John Forest Ritter III, passed away in Scottsdale, Arizona, February 20, 2024, at the age of 72. John was born to John and Betty Ritter at St. John’s Hospital, Salina, Kansas, on November 5, 1951.  He was the oldest of three children and a consummate big brother. As a youth, John fostered his love of pets and animals and was active in the Boy Scouts.  He graduated from Sacred Heart High ...

Jerome Dale Benson of Salina, Kansas passed away on March 5th 2024. Jerome or Jerry as he was called by those dearest to him, was born September 19th 1939 in Hadley, Minnesota, to Gladys and Oscar Benson. Jerry was the 10th of 13 boys and was well loved for his wit, wisdom and deep devotion to those whom he loved. He committed his life to others by proudly serving as a Private First Class in th...

Darlene K. (Norris) Querbach left us to go to her heavenly home on March 3, 2024.  She was born in Salina, KS on October 19, 1944 to Melvin A. Norris and Emogene L.(Davis) Norris. She attended schools in Salina and Topeka, KS. She started working as a trolley girl at Asbury Hospital and retired from Salina Regional Hospital Center after 42 years as the night cook.  She married Robert E. Quer...

Clarence Alvin Peterson of Salina, Kansas, passed away on March 6, 2024.  Born on January 31, 1927, he was 97 years old.  Clarence was the youngest son of Lawrence Albert Peterson and Mary M. Jennings. Pete (as he liked to be called) was a veteran of World War II, joining the army after graduation.  Because of his height (6’3”) and high school experience, after completing basic training ...

Marsha Stewart, 82, born in Salina, passed away March 3, 2024, surrounded by family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Jack Stewart. Together they leave six grown children-Sharon, Marina, Steve, Robert, Jennifer, and Rebecca-ten grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Marsha graduated Magna cum Laude from Kansas Wesleyan and served a brief stint with the U.S...

Eileen Rose Branstetter, 73, died February 25, 2024. She was born August 16, 1950, in Phillipsburg, KS, the daughter of Milo and Norma (Stevens) Gitchel. She was an LPN. She is preceded in death by her husband, Larry Branstetter; sisters, Lois Hass and Kathy WIllis; brother, Alan Gitchel and her parents. She is survived by her daughter, Heather Branstetter; grandchildren, Lance Branstetter, ...

Ardyce E. (Gage) Bell was 95 and a half years old at her passing on March 5, 2024.  She was the daughter of long time Salina businessman B.B. Gage and Elizabeth Fern (Kirkland) Hartman (both deceased).  Born in Fairbury, NE in 1928. She graduated Salina’s Washington High School in 1946 and met her husband, Willis E. Bell (deceased) at Kansas State University. She is survived by two sons, K...

Larry Elwin Plaggerman, 87, of Salina, passed away Monday, March 4, 2024.  He was born on June 22, 1936 to Albert and Gladys Plaggerman in Sandstone, MN.  Larry graduated from Sandstone High School in 1954 and was the class president.  He was working in Washington State and was drafted by the Army in 1959 and served at Fort Riley until 1961.  Larry was president of Beneficial Finance for many ...

Caroline Jo Benne was born on her grandparent’s farm on April 5th, 1943. She died March 1st, 2024.   She lived 80 years, 10 months, 25 days, the majority of which as a resident of Republic County, Kansas.   She was the first of five children born to Milton Sweat and his wife Rosie (Jensen) Sweat, sister Minda, brother Loren, and twin sisters Karen and Sharon followed.  For many Caroline wa...

Mary Ann Vidricksen, 91, died peacefully on Sunday, March 3, 2024 at Lindsborg Community  Hospital in Lindsborg, Kansas. Mary Ann was born August 11, 1932 in Tulsa, Oklahoma to John Tillman Wood and Esther Dewdrop (Shaver) Wood. Mary Ann was the middle child of three children, the eldest Kenneth Wood and the youngest Waunita Johnephine (Wood) Gallagher. Mary Ann graduated from Cambridge High Scho...