By ROSE CONLON <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2023-01-12/how-kansas-lawmakers-could-try-to-restrict-abortion-this-year">Kansas News Service</a>

WICHITA, Kansas — A resounding statewide vote in Kansas to 
protect abortion rights last summer won’t stop the Republican-controlled
 Legislature from attempting to make it harder to get an abortion this 
year.

Whether anti-abortion lawmakers will be able to enact further restrictions this legislative session — in spite of a 2019 <a href="https://www.kcur.org/2019-04-26/kansas-supreme-court-rules-state-constitution-protects-right-to-abortion" target="_blank">Kansas Supreme Court decision</a>
 ruling that the state’s constitution protects the right to an abortion —
 will turn on how aggressively they press the issue and how Kansas 
courts respond.

As lawmakers returned to the Statehouse, 
Republican leaders indicated that reducing abortions remained a 
legislative priority, but stopped short of outlining many specific 
policies beyond protecting existing abortion restrictions — already some
 of the most strict in the country short of outright bans.

They 
also vowed to funnel more money into crisis pregnancy centers, 
organizations that offer resources for women with unwanted pregnancies 
but typically discourage them from getting abortions and have been 
criticized for using misleading tactics.

“There’s a host of things
 we can do,” Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, said 
at a Tuesday news conference of GOP leaders. “Probably the biggest 
question to be answered goes to autonomy, and when does the young lady 
in utero receive her autonomy, and what are the rights of that person, 
and when does that begin? And I think there are questions to be asked.”

But
 legal experts said they expect to see bills that go further than that, 
testing the limits of what other abortion restrictions Kansas courts 
might permit.

“I suspect that the Legislature would resume what 
had appeared to be its previous practice of enacting laws that push the 
boundaries of constitutionally permissible regulation of abortions,” 
said University of Kansas law professor Richard Levy. “(They’ll want) to
 find out what those boundaries are and seek to restrict abortions as 
much as possible in light of those boundaries.”

Abortion rights advocates said they’re gearing up for a fierce fight over the issue in Topeka this year.

“We would hope that legislators listen to what voters had to say with their <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-08-02/kansas-voters-rejected-an-amendment-that-would-have-stripped-away-abortion-rights" target="_blank">overwhelming vote</a>
 on the August ballot initiative,” said Aileen Berquist, policy director
 at the ACLU of Kansas. “But we’ve heard everything from a 14-week ban” —
 Kansas bans most abortions after 22 weeks of pregnancy — “to more 
restrictions on providers to (telemedicine restrictions).”

The 
ramifications would extend far beyond Kansas. The state remains one of 
the last in its region to allow abortions in the aftermath of the U.S. 
Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, and has become an unlikely refuge
 for a <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2022-11-04/fall-roe-kansas-abortion-clinics-overseas-pills" target="_blank">swell of people traveling</a> from out of state seeking abortions.

That’s
 primarily driven by nearby states like Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas and
 their near-total abortion bans. Kansas laws remain some of the <a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/state-facts-about-abortion-kansas" target="_blank">more restrictive</a>
 among states that still allow abortion, including parental consent 
rules for minors and things like ultrasound requirements that 
effectively force women to visit a clinic in person to obtain abortion 
pills. That trip might take <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2022-07-29/western-kansas-offers-a-glimpse-of-what-an-abortion-ban-might-look-like-for-kansas-city-and-wichita" target="_blank">several hours</a> for those who live in rural Kansas.

Kansans
 for Life, a prominent anti-abortion lobbying group, has not yet 
publicly released its legislative agenda for this year. But spokesperson
 Danielle Underwood said increasing funding for crisis pregnancy centers
 is a key priority.

“We’re pleased to see Kansas House and Senate 
Republicans boldly stating they’ll continue to support moms and babies 
by standing with pregnancy resource centers,” Underwood said in an 
email.

Jeanne Gawdun, a senior lobbyist with the group, said she’s
 still talking with lawmakers about what other legislation Kansans for 
Life might push during the 2023 legislative session.

“We are not 
going to abandon women and their babies,” she said. “In the past, we’ve 
supported various things like abortion pill reversal” — referencing a 
bill that <a href="https://apnews.com/article/b0e2f77f057848ca917ce5490c209c11" target="_blank">nearly became law in 2019</a>
 that would have required providers to tell patients about a 
controversial and scientifically disputed treatment purported to reverse
 the effects of abortion pills.

Political analysts said the 
Republican caucus might be less united around anti-abortion legislation 
than in the past given voters’ decisive rejection of the anti-abortion 
constitutional amendment last year.

Neal Allen, a political 
science professor at Wichita State University, said it’s plausible that 
Republican leadership would focus less on restricting abortion this year
 for that reason — but that won’t prevent individual lawmakers from 
introducing legislation on the issue.

“The Kansas legislature has 
made restricting abortion and making it harder to access abortion 
services a priority for the last 20 years,” he said. “I don’t think 
that's going to completely change in this next session.”

In
 the months since Roe fell, restrictions around abortion pills have 
emerged as a leading battleground in the fight over abortion access in 
Kansas and nationally.

Around <a href="https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/25772/2021-Annual-Summary-Full-Report-?bidId=" target="_blank">two-thirds</a>
 of abortions in Kansas and over half of abortions nationally are done 
by medication. A two-drug regimen of mifepristone, a tightly controlled 
drug commonly referred to as the abortion pill, followed by misoprostol 
is approved by the Food and Drug Administration to end pregnancies of up
 to 10 weeks.

A bill introduced on the first day of the 
legislative session by Kansas Senator Mark Steffen, a Hutchinson 
Republican, would ban providers from prescribing those medications over 
telemedicine.

That comes less than two months after a Shawnee County judge <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2022-11-28/kansas-judge-blocks-law-banned-prescribing-abortion-pills-telemedicine" target="_blank">temporarily blocked</a> an existing ban on telemedicine abortion care, prompting a Wichita Planned Parenthood clinic to begin <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2022-12-20/kansas-planned-parenthood-telehealth-abortion-pill-court-ruling" target="_blank">telehealth conferences</a> with offsite providers in order to increase appointment availability.

Telemedicine
 access to abortion pills in the traditional sense, where a patient 
could get a prescription without physically visiting a clinic, is still 
largely out of reach for Kansans because of a state law requiring women 
undergo an ultrasound before obtaining an abortion.

Myfanwy 
Jensen-Fellows, advocacy director for the Wichita clinic Trust Women, 
said she wasn’t surprised to see the latest telemedicine ban introduced.

“What
 we’re seeing is a reaction from the state Legislature against the 
headway that was made through the injunction of the telemedicine ban,” 
she said.

But if the bill were to become law, it would be unlikely
 to survive a challenge in court, said Stephen McAllister, a KU law 
professor and former U.S. attorney for Kansas under President Trump.

“I don’t see, in light of (the recent telemedicine ruling), how it would be able to take effect,” he said.

More
 restrictive anti-abortion legislation is on the table this session, 
such as a ban after 15 weeks or a “born-alive” bill that echoes 
legislation <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/3809355-house-passes-bill-requiring-medical-care-for-infants-born-after-attempted-abortions/" target="_blank">passed by the U.S. House</a> this week.

That
 would require doctors to give medical care to infants born prematurely 
after an abortion attempt. Critics say such legislation is politically 
motivated and medically unfounded.

“We don’t encounter situations 
such as these in abortion clinics,” said Iman Alsaden, chief medical 
officer of Planned Parenthood Great Plains.

Legal experts said that if similar proposals became law in Kansas, they would be unlikely to survive court challenges.

“It’s not impossible,” Levy said, “but that would seem to me to be a long shot.”

McAllister said they would likely be struck down in court before taking effect.

“Those
 lawsuits would probably go from a district judge straight to the 
(Kansas) Supreme Court,” he said. “I think there’d be a pretty rapid 
determination made.”

Any
 anti-abortion legislation to come out of the Statehouse would likely be
 vetoed by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. That would require a two-thirds 
majority vote in both the House and Senate to override.

Republicans
 maintained a veto-proof supermajority in both chambers, but that 
doesn’t mean that the caucus would be united on a potential bill — 
particularly so soon after voters so overwhelmingly chose to protect 
abortion rights.

Allen, the political science professor, said 
Republicans from politically moderate districts might be more cautious 
to support more abortion restrictions this year.

“Their incentives
 are different,” he said. “Those folks are going to have to think really
 hard about whether they want to continue supporting abortion 
restrictions.”

And where Republicans may have been able to 
persuade a few Democrats to vote for abortion restrictions in the past, 
that may be less likely in light of last year’s referendum.

“There
 are certainly Democratic members of the Kansas Legislature who are 
personally opposed to abortion, but I don’t know of any of them who are 
opposed to a woman’s right to make her own decisions concerning 
reproductive health,” said Rep. John Carmichael, a Wichita Democrat. 
“What that means is you will see no support from Democratic legislators 
in either house for further restrictions on abortion services.”

Abortion
 opponents could make headway this year in changing the judiciary, which
 has emerged as perhaps the leading impediment to enacting stiffer 
abortion restrictions in Kansas.

All seven Kansas Supreme Court 
justices survived retention votes in November, despite opposition by 
Kansans for Life to all but one.

But lawmakers are set to consider
 legislation that would give the governor more power over selecting 
Supreme Court justices — something that could help abortion opponents 
after Kelly leaves office.

Attorney General Kris Kobach, a staunch
 abortion opponent who ran on a promise to make Kansas “the most 
pro-life state in America,” has proposed changes to the judicial 
selection process like direct election and Senate confirmation that 
would make it easier to place anti-abortion judges on the state’s 
highest court.

“The goal is to get off the bench those folks who would vote to continue to uphold abortion rights,” McAllister said.

Targeting
 the judiciary could allow lawmakers to steer the conversation away from
 explicit discussions of abortion rights and into territory they might 
consider more politically advantageous, like education or criminal 
justice — while still influencing abortion policy.

“Leadership in 
the House and Senate would likely be happy if, instead of talking about 
the specifics of abortion restriction,” Allen said, “we’re talking about
 restricting the power of judges.”

Mary Ziegler, a University of 
California-Davis law professor and historian of the anti-abortion 
movement, said the efforts in Kansas reflect sparring taking place 
across the country around the power and makeup of judiciaries.

“The
 more that state supreme courts are the places we go to hash out 
constitutional disagreements about abortion,” she said, “the more we’re 
going to see a supercharging of debates around state supreme courts.”

