All Obituaries

ELLSWORTH   Marie Emelia Woodmansee, 97, passed away Tuesday, January 3, 2023, in Ellsworth. She was born October 21, 1925, in Ellsworth County to Frederick and Wilhelmina (Bohl) Eilrich. A few years after finishing Indian Ridge country school in Ellsworth County, Marie attended Brown Mackie where she studied bookkeeping. She went on to work as a bookkeeper for the Good Samaritan Home and the Ellsworth Lumber Yard and as an assistant clerk for the Ellsworth County District Court....

ELLSWORTH   Nicholas Munoz, 86, passed away on Saturday, December 31, 2022, in Ellsworth, KS. He was born December 6, 1936, in Ellsworth, KS, to Jesus and Maria (Mendez) Munoz. Nicholas married his first wife Patricia Parrish, June 14, 1958, in Kanopolis, KS. He later married Crystal A. Soukup, January 21, 2015, in Kanopolis, KS.   Nicholas is survived by his wife Crystal Munoz; sons, Jerry Munoz (Karen), Jim Munoz, and Chris Munoz (Sara); nine grandchildren and 17 great...

SALINA   Dwight Allen Thom, 63, passed away Tuesday, December 13, 2022 in Salina, KS. He was born February 18, 1959 in Pratt, KS to Harlan and Edna (Lahey) Thom.   Dwight was a talented musician with the ability to play many instruments. He was most known for his guitar playing and was a member of many bands throughout the years.   Dwight is survived by his mother Edna Swayden of Medicine Lodge, KS; brother Bryan Thom (Tonya Wise) of Ellsworth; step-sisters, Jodi Swayden of...

LYONS   Judith Sue Bing, 81, passed away Tuesday, November 29, 2022 in Ellinwood, KS. She was born July 16, 1941 in Eureka, KS to Jonathon and Emma (Saferite) Martin. She married Donald Dean Bing on August 7, 1959 in El Dorado, KS.   Judith is survived by her daughter Kathy Koch (Rob) of Holyrood, KS; grandchildren, Marlena Jahn (Andrew), Brandon Koch (Alisha), Allison Koch, and Emma Dean; great grandchildren, Ethan, Camron, Payton, Trenton, Rosalie, Kinsey, Chloe, and Alexa; and...

ELLSWORTH   Helen Ploutz, 91, passed away Saturday, November 19, 2022 in Ellsworth, KS. She was born July 17, 1931 in Tolstoy, SD to John and Lydia (Lout) Wolff. She married John Ploutz, Jr. on April 9, 1953 in McLaughlin, SD. Helen spent her early adult years waitressing at cafes in McLaughlin. After moving to Ellsworth, she opened her own home daycare and operated that for 50 years until she was 84. She was a faithful member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church of Ellsworth.   Helen...

ELLSWORTH   Charles “Charlie” Joseph Vondra, 92, passed away November 14, 2022 in Ellsworth. He was born July 4, 1930 in Ellsworth County to Frank and Mary (Svara) Vondra. He went to country school through 8th grade and then attended Ellsworth High School. Charlie married Gloria Milbradt in Ellsworth on February 17, 1963.   Charlie served his country in the Army during the Korean War from 1951-1953 and was a Purple Heart recipient. He was a business owner of Ellsworth...

ELLSWORTH   William “Bill” Burton Handlin, Jr., 94, passed away Wednesday, October 12, 2022, in Ellsworth. He was born May 6, 1928, on the family farm in Thomas Township in Ellsworth County, to William B. Handlin, Sr. and Ruth (Becker) Handlin. Bill married Orvetta Ruth Brown in Ellsworth on November 18, 1950. He served in the United States Army during WWII and was a longtime employee of the Ellsworth County Highway Department, retiring as superintendent in 1993 after 43...

ELLSWORTH   Margaret E. Wilkens, 91, passed away Tuesday, November 8, 2022, in Ellsworth, KS. She was born November 7, 1931, in Great Bend, KS to Charles and Anna (Schindler) Herb. Margaret married Donald A. Wilkens in Hudson, KS on November 25, 1951. The couple settled in the Lorraine, KS area and remained there until 1988 when they moved to Ellsworth. She was a member of Lorraine First Baptist Church.   Margaret is survived by her son Jerry Wilkens of Omaha, NE; daughters,...

ELLSWORTH   Geraldine “Gerry” Delores Janda, 90, passed away Friday, November 4, 2022, in Ellsworth, KS. She was born October 10, 1932, in rural Ellsworth County to Ralph and Helen (Spears) Bowers. Gerry married Fred Lee Janda on October 17, 1950 and worked and lived on the family farm. She also worked as activity director for 29 years at the Good Samaritan Center in Ellsworth where she was loved by her coworkers and friends. Gerry was a member of St. Bernard Catholic Church of...

ELLSWORTH   Lenore Sue Samuelson, 77, passed away Friday, October 28, 2022, in Ellsworth. She was born February 8, 1945, in Marysville, KS to Ernest and Myrtie (Johnson) Bledsoe. Lenore married Roger Samuelson in Eagle, NE on March 9, 1979. She was a records clerk at Goodyear Tire in Lincoln, NE.   Lenore is survived by her husband Roger of Ellsworth; sons, Kirk Beeman (Rachelle) of Lincoln, NE and Brian Beeman (Stephanie) of Waverly, NE; grandchildren, Christopher Beeman, Tareva...