Nelda Marie Emig, 78, of Salina, passed away Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016. She was born Nov. 29, 1937, in Abilene to Herbert C. and Alice M. (Miller) Bolliger.
Nelda graduated from Chapman High School in 1955 and attended Kansas State Teachers College.
She married Harold D. Emig on Sept. 8, 1956, in Abilene.
Nelda was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, Trinity United Methodist Church Prayer Shawl Ministry, the Silver Needles Quilt Guild, PTA lifetime member and 4-H, all of Salina.
She was preceded in death by: her husband; her parents; and her sister, Diana Bolliger (Doty).
Nelda is survived by: her three daughters, Janet Elliott (Daniel), Julie Wilson (Mike) and Jacqueline Emig; sister, Phyllis Marts; grandchildren, Nicolas Legere, Benjamin Legere and Evan Wilson.
Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, at Ryan Mortuary, Salina, with the family present at that time.
Memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, at Trinity United Methodist Church, Salina. Inurnment will be private in Newbern Cemetery, rural Dickinson County.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Trinity United Methodist Prayer Shawl Ministry or Chapman High School Class of 1955 Scholarship Fund, in care of Ryan Mortuary.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
FLORENCE – Judith C. “Judy” Creamer, age 69, passed away October 16, 2016, at St. Luke Hospital, Marion, Kansas. She was born September 17, 1947, at Hutchinson, Kansas, the daughter of Lawrence and Virginia (Duggins) Learned. She was a graduate of Belle Plain High School. On July 14, 1979, she was united in marriage to Larry Creamer. She was a beautician and later a restaurant cook. She is survived by her husband Larry of Florence; her children: Jeffrey Benjamin and wife Melissa of Houston, TX; and Jenny Creamer of Deerfield Beach, FL; step-sons: Willie Creamer of Salina; and Harley Creamer and wife Louise of Wells; 3 brothers: David Learned of Kenner, LA; James Learned of Thornton, CO; and Larry Learned of Aurora, CO; her grandchildren; her great-grandchild, and her beloved cat ‘Riff Raff’. Visitation will be held from 6 – 8 p.m., Thursday evening at the Florence United Methodist Church. A Memorial Graveside Service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, October 21, 2016, at Hillcrest Cemetery, Florence. A Memorial Fund has been established for the Florence Ambulance Service in care of Zeiner Funeral Home, 205 Elm, Marion, KS, 66861. Online Condolences may be left at www.zeinerfuneralhomes.com.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
HERINGTON – Joe William Billups, 89, of Herington, KS, died about 6:00 am, Sunday, October 16, 2016, at the Herington Municipal Hospital in Herington, KS. He was born March 11, 1927, in Detroit, Red River Co., TX, he was the son of Carlton Holt and Elsie Minnie (Rodgers) Billups. He graduated from Detroit High School in 1944 at age 17 and joined the Navy as soon as he turned 18. Immediately after boot camp, he boarded ship to sail out and join the war effort in the Pacific. However, Japan signed the surrender about the time his ship reached Hawaii when it was returned to San Diego where he was reassigned to the Naval Reserves. He was later recalled to active duty near the end of the Korean Conflict but again was released from active duty before he actually saw service in Korea.
Upon his release from the Navy the first time, he returned to the east Texas area near his parents to find work. There was no work to be found there. He and his brother found their way to Lubbock, TX, where both would eventually get Clerk/Carrier jobs with the Post Office. He would also marry his High School girlfriend Judy Wolfe, there on Oct. 29, 1947. He always seemed to have more than one job, including such things as a butcher, custodian, Hot Shot driver for oil well operator, etc. And he was always very proficient at fixing or building things as needed.
Joe’s postal career saw him serve in many positions including; distribution clerk, window clerk, personnel assistant, and several assignments managing smaller offices around Lubbock. He was promoted to a supervisor position in 1971, then to Postmaster in Seminole, TX, and finally to Postmaster in Dalhart, TX, in 1975, where he retired in 1982 after 35 years of service.
