Obituaries

William Edward Whitaker III, 84, of Olathe, passed away on Dec. 17, 2023, at Olathe Medical Center.

He was born on Nov. 17, 1939, to William and Joanna (West) Whitaker in Tulsa. On July 15, 1967, he married Patricia J. Whitaker (Adair). William and Patricia lived in Tulsa, Cincinnati and Goddard, before moving to Olathe in 2021.

William worked as a design engineer for Cessna until his retirement in 2003. He enjoyed studying airplanes, tinkering, and building things in his garage.

Janet Kathleen Aves died in her home, Memory Haven at Doves Estates, on Monday, Dec 18, 2023, in the loving presence of her children and grandchildren. Jan was born on May 23, 1945, in Wichita as Janet Kathleen Tigner, to parents Raymond and Marion.

Wayne Berntsen, age 64, passed away on Thursday, December 21, 2023.

Henry Harris Stoll of Cheney, 95, was born Nov. 28, 1928, in Noble County, Okla., to Frank and Sarah Elizabeth Stoll. He joined his savior on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023. He is preceded in death by his parents, seven siblings, his wife of 61 years Doris Sovereign Stoll, his daughters Sue McCarty and Gay Gower, and granddaughter Melanie Gower.

Richard L. Nickell, 68, of Conway Springs, died Monday, Dec. 11, 2023, at his residence.

Richard was born July 21, 1955, in Wichita to Jesse Edward Nickell and Dolly Dean (Nickum) Nickell. He moved with his family to Conway Springs in 1964 where he attended Conway Springs public schools. He graduated from Conway Springs High School with the class of 1974.

Louis F. Eilerts, 76, loving husband, father and grandfather passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. He was born on July 28, 1947, to Howard and Augusta Eilert, who preceded him in death.
Louis is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Sandra; daughters, Stacia Culbertson and Karie (Marc) Puetz; brother, John (Dee) Eilerts; and grandchildren, Adam, Mason, Chase, Lindsey, Justin, Nikole and Sydney; and great-granddaughter Ali.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 20, at the Calvary Cemetery in Garden Plain.

Darlene May Larson passed away peacefully on Monday, Dec. 11, 2023 at the age of 88. She was born Oct. 5, 1935, to Erby and Paulene (May) Phillips. Darlene was the oldest of four children. She attended grade school at the Frog Pond Country School, then middle school and high school in Argonia, where she received her diploma.

Darlene and Richard Larson were married on Aug. 25, 1954. She was a farm wife who could butcher a chicken for dinner and canned countless quarts and pints of her garden raised vegetables.

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Leslie D. Finstad, Sr., of Conway Springs, age 77, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Orvetta “Diane” (Staley) Finstad; father, Raymond Finstad; mother, June Nighswonger-Smith; step-father, J.A. Smith; and grandson, Braydin Ray Campbell.

Steve A. Mercer, 71, of rural Argonia, passed away Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, at his residence.

He was born Oct. 15, 1952, in Wellington to Vern Wise Mercer and Josephine (Sneeringer) Mercer.

Crystal Kay Leasure Holub was born on July 6, 1957 in Manhattan, Kansas to Elden and Sylvia (Helmke) Leasure. She passed away on Dec. 7, 2023.