William E. “Bill” Harris, 86, of Salina, KS, died March 27, 2016. He was born July 2, 1929, in Grenola, KS, the son of Lewis Earl and Clare Etta Bales Harris.
He grew up in Howard, KS. Bill and Joan M. VanBuskirk were classmates from the first grade, until they graduated from high school. They began steady dating at the end of their junior year. Upon graduation, Joan entered college and Bill enlisted in the Marine Corps. Upon discharge, Joan and Bill were united in marriage August 7, 1950, at Joan’s parent’s home, in Howard. A few weeks later, Bill, an In-active Reservist was called back to Active Duty and sent to Korea from January 1951 to October 1951, receiving the Purple Heart. Upon being discharged Bill enrolled at Brown-Mackie in Salina.
Bill joined the Salina Police Department while attending Brown-Mackie, serving 8 years before transferring to City Hall, as Superintendent of Water and Refuge. Upon retirement, 39 years later, Bill has risen to the position of Assistant City Manager and Director of the Bicentennial Center.
Bill was preceded in death by his previous wife (Joan), his parents and older half brother, Earl Harris. He is survived by his sister, Betty (Mac) McQuagge of Columbus, Georgia; son, Bryan (Janice) Harris of Great Bend; daughter Deanna (Cliff) Clark, of Salina; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
His love of God, family and his commitment to community service was evident in all he did in his private and professional life.
The Celebration of Life memorial service will be in mid April and will be announced at a later date. A reception will follow. Interment will be at Howard Cemetery, Howard, KS, In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to First United Methodist Church Radio Mission Program or the ”We Honor Veterans” program of Brookdale Hospice.
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William D. “Bill” Smith, age 93, passed away March 30, 2016 at Salina, Kansas.
Bill was born August 24, 1922, at Devon, Kansas (close to Fort Scott) to Will and Bertha Smith and had been a Salina resident since 1953. He married Wanda (Willson) Smith on January 26, 1947. They had two children who are Linda (and husband Jim) Slattery of McLean VA, and Larry (and wife Joy) Smith of Salina. His four grandchildren are Jason Slattery, Michael (and wife Jenny) Slattery, Stephanie (and husband Ben) Blake, and Erin Smith and 4 great-grandchildren, Claire, Walker, Danielle and Whitney Slattery. He had one brother, Charles (and wife Maxine) Smith of Fort Scott, Ks, and two sisters, Georgia Mae Hill, Bella Vista, Arkansas, and Ann Simonsen, Oklahoma City, OK. He also had many nieces and nephews.
Bill graduated from Kansas State University with a B.A. in Education, and from Arizona State University with a Master’s Degree in Counseling and Guidance. He was a Vocational Agriculture Teacher in Hillsboro and Salina, and later, High School Counselor at Salina Central and Salina South High until 1983. He build various projects including several homes and apartments and was the Owner-Manager of Salina Mini-Storage.
At First Christian Church he served as an Elder and Chairman of the Board and was a member of the First Covenant Church where he had been a Deacon. He was a member of the Gideons International where he was Past State President, State Vice-President and held many local offices. He was also Past State President of Kansas Agriculture Teachers Assn, Life Member of National Education Association, Member of Kansas State University Alumni Assn, Salina Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club and Manager of the Tri-River Fair from 1966-1970. He received the Representative Teacher Award in 1958. Bill also served in the U.S. Air Force for four years during World War II.
A memorial service will be held at the First Covenant Church, Salina Kansas on Monday, April 4, 11am. Visitation at Ryan’s Mortuary will be Sunday evening, from 3-7pm with the family attending from 5-7pm.
Memorials may be made to the Gideons, P.O.Box 2692, Salina, KS.
