Obituaries

By NewsPress Now Late Notices Abbie L. Elkins KANSAS CITY, Mo. -Abbie Lynn Elkins 48, of Kansas City, Missouri passed away Dec, 20, 2024; family to receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. Dec. 27, 2024. Celebration of Life following at 7 p.m., Rupp Funeral Home, Officiating Pastor David Mejia. Wilma F. Johnson Wilma F.

By NewsPress Now RUSHVILLE, Mo. – Vivian Rose Etta Smith, 89, of Rushville, Missouri, passed away Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, surrounded by family. She was born Feb. 28, 1935, in St. Joseph, daughter of Florence Delois and Lionel “Dollie” Pummell. On May 9, 1962, she married Francis Smith. Vivian spent many years as a homemaker

By NewsPress Now MAITLAND, Mo. – Donna Mae Heck, 80, Maitland, Missouri, passed away Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. She was born April 11, 1944, in St. Joseph, to Donald and Dorothy (Hillen) Dunn. Donna grew up in St. Joseph and graduated from Lafayette High School. She then attended beauty school and earned her beautician’s license.

By NewsPress Now Laura Lee Ripper, 92, of St. Joseph, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, at an Olathe, Kansas, care facility. She was born June 17, 1932, in St. Joseph, to Hattie and Elroy Hiskey. She married Daryl Ripper on March 1, 1952, in St. Joseph. Her family was her greatest pride and joy.

By NewsPress Now Sonja “Sonie” G. (Hatton) Morgan, 86, passed away at home on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, after a courageous battle with lung cancer. Born June 20, 1938, in St. Joseph, to Dallas Monroe and Helen Mae (Brown) Hatton. Sonie was a true Matriarch of her family, hosting all the family gatherings over many,

By NewsPress Now Late Notices As published in the St. Joseph News-Press.

By NewsPress Now Sonja “Sonie” G. (Hatton) Morgan, 86, passed away at home on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, after a courageous battle with lung cancer. Born June 20, 1938, in St. Joseph, to Dallas Monroe and Helen Mae (Brown) Hatton. Sonie was a true Matriarch of her family, hosting all the family gatherings over many,

By NewsPress Now RUSHVILLE, Mo. — Vivian Rose Etta Smith, 89, of Rushville, Missouri, passed away Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, surrounded by family. She was born Feb. 28, 1935, in St. Joseph, daughter of Florence Delois and Lionel “Dollie” Pummell. On May 9, 1962, she married Francis Smith. Vivian spent many years as a homemaker

By NewsPress Now MAITLAND, Mo. — Donna Mae Heck, 80, Maitland, Missouri, passed away Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. She was born April 11, 1944, in St. Joseph, to Donald and Dorothy (Hillen) Dunn. Donna grew up in St. Joseph and graduated from Lafayette High School. She then attended beauty school and earned her beautician’s license.

By NewsPress Now KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Jacklyn Foley Koeneman, of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away on Nov. 19, 2024. She was born in West Plains, Missouri, on Aug. 29, 1936, the daughter of Jack Orr and Harriett Wakefield Foley. She was a graduate of Central High School, St. Joseph, and maintained lasting friendships from

By NewsPress Now James H. “Butch” Keller, 78, of St. Joseph, formerly of Faucett, Missouri, passed away Dec. 18, 2024. Graveside Service: 1 p.m. Monday, Dec. 23 at Faucett Cemetery. Arrangements Hixson-Klein Funeral Home, Gower. As published in the St. Joseph News-Press.

By NewsPress Now Glennrose “Posy” Steward, 90, of St. Joseph, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, at Mosaic Life Care. She was born Jan. 20, 1934, in St. Joseph, daughter of Elva and Virgil Gann. She graduated from Benton High School class of 1952. She worked at Mead Products, where she retired after 42 years.

By NewsPress Now Miracle Valdes-Nolan, three month old daughter of Felicia Nolan and Dannis Valdes, passed away Sunday. She is survived by mother, Felicia Nolan, of St. Joseph; father, Dannis Valdes; sisters, Princess Valdes-Nolan and Beauty Valdes-Nolan; maternal grandfather, Steve Nolan; maternal grandmother, Gail Mathis; paternal grandmother, Sheila Gonzalez-Soler; paternal grandfather, Ricardo Herminio Valdes Valladares.

By NewsPress Now OLATHE, Kan. – Patrica Hickman “Pat” Flint, 92, Olathe, Kansas, passed away Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. She was born Dec. 13, 1932, in Lineville, Iowa, to Ivan and Matilda (Mary) Hickman. Pat was a homemaker, mother to her four children, caregiver to her husband, Bob, during his extended illness, and grandmother and

By NewsPress Now Late Notices Gary Clemmons EASTON, Mo. – Gary Clemmons, 71, Easton, Missouri, died Dec. 18, 2024. Services pending Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. David Faust David Faust, 95, of St. Joseph, died Dec. 19, 2024. Arrangements are pending at the Rupp Funeral Home. Laura L. Ripper Laura Lee Ripper, 92, of St.

