Biographies Gove County, Kansas

ALBIN, EULLAH EILENE

Eullah Eilene Albin, 80, of Salina, died Sunday, Dec. 24, at her home in Salina.

She was born Eullah Rash on March 25, 1920, on the family farm near Quinter. She graduated from Quinter High School in 1938 and attended Strickler Business College for one year.

On Nov. 30, 1940, she married Marvin T. Albin. He survives of the home.

Mrs. Albin was a homemaker. She had been a resident of Salina for 23 years. She was a member of the Church of the Brethren in Quinter and past member of the Gove County Extension Homemakers Unit.

In addition to her husband, survivors include a son, Ronald Albin of Salina; daughters Mickey Juenemann of Aurora, Colo., Marsha Albin of Junction City, Rhonda Sulsar of Solomon and Cindy Austin of Beloit; a brother, Richard Rash of Tangent, Ore.; 12 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one son in infancy, Charles Ernest Albin.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 30, at the Schmitt Funeral Home in Quinter with Pastor Leon Neher and Steve Tuttle officiating. Burial will be at a private service in Quinter Cemetery.

Memorials may be sent to Hospice of Salina Inc., or the Church of the Brethren, Quinter, and may be left in care of the funeral home.
(The Manhattan Mercury ~ December 27, 2000)

BEOUGHER, WILLIAM C. "BILL"

Beougher, William C. "Bill," 78, former Gambles Store of Plainville owner and salesman, died Tuesday, April 27, 1999. Service 1 p.m. Friday, Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.

Survivors: wife, Anna; sons, William B. of San Antonio, Texas, Ritchie of Plano, Texas; daughters, Cheryl Pivonka of Wichita, Willa Bomgaars of Summit, N.J.; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren. Memorial has been established with Hays Good Samaritan Center.
(Wichita Eagle ~ April 29, 1999)

BLICKENSTAFF, PEARL (MRS. ARCHIE)

Mrs. Archie (Pearl), 2601 NW 50 St., died August 28, 1988. Services will be held Tuesday, August 30 at 10 a.m. in the Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper Chapel, 60th & N. Western, OKC. Interment will be in Quinter, KS.

The daughter of J. W. & Nancy Perilee Craig. She was born on April 18, 1907 in Ravia, OK, where she graduated from high school. She attended East Central State College in Ada & then taught elementary school in Arkansas & Oklahoma. In the early 1930's she moved to Ponca City, OK to wo rk in the retail clothing business. She later was a partner in her own ladies clothing store in Ponca City. On June 16, 1950, she married Archie Blickenstaff. For the next 21 years they lived in Chicago, IL & Newark, NJ where he was an executive with the Continental Insurance Co. & she assisted him with his many professional entertaining & community activities. They retired to OKC in 1971. She was preceded in death by her parents, 3 sisters & 3 brothers. Surviving her are her husband of the home, a siste r, Lucy Jean Lewis of Neosho, MO, a sister-in-law, Ada Lea Bostick of OKC, a son, Gene Blickenstaff, M.D., & daughter-in-law, Denise, both of LaJolla, CA, 3 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild & numerous nieces & nephews. Memorials may be given to Baptist Medical Center Foundation, 3300 N.W. Expressway, OKC 73112, to be designated for Cancer Care.
(The Daily Oklahoman ~ August 29, 1988)

