Obituaries

Mar 20, 2025

Donald (Don) L. Hamilton of Mankato, KS passed away March 20, 2025 at the Salina Regional Health Center at the age of 93. He was born January 22, 1932 in Mankato and is preceded in death by his wife Audrey (McMillan) Hamilton, parents Dean and Alma (Kimbrough) Hamilton, sister Ruby Scarrow, and brothers James, Clifford, and Ralph Hamilton.

He is survived...

Jan 29, 2025

Cynthia Lou (Thompson) Zeigler, age 71, entered into eternal rest on January 29, 2025, in Burr Oak, Kansas. She was born January 14, 1954, in Wellington, Kansas to Lester and Freda (Humes) Jones. 

At a young age, Cynthia was adopted by Marion Reed "Pete" and Wilma "Piper" Thompson. She later graduated from Reeds Spring High School. Shortly after, she married Dennis...

Jan 27, 2025

Merrill James Standley, age 72, entered into rest on Monday 27, 2025, in Smith Center, Kansas. He was born February 21,1952, in Beloit, Kansas to James and Dorintha (Becker) Standley. 

He was a 1970 graduate of Esbon High School, Esbon, Kansas.

Merrill was an active member of the E.L.C Church of Mankato, Mankato, Ks. 

Merrill grew up on a family farm which made...

Jan 9, 2025

Geneva Maxine (Myers) Hiltgen passed away on January 9, 2025, at her daughter’s home in Gardner, Kansas at the age of 94. Geneva was born on November 5, 1930, to Harold and Florence Myers in Morrowville, Kansas. Her childhood was largely spent in Kansas, with a few years in Colorado. She graduated from Linn High School in 1948.

Geneva married Cleo...

Dec 4, 2024

Matthew “Matt” James Howell, 39, of Formoso, Kansas passed away peacefully Wednesday, December 4, 2024 at Hilltop Lodge Nursing Home in Beloit, Ks surrounded by his loving family after a brief but courageous battle with kidney cancer. He was born on May 1, 1985 in Salina, Kansas to James and Nancy (Weir) Howell.

Matt grew up in Formoso, Kansas and graduated...

Nov 26, 2024

William “Bill” Hedden was born on March 14, 1950, to John and Bonnie (Johnson) Hedden in Mankato, Kansas. He left this earth surrounded by family on November 26, 2024, to be with his God.

He was educated in Udall, Kansas, where he graduated in 1968.

He married Adelia (Rightmeier) on September 27, 1969, in Udall, Kansas, where they started their lives together....

Nov 8, 2024

Julie G. Hulbert, 62, passed away on November 8, 2024 at Monument Health with her family at her bedside after a brief acute illness. 

On September 23, 1962, though not a boy as hoped, the special request for a blue-eyed blonde girl was given to Martin and Eva June (Amos) Tucker and her 3 brunette sisters in Wichita, Kansas.

Julie graduated from...

Oct 3, 2024

Robert (Bob) L. Hines, 80, a long-time resident of Martell, Nebraska, died October 3 in Burr Oak, Kansas.

Born on May 30, 1944 in Lincoln, Nebraska to Gladys (Werger) Hines and James Hines, Bob grew up on his family’s homestead between Sprague and Martell, Nebraska. Bob graduated from Central High School in Martell...

Oct 2, 2024

Richard Reynolds Kimball, MD,79, a long-time past resident of Mankato, died October 2, 2024 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The cause was cancer. Born February 27,1945 in Evanston, IL to Edward H. Kimball and Hazel Anderson Kimball, he was raised in Scarsdale, NY, graduated from the University of California, Riverside, and received his MD degree from George Washington University...

Oct 2, 2024

James R. Stone, Sr., 82 years of age, entered into rest on October 2, 2024 at the Hilltop Lodge in Beloit, Kansas. He was born September 27, 1942 in Rural Jewell County, Kansas to Vernon and Verdena (Broyles) Stone.

James was a 1960 graduate in Burr Oak High School, Burr Oak, Kansas.  He...

Sep 25, 2024

Max Virgil McMains passed away on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas. He was born in Superior, Nebraska on July 14, 2008 to Nate and Tessa (Core) McMains. He was the middle child with two brothers, Mason and Morgan.

Max grew up in Burr Oak, Kansas and attended...

Sep 23, 2024

Andrew John Pumphrey was born January 16, 1986, the fourth of five children to Paul and June (Baird) Pumphrey. He was baptized at St. John’s Catholic Church. Surrounded by love and affection, he developed an adventuresome spirit and orneriness. Andrew also embraced an outdoorsman spirit common to Jewell County, and enjoyed the passion of hunting and fishing...

Sep 22, 2024

Leota Claycamp McCarthy (formerly Hanson) passed away on September 22, 2024. Born on January 11, 1943, in Beloit, KS, she was the devoted wife of the late Larry Hanson and later, a loving partner to Bill McCarthy.

Leota spent her childhood in Mankato, Kansas, where she married her high school sweetheart, Larry. Their...

Jul 23, 2024

Susan Mary Kimminau, 71, of Beloit, Kansas passed away on July 23, 2024. She was the youngest of 11, born on July 12, 1953 to William Joseph and Loretta Catherine (Weingardt) Kimminau.

She attended a country school in Jewell County. She lived the majority of her life with her parents on the family...

Jul 9, 2024

Terence “Terry” Kay Vrbas, 72, of Mankato, Kansas, passed away on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 at Republic County Hospital in Belleville, Kansas. He was the youngest child of nine, born to James and Genevieve (Heble) Vrbas in Atwood, Kansas on September 10, 1951.

Terry grew up in Atwood and graduated from Atwood High...

Jul 7, 2024

Lucile Marie (Keller) Clark was the 3rd daughter born to Henry & Maude (Bassett) Keller, on September 17th, 1932, in rural Lebanon, KS. She passed away peacefully on July 7th, 2024, at 7:07 p.m. surrounded by her loving family.

Lucile grew up in the Odessa area, attending Esbon School and graduating in 1950....

Jun 17, 2024

Howard Eugene “Bud” Elkins, Jr. age 94, of Mankato, Kansas, peacefully left our world to be welcomed by Jesus and his loved ones in Heaven on June 17, 2024.

Bud was born to Howard and Josephine (Stevenson) Elkins in Paola, KS on August 14, 1929.  Bud grew up on the farm which would...

Jun 17, 2024

LeRoy Eaton passed away on Monday, June 17, 2024, in Salina, Kansas. He was born on October 26, 1940, in Fairbury, Nebraska. He was the second of five children born to Vernon and Wilma (Siebe) Eaton.

LeRoy attended school in Fairbury, Nebraska until 7th grade. He then attended and graduated from Mankato High...

Jun 14, 2024

Anna Louise Morgan died on June 14, 2024, at the Jewell County Hospital in Mankato.  She was born on December 13th, 1952, to Maldwyn and Joan Morgan in Harrow, England. She was the middle of 3 children, David being the oldest and Tim being the youngest.

She attended primary school and Whitmore High...

Jun 2, 2024

Ray Wesley Smith died on June 2, 2024, at the Jewell County Hospital ISB in Mankato, Kansas. He was born October 5, 1927, to William W. and Martha Nell (Briggs) Smith on a farm three miles from Wauneta, Kansas. He was the middle of five siblings, Clyde and Mildred being older, and Mary and Vryl, younger.