survived by his fiancé, Michelle Eshelman, of the home; parents, Cindy and Joe Wardlow, of Ponca City; stepdaughter, J’Nae Surber and husband Derek, of Salina; stepson, Tom Tracy, of Abilene; stepdaughters to be, Ashley and Alyssa Hurde, both of Salina; brothers, Robert Ray and wife Clara, of Arkansas, and Jerry Wardlow, of Oklahoma; stepgranddaughter, Aurora Marie Surber, of Salina; nephews, Jarred and Justin Ray; numerous stepbrothers and stepsisters; and many special friends.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, at Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. Eighth St., Salina.
Memorial contributions may be given to Hospice of Salina and may be left in care of the mortuary.
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Robert “Bob” Burns Gordon, of Lindsborg, KS, passed away Friday, September 11, 2015 at Bethany Home of Lindsborg. Bob was born April 12, 1918, in Salina, Ks. He was preceded in death by his wife of sixty-nine years, Velma (Hosie), and son, Gary.
Survivors include his daughter, Velda Hooper, Big Canoe, GA, five grandchildren, Stanley Gordon, Kansas City, KS, Wesley Gordon, Lee Summit, MO, Scott Bowers, Jasper, GA, Kimberlee Konopka, Milton, GA, Carla Lightner, Wichita, KS, eleven great grandchildren and one great great grandchild. Extended Hosie family who knew him as Uncle Bob, and loving friends are too numerous to list but must include all members of Lindsborg Senior Center, residents and employees of Bethany Home, as well as all former neighbors, as Bob was a much loved “collector” of people, a fisherman and sports enthusiast.
Mr. Gordon requested that no services be held, preferring to be remembered by family and friends in celebration of his life.
God bless and keep him until we are together again.
Memorials; Bethany Home, 321 N. Chestnut, Lindsborg, KS 67456
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SALINA – Robert C. “Bob” Winter, 57, passed away September 13, 2015, at Salina Regional Health Center, Salina, Kansas. He was born October 10, 1957, at Marion, Kansas, the son of Clarence and Alberta (Hoerner) Winter. He attended Centre Schools, graduating from Centre High School in 1975. He farmed near Lincolnville, and had worked for Johns Manville in McPherson, for the past 15 years. On April 2, 1994, he was united in marriage to Vicki Appleby. They have resided in Salina, since 2008. He was preceded in death by his parents; a niece, Tammy (Bell) Stark; and Leslie and Joyce Appleby. He is lovingly survived by his wife, Vicki Winter of Salina; children, Morgan Jones of Salina; and Micah Jones of Wichita; 3 grandchildren: Kaylee, Emma and Olivia; 7 siblings: Darlene Czarnowsky of Newton; Mary Bell (Rick) of Newton; Pauline Bailey (John) of Overland Park; Roberta Stuchlik (Mark) of Edmond, OK; Janet Roesti (Mike) of McPherson; Ron Winter (Terri) of Hillsboro; and Michelle Flaming (Merle) of Lehigh; mother-in-law, Louise Appleby of Salina; and brother-in-law, Bryan Appleby of Boulder, CO. Visitation with family will be held from 4 – 6 p.m., Friday, at Zeiner Funeral Home, Marion. The Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, September 19, 2015, at Valley United Methodist Church in Marion. Interment will follow in the Lincolnville Cemetery. (The family encourages casual dress.) Memorial Funds have been established for Special Olympics Kansas or American Cancer Society, in care of Zeiner Funeral Home, 205 Elm, Marion, KS, 66861.
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Alfred C. Weber, 86, of Pueblo, CO, died Saturday, September 12th, 2015. He was born at Herington, on October 25, 1928, the son of John and Caroline C. (Koelzer) Weber.
Christian Mass will be held Wednesday, September 16th, 2015, at 10:30 AM, at the St. John’s Catholic Church, Herington, with Rev. Mark Wesely officiating. A Rosary will precede the service at 10:00 AM, at the church. Burial will be in the St. John’s Catholic Cemetery, Herington.
Mr. Weber was a devout Catholic. He lived his life dedicated to God as well as being very patriotic. His favorite activity was baseball. He built the fields at Central High School, and Pueblo South High School. He was responsible for coaching many young people in his dedication to the sport. He became known as “The Coach” encouraging players to have the highest morals.
He married Edna Armbruster in 1952, she preceded in death in 1999. He is also preceded in death by two (2) brothers: Ardo Weber & Mark Weber; four (4) sisters: Joan Lancaster, Theresa Morgan, Mary Coup, & Caroline “Connie” Houghland; and his parents.
He is survived by his beloved friend June Manley of Pueblo, CO; daughter Debra Williams of Colorado Springs, CO; son Ronald (Sandra) Weber of Denver, CO; sister Martha (Jerry) Sly of Herington; and brother Leo (Jeanne) Weber of Royce City, TX. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Zowie (Jeff) Kemler, Jetta Weber, 1st Sgt John (Amber) Williams, Jennifer (Michael) Cappeli; seven (7) great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Memorials or Mass’ may be sent in care of the Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home & Crematory, Herington Chapel, 404 S. Broadway, Herington, KS, 67449-3038.
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John Franklin Luding, 79, of Russell, Kansas, passed away
Friday, September 11, 2015 at the Papillion Manor Rehabilitation Center in Papillion, Nebraska.
John was born August 12, 1936 in Florence, Kansas, the son of Harold F. and Dorothy D. (Rosiere) Luding. He grew up and attended schools in Augusta, Kansas. He graduated from Augusta High School in the Class of ’54. He then attended Emporia State University where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Business in 1960.
John was united in marriage to Judy Dooley on May 16, 1964 in Russell, Kansas. This union was blessed with two children; David and Kris.
John worked for KAW Pipeline for over 30 years retiring as a pipeline technician in 1995. John and his family lived all over Kansas, where ever a pipeline was being constructed. In 1970 to 72 they lived in Ecuador when they were running a pipeline across the Andes Mountains. Then from 1973 to 74 they lived in the Woodville, Texas area before returning to Russell. He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and a board member of the Russell Library. When his children were young, he was active in the Russell County Saddle Club and was a 4-H leader. He was active in the Russell Community Theater for years. He enjoyed training horses with his children, playing golf, fishing and watching and spending time with his grandchildren. He was a country boy who loved the outdoors, but became a city boy who loved to play golf.
Surviving family include his wife of 51 years, Judy of the home; son, David Luding (Sandra) of LaVista, Nebraska; daughter, Kris Harris (Jay) of Ness City, Kansas; brother, Joseph Luding (Penny) of Middleburg, Florida; and four grandchildren, Sierra, Kyle, Dakota and Kade; his mule Rufus and dog Zeke. He was preceded in death by his parents, infant brother Richard and infant sister Mary Ann.
Celebration of the Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 AM Friday, September 18, 2015 at St. Mary, Queen of Angels Catholic Church. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Russell. Visitation will be from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Thursday, September 17, 2015 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary. Vigil & Rosary will be held at 7:00 PM Thursday at St. Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church. A Memorial has been established with St. Mary’s Helping Hand Fund. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell who is in charge of these arrangements.