MORE ABOUT PARADiSE AND RUSSEL COUNTY FIRE AND WIND

Click on each picture to enlarge them.

Marilyn Mitchell sent the following pictures and information to me from Clint Straub

From Clint

"We lost our barn last night in the fire among other things. Some of these pics are disturbing and I’m heartbroken what those cattle had to go through a lot of people had their lives turned upside down yesterday and last night please pray for those who lost almost everything."

Clint's photo's

Tim Maupin posted the following . . . 

"This fire took out my brothers house and others in the area. Prayers needed for those folks!"

Tim posted this from SenatorJerry Moran too.

Senator Jerry MoranDecember 17 at 6:30 PM  · 

Today, I was in Russell county where I visited with Kansans who have been affected by this week’s weather and fires, and to see the damages sustained across our state and particularly in the Four County Fire. The United Methodist Church in Paradise has become the point of distribution for donated supplies, food, water and other needs for the people who have lost their homes or other essential property. I appreciated hearing the firsthand details about how neighbors came together to help one another as Kansans so naturally do. After speaking to volunteers, first responders and those that suffered loss at the church, Sheriff Fred Whitman led me on a tour of the devastation in Russell County. The grassland is scorched, and it will be months before that ground cover is replenished, meaning an increased risk for erosion and dust storms this winter. I saw dozens of cattle who perished and entire farmsteads gone. My heart breaks for those who have lost their homes and livelihoods. If I can be of assistance to you or your family, please reach out to my office at DisasterAssistance@moran.senate.gov.

The damage to people’s communities, homes and livelihoods is devastating. If you are struggling or are in crisis, please call the Kansas Suicide Prevention Hotline at 785-841-2345 or visit kansasagstress.org.

Thank you to the first responders who acted quickly on Wednesday to help Kansas farmers, ranchers and families as fires took hold in counties across Kansas, including Rooks, Ellis, Osborne and Russell. Thank you also to Russell County EMS Director Keith Haberer, Russell County Sheriff Fred Whitman, Russell County Commissioners Daron Woelk and Steve Reinhardt, Russell County NRCS Director Ramon Gonzalez, Kansas Representative Troy Waymaster, Mayor of Paradise Brett Thompson, Waldo Fire Chief Dustin Finkenbinder, District 3 Fire Chief Keith Koelling, Clayton Huseman of KLA, Doug Zillinger of Kansas Farm Bureau and Kansas State Senator Elaine Bowers for your time, and to everyone who spoke with me this afternoon.

Additional information on the Paradise Fire

FIRE iN PARADISE, WED. DEC, 15, 2021

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I have seen some posts on facebook about the fire in and around Paradise last night.  

These messages will not be in any order or in story form.  If I start feeling better, I may be able to edit this post and write it in story form, but I'm sure you can each read this as it is . . . . .  and Thank You.

Video's  -  Some parts of these videos are hard to watch.  Losing animals is devastating.  Besides being the ranchers livelihood, the animals are also part of the family.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqCzA9SwR44

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHtn6VIJA68

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgwplDLFwLY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifv6z07m2FE

Pictures and information posted on facebook by Gene Angel.

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By Gene - "Ryan’s house has burned and looks like it might get up to ours. Prayers for the entire community."

"Ryan (my step son) is home by himself, we’re at the Mayo Clinic, I have a mass on my thyroid. Tests look like nothing spreading so hopefully just cut it out and I’m good. Thank you for the prayers."

This was written the morning of Dec 16, 2012.

"This has been a tough day. It’s looking like my thyroid doesn’t have any spreading cancer. They won’t know for sure until after surgery but so far so good. Last appointment here at 2:15 then we’ll fly back."

The picture below is the same view as the picture above. 
Above is the fire.  Below is the flood.       

More pictures of the flood are below the rest of the fire pictures.. 

"Our friends looking after our horses, all three safe. It burned right up to their fence, neighbor Kirk Koelling disc the fire out. Thank you so much.

Sounds like our 85 cows and 75 calves didn’t make it. Such a nice gentle herd, took me 40 years to raise.

Thank you all for your prayers."

"Our house is still ok, those are solar lights not fire. 

Feeling very blessed for it being safe but scared to death 

of what we’ll all find in the pasture."

"And my little tractor driving buddy died last week.

There does not seem to be any rules about flood,

drought and fire within 6 months."

The flood in May.

"Tough day at the Angel Ranch.

Alfalfa, triticale, mile and half new fence all under water.

Ryan’s old remodeled ranch house a foot or so of

water on the main floor.

Water in the office at Natoma and tax deadline tomorrow."

"The bridge completely under water.

Fortunately we moved the cars and everything we could.

It came fast."

Posts by Sheila Smith Grier

"Pray for the people in my hometown in Kansas.

They had a huge grass fire that was very bad and far reaching. The wind was strong.

Many lost homes and the mayor is in the hospital with serious burns when his pickup rolled and pinned him!

My brother and nephew who farm and ranch in the area

lost pasture but nothing else.

So thankful for them but many need prayer."

"This was the extent of the fire....

my hometown, and brother and nephew farm and ranch

there on a ranch north of the town of Paradise.

They were ok but many others lost property and cattle etc. Please pray for these communities!"

