Nikki Aspen Broadbent, 22, became an Angel, passing away peacefully February 26, 2024, at the Oklahoma Heart Hospital due to heart complications. Nikki was born September 12, 2001, in Liberal, Kansas, the daughter of Richard Calvin and Tamba Jo Stroud Broadbent. Big Bro Jake was holding her shortly after she was born. Jake played with her, protected her and picked on her constantly. At three...

After an amazing and full life, LaVern Janice (Gregg) Thomas, age 99, died Sunday, February 25, 2024, Hugoton, Kansas. She was born on June 20, 1924, in Stevens County, Kansas to Robert Arthur and Edna Idonia (Bevan) Gregg. LaVern attended Bethel Grade School and graduated in 1942 from Hugoton High School. At age 16, she started working in Sunday School at Bethel Friends Church with the Crad...

Michael Jeffrey Shopteese, age 48, passed away on Sunday, February 25, 2024, at his home in Hugoton. He was born July 26, 1975, in Amarillo, Texas, the son of Michael J. Shopteese and Marla Thompson.  Jeff grew up in Ordway, Colorado, and graduated from Crowley County High School. He then attended Pueblo Community College. He has lived in Hugoton for the last 13 years. He has worked for a ...

Arthur Edward Mills, son of Ivan Leroy Mills and Audrey Josephine Nordyke Mills was born on February 1, 1952 in Hugoton, Kansas and went to meet his Lord and Savior on February 17, 2024, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with his wife by his side. He was 72 years young. He was the fifth of seven children and grew up in Hugoton and attending Hugoton schools. He enjoyed hunting and playing softball and traveli...

Aurelio Mares Rivera, age 84, died on Thursday, February 22, 2024, at Southwest Medical Center in Liberal, Kansas. He was born on December 4, 1939, in Durango, Mexico, to Jesus Mares Avila and Julia Rivera de Mares. Aurelio was united in marriage to Elsie Leal, she preceded him in death on June 4, 2006. Aurelio displayed a strong work ethic in agriculture, at farms and feedlots. Aurelio's ...

Albert Isaac “Al” Shank, Jr., age 68, owner and CEO of Al Shank Insurance, Inc. died Thursday, February 22, 2024, in Wichita, Kansas. Born April 26, 1955, in Liberal, Kansas to Albert Isaac and Georga “Maxine” (Long) Shank. Upon graduating from Liberal High School in 1973, he attended the University of Kansas on a football scholarship, majoring in Business and playing with the Jayhawks...

Neva L. Day, 95, passed away on February 23, 2024 in Liberal, KS. She was born on January 31, 1929 in Liberal, KS. The daughter of LeRoy and Nellie (Carlile) Craig. Neva has been a resident of Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. She retired from Dodge City, Kansas Board of Education as the Deputy Clerk and Treasurer for 16 years. But in her life, she had a lot of different employments to make a li...

Bonnie M. Springmeyer, 91, of Liberal, passed away on Wednesday February 21, 2024 in Liberal, KS. She was born on June 9, 1932 to Jesse and Rachel (Wells) Hill at Hardesty, OK. On August 23, 1953 she married Vernon H. Springmeyer; he preceded her in death in 1968. She was a graduate of Guymon High School of Guymon, OK; class of 1953. Bonnie and Vernon lived in Tyrone, OK with four daugh...

Yurida Karina Morales Lux, age 8 months, died on Friday, February 16, 2024, at Southwest Medical Center in Liberal, Kansas. She was born on May 28, 2023, in Liberal, Kansas, to Tomas Valerio Morales Batz and Delmy Magdalena Lux-Muz. Yurida was a happy baby who loved strawberries and her family. She especially enjoyed playing with her big sister. Yurida was only in our arms a short tim...

In the quiet town of Elkhart, Kansas, surrounded by the vast plains that he called home, Larry Joe Bitner bid farewell on February 18, 2024. A man whose life was intertwined with the rhythms of the land, Joe was born in rural Morton County, Kansas, on April 14, 1941, to his parents, James S. and Anna Marie (Voigt) Bitner. Joe's story unfolded against the backdrop of hard work and dedication to h...