Obituaries

(1950-2026)Willis J. McClure, 76, of Ellsworth, Kan., passed away on his birthday, Sept. 19, 2026, at Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice in Wichita, Kan. He was born Sept. 19, 1950, in Kansas City, Kan., the son of Willis Stephen McClure and Blanche Lucille Adams McClure.

(1944-2026)Diane M. Krupp, 82, passed away Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Wichita, Kan. She was born Feb. 22, 1944, in Great Bend, Kan., to Melvin and Angela (Penka) Weers. Diane married John Wayne Krupp in Great Bend on March 27, 1982.

(1951-2026)Judy Lynn Novotny, 74, of Russell, Kan., passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, at Wheatland Nursing Center in Russell.Judy was born on Nov. 15, 1951, in Goodland, Kan., to John and Erma (Anderson) Hoss. She was raised in Russell and graduated from Russell High School.

(1948-2026)Kathy Lynn Sneath, 78, of Geneseo, Kan., passed away Sept. 17, 2026, at her home. She was born Sept. 14, 1948, in Great Bend, Kan., the daughter of Edwin and JoAnne Adams. Kathy had resided in Geneseo since 1969, formerly of Sterling, Kan.

(1932-2026)Mildred Virginia Holecek, 94, of Russell, Kan., died on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, at the Wheatland Nursing Center in Russell.Virginia was born on April 22, 1932, in Tribbey, Okla., the daughter of James Franklin and Cleo Beatrice (Thompson) Judy.

(1951-2026)Darris Keith Larson, 75, of Salina, passed into heaven on Sept. 25, 2026. He was born on Feb. 21, 1951, the first son of Robert and Louise Larson of Marquette, Kan.

Christopher Charles Behrens(1973-2026)Christopher Charles Behrens passed away at his home, surrounded by his family, on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. He was born March 5, 1973, in Ellsworth, Kan., the son of Elmer and Shirley (Lyne) Behrens.

(1937-2026)Thayer Lowell Smith, 88, of Ellsworth, died Sept.24, 2026, after a long battle with cancer.

(1948-2026)Ann P. Kaiser peacefully passed away on Sept. 13, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn.

(1930-2026)Betty Jean (Langerman) Heinze died Sept. 13, 2026, at Salina Regional Hospital. She was born on Nov. 26, 1930, in Ellsworth, Kan. Betty graduated from Wilson High School. She was united in marriage to her high school sweetheart, Earl Robert Heinze, on Aug. 15, 1948.