Obituaries

Bruce F. Lacey, born November 19, 1954 in Yuba City, California was the second of 5 siblings born to Fred and Gracia ‘LaWanda’ (Denson) Lacey.

Age 52 Of El Dorado Laura “Lori” (Wentworth) Greenlee’s life began on September 1, 1970 in El Dorado, KS; the daughter of Richard and Shirlene (McClintock) Wentworth, Sr. Lori had a passion for helping others and in following that passion, she earned her LPN degree.

Humphreys Dean “Hump” Hodge, 88, of Augusta, KS, passed away Saturday, December 3, 2022 at home. Hump was born in Ft. Worth, TX on October 30, 1934, to Martha (Humphreys) and Clifford Hodge, and grew up in Leawood, KS. Hump graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in journalism and remained a passionate and loyal Jayhawk fan. He also served in the U.S. Air Force. He was in banking insurance sales, owning Financial Insurance Group in Augusta and finally retiring from the Kansas Bankers Association. Hump dedicated himself to many charitable causes and made many dear, lifelong friends along the way. On February 11, 1978 he married his soulmate, Barbara (Seba) in Wichita, KS who survives him. He is also survived by: daughters, Julie Colahan (Jim), Marty Winkelman, Missy McCarthy (Kent), Alison Brake (J.D.); son, Kent Owens (Lalanie); 16 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by: son, Kevin Owens; granddaughter, Brooke Owens. Hump was blessed with a large family and many friends. He loved life, never knew a stranger, and had a heart of gold. He simply was one of the kindest people you could meet. Service 1:00 p.m. Thursday, December 8, 2022 at Augusta United Methodist Church, Augusta, KS. Burial will follow at Sunset Lawns Cemetery, El Dorado, KS. Memorial donations to Augusta United Methodist Church 2420 N. Ohio Augusta, KS 67010 or KU Endowment Fund P.O. Box 928 Lawrence, KS 66044-0928.

Frances “Fran” Marie Pykiet passed from this life on November 4th, 2022. She was born November 30th, 1939 in Bushong, Kansas to Carl and Ellen Bechtel. Fran graduated from Northern Heights high school in 1957 in Allen, KS. She married her high school sweetheart and the love of her life, Bob Pykiet in Danville, California during his Navy leave on November 7th, 1960. Fran and Bob moved around quite a bit between 1960 -1973; her most well-known residence was Emporia, KS. In 1973 Fran and Bob moved and made their home in Augusta, KS where they raised their daughter Rhonda. In February 2020, Fran moved to Colorado to live with her daughter and son-in-law. While in Kansas Fran worked for the Prairie State Bank from 1973-1988 in Augusta, Ks. She then moved on to the Golden Plains Credit Union (aka Beechcraft Credit Union and AACU) from 1988-2004 where she retired. She was a member of the Trinity Episcopal Church in Eldorado, KS where she loved her church family and singing in the church choir. Fran was also an avid bowler in Augusta, KS until a shoulder injury, after that she managed the books for the Bowling leagues in Augusta, so that she could stay involved and be with the many friends she made in the league. Fran is survived by her daughter, Rhonda Ross & son-in-Law Paul of Windsor, CO, grandchildren Christopher (wife Sydney) and Kevin Ross of Windsor, CO, brother Everett Bechtel of Peculiar, MO, sister-in-law Judy Eastman & husband Charles of Allen, KS, sister-in-law Shirley Jackson & husband Jack of Kennewick, WA, sister-in-law Kathleen Bechtel, and numerous nieces and nephews whom she adored. She is proceeded in death by her parents Carl & Ellen Bechtel, husband Bob Pykiet, brother Eugene Bechtel, sister & brother- in-law Faye & Jim Mulkey, sister-in-law Ina Bechtel, and Parents-In-law Pete & Edna Pykiet. She was loved very much by everyone who knew her. There will be a service at Trinity Episcopal Church in El Dorado, Kansas on Wednesday, April 5, 2023, at 10:0

Lyons - Judith Sue Bing, 81, passed away Tuesday, November 29, 2022 in Ellinwood, KS. She was born July 16, 1941 in Eureka, KS to Jonathon and Emma (Saferite) Martin.

Martha Nell Whisenhunt (nee Sill), 83, of El Dorado, passed away on Nov 15, 2022. She was born in Joplin, MO, the youngest of 4 children, on February 28, 1939, to Robert L.

Janice Kay Wilson, 84, of Augusta, KS, passed away Saturday, November 26, 2022. Visitation 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Thursday, December 1, 2022 at Headley Funeral Chapel, Augusta, KS. Graveside service 10:00 a.m. Friday, December 2, 2022, at Elmwood Cemetery, Augusta, KS. Janice was born in Wichita, KS on March 30, 1938, to the late Doris Rowena (Lipscomb) and Murray Merritt Marshall.

Billie Jane Fretz, 88, of Ottawa, Kansas, passed away Sunday, November 27, 2022, at Rock Creek of Ottawa Care Home, Ottawa, Kansas, surrounded by her family. Billie was born Saturday, June 9, 1934, in Greensburg, KS, the youngest of seven children born to William Oaks and Mabel (Kennedy) Dorland. She graduated from Greensburg High School with the Class of 1952. She attended Butler County College in El Dorado, Kansas. Billie was married to Allen Fretz on September 19, 1981 in El Dorado, Kansas. He preceded her in death March 17, 2015. She moved to Paola in 2016. Prior to that time, she had lived in Augusta for 32 years and El Dorado for 28 1/2 years. Billie had many hobbies which included camping, boating, sewing, cooking, gardening, and canning. She was a member of the Lighthouse Presbyterian Church in Paola. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two brothers, four sisters, a granddaughter Nicole West, daughter-in-law Janine West, and son-in-law Joel Gilbert. Survivors include her children Terry Mark (Johnnie) West of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Mike (Sandie) West of Wichita, Melisa Gilbert of Jasper, AL and Melinda (Jack) James of Paola; step-son Kenny (Pat) Fretz of Kounteze, Texas; four grandchildren and ten great grandchildren; other relatives and friends. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Family and friends are encouraged to post their condolences and memories on Billie’s Tribute Wall at www.dengelmortuary.com.

John Clifton Broomfield, 71, of Towanda, KS, passed away Friday, November 25, 2022 in Wichita. Visitation Monday 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Headley Funeral Chapel, Augusta. Funeral service 10 a.m. Tuesday, November 29, 2022, at First Baptist Church, Towanda, KS. Burial will follow at Elmwood Cemetery, Augusta, KS. John was born in Wichita, Kansas on November 23, 1951, to the late Norma Jean (Keethler) and Floyd Clifton Broomfield. He was a lifelong resident of Kansas. In May 1969, he graduated from Pomona High School. On August 2, 1975 he married Jolene Lynn (Rowland) Broomfield in Augusta, KS and together they raised one child, their daughter, Angela who was born in 1979. John worked in various locations as custodian and maintenance man, including schools and churches, such as First Baptist Church in El Dorado and Towanda. John retired in 2014. His beloved wife, Jolene passes away in 2020. Others who preceded him in death were his brother, in