Obituaries

Patti Jean McCracken Becker of Williamsville, Mo., died Dec. 22, 2016, surrounded by family.

She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Jim; three children, Bob (Pam) Becker of Williamsville, Dianne Becker of Kirkwood, and Brian (Toni) Becker of Williamsville; and five grandchildren: Kaylin, Andrea, Coulton, Benjamin and Jackson.  She is also survived by her sister Ann (Joel) Fitzgerald of Ness City, Kan.; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Clyde T. and Hettye McCracken and her twin brother, Donald Dean McCracken.  

Donald Joseph Lank, age 80 of Coffeyville, Kan. met his Lord and Savior at 2:02 pm Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017.

Born Jan. 1, 1937 in Ellsworth, Kan. to Joseph F. and Emilie L. (Mattes) Lank, he was raised in Holyrood, Kan. on his family farm. He attended Holyrood High School, was active in football, basketball and track and graduated in 1955. He entered Kansas State University and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in chemical engineering.  He was active in the Engineer’s Club, collegiate 4-H and was a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. He graduated in 1961.

He was employed by Farmland Industries, and served as plant manager for 35 years. He is remembered for his love and dedication to his family and friends, golf, hunting, fishing and the Kansas State Wildcats.

James H. Bath went home to be with his Lord Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. He was a quiet man who was committed to his family.  Jim was born July 21, 1934 in St. John, Kan. to Theodore “Ted” Bath and Nellie Duley Bath. Jim was the cherished husband for 54 years of Barbara J. Wilson Bath, who preceded him in death Nov. 27, 2016.  

He was the adored father of Jenny (Ken) Imhoff of Waukesha, Wis., and Julie (Corey) Lorenzen of Tulsa, Okla. His son, Jeremy James Bath, preceded him in death June 15, 1970.  Jim’s grandchildren, Rachel, Eli, Anna, and Noah Lorenzen, were the delight of his heart. Jim is survived by his daughters and grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation was Monday, Jan. 23 at Broadway Mortuary. Funeral service was at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24 at River Community Church, 2130 N. Oliver, Wichita. Burial followed at the Fairmont Cemetery, Jetmore, Kan.

Memorials to River Community Church. Share condolences at

Raymond Lee “Ray” Hanken, 73, died Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017, at the Hays Medical Center.
He was born June 21, 1943, at Great Bend to Frederick and Alice (Horst) Hanken. He married Patricia J. Freeburg on July 27, 1963, at Peace Lutheran Church, rural Albert, Kan.
From 1963 to 1980, Ray was a project manager for Allied-Shaffer and H.C. Smith Construction. He served as an electrical superintendent on the Titan II and MX Peace Keeper Missiles. During that time, Ray and Pat had lived in Warrensburg, Mo., Cheyenne, Wyo., Grand Forks. N.D., Rapid City, S.D., Great Falls, Mt., Salt Lake City, Utah, Burney, Calif., and Sedalia, Mo. Ray had been a Hoisington resident since 1980, retiring and moving to Holyrood in 2009. Ray also served as a branch manager for the Ellsworth Coop and the Great Bend Coop in Boyd. He was a member of the Peace Lutheran Church, rural Albert, and a long-time farmer and stockman.

Delores Bircher Willms passed away Jan. 10, 2017 in Placerville, Calif. where she had been in a nursing home for eight years.

Delores was born Jan. 15, 1933 and raised in Kanopolis, Kan. She was the first of a set of twins born to Janet and Oliver Bircher. She graduated from the first nursing school at Fort Hays State College with a degree in nursing.

She married Robert Willms from Geneseo and they lived in San Francisco, Calif. Delores and Bob were active in Eastern Star and took many trips with the group. They retired in Cameron Park, Calif.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Robert Willms, and her brother, Leo Bircher.

Surviving family is her twin, Dorothy Bircher Morris (Roger), Shawnee, Kan; children, Mark (Joy) of Boston, Mass., Cheryl Latham of Sacramento, Calif., Janice Daley of San Francisco, and Greg Willms of Cameron Park. There are nine grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

Helen Edith (Steinle) Wilhelm passed away Friday, Jan. 13, 2017 at Holiday Resort Health & Rehab in Salina, Kan. at the age of 94. She was born Nov. 2, 1922 on the family farm in Russell County, Kan. to the late George and Mollie (Keller) Steinle.  She grew up attending country school and on Oct. 1, 1941 she was united in marriage to Carl Wilhelm. Together they made their home in Dorrance, Kan.and were blessed with four children, Dale, Donald, Kathy and Debbie.

Helen was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and homemaker. She enjoyed cooking, baking, canning, and providing for her family. When she took time to relax she liked to work word search puzzles and never missed her favorite TV shows, The Price Is Right and Wheel Of Fortune. She was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Dorrance where she worshipped and served with family, friends, and neighbors.

Gilbert Carl Stadelman passed away Monday, Jan. 9, 2017 at Lindsborg Community Hospital in Lindsborg, Kan. at the age of 83. He was born Dec. 18, 1933 in Hays, Kan. to the late Joseph and Sarah (Orth) Stadelman. He grew up in Hays and graduated from Hays High School with the Class of 1951. He went on to receive both his Bachelors and Masters Degrees from Fort Hays Kansas State College. On Aug. 11, 1956 he was united in marriage to Margaret Litz in Goodland, Kan. They were blessed with two sons, Zachary and Gregory.

Christopher “Chris” Don Bing, 45, Claflin, passed away Jan. 13, 2017.
He was born Sept. 24, 1971 to Donald Dean and Judith Sue (Martin) Bing in Merriam, Kan. Chris received his nursing degree from Southeastern Louisiana University and his CRNA certificate from Texas Wesleyan University. He worked as a nurse anesthetist in Baton Rouge, La.
Chris is survived by his mother, Judith Bing of Claflin; sister, Kathy Koch (Rob) of Holyrood; daughter, Emma of Austin, Texas; niece, Marlena Jahn (Andy) of Sonora, Calif.; nephew, Brandon Koch (Alisha) of Holyrood; niece, Allison Koch of Holyrood; and seven great-nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Donald Bing.
The memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017 at Parsons Funeral Home, Ellsworth.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Louisiana State University Foundation, c/o, Parsons Funeral Home, P.O. Box 45, Ellsworth, Kan. 67439.  

Kenneth Frederick “Pete” Petermann, 83, Fredericksburg, Va., died Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, at Mary Washington Hospital.
He was born June 12, 1933, at Ellsworth, Kan. to Fred Jr. and Esther (Burmeister) Petermann. He was a graduate of Ellsworth High School and attended diesel mechanic’s school in Milford, Neb. Kenneth was a veteran of the U.S. Army, with assignments at Fort Belvoir, Va., and Fort Dix, N.J. After being honorably discharged from service, he worked for Alban Tractor Services of Virginia. He later was a pilot car escort driver for a Heavy Hauling and Rigging Co. He was a dedicated member of the Redeemer Lutheran Church.

     Marion Lee O’Brien, 75, Ellsworth, died Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017, in Marysville, Kan.  Marion was born Jan. 17, 1941 in Ellsworth, Kan. The daughter of George and Betty (Obermueller) Katzenmeier, she grew up in Ellsworth. She was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church and was a lifelong member. Marion attended local schools and later graduated from Crums Beauty College, Salina.
     Marion married Gerald O’Brien June, 1957. They later divorced. He died in 1986.