Milton Francis Hines
1931-2016

Milton Francis Hines was born Wednesday, June 24th, 1931; and passed away Tuesday, July 12th, 2016 in Atchison, Kansas. Visitation Saturday, July 16th, 2016, 12:30pm – 2:00pm; located at the Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home. Services Saturday, July 16th, 2016, 2:00pm; located at the Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home. Interment located at the Lancaster Cemetery.

 
 
 
 
Richard Follett
1934-2016

Richard Follett, 82, Stewartsville, Missouri passed away Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at his home.
He was born June 30, 1934 in St. Joseph, Missouri.
Richard proudly served in the United States Army and was a graduate of Benton High School. He worked at the Missouri American Water Company as a Meter Reader for 25 years until he retired.
Richard enjoyed the outdoors and going on trips with his wife.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Kermit and Donna (Hurst) Follett; former wife, Betty Follett; and son, Christopher Follett.
Survivors include wife, Donna Follett; children, Tim Follett (Kim), Overland Park, Kansas, Tammy Wilhelm (Gregg), Springfield, Missouri, Rick Zellmer, St. Joseph, Missouri and Michel Schlup (Mike), Stilwell, Kansas; fourteen grandchildren, Josh, Casey, Brooklynn, Brielle Christian, Ashton, Jayden, Richard, Will, Chris, Brian, Allen, John and Luke; and brother, Rodney Follett (Gail), Ft. Collins, Colorado.
Farewell Services 1:00 P.M. Monday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Interment Mount Olivet Cemetery. The family will gather with friends 4:00 to 6:00 P.M. Sunday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Flowers are appreciated and for those wishing to make a contribution, the family requests they be made to the American Cancer Society. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.

Mary Jean Handley
1932-2016

ONAGA – Mary Jean Handley, 84, of Onaga, died Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at the Eastridge Nursing Facility in Centralia.
She was born June 17, 1932 at Topeka, the daughter of Eugene and Mary Pinick Grim. She graduated from Onaga High School in 1950.
Mary Jean was a member of the First Congregational Church, UCC in Onaga. She sang in the church choir and at many funerals. She was also a member of the Order of Eastern Star and sang at the State Convention one year.
She worked at the First National Bank in Onaga for thirty-five years.
Mary Jean married Melvin “Tobe” Handley on November 29, 1953 at the First Congregational Church in Onaga. He survives, of the home.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Other survivors include a daughter, Melinda Fisher and husband Ramon, Onaga; two brothers, Richard “Dick” Grim and wife Robbie, Ft. Smith, AR, and George Grim, Robert E. Lee, TX; a sister, Cindy Hays and husband Hank, Ft. Smith, AR; and five grandchildren.
Cremation is planned. Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 16th at the First Congregational Church. Burial will follow in the Onaga Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the First Congregational Church or Eastridge Nursing Facility, and may be sent in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 312, Onaga 66521.

Donna L. Trant
1931-2016

TROY, KANSAS Donna (Losson) Trant, 84, of Troy, Kansas died Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at her home surrounded by her family.
Donna was born on October 27, 1931 in Sparks, Kansas to P.E. and Maude (French) Williams. She graduated from Troy High School. Donna loved traveling with her husband and spending time with her family. She also enjoyed doing word search and beating her husband in cards.
Donna is a member of the Community of Christ Church in Fanning, Kansas
Donna married Clarence Trant on October 31, 1991 at Savannah, Missouri. He survives of the home. She was preceded in death by her parents, a son, Samuel Joseph Losson and a sister, Shirley Rodecap.
Additional survivors include her children; Don (Vicki) Losson of Carbondale, Kansas Tina Johnson of Troy, Kansas Paul (Deb) Losson of Augusta, Kansas Harry (Wendy) Losson of Troy, Kansas 5 step-children,11 grandchildren, several step-grandchildren Brother, Sam Williams of Hiawatha, Kansas numerous nieces and nephews
Funeral Service: Saturday, July 16, 2016 – 10:00 A.M. At: Community of Christ Church in Fanning, Kansas Burial: Fanning Cemetery – Fanning, Kansas Visitation: family will receive friends 6-8 PM Friday at the Harman Rohde Funeral Home in Troy where friends may call after 9 AM Friday. Memorials: Donna Trant Memorial Fund.

