Obituaries

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Mary Kathryn Koetkemeyer, of Salina, Kan., a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, who left this world on May 18, 2025, at 93.

Darrel Gene Hoelscher, 67, of Bushton, Kan., passed away May 16, 2025, at Wesley Towers, Hutchinson, Kan. He was born April 4, 1958, in Lyons, Kan., the son of Verl and Arla May (Kitchen) Hoelscher. Darrel was a lifetime Bushton resident.

Nathaniel Britan “Nate” Dold, 18, of Sterling, Kan., passed away May 15, 2025, in rural Ellsworth, Kan. He was born Jan. 3, 2007, in Lawrence, Kan., the son of Paul and Deanna “DeeDee” (Clark) Dold. Nate was a lifelong Sterling resident.

Sally Joy (Berry) Bouska passed away peacefully on Friday, May 9, 2025. At the time of death, Sally was surrounded by her husband, Chuck, and their three sons, Seth, Scott and Sasha. Sally was born in Omaha, Neb., to Lyle Edward Berry and Merilee Rhea (Mattox) Berry.

Katharina “Kitty” Hill, 92, passed away Friday, April 18, 2025 in Salina, Kan. She was born July 4, 1932, in Mörfelden, Germany, to Georg and Katharina (Ecker) Westermeir. Kitty married William R. “Bob” Hill, Jr. at Rhein-Main Air Base in Germany on Nov. 12, 1956.

Judy Vasquez, 77, of Bushton, Kan., passed away April 11, 2025, at her home.She was born July 13, 1947, in Clovis, N.M., the daughter of Thomas and Aurora (Garcia) Sandoval. Judy resided in Bushton since 2005, formerly of Chase, Kan., and Clovis.She was a homemaker.

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.

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.