Betty J. Davis, 87, Minneapolis, died Tuesday, February 2, 2016 at the Ottawa County Health Center. She was born December 1, 1928 to Ora F. and Lona V. (Robinson) Robbins.
Pauline “Bea” Rodriguez, 77, of Salina, passed away Sunday, January 31, 2016. She was born April 28, 1938 in Kanopolis, KS.
She was employed several years by the county and state.
Pauline was an active member with her local and Hispanic churches. She did ministry work at the Ellsworth prison, a mission to the Dominican Republic and ministry outreach to those in need.
She held state and national positions with the American GI Forum, a congressionally chartered veterans and civil rights organization and was a former board member of the YWCA and volunteered at the Salvation Army.
Pauline was preceded in death by her parents, Manuel and Pauline (Torrez) Gonzales; husband, J. Q. Rodriguez; son, Larry Piercy; brothers, John and Francis “Stan” Gonzales; and sister, Mary Moore.
Survivors include her sons, Joseph, Vincent, Christopher (Emilia), Mark, and Louis Rodriguez; daughters, Linda (Gary) Worth, Helen Piercy and Teresa Rodriguez; brothers, Paul, Pete, Joe, and Robert Gonzales; 17 grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren.
Visitation will be Thursday, February 4, 2016 from 2-8 with family receiving guests from 6-8 at Roselawn Heights Memorial Chapel, 1920 East Crawford, Salina.
Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m., Friday, February 5, 2016 at Emmanuel Foursquare Church, 1325 E. Cloud St, Salina. Burial will take place in Roselawn Memorial Park.
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Wendell Eugene McIntosh, 86, Salina, died January 30, 2016. He was born July 15, 1929 in Missouri Valley, Iowa, the son of Oscar and Josephine (Shannon) McIntosh.Wendell worked for USD 305 for 29 years as a custodian. He was a Korean War Veteran and loved woodworking, gardening, western movies and spending time with family.
He was preceded in death by 4 brothers and 10 sisters. Wendell married Lillian Mae Gott on December 27, 1951. She died Jan. 15, 2016.
Wendell is survived by his son, Randy McIntosh, and two daughters, Sandra Skytte (John) and Jennifer Barnes (James). He has six grandchildren and one great grand daughter, all of Salina.
Memorials services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 6, 2016 in the chapel at St. John’s Military School, Salina.
Memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association.
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Marion, Kansas, has lost a local beloved historian. Cynthia Maxwell Blount, Lifetime Girl Scout, community volunteer, and Director of the Marion Museum, passed away at her home on January 30, 2016. Cynthia was born February 10, 1955, to Jack and Ella Swain in Houston, Texas. Cynthia was married February 14, 1973, to Richard Paul Blount of Monahans, Texas. She and Richard gave birth to 4 girls, Jennifer, Sarah, and twins Catherine and Suzanne while they traveled to various global locations for his work. After moving to Marion in 1984, Cynthia began dedicating her time to Girl Scouts in order to spend more time with her daughters. She volunteered as Junior and Senior Girl Scout leaders and served as the Cottonwood Cove Day Camp Director for four years. She was a mentor to all the girls who knew her, and troop members and adult volunteers have many happy memories of scouting and friendship. Cynthia also dedicated herself to volunteering at Marion City Library. It was at the Marion Museum she discovered her true passion for history. Initially, Cynthia co-volunteered with her parents, Jack and Ella Swain during the summers. She eventually became the Museum Director, and with her parents’ help, she developed professional exhibits and a genealogical research center. Cynthia worked tirelessly to help research visitors’ ancestry, trade anecdotal stories, support community events, and promote Marion’s history whenever she could. Cynthia lived to laugh, and her laugh and sense of humor was contagious. Cynthia could always hold an engaging conversation, even to complete strangers. Cynthia was an avid Sci-Fi, Beatles and Electric Light Orchestra fan, and has been a Trekkie since the original series debuted. As a mother, she was a compassionate listener, mediator, and motivator. To her mother, she was a constant companion. As a wife, she was supportive and strong through their 42 years together. To her grandchildren, she was THE grandma to visit. Cynthia was beloved by all who knew and loved her, and she will be greatly missed. We are lucky to have known her.Preceding her in death is her father, Jack Swain and son-in-law Stephen Solomon. She is survived by her husband of 42 years, Richard Blount of Marion, Kansas; her mother, Ella Swain of Marion, Kansas; sister, Cecilie (Fred) Parker of Bella Vista, Arkansas; daughter Jennifer (Marc) Nuessen of Cheney, Kansas; daughter Sarah (Flint) Feathers of Conway Springs, Kansas; daughter Suzanne (Thad) Hubele of Gypsum, Kansas; daughter Catherine (David) Forsyth of Erie, Kansas; nephew Frederick (Becca) Parker of Bella Vista, Arkansas; her 12 grandchildren Decker, Robynn, Logan, Ariel, Arina, Brandon, Ian, Bishop, Rachel, Matt, Lauren, and Amelia; her two grandnieces Madison and Chloe; and her cat, Lucky. Visitation will be held at Zeiner Funeral Home, 205 Elm Street, Marion, Kansas on Wednesday February 3, 2016, from 5-7 p.m. Funeral Services will be held on February 4, 2016, at Eastmoor United Methodist Church, 105 Eastmoor Drive, Marion, Kansas, at 1 p.m. Graveside services will immediately follow at Marion Cemetery, and Reception will follow at Eastmoor Church. All are welcome. Her family asks that memorials be made to the Marion Museum, care of Zeiner Funeral Home.