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Hillsboro – Velma Klassen, 87, died April 1, 2016 at Hillsboro Community Hospital in Hillsboro. She was born June 16, 1928 to Heinrich B. and Maria (Voth) at Newton, Kansas. She was a Clerk in the meat department at Vogt’s Hometown Market. She married Pete Klassen August 12, 1951 in Halstead, KS. Survivors include: husband, Arnold (Pete) Klassen of Hillsboro; sons, Gerald Klassen of Hillsboro, Allen (Pattie) Klassen of Topeka; daughter, Linda Maudlin of Hutchinson; brother, Otis Unruh of Newton; sisters, Rossetta Auernheimer of Moundridge, Annetta Howard of Hutchinson; 3 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. Celebration of Life Service will be held at a later date. Memorials to Hillsboro American Legion Auxiliary Girls State Fund in care of Jost Funeral Home P.O. Box 266 Hillsboro, KS 67063.
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Alece Ball, daughter of Rev. Lyall R. and Blanche (Trefethen) Brasier was born May 28, 1938 in Kansas City, Missouri and passed away on March 29, 2016 at Via Christi St. Francis Medical Center, Wichita, Kansas at the age of 77 years, 10 months and 1 day.
Alece graduated from Belleville High School. She was united in marriage to Edward E. Ball on February 10, 1957 and to this union two daughters, Loreli A. and Linda S. were born.
She was a member of Central Christian Church, Belleville, KS and had been the church secretary for many years.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Rev. Lyall and Blanche Brasier, one infant daughter, Loreli A. Ball, two sisters, Faith Ball and Joan Ransier.
She is survived by her husband, Edward Ball of Belleville, KS, one daughter, Linda Ball of Lindsborg, KS., one brother, Lyall R. (Jeanette) Brasier Jr. of Delta Junction, Alaska, nieces, nephews, other family and many friends.
Funeral services will be held Two PM, Tuesday, April 5, 2016, Central Christian Church, Belleville, KS.
Interment will be in Belleville Cemetery, Belleville, KS.
Memorials may be given to Family Choice.
Friends may call on Sunday from 1 PM to 9 PM, Monday from 9 AM to 9 PM at Bachelor-Surber Funeral Home, Belleville, KS, where the family will receive friends from 6 PM to 8 PM Monday.
Online condolences and information at www.bachelor-surber.com
Bachelor-Surber Funeral Home, Belleville, KS. in charge of arrangements
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Neal Wayne Lorimor, the son of Glen Lorimor and Margaret (Jeardoe) Lorimor, was born August 31, 1948 at Belleville, KS and passed away on March 30, 2016 at Leavenworth, KS at the age of 67 years, 6 months, and 29 days.
Neal grew up in rural Belleville, KS attending the Stony Point Rural School, and later attending and graduating from Belleville High School. He then attended Beloit Vo-Tech, Beloit, KS receiving a certification as an auto mechanic.
Neal served with the US Air Force and later the Air National Guard Reserves from 1968 until his honorable discharge in 1975. He served at the McConnell AFB, Wichita, KS and also in Thailand, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant.
Neal farmed on the family farm for 10 years near Belleville, and then worked at Scott Specialties, in the maintenance department, for 12 years.
Neal then was a Motor Carrier Inspector 2, for the Kansas Highway Patrol at the Belleville, KS office for 17 years until his retirement.
On November 22, 1980, he was united in marriage to Linda Zeibig Shum. The couple made their home in Belleville, KS.
Neal was a member of the Belleville Supper Club.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and his wife Linda in 2014.
Neal is survived by two daughters, Susie (Joel) Young of Lansing, KS and Jeanette (Keith) Kibodeaux of Lafayette, LA; seven grandchildren; two sisters,
Carol (Gary) Nelson of Belleville, KS and Ina (Mike) Motes of Concordia, KS, other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM Tuesday, April 5, 2016 at the Bachelor-Surber Memorial Chapel with Pastor Mark Imel, officiating.
Cremation will follow the services with inurnment at a later date at the Belleville Cemetery, Belleville, KS.
Friends may call from 1PM until 9 PM on Sunday and from 9 AM until 9 PM on Monday at the funeral home where the family will greet friends from 6PM until 8PM.
Memorials are suggested to the Republic County Patriot Project or Meadowlark Hospice.
Online condolence at www.bachelor-surber.com
Bachelor-Surber Funeral Home, Belleville, KS is in charge of the arrangements.