All Obituaries

Dudley Eugene Littrel, 60, passed away in Great Bend, KS on January 22nd, 2020. Services are pending with Minnis Chapel in Ellinwood, KS.

Bessie Mae DeWerff, 90, cherished wife, mother, grandmother, and sister, passed away at Ellinwood District Hospital on January 17, 2020. Born October 12, 1929 at Omaha, NE, she was the daughter of Lawrence James and Cora (Helton) Davis. She graduated from Ellinwood High School in 1947. In 1948 she married Leo Kasselman and to this union Linda Kasselman (Borror) was born. Leo was killed in the Korean Conflict in 1951. In 1954 Bessie married Kenneth DeWerff (deceased) and to this union Steve...

Glenn L. VanSteenburgh, 74, passed away in Great Bend, KS on Dec. 24th, 2019. Born on Dec. 8th, 1945 he was the son of Hiram & Nellie (Strodtmann) VanSteenburgh. A lifetime Barton/Rice County resident he worked as a truck driver. He married Carol Beck in Claflin, KS on Aug. 17th, 1968 they were married for 51 years. He served in the US Air Force and was a past member of American Legion Post #180 in Great Bend where he participated in the Patriot guard. He also enjoyed riding motorcycles,...

Sylvia, KS Josephine "Adella” Howard, 84, passed away at Brookdale Senior Living in Great Bend, KS, on December 22, 2019. Born on January 3, 1935, in Kinsley, KS, she was the daughter of William and Lura (Hudson) Cowgill. In her early years, they moved from Kinsley to Larned, where they operated a grocery store and cabin camp, and when she was grade school age, they moved to property north of Sylvia which Adella's grandfather homesteaded. After Adella's graduation from...

 Olathe, KS Lois Jeanette Hammersmith, 61, passed away unexpectedly on Dec. 21, 2019 at Olathe Medical Center. She was born on Feb. 8, 1958 to parents Ted & Betty (Malcomb) Woolery in Marysville, CA. Lois was a 30 year resident of Olathe, KS formerly of Ellinwood and Ness City, KS. Lois was an employee of Cintas Company. She married Steve Hammersmith on Dec. 29, 1979 in Kansas City, KS. Steve and Lois were blessed with 40 years together where they loved traveling, spending time with...

Mary Ann (Trott) Matrow, 89, passed away in Wichita, KS on Dec. 13th, 2019. Born on Sept. 25, 1930 she was the daughter of Walter A. & Myrtle L. (Deeds) Trott. Mary Ann grew up in Ellinwood graduating with the class of 1948. She attended Kansas University and later married Rev. John E. "Jack" Matrow, Jr. on Aug. 7, 1949 at the United Methodist Church in Ellinwood. Mrs. Matrow embraced the role of Minister's Wife, in Nebraska, Texas, Tennessee, and Missouri where...

  George Harry Redington, 68, passed away in Ellinwood, KS on Nov. 16, 2019. Born on Jan. 17, 1951 in Bismark, ND he was the son of Jonathan & Lora (Bronsak) Redington. George served in the Army National Guard from 1971-1977. He married Lindell Gartner in Bismark, ND on June 12, 1971. George was a graduate of Minot State Univ. (1974), and Dallas Theological Seminary (1983) where he earned his Master of Theology. He was a resident of Bismark, ND from 1957-1979. George served as a...

Ellinwood, KS  Wanda Lea Sieker, 90, passed away on Nov. 16th, 2019 at Ellinwood District Hospital surrounded by her loved ones. Born in Drumright, OK on Jan. 29th, 1929 she was the daughter of Carl and Nettie (Cargill) Shaffer.  A longtime resident of Ellinwood she married Harry F. Sieker Jr. on Oct. 12th, 1947 in Ellinwood, KS.   Wanda was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church where she was the church secretary for 57 years. Survivors include son, Kenny Sieker...

Matthew John Ernsting died after a short illness in Hays, Kansas on November 9, 2019 at the age of 61. Matthew is survived by mother, Marlene Ernsting of Ellinwood; children Levi Ernsting of Shelton, Washington, Rebeka Watson of Edinborough, Scotland, and five grandchildren; siblings Guy Ernsting of Ellinwood and Andrew Ernsting of Overland Park, Kansas. He was preceded in death by his father William Ernsting.  Matthew was born on April 13, 1958 in La Lima, Honduras to William and...

Barton Leon Hoar, 76, passed away at Ellinwood District Hospital on Nov. 3rd, 2019 in Ellinwood. Born in Boulder, CO on Nov. 25th, 1942 he was the son of Kenneth W. & Rena Jeannette (Richards) Hoar.  He married Barbara Koch on May 7th, 1961 in Ellinwood, KS. She passed away May 17th, 2016. Barton was a retired Air Force MSGT entering into service in 1961 and retiring in 1983. Barton was a 30 year resident of Ellinwood formerly of Great Bend. Memberships include Ellinwood Lions...