Monitor-Journal

07/15/2024

Cheryl Ann Smyres, 83, of Windom, KS, peacefully passed away on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at Cozy Cottage Senior Living in Wichita.

She was born on May 9, 1941, in Hutchinson, KS, the daughter of Arvid Carl and Laberta “Becky” (Knackstedt) Lindquist. She graduated from Windom High School and later from Brown Mackie Business College.

On May 27, 1962, Cheryl was united in marriage to Michael G. Smyres at the Andover Lutheran Church, and they started their life together; making their dreams of raising children and having a farm become a reality. Mike and Cheryl were married 52 years prior to Mike’s passing on February 12, 2015.

Along with being a farmer’s wife, Cheryl worked as a secretary for State Farm Insurance and was also a secretary and janitor at Windom Middle School. The Smyres family attended Andover Lutheran Church, Windom.

Survivors include two children, Shelley (Thomas) Caldarera of Andover, KS and Troy (Kristy) Smyres of Windom, KS; a brother, Arlyn Lindquist (Glenda) of Windom, KS; four grandchildren, Natalie Schekall, David Schekall (Abby), Trevor Smyres (Katherine), and Emily Engelman (Ben); three great-grandchildren, Josephine, Annalyn, and Jett; a nephew, Tyler Lindquist (Nathan Nixion); and a niece, Annette Holland and her daughters, Lauren and Maddie.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.

The funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM, Saturday, July 27, at Andover Lutheran Church, 117 Dakota Rd., Windom, KS 67491, with Pastor Brenda Hogan officiating. Burial will follow at the Andover Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 9:30 AM until service time at the church on Saturday.

Memorial donations may be given to Andover Lutheran Church in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 North Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460.

Personal condolences may be sent to the family at www.stockhamfamily.com.

07/11/2024

Roberta Faye (Colle) Buchanan, of Little River, Kansas, passed away on July 9, 2024, at Rice County District Hospital in Lyons, Kansas.
Roberta was born on September 2, 1926, to Henry and Lena (Hauschild) Colle. She grew up in the Saxman area, graduated from Little River High school in 1944, then attended nursing training at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Hutchinson. She then served in the Cadet Nurse Corps.
Roberta married Guy Buchanan at the Midland Community Church in rural Sterling on October 17, 1948. She is survived by three sons: Joe Buchanan (and wife Rita) of Council Grove, Rex Buchanan (and wife Mindy James) of Lawrence, and Ted Buchanan (and wife Laura) of Lubbock, Texas, along with six grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was proceeded in death by Guy Buchanan and daughter Sue Buchanan of Ellsworth, her three brothers (Audry, Calvin, and Homer), and granddaughter Katie Buchanan Gant.
Roberta was known in the Colle family as “Bertie,” and as Bert to nearly everyone else. She spent much of her life taking care of other people. She was a nurse at the Hoffman Hospital in Little River and a private nurse for many years, all while raising children, supporting the Buchanan family farming operation, and later working as a partner in Little River Realty.
She was a long-time, devoted member of the Congregational Church in Little River. She loved singing and listening to music. She loved to travel and meet people. She was proud of her family and made it a point to ask about everyone else’s family. She made a mean butterscotch pie. She was, more than anything, joyful and resilient in the face of life’s challenges.
The family expresses its deepest gratitude to the staff of the Rice County District Hospital for the care and kindness they showed Roberta in the two years she made her home there.
The memorial service for Roberta will be held at the Congregational Church in Little River at 10 a.m., July 13, 2024, with burial to follow at Bean Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Little River Congregational Church in care of Birzer Funeral Home, 214 West Ave. S., Lyons, KS. 67554.

07/03/2024

Kala Knight Obituary
Kala Jane Knight, 30, of Lyons, Kansas, passed away July 2, 2024, at her home surrounded by her family and friends. She was born May 9, 1994, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to Barry and Vicki (Lucas) Porter. Kala resided in Little River, KS most of her life. She graduated from Little River High School with the class of 2012. Kala attended Wichita State University and received her Physical Therapist Assistant degree from Hutchinson Community College in 2016. On December 16, 2017, Kala was united in marriage with Luke Knight at the Congregational Church, Little River. They resided in Lyons together with their daughters, Goldie Kay and Olive Jane, their fur babies, Chester, Bart and Josie, and several very mean roosters. She had a passion for silversmithing and was the owner and operator of Cow Creek Design Co. in Lyons. She enjoyed being in the mountains, building her business, spending time with her family, and most of all being a mom. Kala was a member of the Congregational Church, and was well known for her love of God and her faith. Kala is survived by her husband, Luke Knight, and their children, Goldie and Olive; her parents, Barry and Vicki Porter of Little River; sister, Jacy Lubbers and husband Eain and their daughter Sophie of Olathe, KS; and maternal grandmother, Sharon Roelfs of Inman, KS. She is preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Eudra Porter and Nancy Porter; maternal grandparents, Roger and Sue Lucas, and Fred Roelfs. Visitation will be from 5:00 until 8:00 P.M., Monday, July 8, 2024, at the Congregational Church, Little River, with family present. Funeral service will be at 10:00 A.M., Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at the Celebration Centre, Lyons, with Pastor Ted Weis officiating. We encourage guests to wear any Cow Creek Design Co. pieces in Kala’s honor. Burial will follow at the Lyons Municipal Cemetery, Lyons. Memorials may be given to the “Kala Knight Memorial” for her daughters’ education fund, care of Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons.
To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.

07/03/2024

We have received word of the passing of Kala Porter Knight. More information will be posted as it becomes available.

06/24/2024

From the City of Little River post:
Midwest Energy has notified the city that power will be off for approximately 5 minutes to all of Little River and Mitchell at 10:00 p.m. on 6/24/24.

06/13/2024

04/17/2024

8th Grade Promotion/JH Recognition Night Information

03/04/2024

Join us on Wednesday at 3:00PM in the LRHS Gymnasium, for a community pep assembly, as we celebrate and wish our Lady Skins luck at State in Colby!

We would also like to line Main Street on Thursday morning at 7:45AM and do a send off as they leave Little River. If you are able, please join us!

02/13/2024

It’s definite. There won’t be a Monitor Journal this week. This flu is still getting me down.

02/12/2024

I caught a flu bug so printing a newspaper this week is doubtful.

01/10/2024

Due to issues at the printer the Monitor Journal will be late getting mailed this week. Hopefully I will receive the newspapers tomorrow so I can get them mailed to everyone.

01/08/2024

Due to the impending weather, Little River-Windom Schools will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday, January 9th. All scheduled activities have been cancelled. Stay warm and safe!

01/08/2024

🍀4-H Soup Supper POSTPONED🍀until February 4th, 2024. Temps to be very low this Sunday and we want people to be safe and warm.

01/08/2024

Share memories & support the family

01/01/2024

Are you an author or illustrator? Rice County Tourism is searching for both for a book to promote Rice County.