Rose
 Conlon reports on health for KMUW and the Kansas News Service. You can 
follow her on Twitter at @rosebconlon or email her at&nbsp;conlon@kmuw.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673545052470.png" alt=" Rose Conlon / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> Rose Conlon / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By ROSE CONLON <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2023-01-12/how-kansas-lawmakers-could-try-to-restrict-abortion-this-year">Kansas News Service</a>WICHITA, Kansas — A resounding statewide vote in Kansas to 
protect abortion rights last summer won’t stop the Republican-controlled
 Legislature from attempting to make it harder to get an abortion this 
year.Whether anti-abortion lawmakers will be able to enact further restrictions this legislative session — in spite of a 2019 <a href="https://www.kcur.org/2019-04-26/kansas-supreme-court-rules-state-constitution-protects-right-to-abortion" target="_blank">Kansas Supreme Court decision</a>
 ruling that the state’s constitution protects the right to an abortion —
 will turn on how aggressively they press the issue and how Kansas 
courts respond.As lawmakers returned to the Statehouse, 
Republican leaders indicated that reducing abortions remained a 
legislative priority, but stopped short of outlining many specific 
policies beyond protecting existing abortion restrictions — already some
 of the most strict in the country short of outright bans.They 
also vowed to funnel more money into crisis pregnancy centers, 
organizations that offer resources for women with unwanted pregnancies 
but typically discourage them from getting abortions and have been 
criticized for using misleading tactics.“There’s a host of things
 we can do,” Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, said 
at a Tuesday news conference of GOP leaders. “Probably the biggest 
question to be answered goes to autonomy, and when does the young lady 
in utero receive her autonomy, and what are the rights of that person, 
and when does that begin? And I think there are questions to be asked.”But
 legal experts said they expect to see bills that go further than that, 
testing the limits of what other abortion restrictions Kansas courts 
might permit.“I suspect that the Legislature would resume what 
had appeared to be its previous practice of enacting laws that push the 
boundaries of constitutionally permissible regulation of abortions,” 
said University of Kansas law professor Richard Levy. “(They’ll want) to
 find out what those boundaries are and seek to restrict abortions as 
much as possible in light of those boundaries.”Abortion rights advocates said they’re gearing up for a fierce fight over the issue in Topeka this year.“We would hope that legislators listen to what voters had to say with their <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-08-02/kansas-voters-rejected-an-amendment-that-would-have-stripped-away-abortion-rights" target="_blank">overwhelming vote</a>
 on the August ballot initiative,” said Aileen Berquist, policy director
 at the ACLU of Kansas. “But we’ve heard everything from a 14-week ban” —
 Kansas bans most abortions after 22 weeks of pregnancy — “to more 
restrictions on providers to (telemedicine restrictions).”The 
ramifications would extend far beyond Kansas. The state remains one of 
the last in its region to allow abortions in the aftermath of the U.S. 
Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, and has become an unlikely refuge
 for a <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2022-11-04/fall-roe-kansas-abortion-clinics-overseas-pills" target="_blank">swell of people traveling</a> from out of state seeking abortions.That’s
 primarily driven by nearby states like Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas and
 their near-total abortion bans. Kansas laws remain some of the <a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/state-facts-about-abortion-kansas" target="_blank">more restrictive</a>
 among states that still allow abortion, including parental consent 
rules for minors and things like ultrasound requirements that 
effectively force women to visit a clinic in person to obtain abortion 
pills. That trip might take <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2022-07-29/western-kansas-offers-a-glimpse-of-what-an-abortion-ban-might-look-like-for-kansas-city-and-wichita" target="_blank">several hours</a> for those who live in rural Kansas.Kansans
 for Life, a prominent anti-abortion lobbying group, has not yet 
publicly released its legislative agenda for this year. But spokesperson
 Danielle Underwood said increasing funding for crisis pregnancy centers
 is a key priority.“We’re pleased to see Kansas House and Senate 
Republicans boldly stating they’ll continue to support moms and babies 
by standing with pregnancy resource centers,” Underwood said in an 
email.Jeanne Gawdun, a senior lobbyist with the group, said she’s
 still talking with lawmakers about what other legislation Kansans for 
Life might push during the 2023 legislative session.“We are not 
going to abandon women and their babies,” she said. “In the past, we’ve 
supported various things like abortion pill reversal” — referencing a 
bill that <a href="https://apnews.com/article/b0e2f77f057848ca917ce5490c209c11" target="_blank">nearly became law in 2019</a>
 that would have required providers to tell patients about a 
controversial and scientifically disputed treatment purported to reverse
 the effects of abortion pills.Political analysts said the 
Republican caucus might be less united around anti-abortion legislation 
than in the past given voters’ decisive rejection of the anti-abortion 
constitutional amendment last year.Neal Allen, a political 
science professor at Wichita State University, said it’s plausible that 
Republican leadership would focus less on restricting abortion this year
 for that reason — but that won’t prevent individual lawmakers from 
introducing legislation on the issue.“The Kansas legislature has 
made restricting abortion and making it harder to access abortion 
services a priority for the last 20 years,” he said. “I don’t think 
that's going to completely change in this next session.”<h2>Abortion pills and telemedicine</h2>In
 the months since Roe fell, restrictions around abortion pills have 
emerged as a leading battleground in the fight over abortion access in 
Kansas and nationally.Around <a href="https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/25772/2021-Annual-Summary-Full-Report-?bidId=" target="_blank">two-thirds</a>
 of abortions in Kansas and over half of abortions nationally are done 
by medication. A two-drug regimen of mifepristone, a tightly controlled 
drug commonly referred to as the abortion pill, followed by misoprostol 
is approved by the Food and Drug Administration to end pregnancies of up
 to 10 weeks.A bill introduced on the first day of the 
legislative session by Kansas Senator Mark Steffen, a Hutchinson 
Republican, would ban providers from prescribing those medications over 
telemedicine.That comes less than two months after a Shawnee County judge <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2022-11-28/kansas-judge-blocks-law-banned-prescribing-abortion-pills-telemedicine" target="_blank">temporarily blocked</a> an existing ban on telemedicine abortion care, prompting a Wichita Planned Parenthood clinic to begin <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2022-12-20/kansas-planned-parenthood-telehealth-abortion-pill-court-ruling" target="_blank">telehealth conferences</a> with offsite providers in order to increase appointment availability.Telemedicine
 access to abortion pills in the traditional sense, where a patient 
could get a prescription without physically visiting a clinic, is still 
largely out of reach for Kansans because of a state law requiring women 
undergo an ultrasound before obtaining an abortion.Myfanwy 
Jensen-Fellows, advocacy director for the Wichita clinic Trust Women, 
said she wasn’t surprised to see the latest telemedicine ban introduced.“What
 we’re seeing is a reaction from the state Legislature against the 
headway that was made through the injunction of the telemedicine ban,” 
she said.But if the bill were to become law, it would be unlikely
 to survive a challenge in court, said Stephen McAllister, a KU law 
professor and former U.S. attorney for Kansas under President Trump.“I don’t see, in light of (the recent telemedicine ruling), how it would be able to take effect,” he said.<h2>A 15-week ban; a ‘born-alive’ law</h2>More
 restrictive anti-abortion legislation is on the table this session, 
such as a ban after 15 weeks or a “born-alive” bill that echoes 
legislation <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/3809355-house-passes-bill-requiring-medical-care-for-infants-born-after-attempted-abortions/" target="_blank">passed by the U.S. House</a> this week.That
 would require doctors to give medical care to infants born prematurely 
after an abortion attempt. Critics say such legislation is politically 
motivated and medically unfounded.“We don’t encounter situations 
such as these in abortion clinics,” said Iman Alsaden, chief medical 
officer of Planned Parenthood Great Plains.Legal experts said that if similar proposals became law in Kansas, they would be unlikely to survive court challenges.“It’s not impossible,” Levy said, “but that would seem to me to be a long shot.”McAllister said they would likely be struck down in court before taking effect.“Those
 lawsuits would probably go from a district judge straight to the 
(Kansas) Supreme Court,” he said. “I think there’d be a pretty rapid 
determination made.”<h2>Overriding the governor</h2>Any
 anti-abortion legislation to come out of the Statehouse would likely be
 vetoed by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. That would require a two-thirds 
majority vote in both the House and Senate to override.Republicans
 maintained a veto-proof supermajority in both chambers, but that 
doesn’t mean that the caucus would be united on a potential bill — 
particularly so soon after voters so overwhelmingly chose to protect 
abortion rights.Allen, the political science professor, said 
Republicans from politically moderate districts might be more cautious 
to support more abortion restrictions this year.“Their incentives
 are different,” he said. “Those folks are going to have to think really
 hard about whether they want to continue supporting abortion 
restrictions.”And where Republicans may have been able to 
persuade a few Democrats to vote for abortion restrictions in the past, 
that may be less likely in light of last year’s referendum.“There
 are certainly Democratic members of the Kansas Legislature who are 
personally opposed to abortion, but I don’t know of any of them who are 
opposed to a woman’s right to make her own decisions concerning 
reproductive health,” said Rep. John Carmichael, a Wichita Democrat. 
“What that means is you will see no support from Democratic legislators 
in either house for further restrictions on abortion services.”<h2>The courts</h2>Abortion
 opponents could make headway this year in changing the judiciary, which
 has emerged as perhaps the leading impediment to enacting stiffer 
abortion restrictions in Kansas.All seven Kansas Supreme Court 
justices survived retention votes in November, despite opposition by 
Kansans for Life to all but one.But lawmakers are set to consider
 legislation that would give the governor more power over selecting 
Supreme Court justices — something that could help abortion opponents 
after Kelly leaves office.Attorney General Kris Kobach, a staunch
 abortion opponent who ran on a promise to make Kansas “the most 
pro-life state in America,” has proposed changes to the judicial 
selection process like direct election and Senate confirmation that 
would make it easier to place anti-abortion judges on the state’s 
highest court.“The goal is to get off the bench those folks who would vote to continue to uphold abortion rights,” McAllister said.Targeting
 the judiciary could allow lawmakers to steer the conversation away from
 explicit discussions of abortion rights and into territory they might 
consider more politically advantageous, like education or criminal 
justice — while still influencing abortion policy.“Leadership in 
the House and Senate would likely be happy if, instead of talking about 
the specifics of abortion restriction,” Allen said, “we’re talking about
 restricting the power of judges.”Mary Ziegler, a University of 
California-Davis law professor and historian of the anti-abortion 
movement, said the efforts in Kansas reflect sparring taking place 
across the country around the power and makeup of judiciaries.“The
 more that state supreme courts are the places we go to hash out 
constitutional disagreements about abortion,” she said, “the more we’re 
going to see a supercharging of debates around state supreme courts.”Rose
 Conlon reports on health for KMUW and the Kansas News Service. You can 
follow her on Twitter at @rosebconlon or email her at&nbsp;conlon@kmuw.org.

How Kansas lawmakers could try to restrict abortion this year

WEST HILLS, Calif. (AP) —Lisa Marie Presley, the only child of Elvis Presley and a singer-songwriter dedicated to her father’s legacy, died Thursday after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-lisa-marie-presley-priscilla-elvis-los-angeles-4cbc26cfe1a7bf0b41f21f0f0f6c677b?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=TopNews&amp;utm_campaign=position_02">being hospitalized for a medical emergency</a>. She was 54.

