Obituaries

Debra A. Hoien, 63, of Wilson, passed away Dec. 22, 2018. She was born Jan. 17, 1955 in Denver, Colo. to Bill and Shirley Crum.
She married Butch Hoien in September, 1970 in Juarez Mexico. He died Dec. 18, 2000.
Debbie worked at the Interstate House, Wilson, waiting tables, at Prather’s Market in Fairplay, Colo. and at the ski resort at Breckenridge, Colo. She loved being out on the farm with her horse, Beauty, and with her kids. She loved being outside and in the mountains with the love of her life, Butch.
She is survived by her mother, Shirley Crum; children David Hoien of Wilson, Kandy (Hoien) Gower and husband Jeff, Ozawkie, Kan.; Wendy (Hoien) Herl and husband Damon, Newton Kan; Harold Hoien, Wichita, Kan.. Other family includes Fred and Judy Fuller; brother, Billy Crum of Colorado; 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her father; step-dad, Charles Ball; husband; and sister, Sharl Crum.

Helen O. Gregory, 96, lifelong resident of Rice County, Kan., passed away Dec. 31, 2018 at Country Living of Lyons. She was born on March 24, 1922 in rural Rice County, Kan., the daughter of Earl and Edna Updegrove Seybert. She was a farmwife.
On July 18, 1939, Helen was united in marriage with Sheldon Gregory, and lived the rest of her life in or near Frederick, Kan. He preceded her in death on May 26, 2000.
She is also preceded in death by her parents; son, Daryl Gregory; and nine brothers and sisters.  
She is survived by her two sons, Arlen Gregory and wife Valerie of South Prince George, Va., and Loren Gregory and wife Deanna of Beatrice, Neb.; daughter, Bonnie Housley and husband Bob of Van Buren, Ark.; nine grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 12 to 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 4, at Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons with family present.

Maxine Vivian Clifton, 98, of Lyons, passed away Dec. 30, 2018, at Good Samaritan Society, Ellsworth, Kan. She was born April 4, 1920 in rural Ellsworth County, Kan., the daughter of Dick and Ella Hoffman Rathbun. She graduated from Lorraine High School with the class of 1938.  Maxine grew up in rural Ellsworth County, moving to Lyons in 1940. She was a homemaker.
Maxine was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, Lyons; Lutheran Women’s Missionary League; and she volunteered at the Lyons Thrift Shop.  
On June 24, 1940, Maxine was united in marriage with A.D. Clifton in Ellsworth, Kan. He preceded her in death on Jan. 15, 2010.  
She is also preceded in death by her parents; four brothers, Delbert, Donald, Meryl and Clyde Rathbun; and sister, Ethel Rizor.

Libbie A. Sebesta, 89, died Dec. 24, 2018, in Wilson, Kan. She was born Nov. 20, 1929, in Palacky Township in Ellsworth County, Kan., the daughter of John and Marie (Janda) Borecky. She married Joseph Sebesta May 12, 1954 in Wilson. He died Aug. 24, 2013. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brother, Lester Borecky; and sisters Vivian Kratzer and Vi Jiricek. Libbie is survived by son, Mark J. (Susan) Sebesta of Wilson; daughter, Diane M. (Tom) Deaver of Manhattan; sisters, Mildred Hynes, Sylvan Grove, and Myrene Soukup of Wilson; and four grandchildren. Visitation is at 2-8 p.m. Dec. 27, at Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home in Wilson. Funeral service is at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 28 at the funeral home. Interment is at Wilson City Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Wilson Heritage Museum or Lang Memorial Library, in care of the funeral home, PO Box 533, Wilson, Kan. 67490. Condolences may be left at www.plumeroverlease.com

Herbert A. Hoff, died Dec. 24, 2018, at Clara Barton Hospital. He was born Jan. 16, 1937, in Hays, Kan., the son of Herbert W. and Rose Marie (Leiker) Hoff. Herbert graduated from Claflin High School in 1956.
A resident of Claflin since 1953, he was a bulk tank agent for Standard Oil for over 40 years. He was also a bus driver for USD 112 for 15 years.
Herbert was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. He was active in his community, serving on the city council, as a volunteer fire fighter, and an auxiliary deputy. He was an avid sportsman and enjoyed hunting and fishing.
On Aug. 17, 1967, he married Rhoda Marie Selness in Claflin, Kan. After two short years of marriage she died Aug. 3, 1969. He then married Mary Richardson, with which he adopted a daughter Kim. He and Mary later divorced. Then on June 28, 1975, he married Jane C. Weber in Coldwater, Kan. They were married for 42 years when she died Nov. 12, 2017.

