Obituaries

Larry Duane Walrod, age 83, of La Cygne, Kansas passed away Monday, February 21, 2022. He was born in Hume, Missouri on June 3, 1938 the son of George Morris and Marjorie Keith Walrod. He was preceded in death by his parents and a son, Darin Walrod. Larry is survived by his wife, Laura, two brothers, Bub and Fred Walrod (Sharon), two sisters, Phyllis Blaser (Terry), and Sue Clark (Jerry), Larry had three children, Lisa Miller, Deena Lewis (Scott) and Kimi Soto (Jesus). Including three grandchildren, Blain, Cambria, and Kylie and two great grandchildren (twins), Nova and Theo, and many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. He graduated from Prescott High School and attended Pittsburg State University for two years, earning a degree in Industrial Engineering. He then served his country in the United States Army and received an Honorable Discharge in March of 1962. Larry went to the U.S. Army Ordinance Guided Missile School. He then was hired by a private company who was contracted by the United States Government where he programed missile testing.

We want to thank everyone who attended the celebration of Martha’s life at Dengel’s on February 16th-her 81st birthday. Also, thanks to the people who donated to the Franklin County Cancer Foundation. When Martha volunteered there, she was always sorry when she couldn’t help give someone the supplies they needed to help their loved one. Thanks for the generosity!

Emery Platt, age 85, of Garnett, Kansas, passed away on Monday, February 21, 2022, at Advent Health, Ottawa, Kansas. He was born January 16, 1937, in Franklin County, Kansas, the son of Lonnie Joseph and Mary Ann (Setter) Platt. Emery grew up on the family farm West of Richmond and attended school at the local one-room schoolhouse (Prairie View) until eighth grade when he left school to work the family farm after his father’s illness. In 1957, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and after successful completion of signal corps training at Fort Gordon, Augusta, Georgia, he received orders to report to the Far East Communications Command in Japan. He achieved the rank of Specialist Five (E-5). He enjoyed his time immersed in the Japanese culture. After fulfilling his active duty commitment and being honorably discharged he returned to Kansas. Emery married Patty Mader in 1961. They later divorced. Emery worked in various jobs including construction of Osawatomie High School, International Harvester in Kansas City, farmhand at the Chandler farm, Ottawa Co-op, and the Richmond Co-op. During the early 1960s, Emery played baseball in a semi-pro baseball league which fueled his passion to coach and umpire both softball and baseball. He coached girls fastpitch softball for over 20 years in Garnett and Greeley. He also coached St. John’s baseball for a few years.

Steven Lee Murray made his journey to heaven on January 28, 2022. He was born at his grandparents’ farm (Harry and Ruby Switzer) near Mound City, KS on October 19,…

Steven Lee Murray made his journey to heaven on January 28, 2022. He was born at his grandparents’ farm (Harry and Ruby Switzer) near Mound City, KS on October 19, 1947. In 1956 his parents sold their farm and moved to Ottawa, KS, where Steve would spend his formative years. There, he would make fond memories in a one-room school house prior to moving for his father’s work and would eventually return to excel as an athlete at Ottawa High School. Steve lettered in track and football and was awarded All-League and All-State in football as a linebacker. He served as president of OHS Lettermans’ club his senior year, graduating in 1965. He spent summers at his grandparents’ farm learning many important life lessons and often spent his free time doing what he loved the most, preparing for football and riding horses. Steve was a veteran of the U.S. Navy who served in the Vietnam War. He received several Naval service awards, including a Life-Saving Recognition Award. After his tour of duty, he married the love of his life, Lynn Wedman (a 1966 OHS graduate) in 1969. They shared nearly forty-five years together, most of which were in Overland Park, KS until Lynn’s death due to ALS in 2014.

Darlene Marie Armstrong (Medcalf, Frazier) was the second born to Thomas Edward and Mary Ellen Medcalf in Iola, Kansas on June 2nd, 1952. She lived most of her childhood in Osawatomie, KS graduating high school there and remaining close with many of her class and schoolmates for over 50 years. After completing college at Emporia State University, she moved to the Kansas City area, began a 27-year career working for Social Security, and started her family. In 1987, Darlene and her family moved outside of Ottawa, Kansas. She passed away October 9th, 2021.

Susan (Ames) Duckworth passed away peacefully surrounded by family on January 7, 2022 after a courageous battle against cancer. She was small in stature, mighty in her personality and sugar coated nothing when telling you how it was. She was a supportive mom, daughter, sister and friend who demonstrated what it meant to be loving and compassionate toward others. She was a small business owner who took that leadership mentality and converted it into being a self-identified house manager for her daughters. She loved road trips, stopping along her route to read the historical markers then sharing those tidbits of information with anyone who would listen. Later in life she became the google queen, it didn’t matter how small or how big the issue was, if anything needed to be researched, she was your go to person. She loved to cook and could spend hours looking up various recipes online, however her homemade chicken and noodles were a crowd favorite. She was an amazing woman who will be missed forever. Susan was proceeded in death by her father Raymond, her mother Vera and her sisters Ellen and Vera. She is survived by her daughter Tracy and her family, her daughter Susan and her wife Debbie, her granddaughter Cori, her sister Judy, her brother Danny and her nieces and nephews. She requested that there not be any formal services, instead she wanted others to simply celebrate the memories of her life.

Martha Kay Keller, 80, of Overland Park, Kansas, formerly of Ottawa, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, February 8, 2022. She was born on February 16, 1941, in Ransom Memorial Hospital, Ottawa, Kansas, to John and Letha Keller. She was a lifelong resident of Franklin County until she moved to an Alzheimer’s facility in Overland Park, Kansas, in November, 2021.

Donald LeRoy Leadbetter, 79, of Ottawa, KS passed away February 6, 2022, at Olathe Medical Center, Olathe, KS. Don was born in Luverne, ND on October 21, 1942 the son of Edward Leadbetter and Josephine (Anderson) Leadbetter. Don grew up in Luverne, ND and graduated from Luverne High School with the class of 1960. He then graduated from Bottineau School of Forestry and Valley State Teachers College.