Her death in a Los Angeles hospital was confirmed by her mother, Priscilla, a few hours after her daughter was rushed to the hospital after having a medical emergency at home.

“It is with a heavy heart that I must share the devastating news that my beautiful daughter Lisa Marie has left us,” Priscilla Presley said in a statement. “She was the most passionate, strong and loving woman I have ever known.”

Presley, the only child of Elvis and Priscilla Presley, shared her father's brooding charisma — the hooded eyes, the insolent smile, the low, sultry voice — and followed him professionally, releasing her own rock albums in the 2000s, and appearing on stage with Pat Benatar and Richard Hawley among others.

She even formed direct musical ties with her father, joining her voice to such Elvis recordings as “In the Ghetto" and “Don't Cry Daddy," a mournful ballad which had reminded him of the early death of his mother (and Lisa Marie's grandmother), Gladys Presley.

“It’s been all my life," she told The Associated Press in 2012, speaking of her father's influence. “It’s not something that I now listen to and it’s different. Although I might listen closer. I remain consistent on the fact that I’ve always been an admirer. He’s always influenced me.”

Her birth, nine months exactly after her parents' wedding, was international news and her background was rarely far from her mind. With the release last year of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cannes-film-festival-politics-entertainment-travel-f0701fa8575090d933af97a35df759d2">Baz Luhrmann's</a>&nbsp;major&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elvis-movie-review-b18e59c1b13c603e0fdd55adcea53f4d">musical feature “Elvis,”</a>&nbsp;Lisa Marie and Priscilla Presley had been attending red carpets and award shows alongside stars from the film.

She was at the Golden Globes on Tuesday, on hand to celebrate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/0bdb61563b5b4e74a6503baa08f6124a">Austin Butler's award</a>&nbsp;for playing her father. Just days before, she was in Memphis at Graceland — the mansion where Elvis lived, and died — on Jan. 8 to celebrate her father's birth anniversary.

Presley lived with her mother, an actor known for “Dallas" and the “Naked Gun" movies, in California after her parents split up in 1973. She recalled early memories of her dad during her visits to Graceland, riding golf carts through the neighborhood and seeing his daily entrances down the stairs.

“He was always fully, fully geared up. You’d never see him in his pajamas coming down the steps, ever,” she told The Associated Press in 2012. “You’d never see him in anything but 'ready to be seen’ attire.”

Elvis Presley died in August 1977, when he was just 42, and she 9 years old. Lisa Marie was staying at Graceland at the time and would recall him kissing her goodnight hours before he would collapse and never recover. When she next saw him, the following day, he was lying face down in the bathroom.

“I just had a feeling," she told Rolling Stone in 2003. “He wasn't doing well. All I know is I had it (a feeling), and it happened. I was obsessed with death at a very early age."

She would later make headlines of her own. Struggles with drugs and some very public marriages. Her four husbands included&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cf12b086ebd9c32f2bc6d16befe7b142">Michael Jackson</a>&nbsp;and Nicolas Cage.

Jackson and Presley were married in the Dominican Republic in 1994, but the marriage ended two years later and was defined by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/6c75bbc78ed93c77f3494394c5d5de70">numerous awkward public appearances</a>, including an unexpected kiss from Jackson during the MTV Video Music Awards and a joint interview with Diane Sawyer when she defended her husband against allegations he had sexually abused a minor.

Her other celebrity marriage was even shorter: Cage filed for divorce after four months of marriage in 2002.

“I had to sort of run into many walls and trees," she told the AP in 2012. “But now I can also look back at it and tell you all the stuff that was going on around me and all the different people around me and all the awww — and it was not a good situation anyway. That wasn’t helping. Either way, it was a growing process. It was just in a different way. It was just out in front of everybody all the time. Because it’s all documented of course.”

Lisa Marie became involved in numerous humanitarian causes, from anti-poverty programs administered through the Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation to relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina. She would receive formal citations from New Orleans and Memphis, Tennessee for her work.

Presley had two children, actor Riley Keough, born in 1989, and Benjamin Keough, born in 1992, with her former husband Danny Keough. She also had twin daughters, Harper and Finley Lockwood, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/03104a9d504640eca8d197d9b4a62ea6">ex-husband Michael Lockwood</a>&nbsp;in 2008.

Her marriage to Lockwood would end in a combative and protracted divorce that began in 2016 and still was not resolved when she died, though they were declared single in 2021. The fight saw the girls, now 15, put temporarily in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/1ce2e6f9b1b747eb909a7e9617a1f33a">protective custody</a>&nbsp;in 2017. Presley and Lockwood later had joint custody, but were still at odds over the issue, with Lockwood seeking more child support from Presley.

Benjamin Keough&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-ca-state-wire-danny-keough-music-77998ac9b00390de449443dcdde2f840">died by suicide in 2020</a>&nbsp;at 27. Presley was vocal about her grief, writing in an essay last August that she had “been living in the horrific reality of its unrelenting grips since my son’s death two years ago.”

“I’ve dealt with death, grief and loss since the age of 9 years old. I’ve had more than anyone’s fair share of it in my lifetime and somehow, I’ve made it this far,” she wrote in an essay shared with People magazine.

“But this one, the death of my beautiful, beautiful son? The sweetest and most incredible being that I have ever had the privilege of knowing, who made me feel so honored every single day to be his mother? Who was so much like his grandfather on so many levels that he actually scared me? Which made me worry about him even more than I naturally would have?" the essay continued. "No. Just no ... no no no no ...”

Lisa Marie became the sole heir of the Elvis Presley Trust after her father died. Along with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/6d24f34fe8a84258abe9630a7b15a21b">Elvis Presley Enterprises,</a>&nbsp;the trust managed Graceland and other assets until she sold her majority interest in 2005. She retained ownership of Graceland Mansion itself, the 13 acres around it and items inside the home. Her son is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lisa-marie-presley-california-travel-elvis-presley-memphis-bd0032e7758187cfbd0117d6416cd109">buried there, along with her father</a>&nbsp;and other members of the Presley family.

Lisa Marie Presley is a former Scientologist — her son was born in 1992 under guidelines set by Church of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard,&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/%E2%80%B3The%20baby%20was%20delivered%20naturally%20and%20in%20complete%20silence%20in%20a%20calm%20and%20supportive%20environment%E2%80%B3%20under%20guidelines%20set%20out%20by%20the%20Church%20of%20Scientology%E2%80%99s%20founder,%20L.%20Ron%20Hubbard,%20in%20his%20book%20%E2%80%B3Dianetics,%E2%80%B3%20Bloch%20said.%20ADVERTISEMENT%20ADVERTISING%20%E2%80%B3The%20book%20states%20that%20whatever%20is%20said%20at%20birth%20can%20affect%20the%20child%E2%80%99s%20mental%20health%20in%20later%20life,%E2%80%B3%20the%20spokesman%20said.">according to an AP story at the time</a>&nbsp;— but later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harvey-weinstein-entertainment-paul-haggis-danny-masterson-kevin-spacey-e0be56c71bab5282e21bea0c92604e5a">broke with Scientology.</a>

Lisa Marie and Priscilla Presley&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/9067ed77fe79caf85cf6bc7f473d3440">would make regular trips to Graceland</a>&nbsp;during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/0bdb61563b5b4e74a6503baa08f6124a">huge fan celebrations</a>&nbsp;on the anniversaries of Elvis' death and birthday. One of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ae5d6f3780df4114a9174d7d45b73226">the two airplanes at Graceland</a>&nbsp;is named the Lisa Marie.

After her first album “To Whom It May Concern,” in 2003, some fans came out to see her perform just out of curiosity given her famous family, she told the AP in 2005.

“First I had to overcome a pre-speculated idea of me,” she said of the barriers to becoming a singer-songwriter.

“I had to sort of burst through that and introduce myself, and that was the first hurdle, and then now sing in front of everybody, and then that was the second one, and I’m the offspring of — you know, who I’m the offspring of — I had a few hurdles to get through, no doubt about it," she continued. “But the scales never tipped in the other direction too much.”

