Obituaries

Jan 12, 2026

Almetha Mendenhall, a beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, joined her husband Eldon Mendenhall in heaven on January 12, 2026, passing away at Prairie Senior Living Complex in Colby, Kansas. Born on September 2, 1931, the second oldest child of Richard F. and Magdaline (Kreutzer) Brungardt, she grew up on a farm south of Hoxie, Kansas with her siblings Pauline,...

Jan 11, 2026

Larry Leroy Booth, age 93, of Colby, Kansas, passed away on Sunday, January 11, 2026, at the Citizens Medical Center in Colby. He was born June 15, 1932, in Kansas City, Kansas, to Leroy Camille and Dorothy Helene (Hall) Booth.

Larry graduated from Wyandotte High School in Kansas City. He joined the United States Marines and fought in the Korean conflict,...

Jan 11, 2026

Lisa Diane (Kough) Schroeder, daughter of Harry “Conrad” Kough and Betty Ann (Ryan) Kough, was born April 15, 1966, in Scott City, Kansas. She passed away peacefully at her home near Colby, Kansas, surrounded by her family, on January 11, 2026.

Lisa was united in marriage to Kriss Schroeder on March 14, 1986, at the First Baptist Church in Scott City,...

Dec 30, 2025

Bradley Billingsley, 71, of La Crosse, KS, died Wednesday, December 30, 2025, in Colby, KS. He was born November 19, 1954, in Hays, KS to Wayne Billingsley and Althea Marie (Orth) Bieker.

He enjoyed fishing, riding motorcycles, playing disc golf and spending time with his family, pets and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother, Jimmy Harrell.

He...

Dec 29, 2025

Dec 29, 2025

Angel Gonzales Salinas, 68, of Colby, died Monday, December 29, 2025. He was born and raised in Urireo, Guanajuato, Mexico. He was the son of Luz Salinas and Ofelia Gonzales and completed his primary education in his hometown through the sixth grade. He was part of a large family with six brothers and four sisters.

At the age of 16, Angel...

Dec 29, 2025

Alvin “Alvie” Bieker, Atwood’s Chief Ambassador, was born in Hays, KS on January 12, 1953, the son of John and Alvina (Degenhardt) Bieker. He came to the Prairie Development Center (PDC) when it opened in Atwood in 1975, coming from the Kansas Neurological Institute in Topeka, KS. Then the PDC was an affiliate site of Homer B. Reed Adult Training...

Dec 27, 2025

Ruth May Grace was born on September 30, 1930, at Mercy Hospital in Denver, Colorado, to Leonard Wallace Grace and Mary Baldwin Grace. She was raised in Denver, attending Columbine Grade School and graduating from Manual Training High School in 1948. Ruth received a scholarship to Loretto Heights and completed her first year of nursing education at Mercy Hospital. After...

Dec 22, 2025

Dec 18, 2025

Darrell Leon Mickey was born to Coy Malone Mickey and Agnes (Cloe) Mickey on November 6, 1945, in Benkelman, NE. His life of 80 years ended suddenly Thursday, December 18, 2025, at Omaha University Hospital with his wife and children by his side.

Darrell grew up living with his parents and siblings, David, Sue, Coy, John, and Mary Emma, in Bird...

Dec 16, 2025

John Wesley Cooper, 49, died Tuesday, December 16, 2025, in Wayne, Nebraska. John graduated from Colby High School in 1995, from there John wore many hats ranging from tire tech to kitchen supervisor. Most of all the hat he wore best was beloved father, brother, and son.Throughout his life, John enjoyed an array of activities whether it be spending time...

Dec 12, 2025

Alfreda Lorene Stephens passed away peacefully on December 12, 2025, in Oakley, Kansas. She was born October 30, 1924, at the family home in rural Sheridan County, Kansas, to John and Katherine (Zimmerman) Kruse. The sixth of twelve children, Alfreda learned early the importance of responsibility and a sense of humor while helping care for her six rowdy younger brothers.

She...

Nov 30, 2025

Pauline Fishel, 88, of Colby, Kansas, passed away on Sunday, November 30, 2025, at Fairview Estates, Colby.

She was born on August 28, 1937, in Hill City, KS, to Lewis and Maude Dean. On December 20, 1958, she married the love of her life, Duane Herbert Fishel of Bemidji, MN. Pauline and Duane shared 65 wonderful years of marriage before his...

Nov 22, 2025

Lois Nell Cogdill Van Horn’s passion to explore this “big, wide, wonderful world” took her from a small farm south of Menlo, Kansas, to all 48 contiguous states and more than ten countries. Born to Artie and Lillian (Schropp) Cogdill, Lois was the middle child of five. She, her three sisters, and her younger brother attended the local county school,...

Nov 21, 2025

The Rev. Shirley May (Pollock) Barnum, age 95, died November 21, 2025, at Colby, Kansas where she had lived since 2012.

She was born Feb. 21, 1930, in Tulsa, Okla, the daughter of Elmer William and Edna Irene (Woodmansee) Pollock. She had one older sister, Polly Jean. Shirley was baptized in Tulsa’s First Methodist Church on Palm Sunday in 1933, and...

Nov 21, 2025

Deborah Hatfield, 61, of Brewster, died Friday, November 21, 2025. She was born April 4, 1964, in Winnebago, MN, to Herald and Darlene (Carroll) Hatfield. Deb graduated from Colby High School and went on to work in the construction field, painting. She always loved animals, especially her cats and dogs. She enjoyed family gatherings and was always willing to help...

Nov 18, 2025

Nov 17, 2025

Dixie Marie (Black) Fields of Menlo, KS passed away November 17, 2025. She was born on August 5, 1955, to Carl Duane and Darlene Faye (Larson) Black.

She grew up in Oberlin, Kansas and graduated from Decatur County High School in 1973.

While still in high school, she was introduced to the love of her life, Richard Fields, by his best friend,...

Nov 16, 2025

Lila D. Jenkins, lovingly known to many as “Aunt Lila” or “Aunt Bea,” passed away peacefully on November 16, 2025, in Tribune, Kansas, at the age of 78. She was born on October 4, 1947, in Wickes, Arkansas, to James Nolan Jenkins and Ora Minnie Demorest Jenkins.

Lila grew up in a large and loving family. She was preceded in death...

Nov 15, 2025

Myrtle Alice Ludlow, 86, of Laramie, WY, died Saturday, November 15, 2025. She was born December 7, 1938, in Greeley, CO, to Abram Lee and Herma Ruth (Hoff) Helton. Myrtle grew up in Greeley and graduated from Greeley High School in 1956.After high school Myrtle moved to Washington, DC with her sister LouVerne, and worked at a bank before eventually...