Newton High School
Recent Deaths
Classmate Fran Balzer's wife, Jacquie Clifton Balzer, passed away Friday, July 5, 2024. Jacqueline Susanne Balzer Obituary 2024 - Petersen Family Funeral Home
Classmate Marjean Werner passed away February 10, 2024. Marjean Esther Werner Obituary 2024 - Horan & McConaty Funeral Service and Cremation (horancares.com)
It has been learned that classmate Jim Chaffee passed away July 6, 2019. Obituary for James Francis Chaffee | Harris Funeral Home (harrisfunerals.com)
Classmate Paula Dickens Davies passed away October 24, 2020. Paula Sue Dickens Davies, 75, passed away October 24, 2020 at Medicalodges in Gardner, KS. She was born in McPherson, Kansas, the daughter of Paul & Geraldine Dickens. She moved to Newton in 1958 where her father was a teacher and principal at Sunset & Roosevelt Schools. She graduated Newton Sr. High School in 1963 and went to college at KU, then worked briefly in nursing, social work and office work & computers.
She married a British anesthesiologist, with children, but didn’t have any children of her own. They later divorced and she briefly married again. She is survived by her sister, Mary Kay (NHS ’65), of Boca Raton, FL and her brother, David Charles (Lawrence ’67), of Los Angeles, CA.
In keeping with family tradition, she donated her body to the KU School of Medicine for research, the same as her mother and father had done.
Classmate Wayne Venso passed away Wednesday, October 4, 2023. Obituary | WAYNE E. VENSO of NEWTON, Kansas | Baker Funeral Home Valley Center (bakerfhvc.com)
Classmate Delbert (Del) Franz passed away Friday, July 14, 2023. OBITUARY: Delbert E. Franz – Harvey County Now
Classmate Jodi Brack-Simmons passed away July 27, 2023 after a courageous battle with cancer. Jodi Brack-Simmons Obituary - The Hutchinson Daily News (hutchnews.com)
Classmate Maxine Allison O'Neill passed away on Saturday, May 27, 2023. Mable Maxine O'Neill Obituary 2023 - Petersen Family Funeral Home
Classmate Lonie Brown passed away October 26,2022. Lonie Brown - Lonie Brown, 77, passed away October 26, 2022 at his home in Newton. He was born February 3, 1945 in Wichita to Naaman O. and Ella M. Brown.
He graduated from Newton Senior High School in 1963 and then served his country in the U.S. Navy during the Viet Nam timeframe. Following his honorable discharge, he went to work at Hesston Corporation, later AGCO, where he retired as a supervisor.
Lonie is survived by his son, Colby, of North Carolina and his brother, Charlie, of Walton, Kansas. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Karen “Kodie” Brown Barnett.
Classmate Barbara Schroeder McKibbin's husband, Dennis, passed away on Sunday, February 12,2023. Dennis McKibbin Obituary (2023) - Canon City, CO - The Canon City Daily Record (legacy.com)
Classmate Jane Roberts' husband, John, passed away Sunday, March 26,2023. Obituary | John Timothy Keliher, Jr. | Broadway Colonial Funeral Home (broadwaycolonialfh.com)
Classmate Linda Ikerd Koppes's husband, Dean, passed away Monday, May 30, 2022. Dean Wilke Koppes - Petersen Family Funeral HomePetersen Family Funeral Home
Classmate Denny Franz passed away on Friday, March 4, 2022. Dennis G. "Denny" Franz - Petersen Family Funeral HomePetersen Family Funeral Home
Classmate Bev Reimer Fast's husband, Wayne, passed away Sunday, January 30, 2021. Obituary | Wayne Arthur Fast of Hesston, Kansas | Wiggins Funeral Home (wigginsfuneralhomes.com)
Former classmate Kenny Graber's mother, Martha Graber, passed away October 4, 2021. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/thekansan/name/martha-graber-obituary?id=31177966
