Deceased Alumni in 2009

Kenneth Gerald Ribordy, 84, died Saturday, December 12, 2009 at his home in Grinnell. He was born July 1, 1925, in rural Gove County, Kansas to Levi and Margaret Tremblay Ribordy. On October 11, 1944, Ken and Luella Schumacher were married in Grainfield. They farmed in Gove County and later operated a body shop in Grainfield named, R & R Body Shop. Ken also drove a school bus for many years. Luella passed away October 16, 1995. Ken was a member of St. Agnes Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus in Grainfield.

Valentine J. “Val” Heier, 83, class of 1945, died Saturday, November 28, 2009 in the Logan County Manor, Oakley, Kansas. He was born October 12, 1926 in rural Park, Kansas to Peter and Magdalena (Zerr) Heier. He entered the Army-Air Corp on August 21, 1945 and was honorably discharged on December 4, 1946. He purchased the Sheridan County farm from George Ostmeyer family in 1947. Val and Anna Mary Zimmerman were married in Grainfield on October 20, 1947. He was a past board member of the Tri-County Credit Union and Angelus School Board, 3rd Degree Knights of Columbus at the Grinnell Council and the Immaculate Conception Parish Council. Other deceased members of the class of 1945 include Peggy Grecian Fulton, Shirley Gillespie Verhoeff, and Val's wife, Anna Mary Zimmerman Heier.

Laverna Selenke Moore, 75, class of 1952, died Tuesday, November 24, 2009 at Gove County Medical Center, Quinter, Kansas. She was born October 11, 1934, in Grainfield to Frank and Katherine (Engel) Selenke. She married Merle Moore on January 18, 1954. He preceded her in death April 26, 1998. For 39 years she worked as a bookkeeper for Shaw Motor Company. She also was preceded in death by her parents and brothers Bob, Jerry and Pius Selenke. Other decease members of the class of 1952 include Mildred Reitcheck Ludlow and Robert Ludlow.

Frances Dinkel Shipman, 78, class of 1951, died Wednesday, November 11, 2009, in Salina, Kansas. She was born September 19, 1931, in Grainfield, Kansas to John and Christina (Kaiser) Dinkel. Frances worked as a nurse, truck driver, motel manager and in the food service industry in Oklahoma City. She was preceded in death by her first husband William Padgett, second husband Albert Shipman, and her parents. Other deceased members of the class of 1951 include Dorothy Dechant Cox, Jerry Howard, Robert Kline, Merle Moore, Pius Wildeman, and James Cooksey.

Arthur Allen (Mex) Cooper, 92, Hoxie, class of 1935, died Wednesday, April 29, 2009, at Sheridan County Hospital, Hoxie.
He was born Oct. 26, 1916, in Grainfield to Charles W. and Clara (Bierrer) Cooper.
He married Nelda Kerr on Sept. 29, 1941, in WaKeeney. He was a U.S. Navy veteran, serving during World War II.
Other deceased members of the class of 1935 include Ivan Noel, Aaron A. Gronewold, Herman Engel, Lillian Bechard Wagoner, Harry Spencer, Paul Noel and Ig Engel.

Elmer J. Heier, 78, class of 1948, died May 16, 2009. He was born on a farm south of Park, KS on August 26, 1930, the son of Peter and Magdelena (Zerr) Heier. As a child, he attended Spring Creek and Harmony grade Schools and graduated from Grainfield Rural High School in 1948. On October 7, 1952, Elmer was united in marriage to Edna Goetz in Park, KS. Together, they farmed in Sheridan and Gove Counties. Elmer was a member of St. Agnes Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus in Grainfield.
Other deceased members of the class of 1948 include Robert (Bob) Hein.

Francis L. Cox, 85, Grainfield, class of 1942, died Thursday, June 18, 2009, in Oakley.
He was born May 26, 1924, in Grainfield to Frank B. and Izella (Dollar) Cox.
He married Vesta Marie Tague on June 18, 1947, in Oklahoma. He was co-owner of Grainfield Supply, Inc. He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving during World War II.
Other deceased members of the class of 1942 include Elta Louise Brooks Hockersmith, Harold Chambers, Virginia Grecian Ogelby, Raymond Shaw Jr., and Mary Engel Simpkins.

Please submit your obituaries, additions and/or corrections of deceased GRHS Alumni to djgagn@yahoo.com.