ST. JOSEPH- Ronald “Ronnie” Dean Lytton, 72, passed away Saturday, December 21, 2013 in a St. Joseph hospital. He was born August 8, 1941 in Agency, Mo., son of Thelma and William Lytton. He retired from Mead Products as a paper cutter. He enjoyed working on car bodies, and tinkering in his garage.
Ronnie was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Bob Lytton; three sisters, Betty Crossfield, Dixie Tucker, and, Geri Michaels; and his companion, Carla Burgess.
Survivors include, son, Bill (Rochelle) Lytton of Raymore, Mo.; four daughters, Jennie (Kevin) Barnett of St. Joseph, Nancy Powers of Warrensburg, Mo., Rhonda Lytton of St. Joseph, Thelma Snow of St. Joseph, and Rachel Trump of Wathena, Kan.; and his brother, Don Lytton of Austin, Texas.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m., on Saturday, December 28, 2013 at Agency Christian Church. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., on Friday at the Rupp Funeral Home. The Interment will be at the Agency Cemetery.
Online condolence and obituary at www.ruppfuneral.com

ST. JOSEPH- Bonnie L. Funk, 84, died Thursday, December 19, 2013 at her home.
She was born December 23, 1928 to John and Bertha (Moritz) Kinney in Austin, Minn.
She married John H. Funk, Jr. on December 27, 1946 in Troy, Kan. He preceded her in death on October 20, 2011.
Bonnie was a member of Calvary Baptist Church.
She was also preceded in death by her parents; six brothers; and seven sisters.
Survivors: sons, John Funk, III., Amazonia, Mo., and Delbert Funk (Laurie), St. Joseph; daughters, Marsha Boyer (Gary), Tuttle, Okla., Christine Jackson, St. Joseph and Lori Willis (Nathan), Savannah, Mo.; 12 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and a brother, David Kinney (Mary).
Services: 1 p.m. Monday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home and Crematory. Interment Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory, where friends may call after 5 p.m. Sunday. Flowers are appreciated and for those wishing to make a contribution, the family requests they be made to Hands of Hope Hospice.
Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com

ST. JOSEPH- Elijah James Linebaugh was stillborn Wednesday, December 18, 2013. He is the son of Ashley Linebaugh, and grandson of Scott (Tonya) Linebaugh of St. Joseph.
Also surviving are great grandmother, Betty Pilcher of St. Joseph; great grandparents, Daniel & Dorothy Linebaugh of Stewartsville, Mo.; two uncles, Nick Pilcher and Michael Linebaugh; a great uncle, Mark Linebaugh; and two great aunts, Katherine Linebaugh, and Chrystal Starr.
Funeral services will be conducted at 3 p.m., on Friday, December 20, 2013 at Rupp Funeral Home. Chaplain Bob Randelman will be officiating. The Interment will be at the Bethel Cemetery. Online condolence and obituary at www.ruppfuneral.com

ST. JOSEPH- Estelle V. Grimes Beattie, 95, died Tuesday, December 17, 2013 at Heartland Regional Medical Center.
She was born January 5, 1918 to Earl and Mattie Wuerfele (Price). She married Robert E. Grimes in 1939, he preceded her in death in 1971. Estelle married Harold W. Beattie in 1986, he preceded her in death in 1989.
Mrs. Beattie retired from Sears. She was active in PTA and Wyatt Park Christian Church of which she was a member for over 70 years. Estelle was an excellent seamstress and was a multi-talented musician, but most of all she was a wonderful mother.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; three sisters, Kathryn Ramseier, Crystal Rogers, and Sadie Boies; and son-in-law, Richard D. Edwards.
Survivors, daughter, Dina Frazier (Don); son, Bob Grimes (Donna Hardin); daughter, Janet Edwards; grandchildren, Greg Frazier (M.J.), Brooke Tiller (Steven), Steven Grimes (Christina), Matthew Grimes (Michelle), Scott Edwards, and Erich Edwards; twelve great-grandchildren; and three nieces.
Services: 10 a.m., Saturday, Wyatt Park Christian Church. Interment Ashland Cemetery. The family will receive friends 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Flowers are appreciated and for those wishing to make a contribution, the family requests they be made to Wyatt Park Christian Church. Mrs. Beattie will be removed from Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory to arrive at the church one hour prior to the service. Flowers are appreciated and for those wishing to make a contribution, the family requests they be made to Wyatt Park Christian Church.
Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com

HUMBLE, TEXAS- Blas Montemayor Jr., 75, formerly of St. Joseph, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, December 17, 2013 at his home in Humble. He was born February 17, 1938 in St. Joseph, son of Hope and Blas Montemayor Sr. He graduated from Christian Brothers High School, and married Barbara Steve on February 8, 1958.
They shared 55 years of marriage. He retired as a meat inspector with the USDA in Denver, Colo., after 23 years of service, then went on to retire from Continental Airlines after 20 years of service. He was a former member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church and a member of St. Mary Magdalene Catholic church in Humble.
Blas was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Jesse and Albert Montemayor; and a sister Josephine Waters.
Those left to mourn his loss are his wife, Barbara Montemayor of the home; four sons, Christopher Montemayor and wife Lyndee, Denver, Mark Montemayor of China, Timothy Montemayor of Denver, Michael Montemayor of Phoenix, Ariz., and daughter, Susan Montemayor of Denver; nine grandchildren; two brothers, Frank and Paul Montemayor of St. Joseph; and two sisters, Martha Meng of Troy, Kan., and Dolores Hayward of Saint Joseph.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10 a.m., Monday, December 23, 2013 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, The Rosary bill be recited at 6 p.m. Sunday with the family to receive friends until 8 p.m. at the Rupp Funeral Home.
Friends may call after 2 p.m. Sunday at the Rupp Funeral Home. Interment will be at the Mount Olivet Cemetery.
Online condolence and obituary at www.ruppfuneral.com