Leo Berry
1934-2016

BENDENA,KANSAS – Leo Berry, 81, of Bendena, Kansas died Wednesday, July 13, 2016 at a Kansas City hospital.
Leo was born on October 17, 1934 in Atchison, Kansas to Orrel and Helen (Moranz) Berry. He was a lifelong resident of Bendena where he farmed and worked as a patternmaker.
Leo is a member of the St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Bendena, Kansas, Patternmaker Union and served in the Navy National Guard.
He married Norma Jean (Jeannie) Schoenfelder on December 27, 1958 in Bendena, Kansas. She survives of the home. Leo was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Clara Clements, 3 brothers; Charles, James and Eugene Berry.
Additional survivors include children; Shon Berry (Karen) of Creston, Iowa; Mary E. Berry (Eric Larson) of Ankeny, Iowa; Dr. Teresa Berry (Natalie Buster) of Las Vegas, Nevada; Etola Berry of Las Vegas, Nevada; 5 grandchildren; Deena Burkert, Ryan Riley, Austin Berry, Lindsey Street and Karlee Riley; 4 great-grandchildren; Lila, Leo, Owen Burkert and Lydia Street; 2 sisters; Helen Lutz and Mary Carnahan both of Branson, Missouri
MASS: Saturday, July 16, 2016 – 10 A.M.
At: St. Benedict’s Catholic Church – Bendena, Kansas
Burial: St. Benedict’s Cemetery – Bendena, Kansas
Rosary: Friday evening 5:30 at the church with visitation to follow
Memorials: In lieu of flowers the family has requested memorials to the St. Benedict’s Church repair fund.

Grace Steinberg Day
1926-2016

Grace Steinberg Day, 89, St. Joseph, Missouri passed away July 13, 2016 after a very brief illness. She was born in Onawa, Iowa, the daughter of Polish immigrants who journeyed to America after World War 1. Her parents owned the town shoe store and Grace worked there when she was a child. She attended college at the University of South Dakota and excelled in speech, dramatics and debate. Those interests led her to select what was then an unusual field for women – law. Grace was not the first woman to attend the University of South Dakota School of Law but during her time in the late 1940’s, she was the only woman and her fortitude and tenacity carried her through those challenging times when society, including her peers and professors, believed women did not belong in the profession. She would reflect later that “I’m not a quitter and had no intention of leaving law school.”
She married the love of her life, Milton “Boob” Day, who brought her to St. Joseph, Missouri to begin their new life. Together, they raised a family while Grace pursued her family law practice, and for more than 30 years was the only woman lawyer in St. Joseph. When no law firms would hire her, she struck out on her own as a solo practioner until the late 1990’s when she was approached by the then-prominent law firm Shughart Thompson & Kilroy, now Polsinelli. She became known around town as a “lady lawyer” tough on men but as her reputation grew, Grace began to represent men, as well as women, in divorce and custody cases. She liked to tell the story of asking the first man who approached her for representation why he selected her. His response was “so my wife didn’t get you first.” She was equally proud of advocating for men in custody cases during a time when the courts typically selected mothers as the primary caretaker.
Her law partners Dan Boulware describes Grace “as an icon, plain and simple” and Edwin Smith often remarked “they broke the mold with Grace. We are never going to see another one quite like her.” She went on to represent hundreds of families in Northwest Missouri for 64 years, and earned accolades including Missouri Lawyer Weekly’s “Woman of the Year,” and became President of the St. Joseph Bar Association. Nationally, she gained prominence as the International President of B’nai B’rith Women’s and made frequent trips to Washington, D.C. to meet with dignitaries including President Gerald Ford, Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger and Senator Edward M. Kennedy. She was able to build her successful career with the help of her husband Milton. They raised two children, Allison Day and Douglas Day, who both became attorneys. When Grace retired in 2013, she took frequent trips and traveled to see her children who live on each coast. Impeccably dressed even in her late 80’s, Grace loved to shop and Allison described her as a “champion shopper.” Close friends knew her for love of monkeys and she collected dozens of stuffed monkeys which lined her recreation room.
Whether Grace realized it or not, she was a legal trailblazer for women in law. She opened the door for future generations of women attorneys and leaves behind a powerful legacy although she was always too modest to admit her impact. One of the recent highlights of her life was a recent trip back to her law school where she learned that 40 percent of the law students are women. A documentary, “Amazing Grace,” has been produced about her life and it is being played on PBS stations in the Midwest.
Grace joins her beloved husband Milton “Boob” Day, and leaves behind a brother, Harry Steinberg, St. Joseph, Missouri; daughter, Allison R. Day and son-in-law, James Feltman, Coconut Grove, Florida; and son Douglas L. Day, Pacific Palisades, California; and granddaughter Rachel B. Day, Brooklyn, New York.
Farewell Services 1:00 P.M. Sunday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Interment B’nai Yaakov Cemetery. The family will gather with friends 4:00 to 6:00 P.M. Saturday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Flowers are appreciated and for those wishing to make a contribution, the family requests they be made to American Cancer Society. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.