WEST HILLS, Calif. (AP) —Lisa Marie Presley, the only child of Elvis Presley and a singer-songwriter dedicated to her father’s legacy, died Thursday after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-lisa-marie-presley-priscilla-elvis-los-angeles-4cbc26cfe1a7bf0b41f21f0f0f6c677b?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=TopNews&amp;utm_campaign=position_02">being hospitalized for a medical emergency</a>. She was 54.Her death in a Los Angeles hospital was confirmed by her mother, Priscilla, a few hours after her daughter was rushed to the hospital after having a medical emergency at home.“It is with a heavy heart that I must share the devastating news that my beautiful daughter Lisa Marie has left us,” Priscilla Presley said in a statement. “She was the most passionate, strong and loving woman I have ever known.”Presley, the only child of Elvis and Priscilla Presley, shared her father's brooding charisma — the hooded eyes, the insolent smile, the low, sultry voice — and followed him professionally, releasing her own rock albums in the 2000s, and appearing on stage with Pat Benatar and Richard Hawley among others.She even formed direct musical ties with her father, joining her voice to such Elvis recordings as “In the Ghetto" and “Don't Cry Daddy," a mournful ballad which had reminded him of the early death of his mother (and Lisa Marie's grandmother), Gladys Presley.“It’s been all my life," she told The Associated Press in 2012, speaking of her father's influence. “It’s not something that I now listen to and it’s different. Although I might listen closer. I remain consistent on the fact that I’ve always been an admirer. He’s always influenced me.”Her birth, nine months exactly after her parents' wedding, was international news and her background was rarely far from her mind. With the release last year of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cannes-film-festival-politics-entertainment-travel-f0701fa8575090d933af97a35df759d2">Baz Luhrmann's</a>&nbsp;major&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elvis-movie-review-b18e59c1b13c603e0fdd55adcea53f4d">musical feature “Elvis,”</a>&nbsp;Lisa Marie and Priscilla Presley had been attending red carpets and award shows alongside stars from the film.She was at the Golden Globes on Tuesday, on hand to celebrate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/0bdb61563b5b4e74a6503baa08f6124a">Austin Butler's award</a>&nbsp;for playing her father. Just days before, she was in Memphis at Graceland — the mansion where Elvis lived, and died — on Jan. 8 to celebrate her father's birth anniversary.Presley lived with her mother, an actor known for “Dallas" and the “Naked Gun" movies, in California after her parents split up in 1973. She recalled early memories of her dad during her visits to Graceland, riding golf carts through the neighborhood and seeing his daily entrances down the stairs.“He was always fully, fully geared up. You’d never see him in his pajamas coming down the steps, ever,” she told The Associated Press in 2012. “You’d never see him in anything but 'ready to be seen’ attire.”Elvis Presley died in August 1977, when he was just 42, and she 9 years old. Lisa Marie was staying at Graceland at the time and would recall him kissing her goodnight hours before he would collapse and never recover. When she next saw him, the following day, he was lying face down in the bathroom.“I just had a feeling," she told Rolling Stone in 2003. “He wasn't doing well. All I know is I had it (a feeling), and it happened. I was obsessed with death at a very early age."She would later make headlines of her own. Struggles with drugs and some very public marriages. Her four husbands included&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cf12b086ebd9c32f2bc6d16befe7b142">Michael Jackson</a>&nbsp;and Nicolas Cage.Jackson and Presley were married in the Dominican Republic in 1994, but the marriage ended two years later and was defined by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/6c75bbc78ed93c77f3494394c5d5de70">numerous awkward public appearances</a>, including an unexpected kiss from Jackson during the MTV Video Music Awards and a joint interview with Diane Sawyer when she defended her husband against allegations he had sexually abused a minor.Her other celebrity marriage was even shorter: Cage filed for divorce after four months of marriage in 2002.“I had to sort of run into many walls and trees," she told the AP in 2012. “But now I can also look back at it and tell you all the stuff that was going on around me and all the different people around me and all the awww — and it was not a good situation anyway. That wasn’t helping. Either way, it was a growing process. It was just in a different way. It was just out in front of everybody all the time. Because it’s all documented of course.”Lisa Marie became involved in numerous humanitarian causes, from anti-poverty programs administered through the Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation to relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina. She would receive formal citations from New Orleans and Memphis, Tennessee for her work.Presley had two children, actor Riley Keough, born in 1989, and Benjamin Keough, born in 1992, with her former husband Danny Keough. She also had twin daughters, Harper and Finley Lockwood, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/03104a9d504640eca8d197d9b4a62ea6">ex-husband Michael Lockwood</a>&nbsp;in 2008.Her marriage to Lockwood would end in a combative and protracted divorce that began in 2016 and still was not resolved when she died, though they were declared single in 2021. The fight saw the girls, now 15, put temporarily in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/1ce2e6f9b1b747eb909a7e9617a1f33a">protective custody</a>&nbsp;in 2017. Presley and Lockwood later had joint custody, but were still at odds over the issue, with Lockwood seeking more child support from Presley.Benjamin Keough&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-ca-state-wire-danny-keough-music-77998ac9b00390de449443dcdde2f840">died by suicide in 2020</a>&nbsp;at 27. Presley was vocal about her grief, writing in an essay last August that she had “been living in the horrific reality of its unrelenting grips since my son’s death two years ago.”“I’ve dealt with death, grief and loss since the age of 9 years old. I’ve had more than anyone’s fair share of it in my lifetime and somehow, I’ve made it this far,” she wrote in an essay shared with People magazine.“But this one, the death of my beautiful, beautiful son? The sweetest and most incredible being that I have ever had the privilege of knowing, who made me feel so honored every single day to be his mother? Who was so much like his grandfather on so many levels that he actually scared me? Which made me worry about him even more than I naturally would have?" the essay continued. "No. Just no ... no no no no ...”Lisa Marie became the sole heir of the Elvis Presley Trust after her father died. Along with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/6d24f34fe8a84258abe9630a7b15a21b">Elvis Presley Enterprises,</a>&nbsp;the trust managed Graceland and other assets until she sold her majority interest in 2005. She retained ownership of Graceland Mansion itself, the 13 acres around it and items inside the home. Her son is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lisa-marie-presley-california-travel-elvis-presley-memphis-bd0032e7758187cfbd0117d6416cd109">buried there, along with her father</a>&nbsp;and other members of the Presley family.Lisa Marie Presley is a former Scientologist — her son was born in 1992 under guidelines set by Church of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard,&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/%E2%80%B3The%20baby%20was%20delivered%20naturally%20and%20in%20complete%20silence%20in%20a%20calm%20and%20supportive%20environment%E2%80%B3%20under%20guidelines%20set%20out%20by%20the%20Church%20of%20Scientology%E2%80%99s%20founder,%20L.%20Ron%20Hubbard,%20in%20his%20book%20%E2%80%B3Dianetics,%E2%80%B3%20Bloch%20said.%20ADVERTISEMENT%20ADVERTISING%20%E2%80%B3The%20book%20states%20that%20whatever%20is%20said%20at%20birth%20can%20affect%20the%20child%E2%80%99s%20mental%20health%20in%20later%20life,%E2%80%B3%20the%20spokesman%20said.">according to an AP story at the time</a>&nbsp;— but later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harvey-weinstein-entertainment-paul-haggis-danny-masterson-kevin-spacey-e0be56c71bab5282e21bea0c92604e5a">broke with Scientology.</a>Lisa Marie and Priscilla Presley&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/9067ed77fe79caf85cf6bc7f473d3440">would make regular trips to Graceland</a>&nbsp;during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/0bdb61563b5b4e74a6503baa08f6124a">huge fan celebrations</a>&nbsp;on the anniversaries of Elvis' death and birthday. One of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ae5d6f3780df4114a9174d7d45b73226">the two airplanes at Graceland</a>&nbsp;is named the Lisa Marie.After her first album “To Whom It May Concern,” in 2003, some fans came out to see her perform just out of curiosity given her famous family, she told the AP in 2005.“First I had to overcome a pre-speculated idea of me,” she said of the barriers to becoming a singer-songwriter.“I had to sort of burst through that and introduce myself, and that was the first hurdle, and then now sing in front of everybody, and then that was the second one, and I’m the offspring of — you know, who I’m the offspring of — I had a few hurdles to get through, no doubt about it," she continued. “But the scales never tipped in the other direction too much.”----

Lisa Marie Presley, singer and daughter of Elvis, dies at 54

<a href="https://www.jostfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Noah-Dale-Jantz?obId=26990637#/obituaryInfo">https://www.jostfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Noah-Dale-Jantz?obId=26990637#/obituaryInfo</a>

Hillsboro - Noah Dale Jantz, 73, passed away January 9, 2023 in Hillsboro.  He was born May 13, 1949 in Turlock, California to Noah and Bertha (Koehn) Jantz. 

 He married Kathleen Toews October 4, 1970, in Winton, California.

  Survivors include wife Kathleen Jantz of Hillsboro; daughters Marla (Troy) Wiebe of Durham, Cynthia (Lance) Nichols of Jerome, Idaho, Charlene (Greg) Wedel of Tampa, Ruthann (John) Wells of Hillsboro; brother Robert Jantz of Livingston, California; 10 grandchildren. 

 Predeceased by: still born daughter Linda Kay Jantz; sister Joan Jantz. 

 Funeral service 10:30 a.m., Sunday, January 15, 2023 at Morning Star Church, rural Durham.  Family will receive friends from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Saturday at Morning Star Church rural Durham. 

 Memorials to the Jantz Family Monument in care of Jost Funeral Home, P.O. Box 266, Hillsboro, KS 67063.

Life Sketch Taken from the Funeral Bulletin

Noah "Dale" Jantz was born on May 13, 1949, to Noah and Bertha Jantz in Turlock, CA. He&nbsp;slipped away on a beautiful, calm winter day at the age of 73 on January 9, 2023, in his&nbsp;daughter's home Hillsboro, KS.

Dad's growing up years were spent on a farm on Legion Ave in Livingston then on Palm Ave in&nbsp;Winton. At the age of 7, his mother, Bertha, passed away, leaving him a very lonely boy. His&nbsp;Dad, Noah, remarried several months later to Linda Siemens/Millsap. Linda- became a mother to&nbsp;him and nurtured him through the remainder of his childhood.

&nbsp;With this union, Dad gained a&nbsp;stepbrother, Don Millsap, to whom he became very close. On April 4, 1976, Dad lost his stepmother Linda, and his sister Joan in a tragic accident. Dale's father married again to&nbsp;Elizabeth Koehn in June of 1977.

At the age of nine, Dad gave his heart to the Lord and was baptized on April 3, 1960, by&nbsp;Minister Jesse Koehn at Livingston, CA. Dad did not live a perfect Christian life, but he had a&nbsp;real desire to serve God.&nbsp;In March of 1968, Dad participated in mandatory C/O service at Oklahoma City during the&nbsp;Vietnam War.&nbsp;He made many friends and memories during this time. We often enjoyed listening&nbsp;and laughing as Dad would retell experiences from his service days.

Dad got acquainted with our Mom through mutual friends while she was working at Grace&nbsp;Home. They were married on October 4, 1970, and spent 52 years together. Five daughters&nbsp;were born to this home, and one passed away in infancy. Dad always dreamed of having a son;&nbsp;when we girls got married, he got four of them. We will not forget how his face lit up whenever&nbsp;he saw one of them. We often felt like he preferred them over us!

Dad did a variety of jobs, including construction, farm, and factory work. He was a hard worker;&nbsp;punctuality and showing up for work were very important to him.

Dad was a lover of people. He would often invite impromptu company over, and we would drop&nbsp;in after church at one of his friends. We also spent many times with his brother. Bob, Betty, and&nbsp;heir family were always very special to him. Often, we would eat Sunday supper with them and&nbsp;still end up there after church. Dad had a real love for young people and always enjoyed our&nbsp;friends. Dad and Mom were youth advisers three times at Livingston. We have many good&nbsp;memories of the youth coming over after church and Dad entertaining us with his popcorn pan&nbsp;in the kitchen.

Dad had a special love of animals and had his unique lingo for talking to them.&nbsp;

Special times were spent with friends learning to write music and teaching us girls to sing. He would often sit&nbsp;in his chair in the evenings and sing solo. We will not forget the Sunday morning serenades he&nbsp;would sing to wake us up.

&nbsp;Dad's temper was quick at times, but he was also quick to say sorry&nbsp;and readily gave compliments on a job well done. 

Family devotions were always very important&nbsp;to Dad.

In March of 1994, we relocated to Durham, KS, where he made many new friends in the&nbsp;community.

&nbsp;Dale enjoyed the Morning Star congregation and sat on the front bench numerous&nbsp;times, filling the role of song leader. We will remember his signature style of leading songs.

In June of 2019, Mom and Dad moved to Hillsboro, KS. In December of that year, Dad entered&nbsp;retirement when he quit Barkman Honey. With too much time on his hands, he washed dishes at&nbsp;the local college. In his later years, coffee time at Wendy's with friends was a highlight.

Dad suffered a debilitating stroke in February 2021, leaving him helpless. Although the stroke&nbsp;altered his personality, at times, we still could see the old Dad.

We, as a family, are very thankful for the time we spent over the recent holidays with Dad. We&nbsp;fondly remember special moments we had.

