Obituaries
Shirley Long
Dec 16, 2024
Shirley Ruth Long, (Mosburg), retired RN and homemaker, died December 16, 2024 in Leonardville KS. She was born February 10, 1933 on the family farm near Clay Center, KS. The first child of Ernest and Viola Mosburg, she attended Hannibal Country School and graduated from Clay County Community High School in 1951. Shirley met Walter Long at an Easter Sunrise...
Craig Alan Gibson
Dec 16, 2024
Craig Alan Gibson, age 79, passed away while vacationing in San Antonio, Texas on December 13, 2024, due to complications of a fall. He was born in Wichita, Kansas on April 6, 1945, and shortly after, was adopted by his loving parents, Beulah and William “Lee” Gibson. He graduated from Valley Center High School, Butler County Community College, and St....
Fern Lillian Stovall
Dec 16, 2024
Our beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great-great grandmother, Fern Lillian Stovall, 96, passed away and into the arms of her Heavenly Father on December 16, 2024.
Fern was born on September 27, 1928, to Vevia and Joseph Spangler.
On February 13, 1947, Fern married Milford Stovall and they resided in Peabody, Kansas and later in Newton, Kansas. They were married for...
Donald D Moody
Dec 12, 2024
On December 12, Donald “Don” Dee Moody joined his beloved wife Mildred “Tudy” Moody in heaven. Don was born in Wichita, Kansas on January 12, 1936 to R. Lee Moody and Anna B. Skor Moody. He was preceded in death by his twin brother, David Moody, brothers Bruce and Mike Moody and his granddaughter, Stacy Faye Rivera along with his...
Kevin D. Meadows
Dec 10, 2024
Kevin Dee Meadows, 57, passed away on December 10, 2024, in Wichita, Kansas.
He was born on March 4, 1967 in Burlington, CO, to Robert Meadows and Charlene (Wilhelm) Wagner. He grew up in the Mulvane area and had many ties to the Emporia and Topeka area. For the last 8 years he lived in Peabody.
Kevin attended VoTech of Emporia, earning...
Duane C Miles
Dec 8, 2024
Duane C Miles age 76 passed away peacefully on Sunday December 8, 2024 at Newton Medical Center. He was born May 1, 1948 in Newton to Clayton and Dorothy Miles. Duane graduated from Newton High School in 1966 and went on to Southwestern College where he earned a Business degree.
In 1977 he married Jennifer (Kuhlman) in Wichita, KS. They have...
Steven Smet
Dec 7, 2024
Steve Smet died peacefully at his home in Newton, Kansas on December 7, 2024.
He is preceded in death by his mother, Diane. Steve was a devoted husband and a great father. He leaves his wife, Connie; father, Ron; four daughters, Megan (Michael), Alissa (James), Michelle (Jeff), and Amanda (Loren); and one son, Corey (Kristin). He was the proud grandfather of...
Sara Jean Gillaspie
Dec 2, 2024
Sara Jean (Johnson) Gillaspie, 76, of Enid, Oklahoma died and went peacefully to join Dan, her beloved husband of nearly 50 years in the arms of her Heavenly Father on December 2, 2024 at Comfort Care Homes in Newton, Kansas.
She was born on March 19, 1948 in Grinnell, Iowa and grew up and graduated high school in Montezuma, Iowa. On...
Janora M Ratzlaff
Dec 1, 2024
Janora M. Ratzlaff, 84. Died the morning of December 1, 2024.
A more detailed obituary will be published at a later day.
Memorial suggestions: Mennonite Central Committee or Bethel College. Checks made out to either place may be left in the care of Petersen Funeral Home.
Donald Lee Woodward
Nov 27, 2024
Donald Lee Woodward was born on January 6, 1963, in Yarinacocha, Peru, to George and Phyllis (Brown) Woodward.
“Donny” grew up, barefoot and carefree, with his sister Lois and brother Tom in the Amazon jungle of Peru. His parents were missionaries with Wycliffe Bible Translators. Don loved waking up each morning to the chatter of tropical birds and monkeys, and to...
