OBITUARIES

Donald Gene Downen

Donald Gene Downen

Sep 10, 2025

A full obituary will be posted once it becomes available.

David Joseph Hirsch

David Joseph Hirsch

Aug 16, 2025

David Joseph Hirsch, age 71, of Fort Collins, CO, passed away on August 16, 2025, in Burlington, CO.

Dave was born in Loveland, CO on March 16, 1954, to Joseph and Barbetta Hirsch. David spent his youth visiting his father’s barber shop and even picked up playing the accordion! Dave graduated from Loveland High School. He went on to enlist in...

Richard Allen Nelson

Richard Allen Nelson

Sep 15, 2025

Richard (Dick) Allen Nelson was born in Goodland, Kansas on November 1, 1935 to Freida (Hansen) and John T. Nelson. Dick was the third of five boys. He had two older brothers, Arthur and Robert; and two younger brothers, Donald and John.

Dick grew up on the Nelson farm northeast of Kanorado and attended Kanorado grade school and high school. He...

Gary Lynn Snethen

Gary Lynn Snethen

Sep 5, 2025

Gary Lynn Snethen, 68, passed away at his home in Edson, Kansas on September 5, 2025.

He was born on August 19, 1957 to Robert and Edna (Kowalke) Snethen in Goodland, Kansas. He was one of six children.

Gary attended school in Goodland and graduated from Goodland High School in 1975. He then went on and attended some college at K-State. He...

Marilyn Sue Bliss

Marilyn Sue Bliss

Aug 27, 2025

Lifelong Goodland, KS resident, Marilyn Sue Bliss, 75, passed away on Wednesday, August 27, 2025 at the Topside Manor in Goodland.

Marilyn was born on November 28, 1949 to Eugene F. and Esther E. (Wilson) Elliott. She was one of four children. She attended school in Edson and graduated from Edson High School in 1967. She married Sonny Linnell after high...

Patricia Jane Lilly Stegman

Patricia Jane Lilly Stegman

Aug 15, 2025

Patricia Jane Lilly Stegman passed into eternity on August 15, 2025 at the age of 68 at the Topside Manor in Goodland, Kansas.

She was born March 14, 1957 in Japan to James and Hartense (Nobles) Lilly, being the youngest of three children.

Pat lived in many places as a military child. She called Colorado Springs, Colorado her home during her school...

Bryan W. Weems Jr.

Bryan W. Weems Jr.

Aug 3, 2025

Bryan W. Weems, Jr., 92, passed away at Garden Terrace at Overland Park, on August 3, 2025. He was born on September 14, 1932 to Bryan Sr. and Catherine (Hamer) Weems, in Roff, Oklahoma. He was one of six children.

He attended elementary school in Lahoma, OK and graduated in 1950 from Sayre High School in Sayre, OK. On April 6,...

Sadie Smelker

Sadie Smelker

Aug 2, 2025

To know her, was to love her- Sadie Lee Smelker was born to Ted and Trina Smelker on Dec. 2, 1991, in Burlington, CO. She was the youngest of 5 girls: Kylie, Audi, Cassie and Chelsea. Sadie attended Stratton Schools, graduated as co-valedictorian in 2010 and went on to attend Denver University with a BA in marketing. She gained more...

Gary Lee Weber

Gary Lee Weber

Jul 31, 2025

Gary L. Weber, 77, of Sylvan Grove, KS passed away July 31, 2025.

He was born on June 19, 1948 in Colby, KS to Charlie and Eunice Weber. Gary grew up in Goodland, KS and graduated in 1966 from Goodland High School. In high school, he was noted for his athleticism and held a record in track and was also an...

Connie J. Kallaus

Connie J. Kallaus

Jul 26, 2025

Connie J. Kallaus

Contance “Connie” Joan (Schawe) Kallaus peacefully departed this world July 26, 2025 surrounded by her loving family.

Connie was born in Spearville, KS December 31, 1941 to Corwin and Margaret (Kramer) Schawe. She spent her childhood on the family farm south of Spearville, the third of six children. All of her schooling was in Spearville where she graduated from...