Joe and Judy would divorce in 1977 while he was working in Dalhart. He remained in the Dalhart area after retirement, staying active in the community and serving as County Commissioner and as assistant chaplain in the area’s prison ministry. Prior to his retirement, he married Barbara Brewer of Dalhart, on Aug. 24, 1978. He also built a home to share with Barbara’s four children just south of Dalhart. Joe was always known as a trader – always trading something he had for something he needed. Hence the well-earned nickname, “Trader Joe”.
In 2010, after Barbara retired from the bank and the kids had all started lives of their own, Joe and Barbara moved closer to her daughter Julie, buying a home with some acreage near Herington, KS, where they hang the Texas flag on the flag pole daily. This home provided a lot of space to keep Joe busy & for Barbara’s garden and flowers.
Survivors include his wife Barbara; one son, Mel (Jo) Billups of Abilene, TX; two daughters, Marcheta (Alan) Jockimsen of Midland, TX, Lynniece (Jim) Hill of Lubbock, TX; step children, Mark (Jan) Brewer of Cedar Rapids, IA, Jay Max Brewer and Kent McCaslin of Dallas, TX, Carla Gaughn of Dallas, TX, Julie (Shaun) Keithline of Herington, KS; grandchildren, Marc Billups, Angela Smith, Kris Torres, Robert Bicking, Matt Wester, Trent Wester, Kyle Brewer, Julia Brewer, Ryan Schlesener, Kayci Schlesener, Emily Schlesener, Kelli Barnes; and 14 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, and one brother, Carlton.
A service of remembrance will be 10:00 am to 11:00 am, Thursday, October 20th, 2016, at the Zeiner Funeral Home-Herington Chapel. Burial will be at the Resthaven Memorial Park in Lubbock, TX. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to: Prison Fellowship, c/o Gaye Barton, 602 Peters Ave., Dalhart, TX, 79022.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Neva R. Litton
(May 13, 1921 – October 16, 2016)
Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, October 22, 2016 at the McDonald Funeral Home. Burial will follow in the Burr Oak Cemetery. Memorials may be given to Hilltop Lodge. Visitation will be from 9:00 A.M. until 8:00 P.M. Friday at the McDonald Funeral Home.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Cathlyn Sue Podlena, 61, passed away Monday, October 17, 2016 at her home in Kanopolis, KS. She was born September 29, 1955 in Milwaukee, WI to Clifford Glenn and Frances Pauline (Brown) Popp.
Cathlyn is survived by her daughter, Kimberly Ross (Trenton) of Manhattan, KS; grandchildren, Abigail, Alison, and Kelton; sister, Carolyn Nondorf (Ben) of Wilson; brother, Allan Popp (Debra) of Grove, OK; step-sister, Michelle Jackson (Richard) of Salina; and longtime partner, Robert Munoz of Kanopolis. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Services are pending. Parsons Funeral Home, Ellsworth is handling arrangements.
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Patsy Jean (McCleary) Helus passed away Monday, October 17th at the age of 88. She was born on May 22nd, 1928 in El Dorado, Kansas. She was preceded in death by her father, Claude McCleary, her mother, Judith Balk, her husband, Johnny, and daughter, Candy. She is survived by her daughter, Kristi (Steve) Logue of Derby and sons Randy of Salina and Ron (Sherry) of Wamego. Also surviving are 6 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.
Visitation: 1-8 p.m., Thursday, October 20, 2016 at Parsons Funeral Home, Ellsworth, with family present from 6-8 p.m.
