Rita Jo (Link) Bownes, 57, died Oct. 12, 2016, at Via Christi St. Francis Regional Medical Center, Wichita. She was born April 13, 1959, at Great Bend, the daughter of Kenneth J. and Shirley J. (Wallace) Link. She married Lynn Bownes August 11, 1978, at Ellinwood. A lifetime Great Bend resident, Mrs. Bownes owned Beer 30 Drinking Hole.

She was a member of Prince of Peace Parish at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Altar Society, and "The Tribe". She enjoyed NASCAR, especially Carl Edwards, dachshunds, 4-H, her many friends and time with her grandchildren.

Survivors include her husband, Lynn Bownes, of the home; her parents, Kenneth and Shirley Link of Great Bend; two sons, Ryan Bownes and his wife Staci of Great Bend, and Derek Bownes and his wife Ashley of Holcomb; one daughter, Kalesha Schartz and her husband Matt of Garden City; two sisters, Linda Meyeres and husband Jim of Chase, and Denise Barbour and husband Jack of San Angelo, Texas; four grandchildren, Mikayla, Brenna, Mae Lynn and Emeri; and one sister-in-law, Janis Link, of Great Bend. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Mark Allen Link and Kent Eugene Link; and by grandparents, Louis and Bertha Link, and Jack and Emma Wallace.