ST. JOSEPH- Jesse “Topper” Wilson, 74, died Wednesday, December 18, 2013 at his home of kidney failure.
He was born February 25, 1939 to Jesse and Georgia (Simpson) Wilson in Savannah, Mo. He married Victoria LaFave on April 7, 1961. She preceded him in death on January 29, 2003.
Jesse proudly served in the United States Navy and retired from Wire Rope Corporation in 2003. He enjoyed fishing with his grandchildren, was in numerous bowling leagues and was a huge Chiefs fan.
He was also preceded in death by his parents; son, Mike Dollen; and brothers, Donald and Winston Wilson.
Survivors: son, Scott Wilson (Cindy); granddaughters, Melanie Douglas, St. Joseph, Brittany Wilson, St. Joseph, Shelby Wilson, St. Joseph, and Tiffany White (Robert), Savannah; six great-grandchildren; sisters, Georgia Hector, St. Joseph, Elberta Wilson-Schaefer, Bel Air, Texas, Doroty Fletchall (Virgil), St. Joseph, Darlene Budine (Gary), Forest City, Mo., and Joyce Lynn (Mark), Urbana, Mo.; sister-in-law, Rita Wilson, Savannah; and brother, Gerald “Butch” Wilson, Forest City.
Services: 1 p.m. Saturday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Interment Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, 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 and Hands of Hope Hospice.
Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com

Cynthia Yang, 12, St. Joseph, died Tuesday, December 17, 2013 at Heartland Regional Medical Center.
She was born September 28, 2001 to Dr. Junping and Karen (Yu) Yang in St. Joseph.
She was a student at United Cerebral Palsy and Helen Davis State School. She liked music and having stories read to her. She was always smiling.
Survivors: parents; and sisters, Monica and Sonia, all of St. Joseph.
Services: 6 p.m. Thursday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory, Community Room. Inurnment Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to United Cerebral Palsy or Helen Davis State School. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com

Father Joachim Schieber, OSB, 94, Conception, Mo., died Tuesday, December 17, 2013, at St. Stephen’s Infirmary, Conception Abbey, Conception.
Father Joachim was born January 4, 1919, in Clyde, Mo., to John and Frances (Kern) Schieber.
Father Joachim professed as a monk, August 30, 1939, and was ordained as a priest September 23, 1944.
Father was a graduate of Theological Studies at Conception Seminary and M.A. in History from the Catholic University of America.
Father Joachim had been a Seminary professor and prefect at Conception Seminary and Mount Michael Seminary in Elkhorn, Neb., chaplain at St. Michael Convent in Sturgis, S.D., pastor at St. Aloysius Parish in Kansas City, Mo., St. Bernard Parish in McLaughlin, S.D., and St. Joseph Parish in Trenton, Mo.
Father Joachim was preceded in death by his parents and nine siblings.
Survivors include his monastic community; one sister, Sister Mauricita Schieber of Mount Saint Scholastica Convent in Atchison, Kan.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, December 21, 2013, at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Conception.
Visitation will be from 6 to 7 p.m., Friday, December 20, followed by Vespers of the Faithful Departed at 7:15 p.m. at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Burial will be in the St. Columba Cemetery, Conception.
Arrangements: Price Funeral Home www.pricefuneralhomemaryville.com

Rita S. Neill, 64, St. Joseph, passed away unexpectedly Monday, December 16, 2013 at her home.
She was born June 19, 1949 to Hazel Staggs in Wayne County, Tenn.
She retired from NMPRC with over 25 years of service. Rita also worked as a waitress and formed many friendships over the years. Rita loved her family and grandchildren very much. She will be sadly missed by all.
She was preceded in death by her step-father, Al Strantz.
Survivors include mother, Hazel Strantz, Spring City, Tenn.; daughters, Elaine Newey (David) and Lisa Dawson (Alan); granddaughter, Tara Newey; grandsons, Nicholas and Ryan Newey and Brady Dawson, all of St. Joseph; and many friends and co-workers.
Services: 10 a.m., Friday at Meierhoffer Funeral Home and Crematory. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday at Meierhoffer Funeral Home and Crematory. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com

Sharon K. Kunzler, 71, St. Joseph, died Monday, December 16, 2013 at her home.
She was born October 1, 1942 to Richard and Nellie (Mace) Graves in St. Joseph.
Sharon married Robert Lee Kunzler on February 22, 1959. He survives of the home.
Sharon was a loving mother, wife, grandmother and most of all enjoyed raising her family.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Gene; and sisters, Dorothy Mae, Shirley, Connie and Kathy.
Additional Survivors include son, Carl Kunzler (Jennifer), St. Joseph; daughters, Tina Gill (Charles), St. Joseph, Tammy Damgar (Larry), St. Joseph, Debbie Kunzler, Kansas City, Mo., and Tracy Roberts (Scott), St. Joseph; and son, Scott Kunzler (Michelle), Agency, M0.; 12 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; brothers, Frankie Graves and Ronnie Graves; and a sister, Roxie Harshbarger.
Mrs. Kunzler was a member of the Missouri Cremation Service. The family requests memorial contributions to be made to a charity of the donor’s choice. Online guestbook and obituary at www.missouricremation.com