BLICKENSTAFF, ARCHIE LEE

Archie Lee, 82, died Nov. 28, 1989. He was born in Quinter, Kansas, on Feb. 21, 1907. He received his B.S. degree in Business Administration from McPherson College, in McPherson, Kansas. Mr. Blickenstaff entered the insurance business first in 1935, in Hutchinson, Kansas. He retired from Continental Insurance Companies in 1972, after having been President of Continental for several years. He was heavily involved in multiple civic, charitable, and financial organizations. He was involved with B oy Scouts of America and received the Coveted Silver Beaver Award. He was also involved with Greater Newark Chamber of Commerce, New Jersey State Safety Council, New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce, United Community Fund and New Jersey Arthritis Foundation. In 1983, he was voted ""Most Dedicated'' of Sheppard Mall Walkers. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Gene and Denise Blickenstaff; two grandsons, Michael and Mark; one granddaughter, Cathy; one granddaughter-in-law, Jill; one great granddaughter, Gina; sister-in-law, Ada Lee Bostick and multiple nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his wife, Pearl, by 16 months. Services will be 2:00 P.M. Friday, Dec. 1, 1989, at HAHN-COOK/STREET & DRAPER Chapel. Final interment will be in Quinter, Kansas, on Dec. 3, 1989. Memorials may be made to Quinter Senior Citizens Center, Quinter, Kansas, 67752, or Oklahoma Heart Center, Baptist Hospital, Okla. City, Okla.
(The Daily Oklahoman ~ December 1, 1989)

FINK, DORA ADA

Services for Dora Ada Fink, 92, Lawrence, will be at 3 p.m. Friday at the Church of the Brethren, Quinter. Burial will be at Quinter Cemetery.

Mrs. Fink died Monday, Dec. 8, 1997, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

She was born Nov. 17, 1905, in Graham County, the daughter of John J. and Meta Catherine Williamson Treu. A homemaker, she had lived at Brandon Woods since 1992 and had previously lived in Quinter since 1925.

She was a member of the Church of the Brethren, the PAL club and the Happy Home Club, all of Quinter.

She married Clinton C. Fink on Nov. 14, 1925, in Goodland. He died July 27, 1967.

Survivors include a son, Jack J. Fink, Garnett; a daughter, JoAn Wilson, Lawrence; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

The family suggests memorials to the Church of the Brethren, Quinter, or the Johnson Library, Quinter, sent in care of Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, P.O. Box 221, Oakley 67748.
(Lawrence Journal-World ~ December 9, 1987)

FLORA, CLETA LOENE

Cleta Loene Flora, 83, of Emporia died Monday, Nov. 25, 2002, at the Emporia Presbyterian Manor.

Mrs. Flora was a secretary for the Garden City Public Schools for many years before she retired 25 years ago.

Cleta Loene Lesh, the daughter of Lansford Olaf and Inez Hager Lesh, was born Jan. 15, 1919, at Norton. She married Howard Galen Flora on April 20, 1947, at Hays.

Mrs. Flora was a member of the First Christian Church.

She is survived by her husband; three sons, Jeffery H. Flora of Leawood, Douglas L. Flora of Kansas City, Mo., and Jonathan C. Flora of Northville, Mich.; and six grandchildren. Two brothers, Donald Lesh and Eldon Lesh, and a sister, Patsy Dye, died earlier.

The memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Emporia Presbyterian Manor. The Rev. Dale Pracht, chaplain at Newman Regional Health, will conduct the service. Inurnment will be in Quinter Cemetery at Quinter.

The family suggests that instead of flowers memorial contributions be made to Hand in Hand Hospice and sent in care of the Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral home.
(Emporia Gazette ~ November 26, 2002)

GROOM, MARJORIE

Marjorie Groom, 88, Quinter, died Tuesday, May 31, 2005, at Gove County Medical Center.

She was born June 8, 1916, in rural Gove County to Earl and Nora (Wigington) Glick. She graduated from Quinter High School in 1935.

She married Ernest Joshua Groom on Aug. 20, 1939, in Oberlin. She was a homemaker.

Survivors include three sons, Leon Groom and Stanley Groom, both of Quinter, and Daryl Groom, Benington; a sister, Mildred Early, Quinter; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Aug. 23, 2000, and an infant daughter, Donna Groom.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Schmitt Funeral Home, Quinter; burial in the Quinter City Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to Quinter Volunteer Ambulance Service.
(Hays Daily News ~ June 2, 2005)

JAMISON, DALE E.

Dale E. Jamison, 87, Quinter, died Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007, at Gove County Medical Center, Quinter.

He was born Aug. 27, 1920, in rural Gove County to Owen Thomas and Malissa (Flora) Jamison. He attended schools in Gove County.

He married Doris (Pease) Jamison on July 18, 1941, in Colorado. He was a farmer.

