Softball Team Wins State

Phyllis Jean Denning Passs Away

Phyllis Jean Denning, 65, passed away on May 22, 2023. She was born on July 31, 1957, to Ralph and Lola Sutton. She grew up with her brothers, Gary and Ron Sutton, in Hunter, KS.

She married Clyde Denning February 1st, 1980. They had two children, William and Jennifer.

Over the years Phyllis worked for the USD #321 school district, Pottawatomie County EMS, and owned and operated Phyl's Bar and Grill in St Marys, Kansas.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Lola, and her brother Gary Sutton.

She is survived by her husband of 43 years Clyde Denning; her two children, William Denning and Jennifer Pardue; her grandchildren, Ivan, Tempest, and Ethinee Ryland; and her brother, Ron Sutton.

A private burial ceremony will be held with family at a later date.

The family asks for privacy at this time as they mourn the loss of a wife, mother, and friend. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Midland Hospice House.

Margaret Royal Passes Away

Margaret Royal age 98 of Clinton, Missouri, passed away, Saturday, April 29th, 2023 at Jacob's Ladder Care Center, Springfield, Missouri. Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 PM on Friday, May 5, 2023 at Vansant-Mills Funeral Home. A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 AM at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Clinton on Saturday, May 6, 2023. 

Margaret (Reding) Royal was born April 13, 1925, in St. Mary's, Kansas. She was the third child to Joseph and Elizabeth Reding. She attended school in St. Mary's where she graduated in 1942. She played basketball while in high school and was known for her underhanded shooting style from the free throw line.

Margaret and Raymond Royal were married on June 23, 1945. To this union six children were born, Pat, Linda, Marilyn, Kenny, Bobby, and Tommy. The family lived in Rossville, Kansas and Topeka, Kansas during this time and Margaret took a civil service job at Forbes Air Force base in Topeka.
In the fall of 1965, the family relocated to Clinton, Missouri for Raymond's work in construction. With the Vietnam War ramping up, the eldest son, Pat, entered the Army and was sent to Vietnam in early 1966. The family was dealt a tragic blow when Pat was killed in action on October 2, 1966, at the age of 19. Pat was buried in Englewood Cemetery and Margaret has attended every Memorial Day celebration there for the past 55 years. Margaret was one of the oldest living Gold Star mothers in both Missouri and the United States.

Frances Hoffman Passes Away

Frances E. Hoffman (nee Gerhart), Rossville, passed away Saturday, May 20, 2023, at a Topeka hospital from apparent lymphoma, with enlarged lymph nodes near her heart.

Frances was born October 2, 1930, in Akron, OH, the daughter of Joseph and Jane (Darby) Gerhart.  She was raised in Mogadore, OH, and graduated from Notre Dame College in Euclid, OH.  Mrs. Hoffman was a schoolteacher in Sandusky, OH.

Frances was a member of the Immaculata Church.  She was also a member of the church cleaning group at Assumption Chapel for many years and often hosted lunches for members of the cleaning group. She was also a member of the mailing group, who then sent fundraising letters for Fr. Angles for many years and would call the members of the group when it was time to meet and send out the finished fundraising letters. In addition, she was a volunteer who would string miraculous medals to be sent to Africa. She was stringing those medals for decades.

Before moving to Kansas in 1994, Frances lived in the Cleveland, OH area. She was a member of the Right to Life in Cleveland, OH for over 20 years. She was a member of the Blue Army in Cleveland, OH for 25 years, and also made many rosaries for them to distribute during that time.

Frances was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, Greg Gerhart, Kathleen Russell, and Mary Alice Roth.

Frances and Anthony Hoffman were united in marriage on December 26, 1959.  He survives at their home.

Other survivors include her children, Joseph (Julie) Hoffman, Agnes Murray, Thomas (Amber) Hoffman, Mary (Eric, deceased) Gilham, John (Kristina) Hoffman, and Michael (Celeste) Hoffman; three sisters, Elizabeth Smith, Jeanie Roth, and Joan Magnuson; 34 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

 Service times will be posted on the Piper web site as soon as they become available.

Richard Deiter Passes Away

Richard J. “Dick” Deiter II, 73, passed away Friday, May 19, 2023, at a Topeka care home.

Dick was born January 31, 1950, in Wamego, the son of Richard J. and Sybil Clark Deiter.  He lived in the Willard community all his life.

Dick had worked for Menninger in Topeka and later was the head of maintenance at the Shawnee County Jail for nearly 30 years.  Dick enjoyed hunting, especially with the Kentucky boys.  He loved spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Dick and Pam Hoffman were united in marriage and had a son Richard J. Deiter III.  They later divorced .

He married Mary E. Nichols in Topeka on September 18, 1981.  She preceded him in death.  He was also preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include his children Amy RaeLynn (Brett) Sutton, Topeka, Richard (Julie) Deiter III, Topeka, Kirk (Amanda) Henderson, Tonkawa, OK, Milea Ryan, Salina, and Michael (Carolyn) Delaney, Gardner; two brothers Andrew (Winona) Deiter, Clinton, and David (Joan) Deiter, Topeka; 9 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 1:00 until 2:00 P.M. Saturday, June 3, 2023, at Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple Street, St. Marys, Kansas 66536, followed by a graveside service at 2:30 P.M. at the Maple Hill Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the donor’s choice.  There will be a lunch following the graveside services at the Maple Hill Community Congregational Church Hall.

 

Ronald Harmon (63) Passes Away

Ronald Harmon, 77, of Topeka, passed away Thursday, May 4, 2023.

He was born April 17, 1946, in Rossville, Kansas, the son of Joseph and Irene Von Roekel. He attended and graduated from Rossville High School in 1963.

