Darrel Gene Dikeman
Darrel Gene Dikeman passed away on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011 at the age of 86, at his home, in Syracuse, Kan. He was born on June 6, 1925 in Preston, Kan., the son of William Fredrick Dikeman & Martha Wilma (Allen) Dikeman.
During his childhood years Darrel moved from Preston to Syracuse in 1934 with his parents, sisters Valetta and Marge and brother’s Duane and Larry. They began a dry land winter wheat farming operation located 10 miles north of Syracuse.
He was married to Lois Irene McNaught from Pratt, Kan. on October 31, 1948. They had three children, Gene, Cary and Sandy who all grew up in Syracuse. Darrel was an aviator and began flying in 1939 and soloed in an Inland Sport Airplane at the age of 14. Darrel was a licensed commercial pilot with instrument and multi-engine rating. He enjoyed and owned many airplanes during his life. His favorites were the Beech Bonanza, AT-6, T-28 and P-51C. He took particular joy in low level buzz jobs to many unsuspecting farmers on their tractors. Darrel was an active and enthusiastic pilot until his passing.
Darrel was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church of Syracuse, a member of the Syracuse Masonic Lodge 309 and Wichita Masonic Consistory, where he was 32nd Degree mason. He severed on several local and state aviation, agricultural, and insurance boards of directors. Darrel most enjoyed his family, flying, and people of Syracuse, where he never met a stranger.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and one brother, Larry Dikeman. He is survived by his spouse; two sons, Gene (& wife Mary) Dikeman of Great Bend, Kan. and Cary (& wife Ann) Dikeman of Leawood, Kan.; one daughter, Sandy (& husband Mark) Parkins of Leawood; one brother, Duane Dikeman of Syracuse; two sisters, Valetta Rosenkrantz of Alton, Ill. and Marge Dale of Syracuse; seven grandchildren, Angela (& husband Tyler) Grindal of Topeka, Kan., Meredith (& husband Jason) Ochs of Newport Beach, Calif., Catherine Dikeman of Lawrence, Kan., Charlotte(& husband Bryce) Benton of Kansas City, Mo., Scott Dikeman of Kansas City, David Dikeman of Manhattan, Kan. and Garrett Parkins of Leawood; four great grandchildren, Winston and Wyatt Ochs of Newport Beach, and Samuel and Avery Grindal of Topeka; and numerous family members and friends. Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. (MDT) at the First United Methodist Church, Syracuse.
Condolences may be sent to fellersfh@yahoo.com. Memorial contributions may be payable to the First United Methodist Church or Syracuse Masonic Lodge 309, and sent in care of Fellers Funeral Home & Monuments LLC, P.O. Box 1253, Syracuse, KS 67878. 620-384-5100.
Vicki J. Fallwell
Graveside memorial service and in-urnment for Canon City, Colo. and former Coolidge, Kan. resident Vicki J. Fallwell will be held at 11 a.m. Friday Nov. 4, 2011 at the Coolidge Cemetery in Coolidge, Kan. Pastor Ralph Plummer will officiate.
Per Vicki’s request, cremation has taken place.
The family will receive friends and relatives for a memorial visitation from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday Nov. 3, 2011 at Valley Memorial Funeral Chapel in Holly, Colo.
Mrs. Fallwell was born Nov. 24, 1953 at Friona, Texas. and departed this life on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011 at her home in Canon City with her family at her side at the age of 57.
Vicki was preceded in death by her father Calvin M. Ulen, Sr. of Amarillo, Texas on Dec. 24, 2004; by her mother Alta Ulen of Amarillo on April 23, 2011; and by her biological father Jimmy Paul Cox of Friona on March 17, 1961.
She is survived by her husband Larry Fallwell of Canon City; by two children Rusty Fallwell of Canon City and Kelli (Dan) Scott of Dallas, Texas; by two grandchildren Dylan and Mackenzie Scott of Dallas; by a Brother Calvin (Christina) Ulen, Jr. of Amarillo; by two sisters Judy (Brian) Cordova and Lisa (Russell) Williams, both of Amarillo; as well as by nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and many friends.
