Obituaries

Phyllis J. Birkholz, 88, of Hutchinson passed away on Thursday, August 29, 2024, at Harmony River Living Center in Hutchinson. Memorial Service was held Friday, September 6, 2024, at 11 a.m. at Oak Heights Cove nant Church in Hutchinson with interment in Cokato Cemetery in Cokato. Clergy Officiating: Pastor Steve Larson; Organist: Judy Voss; Congregational Hymns: “Amazing Grace”, “What A Friend We Have In Jesus”, “How Great Thou Art”; Urn Bearer: Amber Haugen Phyllis Jannette Birkholz was born on May 16, 1936, in Middleville Township, rural Howard Lake. She was the daughter of William and Gertrude (Heaton) Jones. Phyllis was baptized in 1949 at Howard Lake Church of Christ and later confirmed her faith at St. James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake. She received her education at the country school near Cokato and completed 9th grade at the Howard Lake High School. Phyllis married Wilton Birkholz in 1953 and they were blessed with three children, Bradley, Brenda and Lucinda (Cindy). She made her home in Hutchinson. Phyllis enjoyed working on the farm, tending to her vegetable garden and baby kittens. She taught Sunday school at St. James Lutheran Church. She was employed at Wesley’s Pharmacy, sold Avon and worked at numerous restaurants through the years. She worked at JCPenney for 18 years before retiring at the age of 63. After retirement she worked part time at Cindy’s Floral and volunteered at the Hutchinson Hospital Auxiliary. She was also a member of the Clown Club and served on the Board at the Hutchinson Senior Center. Phyllis was a member of the Oak Heights Covenant Church of Hutchinson. Phyllis loved her flower gardens, enjoyed baking, embroidery, reading, puzzles, playing games, dancing in her younger years, going for walks, and her time living on Lake Erie. She especially cherished time spent with her family and friends. Blessed be her memory. Phyllis is survived by her children, Bradley Birkholz of Howard Lake, Cindy Woller of Hutchinson; se

Richard S. Pryor was born in Clay County, Missouri on December 20th, 1935, to Ted R. & Ruby S. Pryor. He grew up on the family farm with his two older brothers, Ted William “Bill” & Charles F. “Bud.” Richard attended Liberty public schools and graduated as president of his class in 1953. The death of his mother during his college years profoundly changed his life’s course. After two years at William Jewell College, Richard was offered a job at a local bank, which led to his lifelong career in banking. In 1957, following the family tradition of military service, he volunteered for the Army and spent most of his service in France on an Ordnance Depot. During this time, friends started calling him Dick, a name that stuck for life. Dick returned to First National Bank in Liberty in 1959. That fall, he met Linda, a new English and speech teacher at Liberty High School. They married on July 10th, 1960. Dick pursued further education, earning an AA Degree from Longview College, a business Degree from Columbia College, and graduating from the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin. He became a bank officer before 21 and joined the National Bank in North Kansas City in 1961. In 1969, at 33, he was offered the Presidency of the Thornton National Bank in Nevada, Missouri, where the family lived for four years. In 1973, Dick became CEO and part-owner of the Bank of Jacomo in Blue Springs, Missouri. Under his 20-year leadership, the bank and its holding company grew to two charters with six locations in five towns. Dick was actively involved in his communities. He served on city councils, chambers of commerce, school boards, and hospital boards in various cities. He was instrumental in founding St. Mary’s Hospital in Blue Springs and establishing a junior college branch campus there. He was named Citizen of the Year in 1980 and Business Person of the Year in 1992 in Blue Springs. Dick and Linda were staunch supporters of higher education. Dick serv

Joyce Marie (Haggard) Hon, 79, of Liberty, Miss ouri passed away peacefully surrounded by family and close friends in Kansas City Hospice House at North Kansas City Hospital on September 1st after having been hospitalized for two months following an acute illness. Joyce was born in Kansas City, Missouri on September 23, 1944, to John Haggard, Jr. and Jewel Rose (Claunch) Haggard. She was a life-long Kansas City northlander, graduating from Park Hill High School in 1962. She married her high school sweetheart Jerry Lee Hon on August 11, 1962. They recently celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary together. Alongside Jerry, Joyce carried on the legacy of her parents, working and co-owning the family business Haggard Hauling and Rigging, Inc., before retiring after 29 years of devoted service. She concluded her career at William Jewell College, working in the business office, Provost’s office, bookstore, and finally the alumni office, retiring in 2008. Joyce was a skilled craft enthusiast, especially talented in needlepoint, quilting, crocheting, and cardmaking.

Patricia Shaddrick of Litchfield was born on October 25, 2930. She passed away January 22, 2024.

 Beverly J. Wylie, 92, of Hutchinson passed away on Sunday, September 1, 2024, at Harmony River Living Center in Hutchinson. Funeral Service was held Saturday, September 7, 2024, at 11…

 Phyllis J. Birkholz, 88, of Hutchinson passed away on Thursday, August 29, 2024, at Harmony River Living Center in Hutchinson. Memorial Service was held Friday, September 6, 2024, at 11…

Pearl A. Seale, 97, of Hutchinson passed away on Sunday, August 25, 2024, at Harmony River Living Center in Hutchinson. Funeral Service was held Saturday, August 31, 2024, 10 a.m., at Hunter’s Ridge Community Church in Hutchinson with interment in Oakland Cemetery in Hutchinson. Clergy Officiating: Reverend Chris Swarthout, Reverend Doug Swarthout; Pianist: Jessica Stritesky; Soloist: Lee Stritesky “He Touched Me”; Congregational Hymns: “Precious Lord, Take My Hand”, “Just A Closer Walk With Thee”; Casket Bearers: Reverend Chris Swarthout, Reverend Andrea Swarthout, Alison Feldman, Tom Kennedy, Sam Watts, Ben Stritesky, Sarah Gunderson, Dale Redetzke Pearl Seale loved family, community, country, kolaches, polka music, dancing, sweets...and she loved God. And for the majority of her 97 years of life on this earth, she was blessed with good health and enjoyed her life to the fullest. Pearl Ann (Stritesky) Seale was born on her family’s farm in Hutchinson Township on July 15, 1927, to Louis and Agnes (Totushek) Stritesky. She was baptized and confirmed at Silver Lake Congregational Church (now Grace Bible Church) in Silver Lake. Pearl received her 1st-8th grade education at Bear Lake School, District 47 in McLeod County. She attended Hutchinson High School grades 9-12 and graduated from HHS in 1945. Pearl kept in touch with her classmates through the years, organizing many of their class reunions. Pearl married Ed Seale on May 3, 1947, at Silver Lake Congregational Church. They enjoyed 25 years of marriage before Ed passed away in November of 1971 from a heart attack. Pearl and Ed had no children. Pearl worked at various stores in the Hutchinson area - Lowry’s SuperValu, Gilbert’s SuperValu, JCPenney, and Ostrom’s Hardware Store. In August of 1957, she began her long career as a secretary at Hutchinson High School and Middle School, working for Ralph Bergstrom and Bill Snyder. Because of the nature of her job, Pearl had the privilege to know many