Ronald was employed by the Jenson, Kansas Construction Trades for 60 years, before retiring in 2017.

He was a member of a biker club.

He was preceded in death by his parents; Joseph and Irene Harmon.

Ronald married Jannett S. Allen in 1986 in Topeka, Kansas. She preceded him in death on July 16th 2016. Survivors include his brother; Donald Harmon, sister; Wanda, granddaughter; Danielle N. Harper, grandson; Victor Harper, grandson; Tanner Harper and 4 of his great grandkids, and a bunch of other family and friends.

Ronald enjoyed riding his motorcycle everywhere he went and providing for his family. Even after he retired he was always busy doing something like playing with his great grandkids. Or feeding the squirrels. He loved being outside enjoying the heat, always staying busy building things. And of course loved a nice cold beer.

3A State Boys Golf @ Dodge City

The 3A Golf State Championship will be May 22 at Mariah Hills Golf Course, 800 Matt Down Ln, Dodge City, KS 67801.

Rossville will be competing

Amelia Foster To State Track Meet

The only Track and Field athelete from Rossville headed to the State Championships will  be senior Amelia Foster who placed in the 400 and 800 meter runs at the Regional. Her results were:

• 400 meter dash: Senior Amelia Foster (1:00.27) placed fourth.
• 800 meter run: Senior Amelia Foster (2:27.92) placed third.

3A Golf Regional

KSHSAA Class 3A Golf Regional
Top two teams qualify for State

Place Team Total

1 Sabetha 329
2 Rossville 339
3 Seneca 359
4 Marysville 365
5 Maur Hill Mount Academy 388
6 Silver Lake 394
7 Jefferson West 394

Lady Dawgs Softball To State!

Click on image to enlarge

The Lady Dawgs dominated their Regional with a 4-0 win in the semi-final and a 4-1 victory in the Championship game against Silver Lake.

Howard Deiter Passes Away (Updated)

 Howard Eugene Deiter

April 21, 1931 — May 16, 2023

Maple Hill

Howard Eugene Deiter, 92, passed away Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at Stormont Vail Hospital, surrounded by family.

Howard was born April 21, 1931, at home in rural Maple Hill, KS., the son of Francis P. and Verna M. (Stone) Deiter.  He grew up in the Maple Hill community and graduated  from Maple Hill High School in 1949.

Howard was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.  He was a faithful adorer, Honorary Life Member of Knights of Columbus Council # 657, the Thomas A. McNeive Fourth Degree Assembly, and had served on the Parish Council.   He was a member of the Maple Hill Senior Center and had served on the Wabaunsee County ASCS Board (FSA).

Howard married Grace Louise Cowan on October 9, 1954, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Delia, KS.  He often referred to her as his “Pretty Irish Bride"; They celebrated 68 years together.  Howard and Louise were blessed with five children.  They made their home in Maple Hill, where Howard farmed and ranched for many years.

Howard enjoyed many breakfasts, steak nights, and other events at the Senior Center.  He especially liked visiting with the men at lunch.  Howard enjoyed his time at the casino and working with his scrap metal for recycling.  He was extremely proud of his grandchildren and loved attending their sporting events.  He was their #1fan and enjoyed telling everyone about their accomplishments.  His great-grandchildren also brought him tremendous joy and he loved attending their birthday parties.

He is survived by his wife of the home; daughters, Julie (Chuck) Ross, Shelley (Michael) Kruger, all of Silver Lake; son, Greg (Rachel) Deiter, Maple Hill; daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Deiter, Wichita; his sister. Maxine Bronaugh, Maple Hill; 14 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.  Howard was preceded by his parents, sons Steven Patrick and Timothy Michael Deiter; a grandson Dale Kruger; brothers Glen, Robert, Melvin, Harold and William; sisters Dorothy Watt and Shirley Meier.

Howard’s love of family and faith in God were most important to him.    

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, May 20, 2023, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St. Marys.  Interment will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, St. Marys.  Mr. Deiter will lie in state, and the family will receive friends from 5:00 until the Rosary at 7:00, Friday, May 19, 2023, at Piper Funeral Home.  In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Immaculate Conception Church or Maple Hill Senior Center and sent in care of Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple Street, St. Marys, Kansas 66536.  Online condolences may be sent to www.piperfuneralhome.com.

COMMENT By Frank Ruff:

    Back in 2008,  KU had a decent football team.  I wanted to see the KSU-KU game that year but I did not have cable.  So,  I drove to Washington DC and found a nice bar/restaurant to watch the game.  Most tables were full,  but I had room at my table.  I man asked if he could join me.  I said "sure."    He introduced himself as Steven Deiter from Seneca, KS and he was in DC with his wife who was attending a meeting or  convention.    He wanted to watch the game and ended up in the same bar as me.  
     In the third quarter,  I finally asked him if he had any relatives in Maple Hill.  He  replied "My father, Howard Deiter and family."      I then replied "  Well,  I used to watch your family and you come into the Rossville Catholic Church every Sunday for many years."

    Steven was an attorney and judge.  I just read his obituary.  He passed away in 2012 from ALS,.  He was known by people from Rossville.

The RHS Softball Team In Regional

 Rossville (#2 12-4)will play Sabetha #6 7-11) in the Semi-final game of the Regional at Silver Lake on Thur, May 18. 

The championship game will follow that game on the same day.

RHS Baseball Team Loses In Regional Semi-Final

 #5 seeded Rossville lost to #1 seeded Seneca in the semi-final round of the 3A Regional  by a score of 3-2.

Baseball Team Advances In Regional

 The RHS baseball team won their first round game in the Regional by defeating Concordia 6-1.