Barbara Lou Liester

Barbara Lou Liester

Jul 14, 2025

Barbara Lou Liester, 91, passed away peacefully on July 14, 2025. Born on January 15, 1934 near Goodland KS to Mac and Ruth Purvis, Barbara was loved by family and friends for over nine decades.

Married to Arvin Liester of Menlo KS in 1953, Barbara was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who was known for her kindness and generosity....

Michelle Cure

Michelle Cure

Jul 14, 2025

Well done, Good and Faithful Servant!

Michelle Kae (Hamacher) Cure was born on November 7, 1986, to Rod and Jannette (Nall) Hamacher in Hugo, CO. After a long illness, she entered peacefully into eternal life on July 14, 2025, surrounded by her family in their home in Stratton, CO.

Michelle was raised in Limon, CO, where she attended Limon Elementary School and...

Richard Lee Frerichs

Richard Lee Frerichs

Jul 10, 2025

Richard Lee Frerichs, age 77, passed away on July 10, 2025, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Lafayette, Colorado. He was born on January 6, 1948, in Goodland, Kansas to William H. and Thelma (Biggs) Frerichs.

On November 9, 1968, Richard married the love of his life, LaDona Harding, in Goodland, Kansas. Together they built a life centered around family, faith, and...

Steven W. Finley

Steven W. Finley

Jul 9, 2025

"Skeeter" Steven W. Finley, age 57, of Paulden, Arizona, saddled up and rode off into the sunset to meet his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on July 9, 2025.

A cowboy to the core, Skeeter spent his days riding and working ranches and doing what he did best—breaking colts—with his beloved wife, Amy, riding right alongside him. He was a natural-born...

Mary V Harper

Mary V Harper

Jul 7, 2025

Mary Viola (Kowalke) Harper, 101, died Monday, July 7, 2025 in Goodland, Kansas.

Mrs. Harper was born March 11,1924, to Rudolph William and Mary Willamina Charlotte (Hanson) Kowalke on the family farm in Logan County, Kansas. She spent her early childhood and teen years on the farm near Wallace. She attended school in the one room Gill School where she later...

Donald Joseph Johnson

Donald Joseph Johnson

Jul 4, 2025

Goodland, KS resident Donald Joseph Johnson, 65, passed away at his home north of Ruleton on Friday, July 4, 2025 surrounded by his family.

Joe was born on March 9, 1960 in Ashland, KY to Duane J. and Betty Ann (Kulzer) Johnson. He was one of 5 children. He graduated from North Sargent High School in Gwinner, ND in 1978.

Joe loved...

Lora Lee Strain

Lora Lee Strain

Jul 2, 2025

Lora Lee Strain died peacefully with her sons by her side on July 2nd, 2025. She was 97.

Lora Lee was born in Brewster, Kansas on November 2nd, 1927, to Leslie (Roy) and Belva Mallory McCall. She grew up on the family dairy farm during the depths of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression, graduating from Brewster High School in...

Jackie Dautel

Jackie Dautel

Jun 23, 2025

Jackie L. Dautel, 49 passed away at Goodland Regional Medical Center in Goodland, Kansas on June 23, 2025 after a long fight against Cancer. She was born on February 21, 1976 to Ronald and Eileen Dautel.

Jackie and Brad Nothdurft spent 23 years loving each other’s companionship, living life to the fullest.

Her passion was being a mother to Jaron. She enjoyed...

Twila Mae Hawbaker

Twila Mae Hawbaker

Jun 22, 2025

Twila Mae (Cloyd) Hawbaker passed away June 22, 2025, at the age of 78 in Rawlins, Wyoming surrounded by her family after a short battle with health issues.

Twila was born October 21, 1946, in Hamburg, Iowa to parents Vernon Leroy “Jack” Cloyd and Ruby Mae (Keys) Cloyd.

She attended school in Estherville, Iowa and graduated in 1964. She attended Peru State...

Lucille Koop

Lucille Koop

Jun 15, 2025

Elizabeth Lucille Koop, 92, of Burlington, Colorado passed away on Sunday morning, June 15, 2025, at the Kit Carson County Memorial Hospital.

Lucille was born on the family homestead between Vona, CO and Kirk, CO on December 20, 1932, to Arthur and Sadie (Clair) Finley. She graduated from Kirk High School in 1950. On July 30th of the same year, she...