Jesus (Jesse) Magaña, 86, passed away Dec. 17, 2018, at his home in rural Ellsworth County surrounded by family. He was born Dec. 25, 1931 in Kanopolis.   
Jesse’s initiative and leadership potential was recognized at early age. A local cattleman, George Andrews, employed the teen and taught him to be a cowboy. The purchase of his first horse in 1949 launched his lifelong ownership of equines and cattle. Sometimes his cowboy antics got him into trouble.  After high school, he worked for the Independent Salt Co. and the Union Pacific Railroad. With an enterprising penchant for hard work and adventure, Jesse left Kansas with friends in 1951 to explore Mexico, with no plans to return. All changed upon his receipt of a telegram. His old employer, Eddie Schneider, a local farmer/rancher, had unexpectedly died and his widow asked Jesse to return to assist with the business operation. Working for Mrs. Schneider, he honed his farming and ranching skills.  

Stacey L. Mannel, age 61 years, of Great Bend, Kan. and formerly of Holyrood, Hutchinson, and Burton, Kan., peacefully entered into the presence of Jesus, along with friends and family that have gone on before on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 16, 2018 at her home in Great Bend.

After 70 years of marriage, Norman J. and Darlene J. Slechta passed away peacefully within hours of each other on Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. They were married Aug. 14, 1948 in Hays. Norman was born July 5, 1930 in Ellsworth to John and Anna (Blick) Slechta. Darlene was born Nov. 7, 1930 in Lincoln County to Henry and Edna (Trapp) Schwerdtfeger.
Norman served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was a member of the American Legion Post 174 of Ellsworth and VFW Post 6240 of Russell. He was co-owner of Slechta Enterprises of Ellsworth and was an avid sportsman who especially loved fishing and camping.
Darlene was a homemaker, an active member of the Ellsworth American Legion Post 174 Auxiliary, and was president of the Kansas American Legion Auxiliary in 1983. They were both members of Immanuel Lutheran Church of Ellsworth.

Octavio Gonzales Leal, 88, passed away Dec. 11, 2018 in Salina. He was born March 22, 1930 in Hebronville, Texas to Rafael and Leandra (Gonzales) Leal.
Octavio married Jean L. Peppiatt in San Diego, Calif. on Aug. 18, 1952. He served his country for 23 years in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. He retired from the USMC and worked for RE Hazard building freeways in San Diego, Calif. He also loved gardening, cooking, and fishing, whether it was off the coast of California or the rivers and lakes of Kansas.
Octavio is survived by his daughter, Leann Trujillo (Filimon) of Bonsall, Calif.; son, Doug Leal (Imelda) of El Cajon, Calif.; son, Chris Leal (Cindy) of Ellsworth; daughter, Carla Mendez (Jose) of Ellsworth; 18 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; sister, Louisa (Randy); and sister-in-law, Beatrice Leal.

Charles Henry Sharp, 101, Topeka, Kan., passed away Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018. He was born Sept. 6, 1917, in Mill Point, W. V., the son of Joseph and Gertrude (Vaughn) Sharp.
He was a U.S. Army veteran serving during both World War II and the Korean Conflict. Charles was a truck driver for Armco Steel for 35 years, retiring in 1981. He was a past member of American Legion Post No. 142 in Perry.
He was married to L. Leona Sharp and Dorothy Helen Nichols Sharp, both preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by two daughters, Barbara Jean Register and Sue Shehan; a grandson, Scott Olin Register; and 13 brothers and sisters.