For more information, see the Dec. 30, 2009, issue of the Labette Avenue. To locate previously posted death notices, enter the decedent’s last name in the archive search box on Labette Avenue’s home page. Labette Avenue publishes death notices free of charge. Paid obituaries ($20) are printed in their entirety in the Labette Avenue and online at www.taylornews.org/lba.

Kathryn L. Ruttgen

PARSONS—Kathryn L. Ruttgen 83, of Parsons, Kan., passed away Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009, at Elm Haven East.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Thursday, in the Murdock Funeral Home, Oswego, with Pastor Jack Blackwell officiating. Interment will follow in the Oswego Cemetery. Visitation will be 7 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday evening. Memorials may be made to Harry Hines Hospice or the Center Bethel Youth Group with the Murdock Funeral Home, 203 Illinois, Oswego, KS 67356 serving as custodian.

Kathryn was born May 3, 1926, in Craig County, Okla., the daughter of John Tillman and  Hattie Mae (Swagerty) Hollabaugh. She  graduated from Centralia High School, worked for Fred Ronalds Garment Factory as a seamstress, cooked for the Fairview School for several years and retired from the KAAP Ammunition Plant in Parsons in 1990. She moved from  rural Oswego to Parsons in 1977. Kathryn loved her family and spending time with her grandchildren. She enjoyed reading, ceramics, sewing, quilting and traveling.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two sons, Nathan and Christopher; four brothers and seven sisters.

She is survived by two daughters, LaVerne Walker and husband Gary, Columbia, Mo.; and Sherry Foister and husband Michael, Parsons; three sons, Greg Ruttgen  and wife Robin, Welch, Okla.; Donnie Ruttgen and wife Jeannie, Labette City, Kan.; and Mark Ruttgen; eight grandchildren, Jolene, Jovanna, Rhiannon, Denovon, Mark, Cara, Ashley, and Kandus; and 11 great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Evelyn Lofton and Alma Spunaugle.

Donald Eugene Hiebsch

HAYS—Donald Eugene Hiebsch, 81, of Hays, Kan., passed away Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009, at his home.

There will be a celebration gathering on Monday, Dec. 28 from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Centennial Towers Community Room, 2502 Sherman Ave., Hays. Inurnment will be at a later date in Edna.

Contributions are suggested to the National Diabetes Association or the American Cancer Society.Condolences may be sent to the family at  www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or brocksnorthhill@ruraltel.net.

Donald was born on Jan. 28, 1928, in Edna, Kan., to Frank and Ethel (Finley) Hiebsch.

He was a Corporal in the US Army, serving during the Korean War. He was a diesel mechanic by trade, having worked for Sellers Tractor Company in Salina for 39 years. He was a member of the Hays VFW and The Golden Age’s Club at Centennial Towers in Hays.

Surviving are twin daughters, Joyce Funk and June Grumbein, both of Hays; a sister, Leta Jarett, Parsons; four grandchildren, Candice Loffredi, Rachel Grumbein, Brandon Funk and Raelynn Grumbein; seven great-grandchildren, Taylor and Tyra Loffredi, Trinity and Tanaya Funk, Evie Grumbein-Banegas, Stuart Grumbein-Littrel and Kayley Geaslin.

He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers, a son-in-law, Jerry Grumbein, and a grandson-in-law, Justin Loffredi.

Lori A. Rice

COLUMBUS—Lori A. Rice, 42, of Columbus, Kan., died at 12:42 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin, Mo.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 31, at Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Altamont. Burial will be in the Mound Valley Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 325, Altamont, KS 67330.

Lori was born Jan. 4, 1967, in Columbus, to Norman and Linda (Newberry) George. As a child, she moved with her family to Porum, Okla., and later to Columbus. She also lived in Vinita, Okla., five years before returning to the Columbus area where she had lived the past two years.

She was a Mormon. She enjoyed crocheting and collecting dolls.

She and Robert Pease were married. They later divorced. On Feb. 8, 2003, she and Mickey Rice were married in Rocky Comfort, Mo. He survives of the home.

Additional survivors include her mother and stepfather, Linda and Marion J. Holt, Porum, Okla.; four sons, Jason Pease, Columbus; Mason Pease, Columbus; Allen Rice, Columbus; and Preston Rice, Quapaw, Okla.; three daughters, Cassandra Copher, Joplin, Mo.; April Hilton, Riverton, Kan.; Rebecca Marks, Joplin, Mo.; 14 grandchildren; two sisters, LaDonna Clark, Columbus, Kan; and Norma Shelton, Columbus.

She was preceded in death by her father, Norman George, on May 21, 2006.

Terrence “Terry” Joseph Fisher

OSWEGO—Terrence “Terry” Joseph Fisher, 56, of Oswego, Kan., passed away Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2009, at his home.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, Dec. 28, at Murdock Funeral Home Oswego. Interment will follow in the Oswego Cemetery.

Terrence was born Sept. 30, 1953, in Oswego, the son of Wayne Stewart and Elfredia (Landis) Fisher. Terry was a construction worker in the local area. He married Christy Burton on October 10, 1998 she survives of the home.

Additional survivors include two step-daughters, Christina Roberts of Oswego and Stacy Hanna and husband Mark of Oswego; six grandchildren, Brittany, Jordan, Ethan, Emily, Gianna and Hayden.

Terrence was preceded in death by his parents.

John I. Hogelin

PARSONS—John I. Hogelin, 85, of Parsons, died at 11:02 p.m., Monday, December 21, 2009 at Labette Health in Parsons.

Funeral services were held Saturday, Dec. 26, at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home with burial in the Mound Valley Cemetery.  Memorials are suggested to the American Red Cross Labette County Chapter and these may be left at or mailed to the Carson-Wall Funeral Home, 112 N. 26th St., P.O. Box 942, Parsons, KS 67357.  Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.

Eugene E. “Buck” Harwell

PARSONS—Eugene E. “Buck” Hartwell, 87, of Parsons, Kan., died Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009 at Labette Health.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., Wednesday, at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home.  Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, with military honors.  The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 to 7 p.m., Tuesday.

Memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society.  They may be left at or sent to the funeral home at Box 942, Parsons, KS  67357.  Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.