Ronald “Ron” Gene Ficklin
1935-2016

Ronald “Ron” Gene Ficklin 81, of Saint Joseph, Missouri, passed away Wednesday, July 13, 2016 at Mosaic Life Care hospital. He was born July 3, 1935 in St. Joseph, MO, son of the late Blanche and Harry Ficklin. He married Linda Wright on June 17, 1961 and she passed away May 18, 2015, and they are now together again. He served in the United States Army. then worked at Armors, and retired from Wire Rope Corporation of America. He was a member the Steel Workers union and was a Christian. Ron liked the simple pleasures in life, he enjoyed birds, country music and spending time with his wife. Ron was preceded in death by his wife, parents, son, Scott Ficklin, three brothers, Don, Harry, and Jack Ficklin, three sisters, Marjorie McGuire, Louise Grantham, and Vivian Lafoon. Survivors include, daughter, Cheryl (Kelvin) Stith of Saint Joseph, MO, sons: James Ficklin of Kansas City, MO, and Michael Ficklin of Raytown, MO, five grandchildren: Amanda Symmonds, Scott Ficklin, Blair Ficklin, Matthew Ficklin, and Zachary Ficklin, 5 great-grandchildren, Zyler, Adalyn, Anthony, Jacob, and Braylyn.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:00 am, on Monday, July 18, 2016 at Rupp Funeral Home, with Rev. James Barnett officiating, The family will receive friends from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Sunday at the Rupp Funeral Home. The Interment will be at the King City Cemetery, King City, MO. Memorials are requested to the American Cancer Society.

Joanne Isabelle Johnson
1943-2016

Joanne Isabelle Johnson 73, of Saint Joseph, Missouri, passed away Wednesday, July 13, 2016 in a Saint Joseph, MO. health care center. She was born January 23, 1943 in Boston, MA, daughter of the late George & Josephine Roberts. She was a Homemaker, and enjoyed spending time with her family at cookouts, and playing bingo. She was a member of First Baptist Church, St. Joseph, MO. Joanne was preceded in death by her parents, Survivors include, seven children: Darrell (Tina) Johnson, Dennis (Brenda) Johnson, Diana Johnson, Darlene (Frank) Kennedy, Allen Johnson, Ralph Johnson, and Bill Johnson, 16 grandchildren including Thomas Hewitt Johnson, 22 great grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM on Monday, with funeral services to start at 2:00 pm, Monday, July 18, 2016 at Rupp Funeral Home, Rev. Albert Shirley officiating. The Interment will be at the Mount Olivet Cemetery.