By NewsPress Now Carlyn Solveig (Molstad) Kline, MD, passed from this life on Dec. 16, 2024, at her home. She was born on Sept. 6, 1932, to Paul B. and Ann (Roland) Molstad, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She was baptized on Oct. 30, 1932. After graduating Whitefish Bay High School, she earned her BS and then

By NewsPress Now GOWER, Mo. – David Charles “Dyno” Clinton, 71, Gower, Missouri, passed away Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. He was born May 27, 1953, in Van Nuys, California, to Hollis and Thelma (Miller) Clinton. He grew up in California and spent a few years in Hawaii, which he loved. David’s family later moved to

By NewsPress Now Eldon Charles Sells, 88, St. Joseph, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. He was born Dec. 11, 1936, to Leo H. and Mary L. (Gaddie) Hockaday, in St. Joseph. Eldon married Beatrice “Bea” Gail Kerns on March 29, 1958. He served on the United States Navy. He was also member and deacon

By NewsPress Now HOPKINS, Mo. – Roger L. Florea, 78, of Hopkins, Missouri, passed away on Dec. 17, 2024, at home in Hopkins. His 78 years of life were dedicated to service and family. Roger was born in 1946 to Orlin and Margaret (King) Florea, of Hopkins. After starting his elementary school education in a

By NewsPress Now Angela Renee Bottorff, 52, passed away Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in St. Joseph. She was born July 14, 1972, in St. Joseph, daughter of the late Mary and Richard Hummer. She attended Central High School and graduated from South Park Christian Academy. She worked as a home health caregiver and as an

By NewsPress Now Late Notices Georgia Fisher MARYVILLE, Mo. -Georgia “Jo” Fisher, 79, of Maryville, Missouri, died Dec. 15, 2024. Services 2 p.m. Dec. 21 at Price Funeral Home. Burial Myrtle Tree Cemetery, Maryville. Visitation one hour prior to the services, at 1 p.m. www.pricefuneralhomemaryville.com As published in the St. Joseph News-Press.

By NewsPress Now Troy D. Head, 66, St. Joseph, passed away Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. He was born Feb. 28, 1958, Colorado Springs, Colorado, to John and Rosemary (Horn) Head. Troy married Betty Lynn Wangelin on Oct. 8, 1983. She survives of the home. He was a plumber for the St. Joseph School District for

By NewsPress Now Joseph Clayton Fisher, 60, St. Joseph, passed away Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. He was born Dec. 16, 1963 in Kansas City, Kansas, to Robert and Betty (Church) Fisher. Joseph was a graduate of Benton High School. He had been a volunteer fire chief in Cosby, Missouri, and had worked at Stone Container,

By NewsPress Now Verba Marie Massey, 98, of St. Joseph, died on Dec. 14, 2024, at Country Squire Retirement Residence. Verba was born on June 29, 1926, in Leona, Kansas to Robert and Ona (Bond) Richter. She graduated from Leona High School. She was married to Floyd Wilson Massey on April 12, 1944, in Frankfurt,

By NewsPress Now Late Notices Angela R. Bottorff Angela R. Bottorff, 52, St. Joseph, died Dec. 15, 2024. Visitation 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday Funeral services and public live stream 10 a.m. Dec. 20, at Rupp Funeral Home. Cameron J. Cornelius Cameron Jeffrey Cornelius, 32, St. Joseph, died Dec. 15, 2024. Celebration of Life at

By NewsPress Now Debra Shade, 61, of St. Joseph, passed away Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, at her home. She was born May 30, 1963, in St. Joseph. She worked as a cook at several St. Joseph restaurants. Debra was preceded in death by her husband, Randall Lee Shade; father, Herbert Holt; mother, Barbara Ellis. She

By NewsPress Now LEWISVILLE, Texas – Thomas Peter Buczek, of Lewisville, Texas, was born in St. Joseph on Nov. 28, 1943, and passed on Nov. 30, 2024. He was 81 years old. Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Pearl (Mathis); his brother, Frank; and Gloria, his wife of 46 years. A

By NewsPress Now Joyce Elaine Gastineau, 82, St. Joseph, formerly of Hamilton, Missouri, passed away on Dec. 14, 2024, in St. Joseph. Elaine previously also lived in Gallatin, Missouri, and she grew up in Breckenridge, Missouri, where she graduated from high school. Elaine was born on July 15, 1942, in Ray County, Missouri, to William

By NewsPress Now Rex Jones, 69, lost his fight with esophageal cancer and passed away on Dec. 15, 2024. He was born on Oct. 7, 1955, to William O. and Betty J. Jones. He graduated from Central High School in 1974 where he had done wrestling and weightlifting. After that he attended Hobart Institute. He

By NewsPress Now HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Clara Evalyn (Trump) Hirter, 79, passed away on Dec. 9, 2024, in Hot Springs, Arkansas. She was born on Nov. 26, 1945, in Worth, Missouri, to Raymond and Mary Frances (Dannar) Trump. Clara was raised in St. Joseph where she graduated from Lafayette High School, got married and