Betty A Reed, 78, Topeka, passed away on Thursday, April 9, 2009, at Rolling Hills Health Center. She was born March 17, 1931, at Ottumwa, KS to Raymond and Lottie Anderson. Betty was united in marriage to Don Reed on June 17, 1950. He preceded her in death on January 3, 2003.Betty grew up in Burlington, KS and graduated from...

Nancy L. Cude, 72, of Topeka, passed away on Tuesday, April 7, 2009 at her home. She was born on May 22, 1936 in Topeka, the daughter of John L. and Susie M. Wood Bennett.She attended Topeka High School. She was employed as a claims representative for Monarch Insurance for 15 years before retiring. Nancy married James R. Hensley on...

Charles J. Kettterman, 78, of Wakarusa, died Wednesday, April 8, 2009, at Midland Hospice House. He was born April 29, 1930 in Brownton, West Virginia, the son of Charles and Ariona Ketterman.Charles grew up in Brownton, and moved to Topeka in 1949 where he was stationed at Forbes Air Force Base. After the Air Force, he worked in construction and...

James T. "JT" McBride, 82, Topeka, passed away on Wednesday, April 8, 2009 at a local hospital. JT was born September 27, 1926 in Warren, AR, the son of Kelly and Virginia (House) McBride. He grew up in both Warren and Banks, AR.He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was employed as an Iron worker for...

James Edward Oelke, 72, Topeka, passed away on Tuesday, April 7, 2009 at a local hospital.Jim was born March 7, 1937 in Topeka, the son of Lester and Minnie (Holmes) Oelke. He graduated from Highland Park High School. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1955 to 1957.He was a purchaser for Santa Fe Railroad for 19 years, retiring in...

Paul F. Lentz, 51, of Lyndon, KS, passed away on Sunday, April 5, 2009, following a courageous battle with cancer. He was born April 29, 1957 in Omaha, NE, the son of Paul F. Lentz and Donna Belle (Barnhouse) Lentz. Paul married Trisha Tracy on September 14, 1990 in Omaha, NE. She survives. He is also survived by his son,...

Glenn M. Wilson, 87, passed away on Sunday, April 5, 2009, at the Midland Hospice House. He was born on June 17, 1921, in Topeka, Kansas. Glenn attended Topeka public schools and graduated from Topeka High School in 1939. He married Mary Sams on August 22, 1941. Glenn joined the military in 1942 and became a Master Sergeant of the...

Gloria May Warren, 79, Topeka, died Sunday, April 5, 2009, at her home. She was born November 26, 1929, in Topeka, the daughter of Adrian & Emily (Himmel) Ford. She grew up in Topeka, graduated from Topeka High School, and attended Clark's Business School.Gloria married Elmer Warren on Oct. 13, 1948, in Topeka. He preceded her in death on Aug....

Kenneth Eugene Hilliard, 80, of Topeka, passed away on Wednesday, April 1, 2009 after a lengthy illness. Kenneth was born on November 19, 1928, the son of the late Ernest and Grace Johnson Hilliard, of Pratt, KS. He retired from Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in 1986 after serving for 38 years. He was a member of the Highland Park United...

Ellen C. Swarts, 79, of Topeka, passed away Thursday, April 2, 2009 at Aldersgate Village.She was born August 12, 1929 in Topeka, the daughter of Lloyd and Dorothy (Elkins) Holden. She graduated from Seaman High School. Ellen and her husband owned and operated the Swarts Clothing Store in Osage City. She was also employed by the Citizens State Bank in...

Bonita Maxine Blakeman, 89 of Topeka, passed away on Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at Plaza West Regional Health Center. She was born on April 17, 1919 in Kansas City, MO to Leslie James Masonhall and Esther Ellen (Hathaway) Masonhall. On September 23, 1940 she married Glen D. Blakeman in Waterloo, IA. Mrs. Blakeman grew up and attended school in Postville,...

Helen Louise Smith King, 83, of Topeka, formerly of Manhattan, passed away on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at Brewster Health Center in Topeka. She was born on May 18, 1925 in Manhattan, the daughter of Murrill and Etta M. Fair Smith. She graduated from Manhattan High School in 1943 and from Kansas State University in 1947 with a BS/Home Economics...

Charles R. Isaacs, 81, of Topeka, passed away on Friday, March 27, 2009 at his home. He was born on December 21, 1927 in Bogard, Missouri, the son of Bert F. and Laveta Redding Isaacs. He served in the Army for 22 years during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He owned and operated Isaacs Garage in Pauline for over 20...

James A. Stevens, 44, Topeka, passed away on Saturday, March 28, 2009 at a local hospital.James was born January 6, 1965 in Stephenville, Newfoundland, the son of Ronald and Emmy Lou (Scribner) Stevens. He held dual citizenship in both the United States and Canada. He grew up in Massachusetts, Okinawa, Japan, Maine and Kansas. He attended elementary school in Okinawa,...

Jackie Dean Thrasher, 59, of Topeka, passed away on Thursday, March 26, 2009 at his home. He was born on February 21, 1950 in Dyce, Arkansas, the son of Thomas W. and Daisy Houser Thrasher. Jackie resided in Amarillo, TX prior to moving to Topeka in 1996. He had worked in the construction field before becoming disabled. Jackie married Jan...

Leatha Louise Worthington, 86, of Lecompton, passed away on March 21, 2009 at Midland Hospice House in Topeka.She was born in 1922, daughter of Anna Nichols Walter and August Walter of Lawrence, Kansas. Leatha was married to C.A. "Art" Worthington on August 2, 1946 in Stull, Kansas. He preceded her in death on December 7, 1997. She is survived by...

Cristy Colson, 49, Burlingame, passed away on Friday, March 20, 2009 at her home.Cristy was born November 27, 1959 in Mt. Carmel, IL, the daughter of Leo and Esther Ramsey. Cristy married Wes Colson on May 28, 1999 in Hutchinson, He survives. Other survivors include son, Jake Whitmore, Osage City; daughter, Jesse Whitmore, Burlingame; grandchildren, Natalee and Jakobe Whitmore, Osage...

Emilio Zambrano, 97, Topeka, passed away Sunday, March 15, 2009, at Clarian Arnett Hospital in Lafayette, IN.Mr. Zambrano worked for Lewis Realtor until he retired.He was born May 21, 1911 in San Luis, Cuba and was one of 13 children. He migrated to the U.S. in 1971 and later became a U.S. Citizen.Emilio loved spending time with friends and family....

Merlin E. "Buster" Ottesen, 85, of Topeka, was called home by the Lord on Sunday, March 15, 2009 at Midland Hospice House in Topeka. He was born on May 1, 1923 in Hunter, ND, the son of Fredrick C. and Sofie Larsen Ottesen. He worked on the family farm prior to enlisting in the Army where he served during WWII....

Cynthia Kay Chambers, 54, of Topeka, passed away on Thursday, March 12, 2009 at a Topeka hospital. She was born on November 9, 1954 in Topeka, the daughter of the late Robert W. and Daneva Alta Joyce Chambers, Sr. She graduated from Highland Park High School in 1972. She then received a BA in Elementary Education from Washburn University in...