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Ermadean Boardman, 80, passed away, Monday, February 1, 2016 in Hutchinson. She was born August 17, 1935, in Luray, KS, to Carl Lincoln and Hope Adelyne (Webster) Dillon.
A longtime resident of the Lorraine area, Ermadean was an office manager at Bushton grain elevator and an operations manager at Lorraine State Bank for 20 years. She attended the First Baptist Church, Lorraine where she was active in the Women’s Missionary Fellowship and taught Sunday school. She also spent time working with the Ellsworth Council on Aging. She married Marvin Boardman on April 6, 1954 in Lincoln, KS. He survives her.
Other survivors include daughters, Donna Moyer (William), Glenna Bain (Bill) both of Lorraine, and Marna Salts (Dan) of Skiatook, OK; grandchildren, Tammy Brooks (Richard), Nicki Myers, Vicki Myers-Wade, R. Tyson Moyer (Jessica), Jeffrey Moyer (Tina), Daniel Wimmer (Melissa), Joshua Wimmer (Kayla), Augustus Bain, David Cullison (Christy), Stephanie Jennings (Jason), Ashley Calkins (Brandon), and Danielle Matthews (Travis); 26 great grandchildren, 4 great-great grandchildren, sister, Barbara Moberly of Bartlesville, OK; aunts, June Book of Nampa, ID and Leona Webster of Lamar, CO; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and son-in-law, Dennis Myers.
Visitation: 1-8 p.m., Thursday, February 4, 2016 at Parsons Funeral Home, Ellsworth with family present, 6-8 p.m.
Funeral service: 10:30 a.m., Friday, February 5, 2016 at First Baptist Church, Lorraine.
Burial: 2:30 p.m., Friday at Vesper Cemetery, Vesper, KS.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church, Lorraine, c/o, Parsons Funeral Home, PO Box 45, Ellsworth, KS 67439.
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Beth (Ferguson) Tyler was born into this world June 4, 1925, to John Harold and Leatha (Bashford) Ferguson in Concordia, Kansas.
Being born very premature, she was not expected to survive and was not given a middle name because that would be “too much more weight to bear.” Yet, she survived until January 31, 2016, almost reaching the age of 91.
Beth grew up on the family farm in the beautiful hills and valley of White Rock Creek, northeast of Mankato. She attended Steuben rural school and Mankato High School where she graduated in 1943. Beth had a passion for mechanical drawing. After graduating, she went to Kansas State University, where Beth wanted to major in mechanical drawing. At that time this major was not open to women but they told her that if she could get two more women to enroll in that major, they would open it to them. So there was three in that major. After three semesters an illness forced her to return home.
In February 1945, Beth accepted a position with the War Department at the Topeka Army Air Field as an Engineering Draftsman. During this time she decided she wanted to learn to fly, Beth started taking flying lessons. There were days when she and the instructor were grounded until the holes in the canvas covered airplane could be patched. Beth was ready for solo flight when once again an illness requiring surgery forced her back home in October of 1945.
April 1946, Beth accepted a position with the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation as an Engineering Draftsman. Her duties included drafting plans and profiles of irrigation canals. On August 23, 1946, she resigned her position.
On September 1, 1946, Beth was united in marriage to Alva C. Tyler at the Methodist Church in Mankato, Kansas. To this union five children were born: James, a stillborn baby girl, Joe (William), Jack and Janet. They made their home on a farm northeast of Mankato were Beth was living her greatest passion of being a wife, mother, and homemaker. Later, in the 70’s, Beth was employed as a janitor with the Mankato School. After retirement, Beth enjoyed traveling and camping, with friends and neighbors.
Beth was a lifelong member of the Harmony United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Post No. 7830, and Friendship Circle Club, all of Mankato.
Beth and Alva celebrated 65 years of marriage. She was preceded in death by her husband, Alva, baby daughter, and her parents.
She is survived by her children: Jim and wife Alice Tyler of Hays, Kansas, Joe of Scandia, Kansas, Jack, Janie and Joel all of Mankato, Kansas; grandchildren: Trisa and Mike, Travis and Rachel, Kristopher, Joseph and Michele, Jacob, Jessa and Jordan, Bobi and Aaron, Chanse, Lara and Mitch, and Kari; step-grandchildren: Trevor, Trent, Taylar, and Tiarra; 10 great-grandchildren; brother: Dr. John and wife, Bonnie Ferguson; and a host of other relatives and friends.
A celebration of life will be (was) Thursday, February 4, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at Harmony United Methodist Church, Mankato, Kansas, with Pastor Gerry Sharp officiating. Mr. Lyle Dauner was the pianist. Casket bearers will be (were) Jordan Cousland, Mitch Ketterl, Aaron Cross, Brian Ferguson, Corey Ferguson, and Neil Becker. Honorary casket bearers will be (were) Jake Tyler, Joseph Tyler, Travis Tyler, Chanse Moser, Kris Tyler, and Mike Gongolas. Interment will be (was) in the Mount Hope Cemetery, Mankato, Kansas. The family suggests memorials to: Harmony United Methodist Church, Mankato, Kansas. Visitation will be (was) Wednesday, February 3, 2016, at the Melby Mortuary Chapel, Mankato, Kansas, from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with the family receiving friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday evening. Online condolences can be left at www.melbymortuary.com. Melby Mortuary, 402 N. High Street, Mankato, Kansas, was in charge of arrangements.
No one knows when Beth Accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, but be assured when God asked her why should I let you into My Glorious Kingdom, she will reply, because your son, Jesus paid the price for me! God reply’s – enter my kingdom my good and faithful servant.