Those left with precious memories are his wife Kathy, four daughters,&nbsp; Marla and Troy Wiebe,&nbsp;Durham, KS, Cyndi and Lance Nichols, Jerome, ID, Charlene and Greg Wedel, Tampa, KS,&nbsp;Ruthanne and John Wells, Hillsboro, KS,&nbsp; brother Robert and Betty Jantz, Livingston, CA,&nbsp;two brothers‐in‐law, Anthony and Joan Toews, Turlock, CA, George and Sue Toews, Turlock,&nbsp;CA, three sisters‐in‐law, Rose and Phil Shehan, Sacramento, CA, Linda, and Harley Koehn,&nbsp;Montezuma, KS, Janice and Phil Jantz, Turlock, CA, ten grandchildren, nieces, nephews and&nbsp;many friends.

Preceding him in death are father Noah B. Jantz, mothers Bertha Koehn, Linda Siemens/Millsap,&nbsp;and Elizabeth Koehn, three sisters, one brother, one infant daughter, a stepbrother,&nbsp;parents-in-law, and one sister‐in‐law.

 Online condolences at www.jostfuneralhome.com.

<h2>Noah Dale Jantz</h2><a href="https://www.jostfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Noah-Dale-Jantz?obId=26990637#/obituaryInfo">https://www.jostfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Noah-Dale-Jantz?obId=26990637#/obituaryInfo</a>May 13, 1949 - January 9, 2023Hillsboro - Noah Dale Jantz, 73, passed away January 9, 2023 in Hillsboro. He was born May 13, 1949 in Turlock, California to Noah and Bertha (Koehn) Jantz. He married Kathleen Toews October 4, 1970, in Winton, California. Survivors include wife Kathleen Jantz of Hillsboro; daughters Marla (Troy) Wiebe of Durham, Cynthia (Lance) Nichols of Jerome, Idaho, Charlene (Greg) Wedel of Tampa, Ruthann (John) Wells of Hillsboro; brother Robert Jantz of Livingston, California; 10 grandchildren. Predeceased by: still born daughter Linda Kay Jantz; sister Joan Jantz. Funeral service 10:30 a.m., Sunday, January 15, 2023 at Morning Star Church, rural Durham. Family will receive friends from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Saturday at Morning Star Church rural Durham. Memorials to the Jantz Family Monument in care of Jost Funeral Home, P.O. Box 266, Hillsboro, KS 67063.Life Sketch Taken from the Funeral BulletinNoah "Dale" Jantz was born on May 13, 1949, to Noah and Bertha Jantz in Turlock, CA. He&nbsp;slipped away on a beautiful, calm winter day at the age of 73 on January 9, 2023, in his&nbsp;daughter's home Hillsboro, KS.Dad's growing up years were spent on a farm on Legion Ave in Livingston then on Palm Ave in&nbsp;Winton. At the age of 7, his mother, Bertha, passed away, leaving him a very lonely boy. His&nbsp;Dad, Noah, remarried several months later to Linda Siemens/Millsap. Linda- became a mother to&nbsp;him and nurtured him through the remainder of his childhood.&nbsp;With this union, Dad gained a&nbsp;stepbrother, Don Millsap, to whom he became very close. On April 4, 1976, Dad lost his stepmother Linda, and his sister Joan in a tragic accident. Dale's father married again to&nbsp;Elizabeth Koehn in June of 1977.At the age of nine, Dad gave his heart to the Lord and was baptized on April 3, 1960, by&nbsp;Minister Jesse Koehn at Livingston, CA. Dad did not live a perfect Christian life, but he had a&nbsp;real desire to serve God.&nbsp;In March of 1968, Dad participated in mandatory C/O service at Oklahoma City during the&nbsp;Vietnam War.&nbsp;He made many friends and memories during this time. We often enjoyed listening&nbsp;and laughing as Dad would retell experiences from his service days.Dad got acquainted with our Mom through mutual friends while she was working at Grace&nbsp;Home. They were married on October 4, 1970, and spent 52 years together. Five daughters&nbsp;were born to this home, and one passed away in infancy. Dad always dreamed of having a son;&nbsp;when we girls got married, he got four of them. We will not forget how his face lit up whenever&nbsp;he saw one of them. We often felt like he preferred them over us!Dad did a variety of jobs, including construction, farm, and factory work. He was a hard worker;&nbsp;punctuality and showing up for work were very important to him.Dad was a lover of people. He would often invite impromptu company over, and we would drop&nbsp;in after church at one of his friends. We also spent many times with his brother. Bob, Betty, and&nbsp;heir family were always very special to him. Often, we would eat Sunday supper with them and&nbsp;still end up there after church. Dad had a real love for young people and always enjoyed our&nbsp;friends. Dad and Mom were youth advisers three times at Livingston. We have many good&nbsp;memories of the youth coming over after church and Dad entertaining us with his popcorn pan&nbsp;in the kitchen.Dad had a special love of animals and had his unique lingo for talking to them.&nbsp;Special times were spent with friends learning to write music and teaching us girls to sing. He would often sit&nbsp;in his chair in the evenings and sing solo. We will not forget the Sunday morning serenades he&nbsp;would sing to wake us up.&nbsp;Dad's temper was quick at times, but he was also quick to say sorry&nbsp;and readily gave compliments on a job well done. Family devotions were always very important&nbsp;to Dad.In March of 1994, we relocated to Durham, KS, where he made many new friends in the&nbsp;community.&nbsp;Dale enjoyed the Morning Star congregation and sat on the front bench numerous&nbsp;times, filling the role of song leader. We will remember his signature style of leading songs.In June of 2019, Mom and Dad moved to Hillsboro, KS. In December of that year, Dad entered&nbsp;retirement when he quit Barkman Honey. With too much time on his hands, he washed dishes at&nbsp;the local college. In his later years, coffee time at Wendy's with friends was a highlight.Dad suffered a debilitating stroke in February 2021, leaving him helpless. Although the stroke&nbsp;altered his personality, at times, we still could see the old Dad.We, as a family, are very thankful for the time we spent over the recent holidays with Dad. We&nbsp;fondly remember special moments we had.Those left with precious memories are his wife Kathy, four daughters,&nbsp; Marla and Troy Wiebe,&nbsp;Durham, KS, Cyndi and Lance Nichols, Jerome, ID, Charlene and Greg Wedel, Tampa, KS,&nbsp;Ruthanne and John Wells, Hillsboro, KS,&nbsp; brother Robert and Betty Jantz, Livingston, CA,&nbsp;two brothers‐in‐law, Anthony and Joan Toews, Turlock, CA, George and Sue Toews, Turlock,&nbsp;CA, three sisters‐in‐law, Rose and Phil Shehan, Sacramento, CA, Linda, and Harley Koehn,&nbsp;Montezuma, KS, Janice and Phil Jantz, Turlock, CA, ten grandchildren, nieces, nephews and&nbsp;many friends.Preceding him in death are father Noah B. Jantz, mothers Bertha Koehn, Linda Siemens/Millsap,&nbsp;and Elizabeth Koehn, three sisters, one brother, one infant daughter, a stepbrother,&nbsp;parents-in-law, and one sister‐in‐law. Online condolences at www.jostfuneralhome.com.

Noah Dale Jantz

Southeast of Saline travels to Clay Center Tuesday night to take on the Tigers. If you can't make it to the games, we've got you covered!

The girls play at 6 p.m. Tuesday and the boys at approximately 7:30 p.m.

You can listen to the basketball games on KINA (910 AM or 107.5 FM). Devin Hanney has the call. You also can watch a live stream of the games right here on Salina Post, thanks to Salina Surgical Hospital!

Click the QR code or the link below to watch the games Friday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673319577924.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Southeast of Saline travels to Clay Center Tuesday night to take on the Tigers. If you can't make it to the games, we've got you covered!The girls play at 6 p.m. Tuesday and the boys at approximately 7:30 p.m.You can listen to the basketball games on KINA (910 AM or 107.5 FM). Devin Hanney has the call. You also can watch a live stream of the games right here on Salina Post, thanks to Salina Surgical Hospital!Click the QR code or the link below to watch the games Friday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673319895500.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xtg6VfzKk7A"></iframe>
 <figcaption>Video by Bryan Dennett</figcaption>
 </figure>

🎥Watch live as Southeast of Saline takes on Clay Center tonight!

<a href="https://www.wigginsfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/Lavera-Lane/#!/TributeWall">LaVera L. Lane Obituary - Visitation &amp; Funeral Information (wigginsfuneralhomes.com)</a>

LaVera L. Lane, age 102, died on December 21, 2022. She was born on July 28, 1920 in Stover, Missouri, the twin daughter of Gavert Brunjes and Emma Brunjes. 

On August 2, 1942, she married Jay C. Lane. They moved to McPherson in 1946. Two daughters were born to this union, Madeline Diane and Vicki Ja. She was an inspiration to many. In 1963, LaVera was walking on the sidewalk in downtown McPherson when she was hit by a car. She spent 9 months in the hospital. With hard work, determination, and a positive attitude, she learned to walk again. LaVera was an avid sports fan. She was often saying, “How about those Chiefs?” and “How about those Royals?” There were several years when she watched or listened to every Royals game of the season. She surprised many people with her knowledge of the players and their statistics. She had many interests. One of her hobbies was reading the newspaper. At one time, she received five different papers and would read each one from cover to cover. She enjoyed playing cards with family and friends. If she had a spare moment, she would want to “play a quick hand.” She was a great cook and had a talent for making an average meal taste like a gourmet feast. She was the happiest when surrounded by her family. The welfare of her family always came first. She will be missed. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, a life member of the American Legion Auxiliary, and a life member of the McPherson Hospital Auxiliary. Survivors include daughter Madeline and husband Robert Stawnicz, and daughter Vicki and husband Mark Johnson. Survivors also include grandsons Mathew Sumner and Ryan Sumner and granddaughter Taylon Bush, as well as great-granddaughter Hailey Jay Sumner, and great-grandsons Lane Sumner and Miles Bush, and nieces Susan Shaffer, Patty Jameson and Linda Kays. She was preceded in death by her husband Jay, her grandson Britton Johnson, her sisters Valera Schuman and Ardella Kays, and her brother Norman Brunjes. A celebration of her life will be held on January 14, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in McPherson. A private burial will be at the McPherson Cemetery prior to the celebration of life. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 1400 N. Main, McPherson, Kansas 67460, or Gentiva Hospice, 900 E. First Street, Suite W1, McPherson, Kansas 67460.

To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of LaVera L. Lane please visit our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wigginsfuneralhomes.com/store/Category.aspx?CategoryId=319&amp;icn=desktop_memorial_obituary_link#chooser">Sympathy Store</a>.

