Herman M. ‘Bud’ Montgomery, 91, died February 15, 2018, at his home in South Hutchinson. He was born August 5, 1926, in Champaign County, IL, the son of Austin A. and Grace Marie (Logan) Montgomery.

Bud was a 1944 graduate of Hutchinson High School and then served in the U.S. Army during World War II. On December 24, 1943, he married Fairy Leona Stiggins at the South Hutchinson United Methodist Church. Bud and his wife were members of the church for many years. He was a longtime employee of Packaging Corp. of America, retiring as maintenance supervisor.

Bud is survived by: wife, Fairy of the home; sons, Ron and wife Sheryl of Rogers, AR, Doug and wife Cindy of Arlington, TX, Don (and wife Terry, who died in 2009) of Albany, NY; 9 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by: his parents; brothers, Myrle and John Montgomery.

Private family graveside services will be held. Military honors will be conducted by the Ft. Riley Honor Guard.

In lieu of flowers, memorials gifts may be made to South Hutchinson United Methodist Church, in care of: Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS, 67501.

Kylenn Marie Alpers, 29, of Hutchinson, died February 13, 2018. She was born December 3, 1988, in Dodge City, to Lee Ann (Crabtree) Whisler and Kyle L. Alpers.

Kylenn attended Buhler High School, receiving her GED in 2006. She was a social butterfly who loved life, her family, friends, bright colors, flowers, and her dog, Keeley. Known as ‘Rainbow Bright’ to her family and friends, Kylenn loved to constantly change her hair color. She was a unique individual who will be missed tremendously.
Kylenn is survived by: mother and stepdad, Lee Ann and Buddy Whisler; father, Kyle Alpers; stepmom, Tammy Castleberry; brother, Christopher Alpers; sister, April Howard; half-brother, Nicholas Gillispie; grandma, Esta Martin; grandpa, John Alpers; stepbrothers, Jason Thiel, Bryson Allen, Mason Simmons, Matthew Castleberry; uncles, Paul and Tom Crabtree, Kevin Alpers, Fred Freeman; nephews, Jersey, Bronx, and Albany Alpers, Landon, Jacob, Anthony, and Seth Howard; nieces, Kenzleigh and Talitha Howard; and cousins, Chenoa and Joshua Alpers.

She was preceded in death by: her brother, Lee Allen Alpers; grandpa, Charles Martin, and grandma, Carol Alpers.

Memorials may be made to the Kylenn Alpers Memorial Fund, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.

Esther Willems, 94, of Hutchinson, died Tuesday, February 13, 2018, at Hospice House, Hutchinson. She was born July 18, 1923, in rural Inman, the daughter of Jacob and Marie (Toews) Loepp. Esther attended Welcome and West Eagle Grade School, rural Inman, and graduated from Buhler High School. After high school, she started her working career at Buhler State Bank, where she worked for two years. A longtime resident of Hutchinson, Esther retired from First National Bank in 1985, after 33 years of employment. Her love for sports gave her many opportunities to travel and support her favorite teams. Esther enjoyed sharing in her children’s and grandchildren’s activities and accomplishments, including academics, music, and sports. She was a member of First Mennonite Church since 1962.

On April 15, 1949, she married Pete Willems in Inman. He died November 20, 2002.

Esther is survived by: son, Ray and wife Arlene; daughter, Linda Barone; daughter-in-law, Judy Willems, all of Hutchinson; sisters, Leona Koslowsky of Hillsboro, Helen Faul of Minneapolis, MN, Velma Schroeder of Inman; four grandchildren, Angie Koehn (Craig) of Montezuma, Stefanie Willems, Todd Willems (Staci), Bret Willems (Danyel), all of Hutchinson; two great-grandsons, A.J. Koehn of Montezuma, Beau Willems of Hutchinson; two step grandsons, Shayne Barone and Shawn Barone (Lois), all of Hutchinson; 11 step great-grandchildren; and 14 step great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by: her parents; son, Gordon; son-in-law, Ron Barone; brothers, Henry, David, Ruben, and Menno Loepp; and sisters, Marie Draemel, Martha White, and Ann Plett.

Cremation has taken place. Memorial service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, February 24, 2018, at First Mennonite Church, 52 Rambler Road, Hutchinson, with Pastors Tonya Ramer Wenger and Nathan Koontz officiating. Private family inurnment will take place at Fairlawn Burial Park, Hutchinson. Friends may sign the book from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Friday at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson. Memorials may be made to Hospice and HomeCare of Reno County or Boy Scout Troop 306, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.

Joyce Neahring, 75, died February 13, 2018, at Mennonite Manor, South Hutchinson. She was born on May 10, 1942, in San Bernardino, California, to Thomas and Mary (Sams) Hudson.

On May 17, 1986, Joyce married Nick A. Neahring in San Diego, California. He survives.

Other survivors include: daughter, Wendy Harms (Fernando), Hutchinson; son, Jeff Wright, Nickerson; stepson, Paul Neahring (Tabitha), Hutchinson; granddaughters, Alexandra Hass, Hutchinson, Elisabeth Wright, Kansas City, KS, Courtney McGarvey, Omaha, NE; grandsons, Kyler and Konner Harms, Hutchinson; great-grandchildren, Grace and Bradlie Hass.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Memorials may be made to Nickerson United Methodist Church, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.

Stanley E. “Shorty” Brown, 80, of Hutchinson, died Monday, February 12, 2018, at Hospice House, Hutchinson. He was born August 11, 1937, in Cassville, Missouri. Shorty was the fourth child of seven children born to George Leo and Ardith Aline (Henderson) Brown.

Shorty graduated from Whitewater High School in 1955. He was retired owner and president of T & E Oil Co., Inc. Shorty served as the past president for Kansas Oil Marketers Association, was on the board of directors for the Justice Foundation, Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center, and the Governor’s 1987 K-96 Highway Tax Force. He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church. Shorty was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and brother.

On April 15, 1956, he married Katherine Marie Rose in Wichita. They shared almost 62 years of marriage. Shorty is survived by: wife, Katherine of Hutchinson; sons, Kevin and wife Marina of Hutchinson, Kent and wife Lori of Wichita; four granddaughters, Kelsey Baker and husband Brandon of Wichita, Aunya Cameron and husband Brandon of Prairie Village, Courtney Scherzer and husband Nate, Mischia Kirkpatrick and husband Sam, all of Fairway, Kansas; four great-grandchildren; sisters, Wilma Schwemmer of Newton, Valda Nickel of Wichita, Donna Nattier of Newton; and brother, Kenneth of Pratt. He was preceded in death by: his parents; son, Brent Eugene Brown; brother, Ronald Winston Brown; and sister, Virginia Lee Young.

Celebration of Life will be 1 p.m. Saturday, February 24, 2018, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 17th and Main, Hutchinson, with the Reverend Michael L. McGuire officiating. The family will receive friends following the service in the church parlor. A private graveside service will be held at the Whitewater Cemetery, Whitewater, KS. Following the graveside service, the family will receive friends from the Whitewater and Furley communities from 2 to 3 p.m. Friday, February 23, 2018, at Furley United Methodist Church, 101st Street and Greenwich Road, Furley, Kansas. Friends may sign the book from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Elliott Mortuary.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, Hospice of Reno County or Furley United Methodist Church, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.