April 25, 2003
The ADVOCATE
Serving Anderson, Southern Franklin and Western Linn Counties
Volume 7, No. 34
Transcribed with permission of Vern Brown

Page 3, Column 2:

“Donald G. Balcaen
1922-2003
Funeral services for Donald G. Balcaen, 80, Garnett, are pending and will be announced later by
Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel.  Mr. Balcaen died Monday, April 21, 2003, at Anderson
County Hospital.”

“John W. ‘Sonny’ Brown
1916-2003
Graveside services and interment for John W. ‘Sonny’ Brown, 86, Waverly, KS, were Tuesday,
April 15, 2003, at 10:30 a.m. at Waverly Cemetery, Waverly.  Mr. Brown died Saturday, April
12, at Presbyterian Manor, Emporia, KS.
John W. Brown was born December 10, 1916, at Ottawa, KS, the son of Sam B. and Bessie May
(Steinman) Brown.  He was a lifetime resident of Waverly.  John joined the United States Army
during World War II and served as an X-ray technician with the 12th General Hospital.  He
worked for the Kansas Highway Department for thirty-seven years, retiring in 1977.  After
retirement, John worked at Russ’s Service Station for several years.  On February 16, 2000, he
entered Sunset Manor Nursing Home in Waverly because of health problems and last summer
moved to Presbyterian Manor in Emporia.  John was a member of American Legion
Hull-Cromwell Post #119 at Waverly and the Veterans of Foreign Wars at Emporia.
John and Dorothy J. Whiteford were married July 26, 1948, at Benton, AR.  She preceded in
death on August 10, 1967.  John and Nina L. Kent were married May 23, 1971, at Garnett, KS.
Mr. Brown was also preceded in death by his son, Lyle D. Brown, in 1999; his parents, Sam B.
and Bessie May Brown; his brother, C.R. ‘Dick’ Brown; and his sister, Marjorie Dyer.
John is survived by his wife, Nina, Waverly, KS; his sons, Clyde W. Brown, Waverly, KS, and
Kent Hobert and his wife, Nedra, Shawnee, KS; his daughters, Janeen Walker and her husband,
Steve, Overland Park, KS, Cindy Ecclefield and her husband, Gary, Garnett, and Christy Peters
and her husband, David, Independence, KS; his brothers, Sam Brown, Village Mills, TX, and
Ralph Brown, Mullinville, KS; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
The family received friends on Monday, April 14, from 7:00-8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Jones Funeral Home, Waverly, KS, was in charge of arrangements.”

Page 3, Column 3:

“Viola Kathryn Peters
1913-2003
Funeral services for Viola Kathryn Peters, 89, Garnett, were Tuesday, April 22, 2003, at 11:00
a.m. at Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel with Rev. Gary Benjamin officiating.  Interment was in
Garnett Cemetery.  Mrs. Peters died Saturday, April 19, at Anderson County Hospital, Garnett. 
She was a resident of Golden Heights Living Center for two and one half years.
Viola Kathryn Peters was born November 26, 1913, at Clarkshill, IN, the daughter of Louie and
Edith (Case) Smart.  She came to Kansas in 1929 and was married to Ellsworth Peters in 1934. 
They shared sixty-seven years of marriage.  To this union were born Janice Loree, Bonnie Mae,
and Ronald Lee.
Viola enjoyed being a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.  After raising her
family, she and Ellsworth owned and operated Peters Drilling Company and later, Peters
Hardware in Garnett.  She then worked part time at Webster’s Jewelry, Jan’s Craftique, and
assisted her husband at the Garnett golf course.  Viola was baptized in the Methodist Church in
1943.
She was an active member of several civic groups.  She was past president of the PTA, Garnett
Bowling Association, Quilt Guild, Sunset Garden Club, Business and Professional Women, Hyatt
Club, was past District Deputy of Rebekah Lodge, the Methodist Women, and taught Sunday
School for many years.
She enjoyed crafts, quilting, gardening, and particularly, flower arranging.  Viola was a loving and
willing caregiver to Ellsworth through much of his Alzheimer’s disease.
Mrs. Peters was preceded in death by her husband, Ellsworth, on May 29, 2001; her parents,
Louie, in 1951, and Edith, in 1936; her brothers, Leroy, in 1988, Clellie, in 1993, Byron, in 1995,
Loran, in 1910, and Dayton, in 1989; and her sister, Irene Salsbury, on May 29, 2001.
Viola is survived by her daughter and sons-in-law, Janice and Delton Hodgson, and Bonnie and
Gary Beauchamp, all of Garnett; her son and daughter-in-law, Ron and Jana Peters, Frisco, TX;
ten grandchildren and spouses, Rael Hodgson, Wichita, KS, Marcia and Ken Lickteig, Chanute,
KS, Curtis and Dana Beauchamp, Valley Center, KS, Janel and Pat Wiederholt, Hartford, KS, Jeff
and Myrna Beauchamp, Richmond, KS, Stacy and Kevin Holloran, Garnett, Kendall and Doug
Johnson, Plano, TX, Jennifer Peterson, Lawrence, KS, and Andrew and Cameron Peters, Frisco,
TX; nine great-grandchildren, Tyffany and Jeff, Bret and Todd Lickteig, Adam, Erin, and Andrew
Wiederholt, Sydney and Jacob Holloran, and Mitchell Johnson; her sister-in-law, Irene Smart,
Osage City, KS; and many nieces and nephews.
Music was provided by Jeanine Zentner, organist, and Bill Craig, soloist.  Musical selections
included ‘Hymn of Promise’, ‘Lord’s Prayer’, and ‘Amazing Grace’.
Casketbearers were Curtis Beauchamp, Jeff Beauchamp, Kevin Holloran, Doug Johnson, Ken
Lickteig, and Pat Wiederholt.
Honorary casketbearers were Roger Brummel, Rael Hodgson, Bret Lickteig, Todd Lickteig,
Cameron Peters, Drew Peters, Jennifer Peters, Adam Wiederholt, and Andrew Wiederholt.
The family received friends on Monday, April 21, from 7:00-8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Golden Heights Living Center.
Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.”

Transcribed for 
Anderson County
Kansas
USGENWEB
By:  Lulu B. Nixon