Melvin Leroy ‘Mel’ Fast, 94, died December 25, 2018, at his home. He was born May 28, 1924, in Burrton, the son of Cornelius F. and Nora E. (Berger) Fast.

Mel graduated from Burrton High School in 1942. He served in the 568th Bomb Squadron of the United States Army Air Force from 1943 to 1945 as a waist gunner on a B-17, flying missions in Europe on D-Day and until the war’s end. Mel received the Good Conduct Medal. He worked as a farmer and supervisor at Consolidated Manufacturing. Mel was a member of Halstead Lodge #46 A.F. & A.M., Halstead American Legion Post #231, and First Christian Church, Burrton.

On October 9, 1943, he married Sue Jean Greathouse in Wichita Falls, TX. They shared 75 years of marriage. She survives. Also surviving are: sons, Michael Fast, Burrton, Dan Fast (Debbie), Hutchinson; daughter, Jennifer Kimball (Doug), Burrton; grandchildren, Kelly Fast (Hallie), Molly Simms (Cody), Jana Lange (Ryan); great-grandchildren; Veronica Fast, Hugo Simms, Oscar Simms, Aubree Lange, Brylee Lange; sister, Carol Unruh, Burrton; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Mel was preceded in death by: his parents; brother, Francis Fast; sisters, Vera Grubbs, Elsie Horton; and daughter-in-law, Joyce Fast.

Funeral service will be 1 p.m. Saturday, December 29, 2018, at First Christian Church, 201 S. Burrton Ave., Burrton. Burial will follow in Burrton Cemetery, with military honors conducted by the Fort Riley Honor Guard. Friends may call from 1 to 8 p.m., with family present to greet friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Elliott Mortuary.

Memorials are suggested to the church or Burrton USD 369, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.

Michael Dean ‘Mike’ Hester, 64, of Hutchinson, (formerly of Plevna), died Monday, December 24, 2018, at Hospice House, Hutchinson. He was born August 21, 1954, in Hutchinson, to Scott and Frances Helen (Hill) Hester.

Mike was a 1972 graduate of Fairfield High School, a 1976 graduate of Fort Hays State University and in 1977, received his master’s degree from Fort Hays. He began teaching instrumental music in 1977 at Kenningston. Mike continued teaching through 1993 at Fairfield High School. He was also a farmer in the Plevna-Huntsville area.

On December 29, 1982, he married Mary Lynn Breeden in Scott City. Mary, (his wife of almost 36 years), survives, in Hutchinson. Also surviving are: son, Douglas; grandchildren, Scott and Charleigh Hester, all of Hutchinson; sisters, Cynthia Gassman and husband Frank of Garden Plain, Karen Davidson and husband Byron of Wichita; and brother, Keith and wife Raimy of Hutchinson. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorial service will be 3 p.m. Saturday, December 29, 2018, at Elliott Chapel, Hutchinson, with Pastor Tom Sheldon presiding. The casket will remain closed. Friends may sign his book from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Friday at Elliott Mortuary and Crematory, Hutchinson.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the American Lung Association or United Way of Reno County, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.

Hannelore ‘Hanna’ Stark, 77, of Hutchinson, died December 23, 2018, at Hospice House, Hutchinson. She was born November 15, 1941, in Rambach, Germany, to Karl and Dorthea (Schlink) Steeg. Shortly after Hanna’s birth, her father was killed during World War II. Her mother married Eberhard Kurth, who helped raise Hanna.

Hanna graduated from high school in Germany and from Salt City Business College, Hutchinson, in 1963. Hanna retired after 27 years in various management positions with K-Mart. She could knit and crochet anything and was an avid gardener.

On February 1, 1962, she married Earnest Dean Stark in Wiesbaden, Germany. He died July 1, 1998.
Hanna is survived by: children, Angela Nickelson of Hutchinson, Claus Stark (Connie) of Smithville, MO; brother, Sigfried Kurth (Christiane) of Rambach, Germany; granddaughter, Marissa Stark of Columbia, MO; special friend, who was like a daughter to Hanna, Lorene Hysell of Hutchinson; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by: her parents; stepfather, Eberhard Kurth; brother, Klaus Steeg; sisters, Monika Ivers, Regina Brown; and son-in-law, Eric Nickelson.

Cremation has taken place. Memorial service will be 10 a.m. Monday, December 31, 2018, at Elliott Chapel, Hutchinson, with Pastor Matt Stafford officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery, Hutchinson. Friends may sign the book from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Elliott Mortuary.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice House, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.

Eric Todd Long, 26, died Friday, December 21, 2018. He was born March 10, 1992, in Lyons, to Todd Randall and Susan Ellen (Helm) Long. Eric was a 2010 graduate of Haven High School and 2012 graduate of Hutchinson Community College. He had been a student assistant for HCC football coach Rion Rhoades. Eric was a substitute teacher for USD #312 Haven and coached football, basketball and baseball. Two of his favorite pastimes were being with his dog, Baxter, and a raving fan of the Texas Longhorns!

He is survived by: his parents, Todd Long and Susan Long; brother, Cole; sister, Kirsten Long, all of Hutchinson; grandfather, Lloyd Helm of Abbyville; grandparents, Joe and Debra Banks of Hutchinson, and Monte and Carla Long of South Hutchinson.

Proceeding him in death were: his grandmother, Beverley Rayl; great-grandparents, George and Marjorie Withroder, and Don and Peggy Long.

Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Thursday, December 27, 2018, at Journey in South Hutchinson, 808 S. Poplar, South Hutchinson, with Pastor Howard Wagler and Jesse Blasdel presiding. Burial will be in Sylvia Cemetery, Sylvia. Visitation will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday and 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at Elliott Mortuary and Crematory, Hutchinson, with family present from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the church. Memorial gifts may be made to USD 312 Memorial Scholarship – Eric Long, in care of Elliott Mortuary 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.

Mona Blanche Spencer, 84, died Friday, December 21, 2018, at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. She was born June 29, 1934, in Kinsley, the daughter of O.J. and Hazel (Brown) Thornton. In addition to being a homemaker, Mona worked as a housekeeper at Sunset Lodge, South Hutchinson, and managed apartment complexes in California. She enjoyed drawing, painting, and doing crafts. Mona was active in the United Pentecostal Church, Acampo, CA, and Lighthouse Christian Fellowship Church, Manteca, CA, and was a member of First Church of the Nazarene, Hutchinson.

On June 7, 1956, Mona married Merle D. Spencer Sr. in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He died September 18, 2009.

She is survived by: daughters, Debbie Green (Michael), Lodi, CA, and Karen Burns (Kim), Hutchinson; son, Merle D. Spencer Jr. (Donna), Beatrice, NE; ten grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and sister, Edith Stapleton, Dodge City.

She was preceded in death by: her parents; sister, Helen Oller; and brother, Lloyd Thornton.

Graveside service will be 1 p.m. Wednesday, December 26, 2018, at Maple Grove Cemetery, 2350 Matt Down Lane, Dodge City. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Mona Spencer Memorial Fund, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.