Obituaries

Michael Nelson Raines (1950-2024), was born in Falls City, Neb., to Eldon and Marilyn Raines, and raised in Conway Springs. He graduated from Conway Springs High School in 1968. He passed away April 21, 2024, in Silverdale, Wash.

Catherine Rose Dooley, 84, retired kitchen manager for Garden Plain High School, passed away surrounded by her family on Tuesday, May 28, 2024. She was born on April 25, 1940, to Frank and Virginia (Kudek) Gappa in El Reno, Okla.

Jean (Gegen) Haukap, 95, passed away surrounded by her family on Tuesday, May 28, 2024. She was born Sept. 27, 1928., to Jacob and Anna (Mainz) Gegen in Colwich.

Bruce S. Wraalstad, 68, of Mercer, Wis., (previously of Goddard, Kan.) passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. In 1985, Bruce was offered a position in Kansas working on aircraft. Thirty-four years later he retired from Cessna/Textron and brought his family home to Wisconsin.

Barbara Sue Benbow, 73, passed away Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Lindsborg. She was born Feb. 5, 1951 in Minneapolis, Minn., to Eloise (Sally) and George Mattison. While she was raised in San Jose, Calif., she returned to Minnesota shortly after she graduated from high school.

Felix A. Gorges, 69, retired flight mechanic for the Kansas Air National Guard and dairy farmer, passed away on Monday, May 20, 2024. He loved grandkids, motorcycles, being a Marine, hot dog roasts, visiting lakes, and dairy farming.

Lois Marie Howard, 89, formerly of Wichita, passed away Thursday, March 21, 2024, at Promenade Health and Rehab, Rogers, Ark. She was born Feb. 14, 1935 in Chetopa, Kan., the daughter of Alvin R. Fooshee and Eva (Reeder) Fooshee. Lois was member of the First United Methodist Church in Rogers.

Norma Jean Compton, 91, passed away on May 18, 2024, in Cheney. She was born to Sam and Gertrude Davis in Danville on May 25, 1932. Norma married Earl Compton in November 1952 and enjoyed 70 years of marriage until Earl passed away in 2023.

Joan A. Mies, 86, of Conway Springs, died Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice at Ascension Via Christi-St. Francis, Wichita. Joan was born June 4, 1937, at Glenham, S.D., to Adolph Junker and Mathilda (Heimbuck) Junker.

Ron Leabo, age 87, of Clearwater, passed away on Friday, May 10, 2024. A private family service is planned. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ivan and Letha Nell Leabo.