Obituaries

Viola M. Richards, 87, passed away Sept. 13, 2017 in Ellsworth.

She was born Sept. 18, 1929 in Ellsworth to Henry and Laura (Haase) Pflughoeft. She married Ermon Richards, Jr. on March 6, 1950.

Vi was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Ellsworth and past commander of the Ellsworth American Legion Post 174 Ladies’ Auxiliary. She worked at the Ellsworth Good Samaritan Home, El Kan, and ran Richards Cleaners for 30 years. She loved to play pinochle with her family, play bingo, and go gambling. She also loved to stitch and crochet.

Vi was preceded in death by her husband, Ermon; infant son, James; sisters, Elva Shute, Irene Orsak, and Verona Reinert; three brothers, Raymond Pflughoeft, Kenneth Pflughoeft, and LeRoy Pflughoeft.

She is survived by her son, Randy (Carla) of Hoisington; granddaughter, Laura; grandsons, Michael (Julie) and Dylan; and great-granddaughter, Myah.

     Lethea Ann Nelson, 61, Kanopolis, passed away Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017. She was born Aug. 4, 1956 in Russell, Kan. to Merle and Violet (Corwin) Herring. She was a longtime employee of Cashco, Inc. in Ellsworth for over 25 years.
     Lethea is survived by her husband and partner of over 20 years, Randie Nelson of Kanopolis; daughter, Jenny Curnutt (Dustin) of Kanopolis; daughter, Karen Bock (Jason) of Wichita; grandchildren, Ethan and Landon Curnutt, and Violet and Ava Bock; sister, Linda Herring of McPherson; brother, Lyle Herring (Donna) of Bennington; brother, Bob Herring (Julie) of Ft. Worth, Texas; parents, Merle and Violet Herring of McPherson; sister-in-law, Sherri Saunders of Smolan; and sister-in-law, Terri Barraclough of Lincoln.
     She was preceded in death by her son, Rusty Walker.
     Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon Monday, Sept. 11, at Parsons Funeral Home, Ellsworth, with family present.

     Linda Kay (Zahradnik) Janda passed away on Friday, Sept. 1, 2017 at her home in McPherson, Kan., at the age of 69.  She was born Aug. 5, 1948 in Ellsworth, Kan. to the late Charles and Ethel (Steiner) Zahradnik. She grew up in the Kanopolis, Kan. area and graduated from Kanopolis High School with the Class of 1966. She was united in marriage to Ivan K. Janda Sept. 2, 1966, in Wilson, Kan.They were blessed with two sons, Mike and Dustin.
     Linda was a hardworking woman and eventually retired from the Fuller Brush factory in 1998 after more than 20 years of service. She was a huge fan of the Kansas Stater Fair and spent many years taking her children and enjoying all of the events, entertainment, vendors, and exhibitors. She enjoyed garage sales, playing Bingo, and solving crossword puzzles, often working several puzzle books at one time. But the greatest love of her life was her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and her little dog, Speck.

Keith Adams, 82, passed away Friday, Sept. 1, 2017 in Ellsworth. He was born Nov. 19, 1934 in Nemaha County to Loren and Bethel (Page) Adams.

Living in Ellsworth since 1987 after moving from Oberlin, Keith was a retired school superintendent and teacher. He was also a member of the Ellsworth First United Methodist Church and the Ellsworth Kiwanis Club. He married June Conyers on Aug. 20, 1955 in Detroit, Mich. She preceded him in death in 1998. He married Lu Cottingham Jan. 2, 1999 in Ellsworth. She survives him.

Keith is also survived by his daughter, Brenda Henke of Osborne; son, Jim Adams of Manhattan; daughter, Lisa Matson of Grimes, Iowa; son, John Adams of Wamego; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; and brother, Bruce Adams of Ham Lake, Minn. He was preceded in death by his first wife, June; a granddaughter, greatgrandson, and sister, Anita Jean Guffy.

     Walter H. Kujath, 80, Ellsworth, passed away Sunday, Aug. 27, 2017 in Wilson, Kan. He was born June 28, 1937 in Fairbury, Neb. A former resident of Lucas, Kan., he was retired from the U.S. military.
     Walter was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers and two sisters.
     He is survived by his wife, Bertha Kujath of Ellsworth; a step-son, Don (Rita) Bushell of Dorrance, Kan.; and a step-daughter, Donna (Dennis) Mays of Osceola, Mo.; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
     Visitation is from 3-5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29, at Rodrick & Minear Funeral Home, Lucas Chapel.
     A funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30, at the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Lucas, with military honors from Fort. Riley, Kan. Burial will be in Delhi Cemetery.
     Roderick & Minear Funeral Home, Lucas, is in charge of arrangements.
     Memorials are to the church.

Bonnie J. Wilson, age 71, died peacefully on Aug. 22, 2017 at her home in Ellsworth after a courageous battle with cancer. Bonnie was born May 13, 1946 in Kansas City, Mo., and lived in Beloit, Kan. for 39 years.  

Fredrick C. Andreasen, 58, passed away Aug. 19, 2017. He was born April 2, 1959 in Plainville. He graduated from Lincoln High School in 1977. He was a member of St. Patrick’s Parish since 1971 and Knights of Columbus, 3rd Degree Knight in Good Standing KOC 10074, both in Lincoln. He was a beloved son, father, brother, and uncle.  

He is survived by son, Eric Andreasen; five grandchildren; and eight siblings.

Freddy had a very dry sense of humor, witty comebacks, and charitable heart. He was a friend to all persons he encountered, his giving nature will be missed by all.

A celebration of life will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 30 at St. Patricks Parish in Lincoln.  

Memorials may be made to the church in care of Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. Eighth St. Salina, Kan. 67401.

Lester Louis Pflughoeft
(1924-2017)

Lester Louis Pflughoeft, 93, Ellsworth, passed away Monday, Aug. 21, 2017.

Parsons Funeral Home of Ellsworth is in change of arrangements.