All Obituaries

Frances Maxine (Deaver) Sauer, 93, of Sabetha, Kansas passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 16, 2020 at the Sabetha Manor. Frances was born November 30, 1926 the seventh of seven children born in Sabetha, Kansas to Fred and Sarah (Bestwick) Deaver. Frances grew up in Sabetha, and later moved to Topeka with her husband and children. After her husband’s death, she returned to Sabetha to raise her children. Frances began working for the Sabetha school system in 1972, and continued...

Leo Maurice Sanders, 89, of Seneca, Kansas passed away Tuesday, January 7, 2020 at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital. Leo was born April 27, 1930 in Beattie, Kansas the son of Joseph Waldo and Arcenia (Crevier) Sanders.  Leo married Kate Carpenter on December 3, 1955 and together they lived in the surrounding area for 63 years. Leo and Kate owned and operated three successful businesses in the surrounding area. Leo was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Kate on July 12,...

Betty Jean (Smith) Lortscher, 82, of Bern, Kansas, was called home to her Lord, surrounded by her family on Saturday, January 4, 2020, at the Sabetha Manor.  Betty was born July 23, 1937, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada to Herbert and Etta (Flynn) Smith.  In this home she learned to embrace family and love her Canadian Rocky Mountains.  She graduated from University of Alberta, Calgary with a BS in Education.  In 1971, she completed her master’s at Kansas State...

Carol Rippe, 72, of Sabetha, Kansas died unexpectedly at home on Monday, December 30, 2019. She was born in Tuscola, IL, to Charles and Martha (Bernhart) Barr. Her childhood was spent in numerous small towns across the Midwest. After graduating from high school in Paris, MO, she attended Culver Stockton College in Canton, MO, majoring in music theory and piano performance. She later received a master’s degree in music education from the University of Oklahoma and taught for several...

  Leila June (Reed) Nutter, 72, of Seneca, Kansas, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Saturday, December 28, 2019 at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital.  Leila was born to the late Irvin Reed and June (Anderson) Reed on September 14, 1947 in Holton.  She graduated from Soldier High School and from Clark’s School of Business in Topeka.  She married Lloyd Nutter on February 14, 1969 in Soldier, Kansas.  Lloyd and Leila raised their two...

  Lonny R. Gutknecht, 60, of Valley Falls, Kansas passed away Tuesday, December 24, 2019 at Midland Hospice in Topeka. Lonny was born March 18, 1959 in Sabetha, Kansas the son of Max and Annie (Combs) Gutknecht. He attended Sabetha schools and graduated from Sabetha High School in 1978. After high school Lonny joined the Army National Guard. Lonny loved listening to the radio and enjoyed country music.  Lonny was preceded in death by his parents; and his brother, Kenneth...

Keith Anthony Moore, 61, of Sabetha died Thursday, December 19, 2019 at Stormont-Vail Hospital in Topeka surrounded by his family.  Keith was born on December 8, 1958 in Sabetha, Kansas the son of Keith Brooks and Lucille Moore.  In Keith’s early years, he graduated from Sabetha High School and gained employment as a laborer.  He enjoyed fishing, although he was allergic.  He also loved to play guitar and was an avid coin collector. Keith was preceded in death by...

The family of Mavis Marti wishes to share the news of her passing on Thursday, December 12, 2019, at the age of 93. Mavis was the wife of Leroy Marti, who preceded her in death. She was the mother of Sharon (Ron) Duryea and Linda Marti. She will be remembered with love by her grandchildren, Liese (Bruce) Haverkamp and Cindy (Matt) Broxterman; great grandchildren, Jordyn (Kyler) Emert, Kelsey Haverkamp, Treven Broxterman, and Kilyn Broxterman; and great-great granddaughter,Willa Emert. She...

Martha Joan (Koehler) Robinson, 94, of Sabetha, Kansas went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Monday, December 9, 2019. Martha was born September 27, 1925 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania the daughter of Charles and Rose (Beck) Koehler. She graduated from Frankford High School in Philadelphia in 1943. Martha married James B. Robinson on September of 1948. To this union were born five children. She also lavished her love on fourteen foster children. She was always singing or...

Reuben E. Spellmeier, 70, of Sabetha, Kansas passed away Friday, December 6, 2019 at the Sabetha Community Hospital. Reuben was born April 23, 1949 in Holton, Kansas the son of Marvin and Paulene (Puvogel) Spellmeier. He was raised in Fairview, Kansas. Reuben served in the United States Army and was based in Germany. He was honorably discharged on November 30, 1970 as SP5. He was united in marriage to Mary Ann Rusche on February 5, 1972. Reuben worked at The Creamery and Wenger...