March 18, 1929 – Nov. 11, 2018

OVERBROOK — Martha L. Betz Butel, Overbrook, died Nov. 11, 2018, at Brookside Retirement Community, Overbrook. She was 89.

She was born March 18, 1929, at Lebanon, the daughter of Perry Betz and Mary Spurlock Betz. She grew up in Glen Elder area working at her father’s weekly newspaper the “Glen Elder Sentinel.” She graduated from Beloit High School with the class of 1947 and went on to graduate from Kansas State University in 1951 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.

Died – Oct. 25, 2018

TOPEKA — Paul R. Smith Jr., Topeka, died Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018, at home. He was 85.

He was born at Hope, the son of Paul and Alice Didier Smith. After graduating from Osage City High School in 1951, he joined the U.S. Navy and served four years with a tour on USS Yorktown CV-10. After his naval service was complete, he worked for Federal Aviation Administration for 33 years. After retiring from civil service, he worked for Raytheon for 13 years.

Jan. 11, 1947 – Nov. 3, 2018

TOPEKA — Frances Kay Coffman, Melvern, died Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, at Midland Hospice House, Topeka. She was 71.

She was born Jan. 11, 1947, on a farm near Alpine community, the daughter of John Wardie and Pearl Edna Burnett Davis. Her family moved to Topeka, where she graduated from Topeka High School in 1965.

She worked for Palmer News for several years and after moving to Melvern in 1997, she worked at Mayes House, Melvern.