Those desiring may make memorial contributions to the Sangre de Cristo Hospice and Pallative Care at www.socohospice.org/donations or by mail to 601 Greenwood Ave., Canon City, CO. 81212.
Services for Vicki J. Fallwell are under the direction of Valley Memorial Funeral Chapel at Holly; providing families with sensitivity, compassion, and respect. For additional information and online condolences please visit our website at www.valleymemorialfc.com
Vernon Claude Harper
Vernon Claude Harper, 100, died at his home in Syracuse, Kan on October 19, 2011. He was born August 13, 1911 at Indianapolis, Okla. to Ralph and Dottie Harper. The family moved by covered wagon from Oklahoma to Colorado, landing on the homestead 22 miles south of Holly, Colo., December 13, 1913, when Vernon was 2 years old.
Vernon’s formal education was cut short when he took over the family farm after his freshman year in high school due to poor health of his father. He built a barn on the family homestead at the age of 17, which remains standing today. He grew up farming with horses, worked on building roads with a team and Fresno scraper for the WPA, and graduated to mechanized agriculture during his extended farming career. He was self-taught in the art of machinery repair and construction of equipment to simplify life on the farm.
Vernon married Margaret C. Davis on April 24, 1935 at Garden City, Kan. Margaret passed away November 5, 2005. In 1936, Vernon and Margaret moved to a farm in southwest Hamilton County, Kan., where they lived until retiring and moving to Syracuse in 1979. In addition to his own farm and livestock activity, he became familiar with most of the farmers in Hamilton County when he measured and sealed grain bins for USDA storage, measured crop acres for compliance with the ASC government program, and worked at the livestock sale barn in Syracuse. He was a member of the Hamilton County Farm Bureau and several grain cooperatives. After retirement, he remained active as a handy man around Syracuse and initiated several woodworking and furniture refinishing projects.
Vernon was an active member of the Fisher and Bear Creek Sunday School classes. He later became a member of the First Christian Church and was active in church leadership.
He was preceded in death by his parents, spouse, and four brothers, Wilbur Harper, Walter Harper, George Harper, and Kenneth Harper. He is survived by two sons, Bob (& wife Karen) Harper of Torrance, Calif. and Jim (& wife LaVerna) Harper of St. Joseph, Ill.; one daughter, Betty (& husband Bob) Swisher of Urbana, Ill.; eight grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; one brother, Ralph Harper of Denver, Colo.; one sister, Mary Lou Weldon of Denver; three sisters-in-law, Dimple Claudene Schmidt of Syracuse, Edna Belle Cook of Johnson, Kan., Maxine Harper of Lamar, Colo.; one brother-in-law, Clarence (& wife Donna) Davis of Bayfield, Colo.; and numerous family members & friends.
Funeral Service was held on Monday, October 24, 2011 at the First Christian Church, Syracuse.
Visitation was held on Sunday, October 23, 2011 at Fellers Funeral Home LLC, Syracuse.
Condolences may be sent to fellersfh@yahoo.com. In Lieu of Flowers memorial contributions may be made payable to the First Christian Church, and sent in care of Fellers Funeral Home & Monuments LLC, P.O. Box 1253, Syracuse, KS 67878. 620-384-5100
Doris M. (Warner) Rector
Doris M. (Warner) Rector died on Sunday, October 9, 2011 at the age of 93 at the Seasons Of Life Living Center, in Syracuse, Kan. She was born on November 18, 1917 in Haviland, Kans. and was the daughter of Harvey Warner & Bessie (Bond) Warner.
Doris attended a country public school near Haviland. On February 29, 1936, she married Francis Earl Rector in Wichita and they made their home south of Syracuse where they lived on the farm during most of their married life. To this union three sons were born, Duane, Larry, and Arby. They survived the dust bowl days due to hard work. In 1989, they both retired, and they moved to an apartment in Syracuse, which they both enjoyed. In 2002, she moved to the Seasons Of Life Living Center due to her health, and resided there until her passing.