Funeral service: 10:00 a.m., Friday, October 21, 2016 at First Presbyterian Church, Ellsworth with burial following in the Ellsworth Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to J.H. Robbins Memorial Library, Ellsworth, c/o, Parsons Funeral Home, PO Box 45, Ellsworth, KS 67439.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Steven Whynn DeWerff, 61, of Ellinwood, Kansas, passed away on October 11, 2016, at his home in Rohnert Park, California. Steve was born in Ellinwood, Kansas, to Bessie and Kenneth DeWerff on July 4, 1955. He graduated from Ellinwood High School in 1973, and attended Pittsburg State University. He returned to Ellinwood in 1974, where he worked in farming, ranching, welding, and oilfield services. He later moved to Wichita, Kansas, where he worked for Boeing Aircraft and Cessna Aircraft in aircraft tool construction for many years. Steve battled type one diabetes for the majority of his life, and later held a series of jobs and roles, as his disease and its resulting disabilities progressed. He nonetheless obtained a Masters in Business Administration from Newman University in Wichita, Kansas in 2003. Steve was a devoted Christian and member of the First Baptist Church in Ellinwood, Kansas. He was also involved in Big Brothers and Big Sisters in Wichita, Kansas. Steve’s children and grandchildren were his pride and joy. He loved to laugh, and to make people laugh. Steve knew the lyrics to virtually every “oldies” song, and loved to sing. He loved classic rock the best. Steve was always up for a long conversation. And he loved the Kansas State Wildcats, Kansas City Chiefs, and Kansas City Royals. His beloved Wildcats won the football game the week Steve passed away. Steve is preceded in death by his father, Kenneth DeWerff. Steve is survived by his loving wife of 27 years, Claudia DeWerff; his children, Emily Ridder (Jason) of Wichita, Kansas, Mackenzie Martin (Todd) of Dallas, Texas, Megan Williams (Jason) of Perth, Australia, and Corey Schwerdt of Rohnert Park, California; his mother, Bessie DeWerff; his siblings, Linda Borror (Barry) of Ellinwood, Kansas, Jeff DeWerff (Sherry) of Ellinwood, Kansas, and Jane Thier (Greg) of Wichita, Kansas; and his grandchildren, Graham Ridder and Ari Martin. Pallbearers will be Mike Mildfelt, Pat Watkins, Greg Thier, Chris Chaney, Don DeWerff, Corey Schwerdt, and, posthumously, Glen Young and Scott Robinson. Funeral services will be held at 5:30 pm on Sunday, October 23, 2016, at First Baptist Church in Ellinwood, Kansas, with Pastor Dave Wesner officiating. Burial will follow at Lakin Comanche Cemetery in Ellinwood, Kansas. Arrangements are being made by Adobe Creek Funeral Home in Petaluma, California, and by Birzer Funeral Home in Lyons, Kansas. Memorials may be given to the American Diabetes Association. Steve’s family would like to sincerely thank Hospice of Petaluma, and Dr. Linda Francisco of Wichita, Kansas.
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Carl A. “Sonny” Peterson, of Scandia, KS, the son of Carl Arthur Peterson and Beatrice O. (Hammer) Peterson, was born February 2, 1955 and passed away on October 15, 2016 at the University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS at the age of 61 years, 8 months, and 13 days.
He attended rural school at Kackley, Kansas and later graduated from Scandia High School in 1974. Sonny was a farmer/stockman for himself and others all of his life. After the death of his sister, Janet Peterson in 2002, he raised his nephew, Andrew. Sonny also assisted his Mother and Sister and the operation of the B & J Café along with operating the Pool Hall in Scandia for several years. In recent years, he was the bartender at the Scandia American Legion.
He was a member of the Scandia American Legion, Scandia, KS. Sonny also assisted in 4-H for several years while Andrew was involved in 4-H.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and his sister Janet Peterson.
Sonny is survived by his nephew Andrew Peterson and fiancée Ashley Fritzen of Scandia, KS; other relatives and many friends.
Cremation was selected and memorial graveside services will be held at 4:00 PM Saturday, October 22, 2016 at the Courtland Cemetery, with Pastor Kathy Aeillo, officiating.
The family will greet friends from 5 PM until 8 PM on Friday at the Bachelor-Surber Funeral Home, Scandia, KS
Memorials are suggested to the Carl A. Peterson Memorial.
Online Condolences at www.bachelor-surber.com
Bachelor-Surber Funeral Home, Scandia,KS is in charge of the arrangements.