9/25/2008

Dr. Randall Ray Ford

EUREKA -- Dr. Randall Ray Ford, 54, died Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008. He was born May 21, 1954, in Salina to Ray Henry and Isla Rose (Bloomberg) Ford. He was an elementary school music teacher until his retirement in 1999.

Survivors include his wife, Janice, of the home; two sons, Nik Ford, Rose Hill and Marshall Ford, Lincoln, NE; a daughter, Valerie Ford, Seattle, WA; a stepson, Steven Swartz, Pittsburgh, PA; two stepdaughters, Jennifer Deal, Yates Center and Emilie Swartz, Lawrence; four grandchildren; and a sister, Carolyn Everett, Columbus, GA.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church of Eureka. Interment will follow in Greenwood Cemetery. Koup Family Funeral Home, Eureka, is handling arrangements.

Creta Hilgers

PLAINVILLE -- Creta Hilgers, of Plainville, died Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008.

Moore-Overlease Funeral Chapel, Plainville. is handling arrangements.

Joyce A. Humiston

STERLING -- Joyce A. Humiston, 75, died Sept. 23, 2008, at Sterling Presbyterial Manor, being reunited with her husband, Bill. She was born March 6, 1933, in Hutchinson, the daughter of Benjamin and Pauline Follick Pallister. She was a 1951 graduate of Hutchinson High School.

On Sept. 1, 1950, she married William Humiston. He died April 27, 1995.

A resident of Sterling since 1982, she had previously lived in Hutchinson and Liberal. During her years in Sterling, she and her husband were owners of Jack and Jill Grocery Store, and she also worked as a receptionist for Dr. Tony Powers.

She belonged to First United Methodist Church, Sterling.

She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Judith Barton.

Survivors include three sons and two daughters: Robert and wife Sara, Salina; Christopher and wife Kim, Hutchinson; Joel and wife Melanie, Liberal; Kerry Reimer and husband Wayne, Hutchinson; and Stacy Barker and husband Terry, Sterling; a brother, Kyle Pallister, Hutchinson; 12 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church, Sterling, with Pastor Nancy Goddard presiding. Visitation will be from 2 to 7 p.m. Friday with family present from 5 to 7 p.m. at Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling. Burial will be in Sterling Cemetery. Memorials may be sent to Hospice Care of Kansas or Sterling Presbyterian Manor, in care of the funeral home, 203 North Seventh, Sterling, KS 67579.

Nellie L. Knisell

CHAPMAN -- Nellie L. Knisell, 88, died Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. She was born April 6, 1920, in Salina to Grant and Clara Young Hendricks. She married Herman Taylor and they divorced. In 1961, she married Jack Knisell. He died in 1993. She was also preceded in death by a son, Joe Taylor and a grandson.

Survivors include four daughters, Clara "Mert" Buchanan, Royal Oak, MI, Sharon Jane Miller, DeSoto, TX, Neva Ann Clennan, Chapman, and Kathy Gummert, Salina; a son, Jack Taylor, Minneapolis; 16 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Danner Funeral Home, Abilene. Interment will be in Prairiemound Cemetery, Solomon. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

John Robert Lundblom

NEWTON -- John Robert Lundblom, 75, died Sept. 23, 2008. He was born Sept. 8, 1933, at Lindsborg. He retired from the city of Osborne in Public Works Department.

He was preceded by his wife, Ella Mae. Survivors include two sons, Richard (Christine) of Mulvane, and Robert (Misty) of Columbus, NE; two daughters, Darla Stonehouse (Steven) of Newton and Donna Smith (Thomas) of Bells, TX; a brother, Norman of Mesa, AR; a sister, Gladys Johnson of Swede Home, NE; 10 grandchildren; and 3 great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Bethany Lutheran Church, Lindsborg. Burial will be in the Smoky Hill Cemetery, Lindsborg. Viewing will be an hour prior to service.

Christians Funeral Home, Lindsborg, is handling arrangements.