<h2>LaVera L. Lane, McPherson</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672584047226.jpeg" alt="LaVera L. Lane crop" />
 <figcaption>LaVera L. Lane crop</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.wigginsfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/Lavera-Lane/#!/TributeWall">LaVera L. Lane Obituary - Visitation &amp; Funeral Information (wigginsfuneralhomes.com)</a>July 28, 1920 - December 21, 2022LaVera L. Lane, age 102, died on December 21, 2022. She was born on July 28, 1920 in Stover, Missouri, the twin daughter of Gavert Brunjes and Emma Brunjes. On August 2, 1942, she married Jay C. Lane. They moved to McPherson in 1946. Two daughters were born to this union, Madeline Diane and Vicki Ja. She was an inspiration to many. In 1963, LaVera was walking on the sidewalk in downtown McPherson when she was hit by a car. She spent 9 months in the hospital. With hard work, determination, and a positive attitude, she learned to walk again. LaVera was an avid sports fan. She was often saying, “How about those Chiefs?” and “How about those Royals?” There were several years when she watched or listened to every Royals game of the season. She surprised many people with her knowledge of the players and their statistics. She had many interests. One of her hobbies was reading the newspaper. At one time, she received five different papers and would read each one from cover to cover. She enjoyed playing cards with family and friends. If she had a spare moment, she would want to “play a quick hand.” She was a great cook and had a talent for making an average meal taste like a gourmet feast. She was the happiest when surrounded by her family. The welfare of her family always came first. She will be missed. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, a life member of the American Legion Auxiliary, and a life member of the McPherson Hospital Auxiliary. Survivors include daughter Madeline and husband Robert Stawnicz, and daughter Vicki and husband Mark Johnson. Survivors also include grandsons Mathew Sumner and Ryan Sumner and granddaughter Taylon Bush, as well as great-granddaughter Hailey Jay Sumner, and great-grandsons Lane Sumner and Miles Bush, and nieces Susan Shaffer, Patty Jameson and Linda Kays. She was preceded in death by her husband Jay, her grandson Britton Johnson, her sisters Valera Schuman and Ardella Kays, and her brother Norman Brunjes. A celebration of her life will be held on January 14, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in McPherson. A private burial will be at the McPherson Cemetery prior to the celebration of life. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 1400 N. Main, McPherson, Kansas 67460, or Gentiva Hospice, 900 E. First Street, Suite W1, McPherson, Kansas 67460. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of LaVera L. Lane please visit our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wigginsfuneralhomes.com/store/Category.aspx?CategoryId=319&amp;icn=desktop_memorial_obituary_link#chooser">Sympathy Store</a>.

LaVera L. Lane

‘Sick and tired of going to other people’s funerals out here’

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/04/kansas-farmers-ranchers-plant-seeds-of-change-to-erode-stigma-of-mental-illness/">Kansas Reflector</a>

MANHATTAN — Sedgwick County 
farmer Mick Rausch’s struggle with depression coincided with his 
brother’s cancer diagnosis and a freeze that thwarted harvest of a wheat
 crop.

Rausch had promised his father-in-law that he would not let the 
family’s century-old farm go under. Quitting wasn’t an option, he said.

He kept shoving aside reality of compounding stress and strain. He 
dodged his wife’s inquiries. He didn’t want to utter three powerful 
words: I need help. The problem came to a head when he crawled under a 
piece of farm equipment to perform routine maintenance and ended up 
taking a three-hour nap. That out-of-character slumber convinced him to 
get serious about his mental well-being.

“It’s really hard for a guy to admit to a problem,” Rausch said. 
“You’re in agriculture. We know how to deal with a problem — take care 
of it, work a little harder, work a little longer. Things kind of 
snowballed and I just got to the point I had to seek help.”

He made an appointment with a doctor and was able to talk with 
professionals about his mental health challenges. He was put on 
medication that made a difference.

“All the credit goes to my wife,” he said. “She stuck with me through a very difficult summer.”

It led about 15 years later to the Kansas Farm Bureau convention in 
Manhattan and a seat next to Ashley Beying, an Osage County nurse 
practitioner and rancher, and Donna Wise, a Clearwater corn, wheat, 
sorghum and soybean farmer who was 18 when her father died of suicide.

The trio’s task was to share with farmers, ranchers and others their 
understanding of how to manage the inevitable stress of a life in 
agriculture. They were guests of the Women’s Leadership Committee of the
 Farm Bureau.

Rausch said he learned to welcome the opportunity to speak to others about his journey of despair and recovery.

“The first thing I tell people is I’m sick and tired of going to 
other people’s funerals out here that I could have prevented,” he said.

Wise, who grew up walking on egg shells at home due to her father’s 
severe depression, said her mother chose to blame Wise and her sibling 
brother for their father’s condition. She learned to cope by being 
self-reliant and spending as much time as possible outdoors. Her father 
was unable to find a way to deal with the pain and took his life more 
than 50 years ago, Wise said. She continues to mourn that loss.

“Farmers spend so much time alone working on the farm,” said Wise, 
who became an ordained minister and relied on her experience to assist 
people talking of suicide. “That’s a lot of time to think and think and 
get into some deep, dark places.”

She said people in crisis needed to understand their families 
wouldn’t be better off without them. Family members feel abandoned in 
wake of a suicide, she said.

Beying, the nurse practitioner who works at a rural health clinic, 
said the national conversation about mental illness had lowered barriers
 that deterred people from being transparent about depression, anxiety 
and other conditions that could benefit from medical intervention. If 
someone could feel more stable by taking prescription medication, she 
said, family or society had no right to stigmatize that solution.

“Mental health wasn’t something that was typically talked about when I
 was younger,” Beying said. “As a health care provider, looking at my 
patients, I would want to take care of their blood pressure, take care 
of their cholesterol, their diabetes. So, why wouldn’t I want to take 
care of their mind?”

She said the nation’s capacity to provide mental health services 
needed to grow exponentially because the demand outstripped available 
facilities and personnel. In Kansas, there are <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansasagstress.org/mental-health">resources available to people struggling with mental health</a>.

Wise said harsh opinions associated with mental illness had 
diminished over the years, but less progress had been made with the 
stigma of suicide.

“From my experience,” she said, “I have often felt I was not allowed 
to talk about the fact I had suicide in my family. People don’t want to 
hear about it. They run away.”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported farmers 
and ranchers were almost two times more likely to die from suicide than 
people engaged in other occupations. In 2021, Kansas Health Institute 
reported the rate of suicide in rural counties in Kansas climbed 55% 
from 2000 to 2019.

Wise and Beying said onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 required 
folks to spend more time at home and offered a chance for people to 
become more sensitized to what they were feeling. It gave people an 
opportunity to take advantage of therapy through telehealth services or 
online formats, they said.

“In my area, we didn’t have good internet when the pandemic came on. 
We were basically isolated,” he said. “I’m kind of a people person. To 
me, mental health is about your mind and being out with people. If 
you’re locked up, nobody knows how you are.”

Rausch said if a friend didn’t look right or was acting strange, he would start a conversation and stick to the basics.

“Ask them, ‘Is there an issue? Is there something I can help you with?’ And, then, listen.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672848195501.png" alt="Sedgwick County farmers Mick Rausch and Donna Wise, left and center, and Osage County nurse practitioner and rancher Ashley Beying shared their experiences with mental illness in agricultural settings during a meeting of the Kansas Farm Bureau. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Sedgwick County farmers Mick Rausch and Donna Wise, left and center, and Osage County nurse practitioner and rancher Ashley Beying shared their experiences with mental illness in agricultural settings during a meeting of the Kansas Farm Bureau. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>‘Sick and tired of going to other people’s funerals out here’</h2>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/04/kansas-farmers-ranchers-plant-seeds-of-change-to-erode-stigma-of-mental-illness/">Kansas Reflector</a>MANHATTAN — Sedgwick County 
farmer Mick Rausch’s struggle with depression coincided with his 
brother’s cancer diagnosis and a freeze that thwarted harvest of a wheat
 crop.Rausch had promised his father-in-law that he would not let the 
family’s century-old farm go under. Quitting wasn’t an option, he said.He kept shoving aside reality of compounding stress and strain. He 
dodged his wife’s inquiries. He didn’t want to utter three powerful 
words: I need help. The problem came to a head when he crawled under a 
piece of farm equipment to perform routine maintenance and ended up 
taking a three-hour nap. That out-of-character slumber convinced him to 
get serious about his mental well-being.“It’s really hard for a guy to admit to a problem,” Rausch said. 
“You’re in agriculture. We know how to deal with a problem — take care 
of it, work a little harder, work a little longer. Things kind of 
snowballed and I just got to the point I had to seek help.”He made an appointment with a doctor and was able to talk with 
professionals about his mental health challenges. He was put on 
medication that made a difference.“All the credit goes to my wife,” he said. “She stuck with me through a very difficult summer.”It led about 15 years later to the Kansas Farm Bureau convention in 
Manhattan and a seat next to Ashley Beying, an Osage County nurse 
practitioner and rancher, and Donna Wise, a Clearwater corn, wheat, 
sorghum and soybean farmer who was 18 when her father died of suicide.The trio’s task was to share with farmers, ranchers and others their 
understanding of how to manage the inevitable stress of a life in 
agriculture. They were guests of the Women’s Leadership Committee of the
 Farm Bureau.Rausch said he learned to welcome the opportunity to speak to others about his journey of despair and recovery.“The first thing I tell people is I’m sick and tired of going to 
other people’s funerals out here that I could have prevented,” he said.<h2>Walking on egg shells</h2>Wise, who grew up walking on egg shells at home due to her father’s 
severe depression, said her mother chose to blame Wise and her sibling 
brother for their father’s condition. She learned to cope by being 
self-reliant and spending as much time as possible outdoors. Her father 
was unable to find a way to deal with the pain and took his life more 
than 50 years ago, Wise said. She continues to mourn that loss.“Farmers spend so much time alone working on the farm,” said Wise, 
who became an ordained minister and relied on her experience to assist 
people talking of suicide. “That’s a lot of time to think and think and 
get into some deep, dark places.”She said people in crisis needed to understand their families 
wouldn’t be better off without them. Family members feel abandoned in 
wake of a suicide, she said.Beying, the nurse practitioner who works at a rural health clinic, 
said the national conversation about mental illness had lowered barriers
 that deterred people from being transparent about depression, anxiety 
and other conditions that could benefit from medical intervention. If 
someone could feel more stable by taking prescription medication, she 
said, family or society had no right to stigmatize that solution.“Mental health wasn’t something that was typically talked about when I
 was younger,” Beying said. “As a health care provider, looking at my 
patients, I would want to take care of their blood pressure, take care 
of their cholesterol, their diabetes. So, why wouldn’t I want to take 
care of their mind?”She said the nation’s capacity to provide mental health services 
needed to grow exponentially because the demand outstripped available 
facilities and personnel. In Kansas, there are <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansasagstress.org/mental-health">resources available to people struggling with mental health</a>.Wise said harsh opinions associated with mental illness had 
diminished over the years, but less progress had been made with the 
stigma of suicide.“From my experience,” she said, “I have often felt I was not allowed 
to talk about the fact I had suicide in my family. People don’t want to 
hear about it. They run away.”The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported farmers 
and ranchers were almost two times more likely to die from suicide than 
people engaged in other occupations. In 2021, Kansas Health Institute 
reported the rate of suicide in rural counties in Kansas climbed 55% 
from 2000 to 2019.<h2>COVID-19 factor</h2>Wise and Beying said onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 required 
folks to spend more time at home and offered a chance for people to 
become more sensitized to what they were feeling. It gave people an 
opportunity to take advantage of therapy through telehealth services or 
online formats, they said.Rausch took the opposite perspective.“In my area, we didn’t have good internet when the pandemic came on. 
We were basically isolated,” he said. “I’m kind of a people person. To 
me, mental health is about your mind and being out with people. If 
you’re locked up, nobody knows how you are.”Rausch said if a friend didn’t look right or was acting strange, he would start a conversation and stick to the basics.“Ask them, ‘Is there an issue? Is there something I can help you with?’ And, then, listen.”

