Obituaries

Dustin A. Petty, 44, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2023, in Ellsworth County. He was born Aug. 7, 1979, in Topeka, Kan., to Randall Joe and Carman (Flott) Petty. He met Kayla Maze in July 2014. After enjoying five years together, they were united in marriage in Ellsworth on July 5, 2019.

Jesus carried Karen Bircher Murphy home the evening of Oct. 18, 2023, after an intense, but brief illness. She was born Nov. 13, 1952, to Donald and Wadona (Heitschmidt) Bircher in Ellsworth, Kan. Four years later her sister, Sherry, joined the family.

Linda Jean Mowery-Denning, 74, of Salina, Kan., passed away Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023.Linda was born April 8, 1949, in Kansas City, Mo. She was raised by her parents, Ralph S. Mowery and Veora Mowery in Bluffton, Ind. She married Peter Alan Denning of Salina on Sept. 4, 1982.

Paul G. Wagner, 87, passed away Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, in Ellsworth. He was born Aug. 23, 1936, in Hastings, Neb., to Fred and Rose (Essinger) Wagner.After graduating college, Paul served in the U.S. Army before going to work for JCPenney, where he retired as the district operations manager.

Kenneth J. “Kenny” Soukup passed away on Oct. 22,2023, at his home in Wilson, Kan., at the age of 76. He was born on April 25, 1947, to Adolph and Helen (Podlena) Soukup in Ellsworth, Kan. He was married on May 7, 1971, to Judith Pasek.

Esther Muro, 95, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023 at her home in Kanopolis, Kan. She was born July 22, 1928, in Ellsworth, Kan., to Urbano Perez, Sr. and Emma (Ortiz) Perez. Esther was a lifetime resident of Kanopolis, where she married Refugio Muro on July 19, 1952.

Galen “Yellow Jacket” Spencer Keaton, age 77, of rural Bonner Springs, Kan., passed away on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, at his home while surrounded by his loving family. His family is planning a private graveside committal in the Kalida Cemetery near Yates Center, Kan.

Melva Jean Johnson (nee Huseman) of Hartland, Wis., passed peacefully in her sleep at the age of 88 on Oct. 17, 2023. Melva was born Aug. 14, 1935, to Elmer and Flora (Nienke) Huseman at Kanopolis, Kan.

Verl G. Deming, 72, passed away Sunday, Oct, 22, 2023, in Salina, Kan. He was born Sept. 18, 1951, in Ellsworth, Kan., to Earl J. “Bud” Deming, Jr. and Violet L. (Kempke) Deming. Verl was a lifetime resident of Ellsworth, where he married Anne Havlik on July 31, 1982. He was a member of St.

Seth Ray Svaty, 46, died surrounded by family on Oct. 11, 2023, after a two-year battle with colorectal cancer. He was born on March 22, 1977, in the Great Bend Hospital to Don and Niki (Ray) Svaty. A resident of Sterling, Kan., Seth was raised on a farm outside Ellsworth, Kan.