All Obituaries

ELLSWORTH   James “Jim” R. Pruitt, 71, passed away Saturday, November 21, 2020 in Ellsworth. He was born January 13, 1949 in Salina to James Pruitt, Jr. and Jacqueline (Jackson) Pruitt.   Jim was a longtime resident of rural southern Lincoln Co. He was a truck driver working for 30 years for Quartzite Stone in Lincoln then many years for Martin Oil, delivering fuel to local farmers. Jim married June Choitz at St. John Lutheran Church, Lincoln on February 27,...

Loris “Vernon” Davis, 90, passed away Thursday, November 5, 2020 in Lincoln. He was born June 3, 1930 in McDonald, KS to Sewell Willis Davis and Mary Ellen (Buck) Davis. Vernon served in the United States Navy from 1950 to 1954 then made a 26 year career as a Trooper with the Kansas Highway Patrol. He married Roberta Walter in McDonald on September 4, 1951. Vernon was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Ellsworth. Vernon is survived by his son, Scott Davis (Linda)...

Donald Dale Wirth was born on October 20, 1932 to Arthur and Mabel (Jaeger) Wirth in the early years of the dirty 30’s. He joined one brother, Robert, in their rural Lincoln county home and spent many hours in his crib under a tent of wet sheets to protect him from the blowing Kansas dirt.  His early years were spent helping on their family farm, going to school at Union 4 (a one room country school), and attending church with his parents at Bethany. As a teenager, Don came to...

From: Lincoln KS Velma E. Suelter, 94, passed away Friday, October 16, 2020 in Salina. She was born January 8, 1926 in Saline Co., KS to Hugo and Anna (Schnirch) Fischer. Velma married Roland Suelter in Sylvan Grove on January 1, 1947. She was a munitions x-ray tech during WWII then a homemaker for the remainder of her life, raising four children. She was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in rural Lincoln Co. Velma is survived by her sons, Mike Suelter of Lincoln and Roger Suelter of...

Charlie E. Thrush (Sgt. Charlie, 57) tragically passed away on October 5, 2020 in rural Lincoln County. He was a patriotic man that served 22 years in the Army. Our country/military meant the world to him. He always said that serving in the Army meant duty and honor for him, and he would go back in a heartbeat if he was needed. Charlie lived a happy, ornery and content life on the farm with his family. His family and the animals meant the world to him. He was a man that loved deeply and...

From: Lincoln KS Emily Anne Wilkerson was born March 27, 1941, in Lincoln, KS to George William Medcraft and Marian Parsons Medcraft. Anne grew up on the family farm with her two sisters, Martha and Sarah, and her brother John. She went to school in Lincoln, graduating as salutatorian from Lincoln High School in 1959. She attended Fort Hays State College where she studied business and education. Anne married Phillip W. Wilkerson in 1962. Shortly thereafter, Phil's father died, and Phil went...

From: Lincoln KS Dean Ray Panzer, 89, was called home by his heavenly Father on Saturday, September 19, 2020 in Lincoln, KS. He was born October 14, 1930, in Lincoln County to Herman and May (Bohling) Panzer. Left to celebrate Dean's life are his daughters, MeriLynn McBride (Rick) of Lincoln, Kimberly Garrett (Mike) of Hutchinson, KS, Tamara Yaple (Don Lamb) of Salina, Lori Frederking (Thomas) of Plainville, KS, Teresa Berthelson (Bob) of Lincoln, and Kristi Whitney (Michael) of Olathe, KS;...

Florence “Polly” White, 94, passed away Wednesday, September 9, 2020 in Ellsworth, KS. She was born October 16, 1925 in Vesper, KS to Kyle U. and Loretta R. (Snavely) Swisher. Polly was a longtime resident of Kanopolis where she was a member of the United Methodist Church and the American Legion Auxiliary. She attended Kansas Wesleyan University where she received her teaching certificate. She then taught school and was a telephone operator prior to holding the position of...

From: Sylvan Grove KS Leota Pauline (Allison) Hurlbut was born on March 12, 1920, to Jennie Hazeline (Palmer) Allison, age 20, and Floyd Allison, age 22 in a small house just over the hill east of Luray in a blizzard. She told stories of it being so cold the family needed to cover the windows with blankets, to keep their little bundle warm inside their small home. Her brother Orlis Edward Allison was born when Leota was 3 years old. In her youngest years, her family moved up near her...

Rose Ellen Emken, 86, passed away Saturday, August 22, 2020 in Ellsworth. She was born September 6, 1933 in Matheson, CO to Clarence and Martha (Tretter) Greer. Rose is survived by her sons, William F. “Bill” Evans, II of Ellsworth, Kevin Locke Evans of Wild Horse, CO, and Jeffery Wade Evans of Calhan, CO; grandchildren, William F. Evans, III, Jennifer Lea Evans, Joseph Evans, and Jeremiah Evans; great grandchildren, Trac Evans and Keaton Evans; and sisters, Jerri F. Fowler of...