Newton Now Obituaries

Marie Arlene Bachman Morford, 86, went to her eternal rest on Sunday, March 5, 2017.
Marie was born Oct. 21, 1929, in Derby to George Edward and Bertha (Wear) Bachman. The second oldest of six children, she attended Cathedral High School, graduating in 1947. She married Galen Everett Morford on Nov. 16, 1949, and moved to Newton in 1951.
Marie worked in the insurance business in Newton at Benfer Insurance, then Central Agency, and office manager and licensed representative for the State Farm Agency. In addition to her regular 8-5 employment, she was an employee of the Wichita Eagle for 31 years, delivering the morning paper until she was 81 years of age and had to retire because of a broken hip.
Marie has been an active member of St. Mary’s Church and School and the Catholic Diocese of Wichita since moving to Newton, serving as the director of Religious Education for St. Mary’s, as adviser for adult religious education, regent for the Daughters of Isabella St. Joseph’s Circuit, state regent and treasurer.

She is survived by her children, Stephen (Tonya) Morford of Wichita, Cheryl (Ed) McMillan of Newton and Phillip (Stephanie) Morford of Wichita.

A loving grandmother, she is survived by eight grandchildren, Josh Morford of Wichita, Matt (Lori) Morford of Valley Center, Meghan (Jason) Landwehr of Wichita, Mekila Morford and Krystina McMillan of Newton, Sean (Catherine) McMillan of San Antonio, Samuel (Karalee) McMillan of Englewood, Colo., Gregory (Isaura) McMillan of Tulsa, Okla., and Jennifer (Stephen) Restine of Rockport, Texas, and 19 great-grandchildren. She also is survived by her sisters, Lois (Leon) Brown of Wichita, Judy (Jay) Lindell of Texas and Gerald (Norma) Bachman of Wichita, and numerous nephews and nieces.
She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, George Bachman Jr. and Donald Bachman.
Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be said at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 9, at Broadway Colonial Funeral Home in Newton.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 10, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Newton.
Graveside and interment services will be at 2 p.m. Friday, March 10, at the Calvary Cemetery in Wichita.
Friends may call after 1 p.m. Thursday, March 9, at the funeral home.
A memorial has been established with the Stations of the Cross at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, and contributions may be sent to Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, 120 E. Broadway, Newton, KS, 67114.


Annabel Lee Orman, 90, died on Saturday, March 4, 2017, at Newton Presbyterian Manor. She was born on April 18, 1926, in Osage County, Mo., to Leona (Mask) and Adolphus Tharp.

Annabel married George Patrick Burns, and to this marriage was born a son, John Burns. George passed away in 1984 after 42 years of marriage to Annabel.

Later in life, Annabel married Clarence “Shorty” Orman. After 10 years of marriage “Shorty” passed away.

Annabel retired from Boeing in Wichita after 31 years. She spent the majority of her lifetime in Wichita until her health required her to move closer to her son John in Newton.

She is survived by her son, John Burns, Newton; four grandchildren, Chris and spouse Sheila Burns, Newton, Brian Burns, Newton, Nikki and spouse Ward Willis, Halstead, and Chad and spouse Jennifer Burns, Halstead; one brother, Robert and spouse Velma Tharp, Colorado Springs, Colo., seven great-grandsons; one great-granddaughter; and nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her spouses; three sisters; one brother; and two infant daughters.

There will be private family services.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, in care of the funeral home at 120 E. Broadway, Newton, KS 67114.

Friends may sign the book online and read the obituary at www.broadwaycolonialfh.com.


Charlotte R. (Leap) Rutschman, 96, died Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017, at Wesley Hospital in Wichita.

She was born Nov. 28, 1920, in Furley to Corbit C. and Stella (Bachelder) Leap. She married James D. Rutschman on May 14, 1944, in Furley, and he preceded her in death.

Charlotte was a member of Bethel College Mennonite Church in North Newton. She was a first-grade schoolteacher for 38 years. She had a passion for teaching children, which continued after her retirement.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Roger and Shari Rutschman of Newton; grandchildren, Kathleen Rutschman of Newton and Blake Solomon of Phoenix, Ariz.; and great-grandchildren, Mikayla Cordero of Petaluma, Calif., and Nicholas James Antonowich of Newton.

Charlotte was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brother, Richard Leap; and sister, Capitola Simpson.

Graveside committal service will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, March 11, at Greenwood Cemetery in Newton. A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. at Bethel College Mennonite Church in North Newton, with Pastor Dawn Yoder Harms presiding. Visitation will be 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, March 10, at Petersen Funeral Home in Newton, with the family receiving friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Memorials are suggested to Bethel College Mennonite Church in care of Petersen Funeral Home.


Lois Bethene (Eichelberger) Regier was born Jan. 11, 1931, in Strang, Neb., to Joel V. and Katie Lauber Eichelberger and passed away Saturday, March 4, 2017, at Kidron Bethel Village in North Newton.

She was preceded in death by her husband, J. Stanley Regier; parents; stepmother, Mabel (Gingerich) Eichelberger; and nine siblings.

She is survived by two daughters, Cathy (and John) Irwin and Rebecca Osterman; grandchildren, Kati and Joe Irwin; sister, Ila Dennis; and two sisters-in-law, Nancy Eichelberger and Eunice Regier.

