HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Del G. Ruff, 84, of Hutchinson, died Monday, June 5, 2017. He was born November 27, 1932, in Larned, to W. Glenn and Bessie (Peterson) Ruff. Del graduated in 1950 from Pittsburg High School and received a bachelor’s degree from Pittsburg State University. In 1964, he graduated from the University of Colorado with a master’s degree and later received a specialist degree from Emporia State University.

He married Mary Yates on June 12, 1959, in Pittsburg. They shared almost 58 years of marriage.

Del taught in Nederland, CO, then in Thornton, CO. After receiving his master’s degree, he was the audio-visual coordinator at the high school in Arlington Heights, IL. He later moved to Hutchinson, where he was the audio-visual supervisor for the public schools. He also taught social studies and photography. He retired in 1994. Del then pursued his passion for photography by taking wedding, anniversary and confirmation pictures for St. Teresa’s Catholic Church and Emanuel Lutheran Church. Many of his photos were featured in Kansas magazine and other publications. He served on New Beginnings and the Reno County Food Bank boards.

Del served as a medic in the United States Army in Heidelberg, Germany, at the Army hospital there.

He is survived by: wife, Mary; son, Philip and wife Glenda; daughter, Karen; and grandchildren, Lauren and Tommy.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Private family burial was held at Memorial Park Cemetery, Hutchinson, and Masonic Rites were conducted by Hutchinson-Reno Masonic Lodge #124 A.F. & A.M. Memorial service will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 8, 2017, at Emanuel Lutheran Church, 140 E. 30th Ave., Hutchinson, with Pastor Tim Carey officiating. Military honors will follow, conducted by Fort Riley Honor Guard. Friends may sign the book from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Friday at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to New Beginnings or Salthawk Community Support, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Patricia Schoeller Finnell of 80 years, of Hutchinson, joined the Lord Jesus Christ’s presence on June 6, 2017, surrounded by her family. She was born in Sterling, and then after graduating high school, received a college degree.

Patricia began her career in the California real estate (RE) market and retained her RE broker license. She was an accomplished pianist that shared and inspired others with the joy of music. Patricia was actively involved with the Women of the Moose Hutchinson Chapter #1371 and belonged to Temple Baptist Church.

Patricia is survived by: her loving husband, Gary Finnell of Hutchinson; three sisters; three daughters; and one son. She is also survived by six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by: her beloved parents, Carl and Edna Schoeller; brother, Fred Wray and sister, Lola Baumann.

Patricia was truly an angel that walked among us; she lived her life with such grace and compassion, always putting others before herself. She will be eternally loved and missed by her family and a wealth of friends and others that were blessed to have known her. May God keep and protect her in heaven, until the joyous reunion promised by our Lord.

Memorial service will be held at a future date that will be announced. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mooseheart, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Vel Ann (Velma) (Unruh) Koehn, 90, of Hutchinson, passed away June 4, 2017, at the Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. She was born August 24, 1926, in Montezuma, KS to Simon and Mary (Koehn) Unruh. Vel Ann was joined in marriage to Cecil Wallace Koehn on May 9, 1943, at Lonetree Church, McPherson County, KS.

Vel Ann had several different careers in her lifetime, including a telephone switchboard operator at Southwestern Bell Telephone and at The Baker Hotel, where she met actors William Holden, Kim Novak, and Carl ‘Alfalfa’ Switzer, while filming “Picnic.” She later became the owner and operator of her own answering service. For a number of years, she and her husband Cecil invited Hutchinson Junior College football players to lodge at their home during the school year, thus increasing their family by six each school year. In 1972, Vel Ann and Cecil made their home in Littleton, CO. Following retirement, she and Cecil settled in the San Louis Valley, CO. She loved to travel in their RV to Arizona and Texas, and especially to visit their family in Kansas.

Survivors include: son, Shannon Koehn and wife Lynda of Hutchinson; daughter, Constance Patz and husband Kevin of Green Bay, WI; grandchildren, Joshua Koehn and wife Kelly of Everett, WA, Jana Koehn of Kansas City, MO, Melissa Patz of Green Bay, WI; great-grandchildren, Josiah and Erin Koehn; brother, Roland Unruh and wife JoAnn of Lawrence; niece, Heidi Benham and husband Jonathon; and great-nephew, Noah Benham.

She was preceded in death by: Cecil, her husband of 53 years; five brothers; and two sisters.

In pursuant of Vel Ann’s wishes, her body was donated to the Kansas University School of Medicine. A memorial service and celebration of her life will be held 2 p.m. Friday, September 1, 2017, at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson. Memorial contributions may be made to Good Samaritan Fund at Wesley Towers, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Nancy J. Ricker, 78, died June 8, 2017, at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, surrounded by her children.  She was born May 22, 1939, in Sterling, the daughter of Chester A. and Reta E. (Hendricks) Elliott.

Nancy graduated from Sterling High School in 1957.

On September 8, 1957, she married J. Harold Ricker, Sr. in Sterling. He died July 8, 2011.

She was a farmer’s partner, loving mother, homemaker, dedicated servant of the Lord, and cherished friend.

Nancy is survived by: four children, John Ricker and wife Linda of Sterling, Donna Smith and husband Justin, Carolyn Money all of Manhattan, Aaron Ricker and wife Emilie of Denver, CO; brother, Lonny Elliott of Colorado Springs, CO; sister, Kathy Leslie of Shawnee; eight grandchildren, Jason Ricker, Eric Ricker, Jessica Ricker, Tyler Smith, Kalie Kehler, April Sidesinger, Ashley Dawdy, Michael Money, one grandson on the way; and six great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by: her husband; parents; and a sister, Rebecca Ruccius.

Cremation has taken place.  Memorial service will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, June 12, 2017, at Emanuel Lutheran Church, 140 E. 30^thAve, Hutchinson, with Pastor Tim Carey officiating. Friends may sign the book from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Emanuel Mission Endowment Fund, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Frances “DeeDee” Libby, 83, formerly of Ossipee, NH, died June 4, 2017, at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. DeeDee came to Hutchinson in 2010, following the death of her husband, Roland, to be with her family here. She made her home at Mission Place, on North Plum, and she loved and enjoyed all of her new friends and family there.

DeeDee is survived by: two children; eleven grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. Her family in the Hutchinson area are: daughter, Cindy Morrill (John); granddaughters, Karen Schoenhoff (Michael) and Christina Morrill; great-grandchildren, Brittany Carter, Gage Schoenhoff and Matthew Morrill.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Deborah Bolobanic.

There will be no local services, and her funeral will be at Tuftonboro United Methodist Church, Tuftonboro, NH, at a later date. Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson, is in charge of the arrangements.