Survivors include his wife, of the home; two sons, Gordon Jamison and Rusty Jamison, both of Quinter; three daughters, Dalene Reinecker, Quinter, Dorothy Hefner, Shawnee Mission, and Marcie Keller, Hesston; a brother, Herman Jamison, Quinter; 15 grandchildren; and 25 great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Dunkard Brethren Church, Quinter; burial in Baker Township Cemetery, Quinter.

Visitation will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. today at Schmitt Funeral Home, Quinter.

Memorials are suggested to Gideons International in care of the funeral home.
(Hays Daily News ~ September 5, 2007)

JAMISON, ETHEL

Jamison, Ethel, 94, retired schoolteacher, died Tuesday, Oct. 21, 1997. Service 11 a.m. Friday, Church of the Brethren.

Survivors: friend, Dorothy Duncan of Kensington; 12 nephews, 13 nieces. Memorial has been established with Gove County Medical Center Long Term Care Unit. Schmitt Funeral Home.
(Wichita Eagle ~ October 23, 1997)

NEHER, EDITH CRIST

Edith C. (Crist) Neher, 84, homemaker, died Sunday, Sept. 10, 1989. Service 10 a.m. Friday, Quinter Church of the Brethren.

Survivors: sons, James Garvey of Cerro Gordo, Ill., Galen Neher, Leon Neher, both of Quinter; daughters, Rowena Nicholson of Wichita, Colleen Haldeman of Manheim, Pa.; brother, Roy Crist of Quinter; sisters, Blanche Porter of LaVerne, Calif., Della Jamison of Paramount, Calif., Odessa Arnold of Quinter; 19 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren. Memorial has been established with McPherson College. Hendricks Funeral Home.
(Wichita Eagle ~ September 14, 1989)

WERTZ, THELMA L.

Thelma L. Wertz, 96, Quinter, died Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2008, at Trego County-Lemke Memorial Hospital Long Term Care, WaKeeney.

She was born Feb. 25, 1911, in Quinter to Perry and Piner (Ely) Allen. She was a 1931 graduate of Quinter High School and received a teaching certificate.

She married Howard L. Wertz on Sept. 27, 1936. He preceded her in death June 7, 1995.

She was a homemaker.

Survivors include two daughters, Judy Berg, WaKeeney, and Kathy Bugbee, Louisburg; seven grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a son, Larry Wertz, and a grandson.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Church of the Brethren, Quinter; burial in Baker Township Cemetery, Quinter.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Schmitt Funeral Home, Quinter.

Memorials are suggested to Gove County Medical Center Long Term Care or Trego County-Lemke Memorial Hospital Long Term Care in care of the funeral home.
(Hays Daily News ~ January 3, 2008)

WIGINGTON, CHARLES H.

Charles H. Wigington, 86, Ness City, died Wednesday, July 13 2005, at Wesley Medical Center, Wichita.

He was born Oct. 20, 1918, in Quinter to John and Florence Wigington.

He graduated from schools in Quinter and attended Fort Hays State College.

He married Rosa Turner on April 4, 1942. He worked for the Agriculture Adjustment Administration at Gove from 1937 to 1942. He was a U.S. Army veteran serving for three years, acquiring the rank of 1st sergeant. He was an administrative officer and topographical draftsman. Duties included preparing combat maps from aerial photographs showing terrain features, gun emplacements and other information necessary for naval and land operations. Active duty was in both the African and Pacific theaters, located in northern Africa and Hawaii. He was honorably discharged in November of 1945.

He worked for Keysar Implement, Quinter, as a bookkeeper, then began his affiliation with the Federal Land Bank, Wichita, in 1950. He served as manager for the Quinter office until it merged with Ness City. He moved to Ness City where he was manager of that enlarged area office until his retirement in 1983.

He was a member of the Quinter Chamber of Commerce and served as commander of the American Legion Post. He continued his membership with the Legion in Ness City after his move. He was a member of the Ness City United Methodist Church and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Ransom.

His interests included visiting with friends, bowling, fishing, woodworking, cooking, gardening and yard work.