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Word has been received that Classmate Tom Hinkhouse passed away in 2017. THOMAS EDWARD HINKHOUSE – Atchison, KS Thomas (Tom) Edward Hinkhouse, 72, died Monday, July 10, 2017 at his home. Tom was born February 19, 1945 in Houston, Texas, the son of Edward Jay and Alice Roff Browne Hinkhouse. He attended Chisholm Junior High and graduated from Newton High School in Newton, Kansas in 1963. Following graduation, Tom worked his way through Emporia State University, finally earning a B.S. in Education, specializing in Psychology, in May, 1981. In 1983, Tom moved from Newton to Atchison and began employment with USD #409 as a teacher. He continued teaching while attending ESU to earn his Master of Science in Special Education in August, 1988. Tom retired in 2007 after 24 years of teaching in Atchison. Survivors include his sister Emily and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Mary J. (Julie). Thomas was cremated with final care entrusted to the Arensberg-Pruett Funeral Home, Atchison. His ashes are interred at Greenwood Cemetery, Newton, Kansas. Classmate John McProud passed away on Wednesday, July 7, 2021. John McProud Obituary (1945 - 2021) - Lincoln, NE - The Kansan (legacy.com) Classmate Sally Unruh Iorio's husband, Barney, passed away Friday, June 18, 2021. Obituary of Bernardo G. Iorio | Funeral Homes & Cremation Services ... (riversidefunerals.com) Classmate Linda Ikerd Koppess' mother, Margaret Ikerd, passed away Tuedsay, March 16, 2021. Margaret L. Ikerd - Petersen Family Funeral HomePetersen Family Funeral Home Former Classmate Jimmy Besse passed away Thursday, February 13, 2021. Jimmy Besse Obituary - (1945 - 2021) - Moundridge, KS - The Kansan (legacy.com) Classmate Elsie Gomez Snapp's husband, Don, passed away Friday, January 15, 2021. Obituary | Donald Snapp | Broadway Colonial Funeral Home (broadwaycolonialfh.com) Classmate Janice Jantz Donovan passed away on Tuesday, June 30, 2020 in South Jordan, Utah. https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thekansan/obituary.aspx?n=janice-marie-jantz-donovan&pid=196585232 Classmate Virginia (Gina) Becraft passed away on Monday, July 13, 2020 in Park City, Utah. See "In Memory" Classmate Marjean Westfahl Werner's mother, Marjorie Westfahl, passed away Thursday, December 12, 2019. https://www.hutchnews.com/ZZ/obituaries/20191213/marjorie-l-westfahl Classmate Harley Hanke's wife, Mary Alice, passed away Thursday, November 7, 2019. http://petersenfamilyfuneralhome.com/obituaries/mary-alice-hanke/ Classmate Carol Stucky Grant's husband, Jon Grant, passed away Thursday, September 26, 2019. Classmate Jon Miller's daughter, Natasha McQuarry, passed away Tuesday, September 24, 2019. https://www.smithfamilymortuaries.com/memorials/natasha-mcquary/3977964/obituary.php Classmate Sandra Schmidt Fraser's son, Rusty, passed away Friday September 20, 2019. http://petersenfamilyfuneralhome.com/obituaries/russel-w-rusty-fraser/ Classmate Clifford Ediger passed away on Saturday, August 17, 2019. https://www.bakerfhwichita.com/obituary/clifford-ediger Classmate Sally Unruh Iorio's mother, Norma Jean Unruh, passed away July 18, 2019 at the age of 94. Word has been received that Classmate Linda Kieffer Lambert's husband, Larry (Class of '62), passed away Wednesday, April 3, 2019. Larry and I were married for 55 years. Time really goes by quickly doesn’t it? We have lived on and off in Boise, but have been back here for the last 14 years. Larry did not serve in the military. We had one son Jim and two grandchildren Melissa and Mitchell. We also didn’t have an obituary published. Larry wanted a private family ceremony at Venice Beach in California. Onetime Classmate Charlotte Pearl Lyman passed away Monday, April 8, 2019. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/wichita-ks/charlotte-lyman-8242036 Classmate Mary Jo Goering Preheim's mother, Verna Goering, passed away Sunday, March 3, 2019 at the age of 103. