April 25, 1924 – Dec. 23, 2025 H.J. “Jim” Sharp, beloved father, grandfather, World War II veteran, and proud Kansas State University alumnus, passed away peacefully on December 23, 2025, at Good Shepherd’s Hospice House in Manhattan, Kansas. He was 101 years old.

Jack C. Edwards, 82, of Council Grove, Kansas, passed away on Wednesday, December 31, 2025 at a Topeka hospital. He was born December 15, 1943 in Dwight, Kansas, the son of Willlis Sanford and Etta Grace (Baker) Edwards.

Robert “Rob” Benzer, II, 61, died December 28, 2025, at Newman Regional Medical Center, Emporia. He was born May 3, 1964, in Milwaukee Wisconsin to Robert B Benzer Sr. and Babette Moliter Benzer.

Hazel Zimmerman, 94, passed away December 31, 2025, at her home, rural Alta Vista. She was born September 14, 1931 to John E. Olson and Jessie Shaw Olson in rural Morris County.

Jimmy Dean Hawthorne, 70, died Friday, November 28, 2025, at his home in Allen, Kansas.

Bobby was born on September 13th 1954 to Robert Louis and Irene (Heidemann) Huey. He passed away on December 23rd 2025 surrounded by the love of his family. He was a devoted husband, a proud father, a caring brother, and a beloved grandpa whose presence was steady, strong, and deeply felt by all who knew him.

Merrill “Bud” Virgil Welch Jr. of Council Grove, KS, passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, November 17th, 2025.

Omer Glen Pitts, 81, of Council Grove, Kansas, passed away December 8th at his home following a brief illness.

Sharon Kay Bettles peacefully passed from this earth on November 30, 2025, on her 81st birthday, after suffering a stroke. Born in 1944 in Council Grove, Kansas, she was the youngest child of four to Edgar L. and Clara Marie (White) Holscher. Kay was united in marriage to Roger Bettles on February 12, 1961, in Council Grove.

A well-known retired farmer/ stockman in the Alta Vista community, Victor Lee Zimmerman (99) died December 3, 2025. Vic was born October 24, 1926, on a farm in the Templin Community, northeast of Alta Vista. He was the first child and only son of Arnold and Elsie Brabb Zimmerman, both of whom have preceded him in death.