Obituaries

Yolanda S. Pruitt, 71, passed away Friday, April 11, 2025, in Ellsworth, Kan. She was born March 29, 1954, in Ellsworth to Refugio and Esther (Perez) Muro. Yolanda was a long-time resident of the Ellsworth and Kanopolis, Kan.

Brody Carl Pflughoeft, age 13, died April 10, 2025, at Wesley Medical Center, Wichita, Kan. He was born April 25, 2011, at Salina, Kan., the son of Timothy and Brenda (Steinert) Pflughoeft. Brody was an eighth grader at Central Plains Junior High School, Claflin, Kan.

Luetta Mae Havlik, 94, of Ellsworth, Kan., passed away Wednesday, April 9, 2025.Luetta “Lu” was born May 21, 1930, on a farm near Yates Center, Kan., to parents Clarence and Nina (Mulsow) Steele.

Denny E. Helvey, 92, of Salina, Kan., formerly of Ellsworth, Kan., and Hunter, Kan., passed away on Sunday, March 30, 2025.Denny was the only child, born to Jack and Vergie Helvey in Victor, Kan., on March 20, 1933.

Alice Jean Kaufman, 95, passed away March 31, 2025. She was born on Dec. 23, 1929, in Wilson, Kan., to Henry and Anna (Steinle) Major. She graduated from Dorrance High School in 1947.

Devon Lee Modrow, 26, of Independence, Mo., passed away on March 23, 2025, at Centerpoint Medical Center in Independence, Mo. He was born on March 30, 1998, in Salina, Kan.Devon is survived by his mother Shawna Davies, Junction City, Kan.

Trevin John Behnke, 21, passed away March 25, 2025, at Wesley Medical Center, Wichita, Kan. He was a sweet, caring little boy, born on Sept. 23, 2003, at the Rice County District Hospital, Lyons, Kan., to Christopher Behnke and Christle Estabrook.

After a long health battle with cancer, Barbara J. Knight transitioned to her final resting place on March 18, 2025, at Salina Presbyterian Manor in Salina, Kan.Mrs. Knight was born Aug. 27, 1933, in Ellsworth, Kan., the daughter of Arthur Henry and Ruth Viola (Keesee) Jordan.

 Dale M. Rathbun, 92, passed away Friday, March 7, 2025, in Lincoln, Kan. He was born Oct. 20, 1932, in Lincoln County to Newton and Jenny (Stewart) Rathbun. Dale married Joyce E. LaShell in Lincoln on Nov. 4, 1951. He was a longtime resident of the area, where he worked at Quartzite Stone Co.

Shellie L. Hennings, 46, passed away Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, at her home in Ellsworth, Kan. She was born July 6, 1978, in Clear Lake City, Texas, to David Spence and Gloria Sutton.Shellie is survived by her mother, Gloria Haire, Ellsworth; father David Spence, DeFuniak Springs, Fla.