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thekansan/obituary.aspx?n=verna-goering&pid=191753135&fhid=25049 Classmate Carol Staley Lavielle's husband, Ron, passed away Friday, November 30, 2018. https://rapidcityjournal.com/obits/veterans/lavielle-ronald-n/article_b9363002-42c2-5fa7-a04f-1cafe90b12cc.html Classmate Shellie England Tibbetts husband, Monty, passed away Friday, December 14, 2018. LAMONT RALPH “MONTY’ TIBBITTS Son of Ralph Lamont Tibbitts and Helen Brown Tibbitts, born 7/3/1939 in Hutchinson, KS. Surrounded by his wife and family, Monty passed away 12/14/2018, Cape May County, NJ after a brave battle with brain cancer. Monty spent his childhood in Kansas. Following his marriage to Shellie England in 1967, they moved to Pennsylvania and he became life long entrepreneur. He enjoyed creating businesses and working with people. Twenty years were spent in real estate development and property management. He then moved on to supermarket services providing vending machines, video games, and video rental departments to supermarkets and convenience stores on the East Coast. Not content with retirement after moving to Stone Harbor, NJ, Monty’s zest for life and love of business prompted him to form All Seasons Awnings. Monty was also a golfer, boater, pilot and could often be seen on the links at Stone Harbor Golf Club. He was a patriot and proud of his country, its flag and its veterans. His positive outlook and sense of humor awarded him many friends. Monty had a passion for the poor and served on the Middle Township Mayor’s Commission for Affordable Housing. He also volunteered in rescuing furniture and household items and distributing them to those in need. Monty is survived by his wife, Shellie, Son, Paul Lamont Tibbitts (Lynn), Ocean View, NJ, five grandchildren Kenny Carfagno (Teresa), Quakertown, PA, Amanda Burchell (Brandon) Ocean View, Jenna Tibbitts, Ocean View, Marissa Harris (Josiah) of Ocean City, Joshua Paul Lamont and two great grandchildren, Avery Grace Burchell and Noah Harris, five step grandchildren, Kenny, Christianna, Kolby, Kye, and Kasey. Monty’s sister and brother-in-law, Jody and Jimmy Vickers reside in Palm Desert, CA. He is also survived by sisters-in-law, Linda Connolly of Cape May, NJ and Dana England, Kansas City, KS; brother-in-law Jeff England (Lonnie), Kansas City, KS. Nephews, Michael Connolly (Nancy), Linwood, NJ, Robert Connolly (Evonne), Washington, D.C., Scott England, Kansas City, Chris England (Annie) Kansas City and Blake England, Denver, CO, four great nieces, Caroline Connolly, Olivia Connolly, Shayne Connolly, and Maeve Connolly. Monty was a member of St Mary’s Episcopal Church in Stone Harbor, NJ, where a service will be held on Thursday, December 20, 2018 at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Beacon Animal Rescue, 701 Butter Road, Ocean View, NJ 08230 or New Jersey Nature Rescue, Steve Serwatka, 2353 Route 47, Delmont, NJ 08814. Classmate Barbara Razor Lay's husband, Galen, passed away Friday, November 23, 2018. http://sabethaherald.com/2018/11/26/galen-lay/ Classmate Roger Heaston passed away Saturday, December 1, 2018. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thekansan/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=190896550 Classmate Carol Stamm Ebenstein passed away Sunday, September 16, 2018. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thekansan/obituary.aspx?n=carol-ann-coleman-singh&pid=190247883&fhid=2435
Classmate Shirley (Shirlea) Love passed away on Monday, December 18, 2017. https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/statesman/obituary.aspx?pid=187809335
Classmate JoAnn Hodel Roberts' husband, Gene Roberts, passed away on Sunday, April 29,2018. February 11,1945 - April 29, 2018
Gene passed early on the morning on a Sunday after receiving wonderful care from Hospice of the Valley.
Gene had a variety of jobs throughout his life. He worked at a TG&Y store; he designed and sold swimming pools for Shasta Pools, but his favorite job was being a professional photographer.
Gene attended NorthRidge Community Church until December of 2013 when his Alzheimers type dementia required putting him into a care facility (Huger Mercy Living Center) until March 2nd, when he was moved to a facility more suited to his needs.
Gene is survived by his wire JoAnn, brother Robert Roberts, daughter Kim Nettles (Keith), daughter Jill Barrett (Charlie) and five grandchildren: Leah, Justin, and Emma Nettles, Zella and Zander Barrett.