Fern Doris Koehn
Nov 23, 2024
Our beloved mother, Fern Koehn, 94, of Newton, passed away at home on Saturday, November 23, 2024. Born in Liberal, Kansas on August 5, 1930, she was the eldest daughter of Henry and Anna (Vogt) Epp. Fern’s family moved to Newton shortly after she was born. She attended Newton public schools and worked at Graves Drug Store, while in high...
Kurt David Friesen
Nov 22, 2024
Kurt David Friesen, 58, died unexpectedly from Amyloidosis on November 22, 2024.
Kurt was born at the Bethel Deaconess Hospital in Newton, Kansas, on April 19, 1966, to Joachim “Joe” and Lois (Weaver) Friesen. He and his older brother, Karl, loved to play along Rock Creek which ran through their farm before it reached the Whitewater River. To find the boys,...
Carmelita Decker
Nov 20, 2024
DECKER, Carmelita Maxine (McMillan) Decker, 92, of Newton, entered eternal rest November 20, 2024. She was born August 10, 1932, in Caney, Kansas to Clara Alice (Barnett), and Angus McMillan, she was their only child. Carmelita was raised with love and perseverance during The Great Depression on a small farm outside Elgin, Kansas where she attended an All-Grade Country School....
Chari Lynne Hayes
Nov 17, 2024
Chari Lynne Hayes passed away on November 17, 2024. She leaves behind her husband of almost 30 years Kevin Hayes, daughter Kara Hayes, sisters Linda Elois (Walton) Smith, Alice Marie Walton, Lorese Annette Walton, and a host of nieces, nephews, and those she called grandchildren.
Chari Lynne Walton was born February 19, 1961 in Newton Kansas to Milton Walton and Mary...
Gladys C Graber
Nov 15, 2024
Gladys Carolyn Graber (née Gjerdevig), 96, entered into the presence of her Lord and Savior on November 15, 2024 in Newton, Kansas, of natural causes.
Gladys was born to Lars and Helena (Walde) Gjerdevig on October 3, 1928 in Alsen, North Dakota, the youngest of 4 children. Her siblings, who have preceded her, were Lenford (Devils Lake, N.D.), Ernest (Carrington, N.D.),...
Dudley LeRoy Dodgion Toevs
Nov 14, 2024
Dudley LeRoy Dodgion Toevs peacefully passed away on Novemeber 14, 2024.
He is preceded in death by many loved ones and leaves behind two daughters, Danielle and Dawn (married), several grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
A man of many hats, Dudley was a U.S. Veteran, Kansas native and a retired educator. His passion for music, history, Kansas, liberal arts, travel, and humanity were often...
Mary Ellen Avery
Nov 11, 2024
Mary Ellen (Smith) Avery was born on December 11, 1948, in El Reno, Oklahoma, the first child of Albert Marion Smith and Hazel Mae (Overholser) Smith. Mary died November 11, 2024 in Wichita, Kansas. Her family lived in El Reno, Oklahoma, Claytonia, Nebraska, and Ft. Worth, Texas before moving to Peabody, Kansas in 1958. She graduated from Peabody High School...
Alma Elizabeth Gordon
Nov 9, 2024
Alma Elizabeth (Simons) Gordon, 100, died peacefully on November 9, 2024, in Hesston, Kansas.
Alma was born on August 14, 1924, in Sparks, Nebraska, the fourth out of nine children born to Joseph and Elizabeth Mae (Hayford) Simons. She grew up in Nebraska and South Dakota.
Alma married Charles Patrick Marshall on June 17, 1942, in Nenzel, Nebraska. Together they had seven...
Robert R. Hatton
Nov 8, 2024
Robbie Hatton was born on September 26th, 1970, in Delhi New York, he passed unexpectedly in his home on November 8th, 2024, in Newton Kansas. He moved to Kansas with his family in 1974.
Robbie was an avid artist who spent countless hours drawing portraits and sports memorabilia. His love for drawing started at a very young age and he received...
Jack Lee Kater
Nov 8, 2024
Jack L Kater 89, died November 8, 2024. He was born July 24, 1935, in Newton, Kansas to Otto and Ella (Schmidt) Kater. On July 7, 1962, he married Sharol A. Wood.
Jack attended schools in Cedar Point and Sedgwick, graduating from Sedgwick High School. He was a talented athlete and played football, basketball, and track. He was a member of...


