Obituaries

Lester L. Nighswonger of Cedar Falls, Iowa, died Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, at Western Home Communities Deery Suites.

LaVera M. Tonn, 96, of Haven, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024, at Hospice House in Hutchinson. She was born on August 20, 1927 in Cheney, the daughter of Herman D. and Lola (Garnett) Meyer. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Cheney.

Bernie Scherr was born in Ottawa, Kan., on Dec. 10, 1934, to Bernard S. and Edith Scherr, and passed from this life on Jan. 14, 2024, in Spring Hill, Kan.

James Kenneth Ales, loving husband, father and Ata, age 88, passed away on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024. Visitation will be 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17, and funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17, both at the Church of the Nazarene, Clearwater.

Raymond Ellsworth Drouhard, 88, of Wichita, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024, in his home surrounded by loving family after a long battle with brain cancer. He was born Dec. 10, 1935, in Danville, the son of Leo Drouhard and Velma Simpson. Raymond graduated from Harper High School in 1954.

Peggy Joyce Brown, 91, passed away on Jan. 4, 2024. She was born to Roy and Aleda Brown on Oct. 4, 1932, in Wichita. Peggy married Robert C. Brown in June 1952 and together they had five children, Clifton, Pamalee, Clayton, Kenton and Kirk.

Sharon Johnson, 80, went to be with the Lord on Jan. 1, 2024. She is survived her her son, Jeffrey Warren; brother, Robert Scot; grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and extended family and friends.

Rogene Ann Becker, 86, passed away peacefully at her home in Garden Plain on the morning of Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. She was born April 12, 1937, in Ost, Kan., to Eugene and Madalyn (Doffing) Preisser.

Dorothy J. Hollis, 91, of Conway Springs, died peacefully at her Conway Springs home on Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023.

Duane Wilfred Bergkamp, age 76, of Wichita, passed away in his sleep on his birthday, Dec. 22, 2023. Duane was born in Wichita to Wilfred Bergkamp and Anna (Wetta) Bergkamp on Dec. 22, 1947.