Following a private burial, a memorial service occurred March 7 at Bethel College Mennonite Church, North Newton.

Memorials may be directed to the Chaplain’s Fund for Visiting Families at Kidron Bethel Village, 3001 Ivy Drive, North Newton, KS 67117.

Petersen Funeral Home in Newton is in charge of arrangements.


Elizabeth Ann Baker, 92, passed away on Wednesday, March 1, 2017, in Wichita.

Elizabeth was born on July 26, 1924, in Mittelfischach, Germany, to Friedrick and Lisette (Brenner) Hubman.

Elizabeth married Bob G. Baker on Feb. 4, 1946, in Newton. He preceded her in death.

Elizabeth moved to the United States from Germany at the age of 2. She was raised on a farm 18 miles east of Newton close to Burns. After her family was raised, she was employed by the Newton School District in food service. She loved her family and loved to make cookies for family members’ birthdays. Elizabeth was proud of her German heritage and kept in contact with relatives in Germany and the United States. Elizabeth’s faith and church were very important to her. She demonstrated that to her family and set a good example for them to follow.

She is survived by her children, James and Mary Anne Baker, John and Mary Helen Baker, and Diane and Danny Cain; brother, Richard Hubman; sister, Rose Mary Miller; 23 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Friedrick and Lisette Hubman; brother, Fred Hubman; son, Don Charles Baker; husband, Bob Baker; and nephew, Lloyd Murl Miller.

Funeral services were March 6 at Zion Lutheran Church in Newton. Inurnment followed the service at Greenwood Cemetery in Newton. A public visitation was March 5 at Petersen Funeral Home in Newton.

The following are suggestions for memorials: Zion Lutheran Church, 225 S. Poplar St. Newton, KS, 67114; and Lutheran Hour Ministries, 660 Mason Ridge Center Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63141.


David Lee Hayes, 73, died Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017, at the Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice Center of Via Christi Regional Medical Center-St. Francis Campus in Wichita.
He was born on Jan. 16, 1944, in Rocky Ford, Colo., the son of Chester and Ila Allen Hayes. David was raised and attended schools in the Stinnett and Borger, Texas, area.
David married Sandra Lee Moffett on Dec. 1, 1973, in Clovis, N.M. They lived in the Amarillo, Texas, area until 2010, where they were very active and enjoyed traveling, square dancing and competition clogging.
He owned and operated the D.L. Hayes & Co. RV Sales and Texas Land Yachts for many years in Canyon, Texas. David and Sandra moved to the Wichita area five years ago.
Survivors include his wife, Sandra of the home in Goddard; his mother, Ila Mae Hayes of Borger, Texas; son, David Lynn Smith of Deer Park, Texas; daughters, Donna Montgomery of Santa Fe, Texas, and Sharla Collins and husband Aubrey of Goddard; three brothers, Donnie of Fritch, Texas, Dennis and Terry Hayes, both of Borger, Texas.; one sister, Janice Sepulvda of Stinnett, Texas; eight grandchildren, Amber, Reece, Cassiday, Kristin, LynDe, Lane, Landyn and Lexye; and two great-grandchildren, Riley and Jamison.
David was preceded in death by his father; brother, Danny; and sister, Jonnie.
Memorial services were Saturday, March 4, at the Riverview Baptist Church in Borger, Texas.
Condolences may be left at www.broadwaycolonialfh.com.
Arrangements are by Broadway Colonial Funeral Home in Newton.


Emma M. (Owens) Nugent, 92, died Wednesday, March 1, 2017, at Via Christi St. Francis in Wichita. She was born Dec. 30, 1924 in Offerle to Joshua and Strausie (Simmons) Owens.

She retired in 1984 from the District Engineering Department of the Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. in Dodge City. She was an active volunteer with Red Cross and Newton Medical Center, and she served on election boards and many civic clubs.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Owen K. Nugent; her parents; brother, David Owens; and sister, Opal Washington.

Survivors include her nieces, Judy (Eddie) Daniels of Wichita, Kathy (Brad) Carter of Wichita and Pamela (Don) Fairchild of Maize. She also is survived by several great-nieces and nephews and a host of cherished friends.

Memorial service was on March 3 at Newton Christian Church, with Pastor Doug Ingmire presiding. Graveside committal service was March 3 at Maple Grove Cemetery in Dodge City.

Memorials are suggested to Newton Christian Church in care of Petersen Funeral Home in Newton.


Brenda Jernberg, 82, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017, at Homestead of Halstead.

She was born Oct. 12, 1934, in Columbus, Ohio, to Cleome and Lucille Burns.

She was a 1952 graduate of Greeley High School in Greeley, Colo., and was a longtime resident of Wheat Ridge, Colo., where she and her husband, Nathan, raised two sons.

She moved to Halstead in February 2016 to be closer to family.

Survivors include her sons, Dale (Joy) Jernberg of Burrton and Jeff (Jannea) Jernberg of Katy, Texas; four grandchildren, Erin (Lish) Leonard of Mulvane, Nick (Becca) Jernberg of Katy, Texas, Josh (Jess) Jernberg of Lakewood, Colo., and Jennifer (Phil) Gibson of Waco, Texas; and nine great-grandchildren.

She will be laid to rest next to her husband in Wheat Ridge, Colo.

Petersen Funeral Home in Newton is in charge of arrangements.

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