May 30, 1924 - July 6, 2021

Topeka: Virginia Lee (Duff) Dyck, 97, passed away on July 6, 2021 at her home in Aldersgate Village of Topeka. She was grateful for a good life and felt blessed with a wonderful family and much love. Virginia was born May 30, 1924, in Newton, Kansas, the daughter of Albert LaRue Duff and Eva G. (Wilcox) Duff. She graduated from Newton High School and attended Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma.

Virginia was united in marriage with Theodore (Ted) Earl Dyck on July 7, 1945 in San Francisco, California, where Ted was stationed in the U.S. Navy. After Armistice was declared, the newlyweds returned to Kansas where together they raised four children: Robert (Mary Leigh) Dyck, Marilyn (Bernard) Bianchino, Kathryn (Steve) Hund, and Susan (Thomas) Wellborn. Virginia was an active homemaker serving home-cooked meals, volunteering as Girl Scout Leader, leading various church groups, and organizing family vacations each year to Minnesota. When asked, Virginia exclaimed, ‘my children were my hobby!’ and she always put the needs of family first.

Ted’s career took them to Chicago where they enjoyed new friends and life in the city. Virginia worked at Elmhurst College until her husband went on medical disability and they moved to Lake of the Ozarks. Now the grandchildren were visiting GramDude (their pet name for Virginia) to eat cookies and splash in her lake!

March 03, 1949 - June 21, 2021

Virginia Elizabeth Mofid, born 3/3/49 in Lawrence Kansas passed away the evening of 6/21/21. Virginia, also known by a host of grandchildren as “Grammy”, was the daughter of Glen Everette Sterling and Elizabeth Clare Sterling (Gorrill). She is survived by her sisters Catherine Lewis and Victoria Pendleton, and her brother Robert Sterling. Virginia was the mother to four children: Louisa Timmons, Ziba Ramaley, Skylar Sterling-Simon, and Sterling Battelle, as well as the grandmother to fourteen, and the great grandmother to three. Virginia was an amazing woman who lived a life that was fiercely independent and unique, as you would be equally able to find her sitting at a loom weaving beautiful fabric, building a chicken coop, or learning how to build or create something out of nothing.

October 04, 1947 - June 15, 2021

Greg Pierson, age 73, of Topeka, passed away June 15, 2021. He was born October 4, 1947, in Streator, Illinois to Helen (Yeager) Lively and Riley Pierson.

Greg married Dee (Lignitz) on July 11, 1970. she survives. Other survivors include, daughter, Stacey (Alan) and son, Aaron (Heather). Greg was blessed with four grandchildren, Jarrett, Randy, Jaelyn and Hunter, whom he loved very much. Also surviving are four brothers and two sisters and numerous nieces and nephews.

Greg served in the Air Force from 1966-1970. He worked as a HVAC technician for many years. He worked at Anchor Robinson Heating & Air, CD Jones and the State of Kansas, from where he retired in 2011.

After retirement, he and Dee became winter Texans in Raymondville, Texas. He made many friends in Texas whom he enjoyed very much. In March 2021, Greg and Dee moved back to Topeka to be closer to family and friends.

Honoring Greg’s wishes, cremation has taken place. There will be a celebration of life at Lake Shawnee Shelter house #4 on June 26, 2021, from 10am-1pm. This will be a casual event, in which you are invited to come and go as your time allows to share some memories. The family request no flowers; however, if you feel the need or desire, please feel free to donate to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital (stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html) in Greg’s honor or a charity of your choice.

November 08, 1954 - June 07, 2021

Kevan Leif Long, age 66, of Topeka died early Monday morning, June 7, 2021, after a lengthy illness. Born to Oren and Vera Long on November 8, 1954, Kevan grew up on their farm in Valley Falls, attending school there while helping his parents and siblings raising livestock, tending crops, and pitching in to help with the many daily chores that farm life requires. 

Kevan served in the US Air Force during the Vietnam war. His time in the service took him all over the world, but he spoke fondly and often of his experiences while stationed on the island of Guam. It gave his family so much pleasure to listen to his stories of the warmth and openness of the people of Guam, the perfect weather, endless food and music, and the beauty of the landscape. It was always his dream to get back there someday. 

On August 27, 1982, Kevan married his sweetheart, Annette Butterfield. Together, they bought a home in Topeka where they raised two children, Katheryn Long (Jeremy), and Kyle Long (Sara) until their paths diverged. Kevan’s children blessed him with two biological grandchildren, Oren Long and Bailey Bentley, and five step grandchildren, Ryker, Aunika, Asher, Paige, and Michael, who were loved and cherished equally. Kevan liked to remind his family that he put his grandchildren, all of them, above everyone and everything. They were his world.

September 30, 1939 - May 29, 2021

Beverly A. Lash, Overbrook, died Saturday, May 29^th, 2021, at Midland Hospice House in Topeka following complications from a fall.  She was 81.

Bev was born September 30, 1939, in Norwich, to Carl A. and Grace (Harrison) Oyler.  She graduated from Norwich High School in 1957, and attended Emporia State Teachers College before becoming a Certified Professional Secretary.   Most of her career was spent in the Wichita Regional Office of the United States Postal Service, but in later years she worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Rogers, Arkansas.

Bev married the love of her life, Joe Lash, in 1981 in Benton County, Arkansas.  Bev and Joe lived for many years on Beaver Lake in Arkansas, where Bev overcame her lifelong fear of water and learned to waterski.  They traveled extensively in the US, but when they weren’t travelling their home was always a welcoming Qzark get-away for family and friends and a chance to enjoy some of Bev’s great cooking.  

06/22/1965-05/31/2021

Sam Greidanus 55 yrs. old passed away peacefully at Midland Care Topeka, Kansas 5/31/2021 Sam was known for his love of Horticulture, Art, and animals. He worked at Stiles Farm, Anton’s Greenhouse (Kenosha), Great America (IL), and Sunburst Ski Resort in Kewaskum Wisconsin. Sam loved the outdoors, skiing, and roller skating at Reds Roller rink. He was the youngest of 8 children, had a great sense of humor and kept the family happy with his famous chocolate chip cookies he made from
scratch. He worked at 5-H Greenhouse in Wamego Kansas and was an independent landscaper for many clients in the Topeka area. Sam was also a talented artist who could draw/sketch at request. Every Christmas Sam made beautiful Christmas Wreaths for many clients and friends in the Topeka, St. Mary’sKansas area.

Sam was preceded in death by his parents Jake and Pauline Greidanus, his brother David, and his favorite dog Abby. He is survived by Carol (Rich) Weldin, Karen (Tim) Simo, Tom, Mike, Vince, Paul (Karen) Greidanus, Many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

There will be a celebration of Sam’s life this fall in Kenosha Wi.

Gone too Soon, Always in our hearts.

June 19, 1955 - May 30, 2021

David Mapes, 65