Helen Laurine Meadows

TOPEKA -- Helen Laurine Meadows died Sunday, Sept 21, 2008. She was born Jan. 3, 1929, to Emmett Reed and Essie Wright in Louisville, OK. She married Othello Meadows in June 1960 in Salina. He died June 19, 1992. She worked as a cook at the Russell Restaurant until she retired in 1990. She was a member of the St. John Baptist Church in Salina, KS. Survivors include two daughters, Renee Wiggins and Kay Meadows, both of Topeka; a brother, Boughton Jones, Detroit, MI; two sisters, Betty Jean Benoit, Junction City, and Jo Young, Rantoul, II; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Bowser Johnson Funeral Chapel, 723 SW Sixth Ave., Topeka, with burial at Roselawn Cemetery in Salina. Visitation is from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Alfred Otto Gustav Schleusener

STOCKTON -- Alfred Otto Gustav Schleusener, 95, died Sept. 23, 2008. He was born June 3, 1913, in Oxford, NE. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lilly, on Dec. 30, 2006; infant son, Eldon and brother Rienhold. He is survived by 2 sons, William and Keith; 2 daughters, Cynthia Cahill and Brenda Stanley; sisters-in-law, Giesla Schleusener, Fern Mosel and Viola Mosel; brothers-in-law, Walter Mosel, Gilbert Mosel and Delbert Henzler; 12 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great-grandchild. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Smith-Moore-Overlease Funeral Home, Stockton. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

Richard Alan "Rick" Shank

CEDAR HILL, Texas -- Richard Alan "Rick" Shank, 60, died Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. He was born Aug. 11, 1948, in Salina, the son of Emmett and Florence (Issitt) Shank.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Lynn, of the home; two sons, Jeff of Wichita, KS, and Todd of Seattle, WA; a stepson, Kenney of Cedar Hill, TX; three grandchildren; his mother, Florence Shank, of Byron, OK; a sister, Karen Shank of Abilene, KS; a brother, Roger Shank of Rockwell, TX; and a stepbrother, Kenneth Fellers of Byron, TX.

Memorial services will be Saturday, Sept. 27 from Jaynes Funeral Home in Cedar Hill, Texas. Local arrangements are being handled by Danner Funeral Home, Abilene.

Mildred Shivers

MINNEAPOLIS -- Mildred Shivers, 84, of Minneapolis, died Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008.

Wilson Shields Funeral Home, Minneapolis, is handling arrangements.

Emily "Sue" Story

TOPEKA -- Emily "Sue" Story, 50, died Sept. 23, 2008, at Rolling Hills Health Center. She was born June 24, 1958, in Salina to Harry and Peggy (Meyers) Richardson. Sue was a dietary manager for various nursing homes in Topeka. She was an active member of University United Methodist Church.

Survivors include a son, Forrest Story, Topeka; a brother, David Richardson, Salina; two grandchildren, Emily and Parker; and many nieces and nephews.

Sue was cremated. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at University United Methodist Church, Topeka. Memorials may be made to the Emily Sue Story Memorial Fund, in care of the Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, 800 SW Sixth Ave., Topeka, KS 66603. Online condolences to www.brennanmathenafh.com.

Loren A. Williams

Loren A Williams, 56, of Salina, died Sept 23, 2008, in Hutchinson. He was born April 16, 1952, the son of Lawrence and Clara Branstetter Williams in Junction City. He was a truck driver for over 20 years, driving for M&M Jest Trucking of Emporia, and Doug Bradley Trucking of Salina.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a grandson, Nicholas Williams Pauls.

Survivors include his spouse, Shirley Williams of Hutchinson; son, Lonnie Williams and wife Stacy of Hutchinson; daughter, Crystal Williams of Salina; four brothers, Larry Williams of Emporia, Terry Zumbrunn of Macksville, Michael Branstetter of Salina and Steve Williams of Kansas City; two sisters, Sandra Blaine and husband Bruce of Salina, and Jackie Harkins of Salina; stepfather, Theodore Branstetter of Salina; and seven grandchildren, Lauren Williams, Justin McCarty Williams, Joseph Williams, Joshua Williams Pauls, Kelly Williams, James Williams, and Jakob Reynolds Williams.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Ryan Mortuary, Salina, and burial in Gypsum Hill Cemetery, Salina. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Ryan Mortuary. Memorial contributions are to the National Kidney Foundation.