Classmates John Jaso and Teresa Leal's son, Stephen G. Jaso, passed away on Saturday, April 14, 2018. http://petersenfamilyfuneralhome.com/obituaries/stephen-g-jaso/ Classmate Charles Adams passed away Saturday, June 10, 2017. http://smithfamilymortuaries.com/book-of-memories/2959332/Adams-Charles/obituary.php Classmates Gene & Kathy Breitenstein's son, Brian, passed away December 31, 2017. http://www.penwellgabeltopeka.com/Obituary/152410/Brian-Breitenstein/Topeka-Kansas Classmate LaRita Joy Smith Boggs passed away Friday, November 17, 2017. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thekansan/obituary.aspx?n=larita-boggs&pid=187297934&fhid=4881 Classmate Barbara Anderson Moulds passed away Monday, October 2, 2017. http://petersenfamilyfuneralhome.com/obituaries/barbara-louise-moulds/ Classmate Don Hackney's wire, Rosaetta, passed away Saturday, June 3, 2017. http://legacy.com/obituaries/thekansan/obituary.aspx?n=rosaetta-faye-hackney-simms&pid=185751211 Classmate Lowell Moody passed away Wednesday, May 10, 2017. http://www.mmsfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/Allen-Moody/#!/Obituary Classmate Connie Webb Reaves passed away Friday May 5, 2017. http://petersenfamilyfuneralhome.com/obituaries/connie-lee-reaves/ Classmate Warren (Bo, Corky) Bolen passed away Sunday, March 19, 2017. http://www.salina.com/obituaries/bo-bolen/article_40fa652c-9213-5714-bbce-9665e37ba8d5.html Classmates Doris Kasper Miller & Jerry Kasper's mother, Ruby S. Kasper, passed away Sunday, March 19, 2014. www.broadwaycolonialfh.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=4168607&fh_id=11520 Classmate Tina Lavenant Gonzales' mother, Josefina Lavenant, passed away Sunday, February 5, 2017. www.legacy.com/obituaries/thekansan/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=184061548 Classmate Jane Roberts Keliher's mother, Phyllis Jean Roberts, passed away Wednesday, December 21, 2016. www.penwellgabeltopeka.com/Obituary/128112/Phyllis-Roberts/Topeka-Kansas Classmate John Rogers passed away on Friday, December 2, 2016. www.legacy.com/obituaries/kansas/obituary.aspx?n=john-edward-rogers&pid=183019770 Classmate Susan Llamas Rangel passed away Saturday, November 26th, 2016. www.hutchnews.com/obituaries/susan-llamas-rangel/article_c13bc347-29cb-5fe8-aed4-1aecbd4d5ddc.html Classmate Sandra Ratzlaff lay's mother, Rosalene J. Ratzlaff, passed away Tuesday, November 15, 2016. www.broadwaycolonialfh.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=4008105&fh_id=11520 Classmate Teresa Leal Jaso's mother, Juanita Leal, passed away Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016. Classmate Tony Decker's mother, Wauntia Decker, passed away Saturday, September 24, 2016. Classmate Georgann (Smith) Weeks' step-father, Donald Biggerstaff, passed away Friday May 6, 2016. Classmate Laura Harder Trout's brother John Harder of Abilene passed away on January 16, 2016. Classmate Cindi Wies' mother, Lula Deane Davis, passed away Sunday, April 10, 2016. Classmate Carolyn Palmer's mother, Bonnie Palmer, passed away Tuesday, March 29, 2016. www.legacy.com/obituaries/thekansan/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=179462989 Classmate Guadalupe (Junior) Llamas, Jr. passed away Saturday, March 26th, 2016. www.broadwaycolonialfh.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=3640236&fh_id=11520 Classmate Wendy Starin Abbey's mother, Betty Starin, passed away Tuesday, February 16th. http://www.bakerfhvc.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=3605455&fh_id=13725 Classmate Diona Wilson Loyd's husband, Gary, passed away Wednesday, December 9. www.bakerfhvc.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=3519856&fh_id=13725 Classmate Clayton Koppess' father, Clinton Koppess, passed away Wednesday, November 25, 2015 www.broadwaycolonialfh.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=3392294&fh_id=11520 Classmate Shellie England Tibbets' mother, Zada England, passed away Friday, November 13, 2015. http://www.broadwaycolonialfh.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=3379584&fh_id=11520
Classmate Sally Ann Brooks Glanz passed away November 21. Classmate Connie Webb Reaves' father, Clarence Webb, passed away Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thekansan/obituary.aspx?n=clarence-o-webb&pid=175745240&fhid=2435 Celesta Bucher Gaede passed away Wednesday, August 28, 2015. http://petersenfamilyfuneralhome.com/obituaries/celesta-gaede/ Bill Lock passed away Saturday, May 23, 2015. http://www.fohnfuneralhome.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=3120370&fh_id=10698 Tony Decker passed away Friday, February 13, 2015. http://www.downingandlahey.com/sitemaker/sites/DOWNIN1/obit.cgi?user=1520286Decker |
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Coach David Winters passed away January 16, 2015. Obit provided. http://www.broadwaycolonialfh.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=2918051&fh_id=11520 |
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Classmate Eileen Claassen Umholtz's father, Rudolph Claassen, passed away December 31, 2014. http://www.broadwaycolonialfh.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=2888408&fh_id=11520 |
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Classmate Bill Lock's mother, Alice Lock, passed away December 27, 2014. Click on link for obit. http://www.fohnfuneralhome.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=2884836&fh_id=10698 |
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Classmate Janice Andres Swickard, passed away December 24, 2014. Click on link for info. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thekansan/obituary.aspx?n=janice-e-swickard&pid=173586216&fhid=2435 |
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Classmate Jim Koehn's mother, Inez Koehn, passed away December 18, 2014. Click link for obit. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thekansan/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=173531619 |
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Classmate Beverly Nattier Fast's father, Marion Nattier, passed away December 16, 2014. Click on link for obit. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thekansan/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=173492677 |