Farmers, ranchers plant seeds of change to erode mental illness stigma

The Minneapolis Lions are traveling to Southeast of Saline to take on the Trojans Friday night.&nbsp;If you can't make it to the games, we've got you covered!

The girls play at 6 p.m. Friday and the boys at approximately 7:30 p.m.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672966331998.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Minneapolis Lions are traveling to Southeast of Saline to take on the Trojans Friday night.&nbsp;If you can't make it to the games, we've got you covered!The girls play at 6 p.m. Friday and the boys at approximately 7:30 p.m.You can listen to the basketball games on KINA (910 AM or 107.5 FM). Devin Hanney has the call. You also can watch a live stream of the games right here on Salina Post, thanks to Salina Surgical Hospital!Click the QR code or the link below to watch the games Friday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672966588149.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rIkhzlp5TX0"></iframe>
 <figcaption>Video by Bryan Dennett</figcaption>
 </figure>

🎥Watch live as Southeast of Saline takes on Minneapolis Friday!

<a href="https://www.ryanmortuary.com/obituary/Frederick-BeckmeyerJr">https://www.ryanmortuary.com/obituary/Frederick-BeckmeyerJr</a>

January 19, 1930 ~ January 3, 2023 (age 92)

Frederick W. “Bill” Beckmeyer, Jr., of Salina, Kan., passed away on Tuesday, January 3, 2023. He was born in Medford, Okla., on January 19, 1930, to Fred and Irene (Sheeran) Beckmeyer.

Bill graduated from Chapman, Kan., High School in 1948, where he was involved in various sports. He graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in journalism in 1952. He served in the United States Army Infantry as a 1st Lt. in the Korean War, with the 5th Regimental Combat Team.

Bill was employed at Sunflower Bank as sr. vice president and served on the bank’s executive committee, working in the correspondent division. He wrote a monthly newsletter for correspondent customers featuring banking events and people, titled “It Occurs to Me.” Bill also worked as a consultant for the American Bankers Association. He attended the Colorado School of Banking and Bank Marketing School. He was a 50-year member of the Kansas Bankers Association, served as State Director for the Bank Administration Institute, and served on numerous banking committees.

Other organizations include Salina Diocese Financial Council, Salina Regional Health Center Foundation, Sacred Heart High School Education Board, Sacred Heart High School Endowment Board, St. Mary’s Catholic Church Parish Council, Knights of Columbus 4th Degree, Kansas State President’s Club, Kansas State Alumni Assoc., Ahearn Fund, and a member of the Kansas State Track Team. Bill founded the First Class Five Road Race and co-founded the Bishop Fitzsimon’s Golf Tournament.

Bill was always there for this family, offering sound advice, telling jokes, and old family stories to make them smile. He was a father figure to many he worked with, taking time to listen, and giving advice when asked.

Bill is survived by his son William and wife Debbie, of Lincoln, KS and two granddaughters, Mary Francis and Eilleen. 

Preceded in death by his parents, wife Marita, and sisters Mary Saetiorius and Ann DuBois.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 7, 2023, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton Catholic Church, 1000 Burr Oak Ln, Salina, with a rosary prior to the service at 9:45 a.m. Burial will follow at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery, Chapman, Kan., with military honors provided by the United States Army.

Memorials may be made to St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church or Catholic Charities, care of Ryan Mortuary, Salina.

To&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ryanmortuary.com/obituary/Frederick-BeckmeyerJr/sympathy-landing">send flowers</a>&nbsp;to the family or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ryanmortuary.com/obituary/Frederick-BeckmeyerJr/1074854/memorial-tree">plant a tree</a>&nbsp;in memory of Frederick W. "Bill" Beckmeyer, Jr., please&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ryanmortuary.com/obituary/Frederick-BeckmeyerJr/sympathy-landing">visit our floral store.</a>

<h2>Frederick Beckmeyer, Jr., Salina</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673008714047.jpeg" alt="Frederick Beckmeyer, Jr." />
 <figcaption>Frederick Beckmeyer, Jr.</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.ryanmortuary.com/obituary/Frederick-BeckmeyerJr">https://www.ryanmortuary.com/obituary/Frederick-BeckmeyerJr</a>January 19, 1930 ~ January 3, 2023 (age 92)Frederick W. “Bill” Beckmeyer, Jr., of Salina, Kan., passed away on Tuesday, January 3, 2023. He was born in Medford, Okla., on January 19, 1930, to Fred and Irene (Sheeran) Beckmeyer.Bill graduated from Chapman, Kan., High School in 1948, where he was involved in various sports. He graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in journalism in 1952. He served in the United States Army Infantry as a 1st Lt. in the Korean War, with the 5th Regimental Combat Team.Bill was employed at Sunflower Bank as sr. vice president and served on the bank’s executive committee, working in the correspondent division. He wrote a monthly newsletter for correspondent customers featuring banking events and people, titled “It Occurs to Me.” Bill also worked as a consultant for the American Bankers Association. He attended the Colorado School of Banking and Bank Marketing School. He was a 50-year member of the Kansas Bankers Association, served as State Director for the Bank Administration Institute, and served on numerous banking committees.Other organizations include Salina Diocese Financial Council, Salina Regional Health Center Foundation, Sacred Heart High School Education Board, Sacred Heart High School Endowment Board, St. Mary’s Catholic Church Parish Council, Knights of Columbus 4th Degree, Kansas State President’s Club, Kansas State Alumni Assoc., Ahearn Fund, and a member of the Kansas State Track Team. Bill founded the First Class Five Road Race and co-founded the Bishop Fitzsimon’s Golf Tournament.Bill was always there for this family, offering sound advice, telling jokes, and old family stories to make them smile. He was a father figure to many he worked with, taking time to listen, and giving advice when asked.Bill is survived by his son William and wife Debbie, of Lincoln, KS and two granddaughters, Mary Francis and Eilleen. Preceded in death by his parents, wife Marita, and sisters Mary Saetiorius and Ann DuBois.Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 7, 2023, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton Catholic Church, 1000 Burr Oak Ln, Salina, with a rosary prior to the service at 9:45 a.m. Burial will follow at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery, Chapman, Kan., with military honors provided by the United States Army.Memorials may be made to St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church or Catholic Charities, care of Ryan Mortuary, Salina.To&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ryanmortuary.com/obituary/Frederick-BeckmeyerJr/sympathy-landing">send flowers</a>&nbsp;to the family or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ryanmortuary.com/obituary/Frederick-BeckmeyerJr/1074854/memorial-tree">plant a tree</a>&nbsp;in memory of Frederick W. "Bill" Beckmeyer, Jr., please&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ryanmortuary.com/obituary/Frederick-BeckmeyerJr/sympathy-landing">visit our floral store.</a>

Frederick Beckmeyer, Jr.

<a href="https://www.stockhamfamily.com/obituaries/louis-coyle">Louis J. Coyle Obituary 2022 - Stockham Funeral Home (stockhamfamily.com)</a>

Louis &nbsp;Coyle, 84, of Lehigh,&nbsp;Kansas, passed away on Wednesday, December 21, 2022, near York, Nebraska.

Louis was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, on February 8, 1938, to James and Lola Coyle. Louis was the third of four children.

Louis grew up in St. Joseph, Missouri, and joined the United States Air Force in 1957 and served for four years, until 1961.

Louis met Ruth (Amdahl) Coyle in 1981; they expanded and joined their families. They enjoyed raising their children in Loveland, Colorado and later, raising their grandchildren, Caleb and Shian Halsted, in Lindsborg and Lehigh, Kansas.

Louis and Ruth's children are Cynthia Coyle of Canton, Kansas, Jay (Tammy) Halsted of Greeley, Colorado, Mark (Sarah) Coyle of Fort Collins, Colorado, Shawn Halsted of Hildreth, Nebraska, and Adam Halsted of Grand Junction, Colorado. Louis has numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews throughout Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Florida, Georgia and beyond.

Louis loved fishing, camping, hunting and being outdoors in general. He enjoyed riding motorcycles and 4-wheeling in the mountains. He enjoyed reminiscing and describing his adventures to anyone that would listen, (“if you don’t believe me, ask me.”) He was a skilled horseman from his teenage years and continued to keep and work with horses until he was nearly forty. He liked to work with his hands and enjoyed making beautiful wood pieces with his scroll saw in his free time. He was a life-long student and believed you could (and should) learn something new every day. He loved studying history and was a Civil War History buff. He was a true Denver Broncos fan (just short of the tattoo), through good and bad, and tried not to hold it against you if you weren’t.

He often told stories about his military service, especially about kicking the screaming chickens out of the plane. He always had a wonderful sense of humor. You weren’t a stranger for very long after meeting Louis, you became friends. He was willing to help anyone out in any way he could. Louis was a wonderful man and even better father.

Louis was an excellent career aviation machinist and worked in the industry for over 40 years, which included Boeing, Beech Aircraft, Continental and Lockheed Martin. He was involved with many interesting projects, including Apollo, space shuttle and Titan missile. Within his careers, he also was a caregiver for multiple disabled adults, was the fire chief for his local volunteer fire department, a crosswalk guard at the neighborhood bus stop, and most recently a mold production worker at Central Plastics, for the past seven years. He continued to work up to his last day and wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Louis is preceded in death by his brothers Robert and Richard and sister Anne, half-siblings Billy, Milton and Mildred, wife Ruth, daughter-in-law Michelle Halsted and grandson Peyton Halsted.

Funeral services will be held at Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 N. Chestnut, McPherson, Kansas, on Friday, January 6, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. A reception will follow at the McPherson Community Center. &nbsp;

To view a live stream broadcast of the service, please click on the following link:&nbsp;<a href="https://evt.live/memorial-service-for-louis-j-coyle">https://evt.live/memorial-service-for-louis-j-coyle</a>

A memorial will take place at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado, at 2:00 p.m.on Friday, April 28, 2023, where Louis will be inurned with his late wife Ruth.

Memorial donations may be given to Journeys Inc. Mental Health Services (Emporia, Kansas) in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 N. Chestnut, McPherson, Kansas 67460.