I read this on facebook 12-16-2021 at 6:00 pm

From Mollie Haberer

"We have received several calls and text as to how we are doing and decided this was the easiest way to let everybody know we are OK but not able to go home because there’s no electricity.Fortunately our house and outbuildings survive the fire.

A lot of damage to our pastures and fences but so many of our neighbors and friends lost their farmstead completely. The wind blew up to 100+ miles and kept changing directions that’s one reason we didn’t lose our place because it change directions and jump the road going the other direction.

Please keep Paradise and the surrounding communities in your prayers."

I will be watching facebook for more news about the fire.

4th Annual Paradise Fall Festival

Your are cordially invited to attend the Paradise Fall Festival.

Date: Saturday September 25th

Location: Greater down town Paradise.

Following is a list of events:

4th Annual Paradise Fall Festival

Saturday September 25th

12:00pm Warm ups and Registration

1:00pm Randy Rohleder Memorial Cornhole Tournament

$20.00 team entry fee

4-7pm Kids activities, Poker Run- both have a $5 entry fee

8-12am Band featuring the "Prophets"

Please bring lawn chair. Food trailer, and a beer garden all day. 

Free popcorn and water. NO outside coolers

This invitation has been brought to you by:

Brynae Thompson, Dan Hoisington and the other fine folks of Paradise!!! 

  

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.

Margaret "Marie" (Post) Quenzer (Class 1939)

 

Margaret "Marie" Quenzer, 99, of Osborne, KS, passed away on Friday July 9, 2021 at the Osborne County Memorial Hospital.  Marie was born on June 26, 1922 at Paradise, KS to Avery R. & Sarah Jane (Harrell) Post.

Marie graduated from high school.  She married Ray Elliott & to this union, 4 children were born.  Ray passed away in 1981.  Marie has lived in the Osborne area for over 50 years.  Marie later married Weldon Quenzer.

Marie started working at the Farmer's National Bank in Osborne in 1976.  She began working as a Teller, and later became the Loan and Escrow Account Sec./Manager.  Marie retired after 16 years in 1987.

Marie was preceded in death by her parents, 1st husband Ray Elliott in 1981, husband Weldon Quenzer in 1998, daughter Mona Elliott in 1971 and brother Elvin Post.

Marie is survived by daughters: Judy Charbonneau of Westcliffe, CO; Teresa Young of Edmond, OK; son: Robert Elliott of Wilmington, N. C.; 8 grandchildren; 5 step-grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren, 14 step-great grandchildren, 1 great great grandchild and 14 step-great-great-grandchildren.

Services

VISITATION

Wednesday
July 14, 2021
4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Clark-Gashaw Funeral Chapel
238 N. 1st St.
Osborne, KS 67473

FUNERAL SERVICE

Thursday

July 15, 2021

1:30 PM

United Christian Church

214 N 1st St

Osborne, KS 67473

Donations

United Christian Church
212 North Second Street, Osborne KS 67473

Parkview Care Center
% Clark-Gashaw Mortuary 238 N. 1st St., Osborne KS 67473

Nellie Jean Terry (Class 1961)

Nellie Jean Terry

Solomon- Nellie Jean Terry, age 80, died on May 16, 2021 at the Salina Regional Health Center on her 64th wedding anniversary. She was born September 6, 1940 in Crescent, Oklahoma to Clarence and Helen (Stewart) Dodd. She attended school in Oklahoma where she played basketball and softball and graduated from Paradise High School in Paradise, Kansas. She was a member of the Baptist Church. 

Nellie married Harold Terry on May 16, 1957 in Anadarko, OK. She worked in various restaurants and owned and operated Terry’s Sundries in Solomon, KS for 15 years. She loved entertaining family and friends and was known for her cooking. 

Nellie was an avid card player and thoroughly enjoyed her card group in Solomon and her coffee club in Carter Lake, IA. Many hours were spent by her on bleachers watching children and grandchildren play various sporting activities. She was an OU Sooners fan and enjoyed watching the KC Royals and Oklahoma City Thunder games. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, stepfather, 4 sisters, 4 brothers, a daughter-in-law, and a grandson. 

Nellie is survived by her husband Harold Terry of Solomon; children – Alice of Salina; Harold Jr. (Lauri) of Salina; Bobby of Weatherford, TX; Donna Cargile (Toby) of Devine, TX; 1 brother Gary Wright of Sandy, OR and 1 sister Nancy DeGan of Clastskanie, OR. She has 6 grandchildren, 5 step-grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, 9 step-great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews as well as her fur baby Misha. 

Visitation will be Thursday, May 20, 2021 from 6PM – 8 PM at the Carlson-Becker Funeral Home in Solomon, KS. Funeral Service will be Friday, May 21, 2021 at 11 AM at the Methodist Church in Solomon, KS. Burial will follow at the Prairie Mound Cemetery, Solomon, KS. Memorials may be made to the Salina Animal Shelter or Fresenius Dialysis Clinic in Salina, KS. Memorials may be dropped off or mailed to Carlson-Becker Funeral Home Funeral Home, PO Box 308, Solomon, Kansas 67480. Online condolences may be sent to www.martinbeckercarlson.com