Joe Blackman passed away July 9, 2020. We are pretty sure he is now riding his Harley Davidson of his Bi Ole White Mule, Crystal, the two things he missed doing during his illness. He was born in Pennsylvania and later moved to Arizona where he was the sole miner at the world’s richest amethyst mine in the four peaks wilderness. After digging for the stone, he backpacked it down the mountain ...

Walter "Walt" B. Hangstefer, 88, of Salina, passed away Saturday, July 11th, 2020. Walter was born in Detroit, Michigan on March 13, 1932, a son of the late Myrtle (Pace) and John W. Hangstefer. Walt served in the United States Air Force. Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Charlene "Shelly" (Tarbox) Hangstefer; three daughters, Laura Moody, (Steve), of Manhattan, Lisa Simpson, of Mil...

Geraldine Jane Abbott was born April 30, 1934 on a farm near Salina, KS the youngest of seven children to Mabel (Andrews) and Joseph Gruber. She passed peacefully to be with family on July 7, 2020 at the age of 86. Jane (as she preferred to be called) was predeceased by her parents and her husband, Mellroy F. Abbott, her brother Raymond Gruber and her sisters Mary Sink, Marie Thompson, Florence Fo...

Patricia Lynn Frazier, 86, died July 10 at the Cedars care facility in McPherson. Pat was a friend of many, a talented businesswoman, loyal member of the St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Parish, and an example of both warmth and grit to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She shared most of her life’s adventures with her husband, Louie, whom she was married to for 64 years before h...

Jack M. Helm Jr. was born January 11, 1962, to Jack and Mable Helm in Williamsport, PA. After a very short battle with cancer, Jack passed away on July 7, 2020. Jack was employed by Great Plains Manufacturing for almost 30 years. At the time of his passing he worked in the shipping department. Jack had a huge love for cats, having rescued many over the years. He loved to play his guitar, ride h...

Wallace W. “Rocky” Welton, of Abilene, KS, passed away on July 4th, 2020 at the age of 83. He was born June 27, 1937 in North Little Rock, Arkansas to Harold Welton and Geraldine (Sweeten) Walls. Rocky attended schools in Fort Smith, Arkansas and Salina, Kansas. He graduated in 1955 from Salina High School. Rocky graduated from Kansas Wesleyan University in 1959 with a degree in History and...

Charles Dean Bethe, 96, of Salina, passed away peacefully in his own home, with his family by his side, Wednesday, July 1, 2020. Our dad lived in the same home and gave 72 years to our community, working for Salina Concrete Products, supervisor for crew, building block silos on farms around the state. April 4th Dean called Kindred Hospice in McPherson and Comfort Keepers to help him control ...

Keila Haggard, 48, of Salina, passed away June 21, 2020. She was born March 30, 1972 at St. John’s Hospital. She was preceded in death by her dad, Lewis Haggard. Survivors include her mother, Myrna Martinez; daughter, Tiara Nicole Harrison of Salina; plus, numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. Keila’s infectious smile, and generous heart, will be greatly missed. “We love you and m...

John Richard McEachron, 89, of Salina, passed away July 5, 2020. He was born April 4, 1931 in Dalhart, Texas. He served as a Seaman in the US Coast Guard then retired as a US Air Force Master Sergeant after 22 years. Then he worked as a clerk in the US Post Office for 18 years. John spent his years growing up in Speed KS and the Ozarks. He spent many retirement years living on The Lake of Th...

Rodney Lewis Smith, 56, of Salina, Kansas, passed away Friday, June 26th, 2020. Rodney was born in San Jose, California on June 16, 1964, a son of the late Betty Raye (Wright) Nelson. He was the Co-owner and operator of Specialist Unlimited, a volunteer firefighter with SCFD#2, avid hunter and lover of all things outdoors. Survivors include his wife, Aimee Giroux-Smith; daughter, Tiffany ...