Survivors include his wife, Ness City; two daughters, Sharon Channell and husband, Norman, WaKeeney, and Susan Heine and husband, Brian, Beaverton, Ore; a stepsister, Doris Branaman and husband Lynn, Hutchinson; two grandchildren; Cory Channell and wife, Millie, Evans, Colo., and Kendra Channell Frank and husband, Dugan, Salina; two stepgrandchildren, Jocelyn and Truston, Salina; three great-grandchildren; Brenna, Allison and Collin Channell; brother-in-law, Charles Stover, Topeka; and a sister-in-law, Elizabeth Custer, Arizona.

He was preceded in death by his parents, stepfather, Joe Custer, a sister Lucille Stover and half-brother, George Custer.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the United Methodist Church, Ness City. Military graveside services will be at 2:15 p.m. at the Quinter Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at the Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City. The family will be present to greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today.

Memorials are suggested to heart charities or any organization of the donor's choice in care of the funeral home.
(Hays Daily News ~ July 17, 2005)

WIGINGTON, EDITH AGNES

Services for Edith Agnes Wigington, 100, Quinter, will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Schmitt Funeral Home in Quinter. Burial will be in Quinter Cemetery.

Mrs. Wigington died Monday, Feb. 3, 2003, at Gove County Medical Center's long-term care unit in Quinter.

She was born Sept. 19, 1902, in Harrison County, Mo., the daughter of Darby and Chloe Thomas. She graduated from Quinter High School.

Mrs. Wigington was a cook at Gove County Medical Center for a number of years. She was a charter member of Gray Ladies Organization and a member of Church of the Brethren in Quinter.

She married Clifford Ulrich on Sept. 2, 1922. He died in 1948. She married Elmer James Wigington on June 30, 1947. He died in 1972.

Survivors include two daughters, Rosalie Bussen, Winona, and Twila Bowsher, Great Bend; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Two daughters, Jackie McNitt and Doris Fleenor, died earlier.

Friends may call from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. until service time Saturday at the funeral home, where the family will receive friends from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Friday.

The family suggests memorials to Gove County Medical Center LTCU Activity Fund, sent in care of the funeral home, 901 S. Main, Quinter 67752.
(Lawrence Journal-World ~ February 5, 2003)

WIGINGTON, ROSA IVA

Rosa Iva Wigington, 83, Ness City, died Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005, at Ness County Hospital, Ness City.

She was born April 23, 1922, in Superior, Neb., to Ralph and Iva (Barnhardt) Turner.

She married Charles Wigington on April 4, 1942, in Quinter. He preceded her in death July 13, 2005. She was a homemaker.

Survivors include two daughters, Sharon Channell, WaKeeney, and Susan Heine, Beaverton, Ore.; a brother, Loren Turner, Central City, Neb.; two sisters, Mary Townsend, Hays, and Opal Teel, San Antonio, Texas; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and two step great-grandchildren.

Services were today at United Methodist Church, Ness City; burial was in Quinter Cemetery, Quinter.

Memorials are suggested to American Lung Association or the donor's choice.

Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City, was in charge of the arrangements.
(Hays Daily News ~ December 14, 2005)

WONNELL, LELA VIRGINIA

Lela Virginia (Leopold) Wonnell, 86, Ottawa, died Sunday, April 4, 2004, at the Ottawa Retirement Village.

She was born Feb. 25, 1918, to George and Ida (Jarboe) Leopold in rural Gove County near Quinter.

She worked at the Gove County Ration Office during World War II and later as a secretary in the Department of Nurse Education at Fort Hays State University until she retired in 1977.

She was a member of the Church of the Brethren.

Survivors include two sons, Charles Wonnell, Richmond, and Robert Wonnell, Clinton, Mo.; one stepdaughter, Levada Campbell, Dallas, Ga.; one brother, Dale Leopold, Colby; 12 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her first husband, Henry Fischer; and her second husband, Dallas Wonnell.

The funeral was Wednesday at the Quinter Church of the Brethren. Burial was at the Quinter Cemetery. The Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, Hoxie, was in charge.
(The Ottawa Herald ~ April 10, 2004)