Doris was a long-time member of the First United Methodist Church of Syracuse, and a member of the Menno EHU for many years. She enjoyed bowling, playing cards, dancing, traveling, but most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two brothers, Bill and Glenn Warner; and one sister, Betty Rae Howell.
She is survived by three sons, Duane (& wife Sandra) Rector of Kendall, Kan., Larry (& wife Karen) Rector of Wichita, Kan., and Arby (& wife Linda) Rector of Johnson, Kan.; ten grandchildren, Leanne Miller, Lavon (& husband Paul) Carter, Libby & Scott Appling, Craig (& wife Micha) Rector, Cheryl (& husband Julius) Nieves, Tammy (& husband Mark) Kelly, Angela (& husband Randy) Morris, Allen (& wife Keila) Rector, and Tim (& wife Melissa) Rector;
17 great grandchildren, Amanda Monaghan, Mark Miller, Cole Carter, Ian & Claire Appling, Nieko & Kiara Nieves, Ryan, Alison, & Andrea Morris, Kaiden, Kaleb, Kenzington, Sterling, Easton, Hudson, & Cambridge Rector
3 great great grandchildren, Peyton Whitaker, and Elanor & Cecelia Monaghan; and numerous family members and friends.
Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 10:00 AM (MDT) at the First United Methodist Church, Syracuse. Burial will follow in the Syracuse Cemetery in Syracuse.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 12, 2011 from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM (MDT) at Fellers Funeral Home LLC in Syracuse.
Condolences may be sent to fellersfh@yahoo.com. In Lieu of Flowers memorial contributions may be payable to the VIP Senior Center, or First United Methodist Church, and sent in care of Fellers Funeral Home & Monuments LLC, P.O. Box 1253, Syracuse, KS 67878. 620-384-5100.
Marion E. Hamilton
Marion E. Hamilton died at Hillsboro, Kan., on October 10, 2011, at the age of 93. Marion was born on September 24, 1918, at Minden, Neb., the son of Edgar and Jessie Sallee Hamilton. His childhood and youth were spent at his parents’ home until he finished Minden High School in 1936. He attended Sterling College in Sterling, Kan. pursuing a pre-med curriculum until 1942.
He is a veteran of World War II serving as a Navy Hospital Corpsman until 1946. He graduated from Kansas State University in 1951 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Education. He was a teacher of vocational agriculture, science and shop in several schools in northeast and central Kansas and at Syracuse, Kan. He was a member of Parkview Mennonite Brethren Church at Hillsboro and of Gideon’s International.
On June 10, 1949, he married Maxine Hough at Olsburg, Kan. Maxine passed away on July 1, 1991. On March 13, 1993, he married Leona Hazelton in Syracuse. Leona passed away on October 8, 2005.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Earl Hamilton and Ralph Hamilton. He is survived by his son, David Hamilton of Old Hickory, Tenn.; two daughters, Lois Scheyer (husband, Bob) of Lincoln, Neb., and Nancy Hornbaker (husband, Edward) of Holcomb, Kan.; two step-sons, Timothy Hazelton (wife, Sharon) of Topeka, Kan., and James Hazelton (wife, Rachelle) of Topeka; and one step-daughter Kim Bennett (husband, Mike) of Lawrence, Kan.; 15 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren; and his sister, Martha Adair of Halstead, Kansas.
Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 11:00 AM (CST) at the Parkview Mennonite Brethren Church in Hillsboro. Burial will be at 1:00 p.m. (MDT) on Friday, October 14 at the Syracuse Cemetery in Syracuse.
The family will receive guests on Wednesday, October 12, 2011 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM (CST) at Jost Funeral Home of Hillsboro.
Condolences may be sent to jost@jostfuneralhome.com. In Lieu of Flowers memorial contributions may be payable to the Gideons International and sent in care of Jost Funeral Home, 401 South Washington Street, Hillsboro, KS 67063-1727, (620) 947-3622 or 620-384-5100.
