Charles Burch of Salina passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family and friends on July 21, 2025, at the age of 87. He was born on April 10, 1938, to George Edward Burch and Wilma Allene (Webster) Burch in McPherson, Kansas. Charles attended school at Bavaria High School, graduating in 1956. The family then moved to Smolan, Kansas, where Charles was instrumental in raising his 5 youn...

Sister Jean Befort died July 23, 2025, at Nazareth Motherhouse in Concordia, KS.  She was 85 years old and a Sister of St. Joseph for 66 years.  She was born in Hays, KS on July 23, 1940 to William and Leona Marie Pfannenstiel Befort, the oldest of five children, and was baptized Mary Rose.  She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph, Concordia, Kansas on September 8, 1958.  On August 18, 1959, Jea...

Patricia Julia Geske, born August 5th, 1937, in Colorado, passed away peacefully on the morning of July 15th in Salina, Kansas, at the age of 87. Patricia spent most of her life in Salina, where she built a home and family. Notably, Patty was a 50 year member of the Beta Sigma Phi sorority where she built countless friendships. She worked for many years at the Saline County Treasurer office and...

William Varnadore, a cherished husband, father, grandfather, and friend passed away peacefully on July 17, 2025, at 10 a.m. at Salina Regional Health Center, in Salina, KS at the age of 73. He was born on November 11, 1951, in Blackstock, South Carolina. William’s life was a beautiful tapestry woven with love and passion for the simple joys of life. William was preceded in death by his belove...

James "Jim" Lee Farney, 82, of Salina, Kansas, passed into his eternal home on Friday, July 18, 2025.  He was born on December 8, 1942 in Hutchinson, Kansas to Harvey and Viola (Kleck) Farney. Jim was raised to love and serve the Lord and attended, with his family, the Sterling Mennonite Church.  He accepted the Lord as his Savior at a revival meeting as a youth.  He served faithfully on boa...

After a long illness, James “Jim” E. McClain, 89, of Minneapolis, KS passed away peacefully on July 20, 2025, at Cedarhurst Memory Care, Salina, KS. Jim was born on December 12, 1935, on the family farm near Gaylord, KS to Ernest and Fannie (Winters) McClain and graduated from Portis High School in 1953. After graduating Kansas Wesleyan University, Jim married Karen Wilson in November 1957 and...

Larry Alan Usher, born February 27, 1933, in Salina, Kansas, passed away Thursday, July 17, 2025, surrounded by family and love. He was the son of Ellis R. and Freida M. (Kilcoyne) Usher. A proud graduate of Salina High School, Class of 1952, Larry went on to marry his high school sweetheart, Barbara M. Hayden, on October 16, 1954. Their union would span more than seven decades, filled with l...

Janeth Kay Burch, 78, of Salina, Kansas, passed away on Thursday, July 10, 2025. Born in Salina on May 31, 1947, Janeth was the daughter of Hermenia L. (Younger) and John G. Waldschmidt. She remained deeply rooted in her hometown, where she built a life centered around family and compassion. Janeth is survived by her three children, Nicole Burch of Salina, Rebecca Burch of Wichita, and Chris...

Jerome Koester Johnson, age 92, of Concordia, KS, passed away on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, with his family by his side at the Salina Regional Health Center, Salina, Kansas. He was born on November 28, 1932, in the Nelson Township area of rural Concordia, Kansas to Charles D. and Mary L. (Mayme Koester) Johnson. He graduated from Concordia High School in May of 1950. He married Joan Hoover on Se...

Kenneth “Ken” Alfred Dechant, 73, of Salina, Kansas, passed away on July 15th, 2025, at Smoky Hill Health & Rehabilitation. Born on April 14th, 1952, in Hays, Kansas, the son of Alfred “Fritz” W. Dechant and Dorothy (Honas) Dechant. Ken graduated from St. Joseph’s Military Academy in 1970, then joined the Army Reserves in 1971. He was stationed at the 388th Medical Battalion in Ha...