Obituaries

Oct 24, 2026

Fern Darlene Royer, 90, passed away peacefully October 24, 2026, at Locust Grove Village, LaCrosse, Kan.  She was born September 17, 1936, in LaCrosse, to Clarence and Lenora (Stieben) Ochs.  Fern married the love of her life, Ronald Lewis Royer, July 17, 1955, in Otis, Kan.  Ron passed away Nov. 14, 2015.

Fern, a 1954 graduate of...

Oct 23, 2026

Kathy Ann Norlin, 74, passed away October 23, 2026, at Park Lane Nursing Home, in Scott City, Kansas. She was born June 3, 1952, in Concordia, to August & Joyce (Schlehuber) Collins. Kathy married Floyd Norlin at St. Rose Catholic Church, Great Bend, on September 1, 1973. Floyd survives.

Kathy was a hard worker and was employed...

Oct 22, 2026

Judith Frances Becker, 83, passed away October 22, 2026, at Aster Estates, Great Bend, Kansas. She was born on March 19, 1943, in Larned, Kansas, to John B. and Evelyn (Gore) Weisensee. Judith married Larry Wayne Becker, Sr.; their union was blessed with one son.

A resident of Great Bend since July 2024 coming from Rehoboth Beach,...

Oct 20, 2026

Allen Lee King, 67, passed away October 20, 2026, at the University of Kansas Health Systems – Great Bend Campus, Great Bend, Kansas. He was born on April 16, 1959, in Amarillo, Texas, to William King and Eleanor Juanita Chambliss.

A longtime resident of Russell and Great Bend, Allen worked in the oil field. He was a...

Oct 18, 2026

David Leon Scheuerman, Sr., 69, passed away October 18, 2026, at Azria Health Woodhaven, in Great Bend, Kansas. He was born October 30, 1956, in Ellinwood, to Gilbert & Alma (Ochs) Scheuerman.

David set his lifetime career in the oilfield as a gin pole truck driver. He married Stephanie Morrison August 16, 2004, in Great Bend. He...

Oct 14, 2026

Dennis Bradley "Brad" Barr, 60, passed away October 14, 2026, in Great Bend, Kansas. He was born August 29, 1966, in Larned, to Gary and Joan (Payne) Barr.

Brad worked for various companies as a truck driver. He made Great Bend his home in 2022, after residing in Hutchinson, Houston, and Stafford. He took interest in technology...

Oct 11, 2026

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Elaine Helen Crouse, 92, passed away October 11, 2026, at Medicalodges, in Great Bend, Kansas. She was born November 23, 1933, in rural Otis, to Herman and Cecilia (Garvert) Mauler. Elaine married Morris Dale Crouse May 28, 1957, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Great Bend. He passed away February 7, 2002.

...

Oct 9, 2026

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LaDonna Lytle went to be with the Lord on October 9, 2026, at the age of 90. She was born on the family farm at Codell, Kansas, on October 1, 1936, to Michael and Eva (Cline) Loreg.

On September 21, 1958, she and Eugene "Gene" Lytle were married in Stockton, Kansas.

Oct 9, 2026

Charles Leonard "Charlie" Brown, 89, passed away October 9, 2026, at Hays Medical Center, Hays, Kansas. He was born on January 17, 1937, in Great Bend, Kansas, to Conette and Velma Brown. Charlies married Diana M. Brown; she passed on May 23, 1983.

A lifetime Great Bend resident, Charlie worked for the Kansas Brick and Title, as...

Oct 7, 2026

Vance Nicholas Espinosa, 55, passed away October 7, 2026, at his home in McPherson, Kansas. He was born on February 22, 1971, in Great Bend, Kansas, to Oscar and Sharon (Kagle) Espinosa.

A longtime resident of McPherson, Vance worked for Pfizer in many different roles, most recently as a Senior Continuous Improvement Specialist. Prior to that, he...

Oct 6, 2026

Janean Kay Loftis-Rhymer, 57, passed away October 6, 2026, at her home in Great Bend, Kansas. She was born on January 15, 1969, in Great Bend, to Jimmy Richard Loftis and Pamela Napolitano.

In her younger years, Janean lived in Scott City, as well as the states of Washington and Wyoming before coming back to Great Bend....

Oct 4, 2026

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Elsena Bender, 99, died on October 4, 2026, at The University of Kansas, Great Bend. She was born November 25, 1926, in Russell County, the daughter of Gottfried and Molly (Niedenthal) Stricker. She married Hubert Bender on July 20, 1947, at Bender Hill Church in Russell County. Hubert passed away August 19, 2003. She...

Oct 2, 2026

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Jose "Joe" Angel Espinosa, Jr., 90, passed away October 2, 2026, at Azria Health Woodhaven in Great Bend, Kansas. He was born December 23, 1935, in Alice, Texas, to Jose and Natalia (Ramirez) Espinosa.

Joe loved life. He worked hard as a laborer, spending most of his working years as a truck...

Oct 1, 2026

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Verlin Joseph Schuster, 81, passed away October 1, 2026, at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis, Wichita, Kansas. He was born on February 8, 1945, in Hays, Kansas, to Frank P. and Mary (Flax) Schuster. On October 12, 1970, he married Luella Urban in Antonino, Kansas.

A longtime resident of Great Bend, Verlin...

Oct 1, 2026

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Vance Loren Wise, 83, passed away October 1, 2026, at Azria Nursing Home, in Wichita, Kansas. He was born January 1, 1943, in Plainville, to Raymond & Ethel (Weaverling) Wise.

Vance married Marilyn Keller August 15, 1961, in Ellis County. They made Great Bend their home in 1965. He attended trade school...

Sep 30, 2026

Jari Kay Marietta, 80, passed away September 30, 2026, at Brookdale Senior Living, Great Bend, Kansas. She was born on July 20, 1946, in Concordia, Kansas, to Vernon and Luewllyn (Carhill) Marietta.  She grew up and attended school in Esbon, Kansas.  She earned her bachelor's degree from Fort Hays State University.

A resident of Great Bend since...

Sep 30, 2026

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Bryce Allen Hofmeister, 31, passed away September 30, 2026.  He was born January 3, 1995, the son of Jeff and Rana (Hofmeister) Ingram.

Bryce, a lifetime resident of Great Bend, had recently been employed by UPS and Millers of Claflin.  He graduated from Great Bend High School in 2013, where he was...

Sep 24, 2026

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Thomas Michael Pivonka, 70, passed away September 24, 2026, at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis, in Wichita, Kansas. He was born February 10, 1956, to James "Jim" & Betty Jean (Sandstrom) Pivonka. After the passing of Betty, he created an incredibly strong and lasting bond with his stepmother, Laura. In October 1975, Tom married...

Sep 23, 2026

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Shirley Beth Noble Metzger Sackschewsky, 91, died peacefully on September 23, 2026, in Wichita, Kansas.  Shirley was born June 25, 1935, in Rock Creek, Kansas, to Levi Noble and Rachael Ruth (Hurt) Noble.  She married Carl Glen Metzger on April 5, 1953, in Liberty, Missouri. Together, they raised five sons and were married 36...

Sep 22, 2026

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Andrew Fira, 67, passed away September 22, 2026, at Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas. He was born August 14, 1959, in Jordanton, Texas to Fidencio & Mary (Corella) Fira. He was raised with two sisters and two brothers.

Andrew found his career working in the agriculture field, starting at Collinwood Elevator...