To send flowers to the family in memory of Louis J. Coyle, please visit our&nbsp;<a href="https://manage2.tukioswebsites.com/o/v2/flowers/253b2c86-7ea5-4c6c-ba2a-7921ef8812c6" target="_blank">flower store</a>.

<h2>Louis J. Coyle,&nbsp;Lehigh</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672242783499.jpeg" alt="Louis J. Coyle" />
 <figcaption>Louis J. Coyle</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.stockhamfamily.com/obituaries/louis-coyle">Louis J. Coyle Obituary 2022 - Stockham Funeral Home (stockhamfamily.com)</a>February 8, 1938 - Decembe 21, 2022Louis &nbsp;Coyle, 84, of Lehigh,&nbsp;Kansas, passed away on Wednesday, December 21, 2022, near York, Nebraska.Louis was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, on February 8, 1938, to James and Lola Coyle. Louis was the third of four children.Louis grew up in St. Joseph, Missouri, and joined the United States Air Force in 1957 and served for four years, until 1961.Louis met Ruth (Amdahl) Coyle in 1981; they expanded and joined their families. They enjoyed raising their children in Loveland, Colorado and later, raising their grandchildren, Caleb and Shian Halsted, in Lindsborg and Lehigh, Kansas.Louis and Ruth's children are Cynthia Coyle of Canton, Kansas, Jay (Tammy) Halsted of Greeley, Colorado, Mark (Sarah) Coyle of Fort Collins, Colorado, Shawn Halsted of Hildreth, Nebraska, and Adam Halsted of Grand Junction, Colorado. Louis has numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews throughout Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Florida, Georgia and beyond.Louis loved fishing, camping, hunting and being outdoors in general. He enjoyed riding motorcycles and 4-wheeling in the mountains. He enjoyed reminiscing and describing his adventures to anyone that would listen, (“if you don’t believe me, ask me.”) He was a skilled horseman from his teenage years and continued to keep and work with horses until he was nearly forty. He liked to work with his hands and enjoyed making beautiful wood pieces with his scroll saw in his free time. He was a life-long student and believed you could (and should) learn something new every day. He loved studying history and was a Civil War History buff. He was a true Denver Broncos fan (just short of the tattoo), through good and bad, and tried not to hold it against you if you weren’t.He often told stories about his military service, especially about kicking the screaming chickens out of the plane. He always had a wonderful sense of humor. You weren’t a stranger for very long after meeting Louis, you became friends. He was willing to help anyone out in any way he could. Louis was a wonderful man and even better father.Louis was an excellent career aviation machinist and worked in the industry for over 40 years, which included Boeing, Beech Aircraft, Continental and Lockheed Martin. He was involved with many interesting projects, including Apollo, space shuttle and Titan missile. Within his careers, he also was a caregiver for multiple disabled adults, was the fire chief for his local volunteer fire department, a crosswalk guard at the neighborhood bus stop, and most recently a mold production worker at Central Plastics, for the past seven years. He continued to work up to his last day and wouldn’t have had it any other way.Louis is preceded in death by his brothers Robert and Richard and sister Anne, half-siblings Billy, Milton and Mildred, wife Ruth, daughter-in-law Michelle Halsted and grandson Peyton Halsted.Funeral services will be held at Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 N. Chestnut, McPherson, Kansas, on Friday, January 6, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. A reception will follow at the McPherson Community Center. &nbsp;To view a live stream broadcast of the service, please click on the following link:&nbsp;<a href="https://evt.live/memorial-service-for-louis-j-coyle">https://evt.live/memorial-service-for-louis-j-coyle</a>A memorial will take place at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado, at 2:00 p.m.on Friday, April 28, 2023, where Louis will be inurned with his late wife Ruth.Memorial donations may be given to Journeys Inc. Mental Health Services (Emporia, Kansas) in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 N. Chestnut, McPherson, Kansas 67460.To send flowers to the family in memory of Louis J. Coyle, please visit our&nbsp;<a href="https://manage2.tukioswebsites.com/o/v2/flowers/253b2c86-7ea5-4c6c-ba2a-7921ef8812c6" target="_blank">flower store</a>.

Louis J. Coyle

Ali Kareem Swanson was born January 15, 1982, to Kathleen Odella 
Swanson and Darrel Williams in Denver, Colorado. He departed life 
December 24, 2022, in Hill City, Kansas. He was one of four children.

Ali
 was raised in Hill City by his grandmother Wray Petrie who loved him 
dearly. Ali enjoyed playing and watching sports especially basketball 
and his favorite team, the Denver Broncos. His favorite go to shirts 
were Bronco Jerseys. He was inspired to play sports by his two older 
brothers Edward and Rodger. Ali played football, basketball and ran 
track at Longfellow Middle School. Ali was a talented, left-handed 
basketball player who many believed could have gone much further in the 
sport. His older brother Rodger was one of his coaches for a time. He 
spent his high school career between Hill City, Morland, Hays and 
Norton. Ali was intelligent and had the ability to finish high school, 
but eventually finished with his GED.

Ali enjoyed writing and 
drawing. When learning to write in elementary school, he often received 
awards for his penmanship which evolved into the creative art and 
drawings he created as he got older. When he was away, he often wrote 
beautiful letters to his little sister Jamie and other family members. 
Ali enjoyed listening to music and sharing his favorite songs with 
people. He also liked to rap and write songs.

Ali loved to make 
people laugh and often did without trying, just being himself. Many 
people loved Ali, but many of us also knew he had his own personal 
challenges. As kids Ali was his brother Edward’s biggest headache. 
Because the boys were two years apart, they often fought and wrestled. 
This was their way of showing the brotherly love they had for each 
other. All his life Ali looked up to Edward. After Ed’s passing in 2016,
 Ali struggled even more to find his purpose for life.

With tools 
in his hands, Ali  was skilled when it came to fixing things,  
especially bikes and cars. He was proficient at detailing and installing
 stereo systems. Ali’s two main jobs were spent on an oil rig and 
cooking at restaurants. He was always eager to do side work helping 
people like moving, painting, and cleaning.

Ali learned about many
 different faiths and religions, but he loved God and had him deep in 
his heart. He read his Bible daily for help and guidance. He could 
remember Scripture and would quote verses.

He was the father of 
two sons, Davian Lawrence and Drayden Andrew Austin. Ali loved his boys 
and he tried to be the best dad he knew how to be.

He is preceded 
in death by his beloved grandmother Wray Ustacia Petrie and grandfather 
George Andrew Wellington, Sr; his brother, Edward Claude Olden; and his 
uncle, George Andrew Wellington, Jr., and aunt, Joyce Ann Wellington.

Ali
 leaves behind his mother Kathleen Odella Swanson of Eskridge; brother 
Rodger Fitzscott Swanson of Colorado Springs, Colorado and sister Jamie 
Kathleen Alexander of Houston, Texas; sons: Davian Lawrence Swanson of 
Hays and Drayden Andrew Austin of Salina; nephew Jordan Tyler Swanson; 
as well as a large extended family and many friends.

Ali has been 
searching for peace since he was a little, innocent boy and he now has a
 peace that surpasses all understanding. Granny Wray has her two boys 
with her, and they are all smiling down on us from heaven.

<a href="https://www.stinemetzfh.com/obituaries/Ali-Kareem-Swanson-?obId=26778112#/obituaryInfo">Stinemetz Funeral Home</a> was in charge of arrangements.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672773335091.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Ali Kareem Swanson was born January 15, 1982, to Kathleen Odella 
Swanson and Darrel Williams in Denver, Colorado. He departed life 
December 24, 2022, in Hill City, Kansas. He was one of four children.Ali
 was raised in Hill City by his grandmother Wray Petrie who loved him 
dearly. Ali enjoyed playing and watching sports especially basketball 
and his favorite team, the Denver Broncos. His favorite go to shirts 
were Bronco Jerseys. He was inspired to play sports by his two older 
brothers Edward and Rodger. Ali played football, basketball and ran 
track at Longfellow Middle School. Ali was a talented, left-handed 
basketball player who many believed could have gone much further in the 
sport. His older brother Rodger was one of his coaches for a time. He 
spent his high school career between Hill City, Morland, Hays and 
Norton. Ali was intelligent and had the ability to finish high school, 
but eventually finished with his GED.Ali enjoyed writing and 
drawing. When learning to write in elementary school, he often received 
awards for his penmanship which evolved into the creative art and 
drawings he created as he got older. When he was away, he often wrote 
beautiful letters to his little sister Jamie and other family members. 
Ali enjoyed listening to music and sharing his favorite songs with 
people. He also liked to rap and write songs.Ali loved to make 
people laugh and often did without trying, just being himself. Many 
people loved Ali, but many of us also knew he had his own personal 
challenges. As kids Ali was his brother Edward’s biggest headache. 
Because the boys were two years apart, they often fought and wrestled. 
This was their way of showing the brotherly love they had for each 
other. All his life Ali looked up to Edward. After Ed’s passing in 2016,
 Ali struggled even more to find his purpose for life.With tools 
in his hands, Ali was skilled when it came to fixing things, 
especially bikes and cars. He was proficient at detailing and installing
 stereo systems. Ali’s two main jobs were spent on an oil rig and 
cooking at restaurants. He was always eager to do side work helping 
people like moving, painting, and cleaning.Ali learned about many
 different faiths and religions, but he loved God and had him deep in 
his heart. He read his Bible daily for help and guidance. He could 
remember Scripture and would quote verses.He was the father of 
two sons, Davian Lawrence and Drayden Andrew Austin. Ali loved his boys 
and he tried to be the best dad he knew how to be.He is preceded 
in death by his beloved grandmother Wray Ustacia Petrie and grandfather 
George Andrew Wellington, Sr; his brother, Edward Claude Olden; and his 
uncle, George Andrew Wellington, Jr., and aunt, Joyce Ann Wellington.Ali
 leaves behind his mother Kathleen Odella Swanson of Eskridge; brother 
Rodger Fitzscott Swanson of Colorado Springs, Colorado and sister Jamie 
Kathleen Alexander of Houston, Texas; sons: Davian Lawrence Swanson of 
Hays and Drayden Andrew Austin of Salina; nephew Jordan Tyler Swanson; 
as well as a large extended family and many friends.Ali has been 
searching for peace since he was a little, innocent boy and he now has a
 peace that surpasses all understanding. Granny Wray has her two boys 
with her, and they are all smiling down on us from heaven.<a href="https://www.stinemetzfh.com/obituaries/Ali-Kareem-Swanson-?obId=26778112#/obituaryInfo">Stinemetz Funeral Home</a> was in charge of arrangements.

Ali Kareem Swanson

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican leader Kevin McCarthy is falling far short in voting to become House speaker. House Republicans fell into a tangle on the opening day of the new Congress, refusing to elect McCarthy by more than a dozen votes in two rounds.&nbsp;

Needing 218 votes in the full House, McCarthy got just 203 in both rounds — less even than Democrat Hakeem Jeffries in the GOP-controlled chamber.