Dwight Bear

 

Dwight Bear, 86 of Forsyth, MO, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 24, 2021 at Forsyth Nursing and Rehab. A Celebration of Life will from, 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. Sunday, September 19, 2021 in the Forsyth Senior Center.

Dwight was born on Monday, May 13, 1935 in Russell County, Kansas to Dean and Zelma (Buhrle) Bear. He was raised on the family farm near Paradise, KS. Dwight attended his schooling in Waldo and Paradise, KS. After finishing school, he went to work in the oil fields in Kansas and Texas. He later became an Over the Road Truck Driver for Consolidated Freight.

He retired in 1979. Dwight married Judie Adams on December 15, 1980 in Miami, OK. They shared forty-one years of marriage. Dwight and Judie moved to Forsyth, MO in 1999.

He was an avid and talented woodworker. He made countless handcrafted bird feeders, birdhouses and numerous wooden crafts. He loved making new projects and took pride in his creations. Judie also shared this passion and did the detail work on Dwight’s projects. One of his favorite pastimes was watching and feeding the birds from his back deck. But most of all, he loved being with family and friends sharing stories, experiences and laughter.

Dwight is survived by his wife, Judie Bear; two sons, Brad Bear and wife, Deb, and Brett Bear; one daughter, Kimberly Lenz and husband, Jeff; eight grandchildren and many great-grandchildren; one brother, Gale Bear and one sister, Dona Heyer.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Dean and Zelma Bear; two sons, Brian and Bart Bear; infant sister, Edna Bear and sister, Elizabeth Kneisley.

Cremation is under the direction of the Kissee-Schofield-Eakins Funeral Home, Forsyth, MO.

Thelma P Hutchinson

 

Thelma Pauline Hutchinson, 84, of Great Bend, Kansas, and former Russell and Paradise, Kansas, resident, died on Friday, August 06, 2021, at the Azria Health Care Center in Great Bend, Kansas.

Thelma was born on December 26, 1936, in Wichita, Kansas, the daughter of Lester R. and Helen Maude (Dodson) Pfortmiller.  She was raised by her grandparents Henry and Anna Pfortmiller and grew up and attended school in rural Paradise, Kansas, and lived in the Russell, Osborne and Barton County, Kansas areas most all her life.  

She was married to Tom Hutchinson on January 25, 1954 in Russell, Kansas.  From this union Thelma and Tom were blessed with 3 children Sheryl, Randy and Bruce.  

She was a hard-working wife and mother who enjoyed taking care of her husband and children.  She worked as a certified nurse’s assistant and physical therapy aid at the Russell Regional Hospital from 1980 to 1995.  She was a longtime member of St. John Lutheran Church in Russell and Trinity Lutheran Church in Great Bend, Kansas.  She was also a member of the V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary, KOOD, ROAR and Palco Art Club.  She enjoyed being a talented artist creating beautiful oil and water color paintings and wood carvings.  She enjoyed listening to music and watching football on television.  Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family and close friends.

Surviving family include her daughter Sheryl Corn and husband Steve of Great Bend, Kansas, sons Randy Hutchinson and wife Stephanie of Falun, Kansas and Bruce Hutchinson of Hoisington, Kansas; sisters Sue Koehler and husband Dan of Lawrence, Kansas and Loa Gordon of Auburn, Kansas; 9 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her parents Lester Pfortmiller and Helen Burger and grandparents Henry and Anna Pfortmiller; sister Alice Wiggs and one great grandchild Fayelle Hutchinson. 

A celebration of Thelma’s life was held at 11 A.M. on Friday, August 13, 2021, at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell, Kansas.  Visitation was from 9 A.M. to 8 P.M. on Thursday, August 12, 2021, at the mortuary with family greeting guests from 6 P.M. to 8 P.M Thursday evening.  Memorials may be given to the Palco Art Club and sent in care of the mortuary.  Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.