Ruth Catherine Weeks, 92, of Salina, passed away Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016. She was born to Ted and Claudia (Mattson) Swedenburg in Smolan.
Ruth married Wayne Weeks on June 12, 1947. She is fondly remembered for being a part of the Weeks Grocery Store.
Ruth was very active in our community, volunteering at Asbury Hospital, The Food Bank, Meals on Wheels and the Red Cross. She served on the boards of Covenant Women and the Cancer Society. She was the proud organizer of The Covenant Women’s Annual Swedish Coffee and will always be remembered for her over 65 years playing the piano for the children of First Covenant Church.
Ruth was preceded in death by her husband; daughter, Linda Joy; and brothers, Charles and Everett Swedenburg.
She is survived by a son, Ted Weeks, of Anchorage, Alaska; daughter, Candy (Dennis) Johnson, of Salina; nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; brother, Romain Swedenburg; and sister, Doris Olson.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, Feb. 29, at First Covenant Church.
Memorials may be made to First Covenant Church, Alzheimer’s Association or American Cancer Society.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////
Joseph Martin Vail, of Salina, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016. Joseph was born Feb. 7, 1939, to his parents, Francis and Lilian Vail.
Joe grew up with his parents in DuBois, Pa., all the way through high school. After high school, he entered the United States Air Force, proudly serving his country from 1957 to 1961. While he was in the Air Force, he met and married the love of his life, Karen Connor. Joe and Karen lived in DuBois for seven years, and then moved to Salina for the remainder of his life. They spent a wonderful life together for more than 55 years. They had four beautiful children together, Lisa, Laura, Kathleen and Nancy. Laura passed at birth, and she is a loving part of the family to this day. Joe successfully provided for his family until his passing, working for Graves Truck Line as a dock worker and truck driver for more than 20 years. He also worked as a sales rep for Texas Refinery Corporation, and as a hobby he even had a lawn care business, which he really enjoyed.
Survivors include his wife, Karen, of the home; his daughters, Lisa (Britt) Keller, of Salina, Kathleen Vail, of Salina, and Nancy (David) Wright, of Lawrence.
He is also survived by nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Grandchildren include Ryan Lantz, Jason Lantz, Matthew Lantz, Troy Pretzer, Caitlin Pretzer, Sean Talbot, Brendan Pearson, Morgan Wright and Brooke Wright. Great-grandchildren include Tyler Warren, Ella Lantz, Easton Lantz, Parker Lantz and Aiden Pearson.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Francis and Lilian Vail; and daughter, Laura Vail.
A visitation will be held at Ryan Mortuary, Salina, from 4-8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 28. Family will be present at the visitation from 6-8. A funeral will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 230 E. Cloud Rd., Salina, at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 29, with burial services following at All Saints Catholic Cemetery in Salina.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, and may be sent to or left in care of Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. Eighth Street, Salina 67401.
///////////////////////////////////////////////
Iva Maxine Amess Rider, the daughter of Floyd M. and Laura E. Kolling Amess was born on a farm northeast of Detroit, Kansas February 25, 1920 in Dickinson County, and departed this life on February 26, 2016 at age 96. Her early years were spent on the family farm near Detroit and attended the Moonlight elementary school. She graduated from the Chapman High School in 1938.
She enjoyed her music lessons and being a member of the Harmony Hustlers 4-H Club. After graduation she worked at the A.L. Duckwall store in Abilene. On October 15, 1940 she was united in marriage to Ezra M. Rider in Junction City, Kansas. To this union two sons were born. Ezra preceded her in death August 1976.
She was a wife and homemaker, became an Avon representative, and worked at Dwight D. Eisenhower Center for twenty-two years retiring in 1989. In 1963 Ezra became the Undersheriff of Dickinson County and Maxine worked as an office secretary and dispatcher. They also maintained the County jail. In 1967 they built and maintained their own greyhound farm until Ezra’s death.
She leaves to morn her passing: her two sons, Dennis S. Rider, Solomon, Kansas and Kenneth D. Rider, Colorado Springs, Colorado, one sister, Laura M. Altman-Hughes, Colorado Springs, Colorado, eight grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren, three great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and other relatives and a host of friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents Floyd and Laura Amess, two sisters, Grace M. Warn, Lois Chamberlin, and one brother, George J.Amess.
Funeral Services for Maxine will be 2:00 P.M., Monday, February 29, 2016 at Martin-Becker-Carlson Funeral Home. Burial will follow at the Abilene City Cemetery. Family will receive friends Sunday from 2-4 P.M., at the funeral home. The family of Maxine Rider suggests memorials be given to the Volunteers at the Abilene Memorial Hospital or the First Christian Church of Abilene. Memorials may be dropped off or mailed to Martin-Becker-Carlson Funeral Home, 414 NW Third St., Abilene Kansas 67410.