Obituaries

After a long and full life, Arzella Dirksen, 89, passed away on October 10, 2022. Arzella was born on March 2, 1933 in Goessel, Kansas to Eva and Jacob P.

Maria Elena (Nena) Llamas (formerly Olmos) passed away on October 13, 2022 at the age of 69. Maria was born in Juarez, Mexico on January 10, 1953, the youngest of nine children. She moved to Hutchinson, Kansas to live with her sister’s family where she attended Sherman Junior High and Hutchinson High School. She later moved to Wichita, Kansas and attended Wichita North High School where she graduated in 1972. That same year she married Michael Llamas, later divorced. Maria worked as a Clerk for the Harvey County District Court beginning in 1974 and retired after 32 years of service. Even in retirement, she chose to work a variety of jobs for USD 373, Harvey County Health Department, Prairie View, Health Ministries, and Heart to Heart Child Advocacy. She made many friends during her years of employment. Maria was passionate about her family and making sure they knew she loved them. She loved to cook not only for her family but also for her friends. She was a huge fan of KU basketball and insisted they were going to win the championship every year. Maria is survived by her three children: Michael Xavier (Cheryl) Llamas, Shannon Llamas, and Jennifer Beard; sister, Remedios Navarro; grandchildren: Isabella, Gaige, Robert, Adyson, Emarie, Hendrix, Celia, and Asher; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents: Antonio and Juana Olmos; stepfather, Pablo Llamas; daughter, Renee; and siblings: Manuel, Ramon, Francisco, Kiko, Jesus, and Mercedes. The Recitation of the Holy Rosary were held at 6:00 P.M., Sunday (Oct. 16) at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Newton. The Mass of Christian Burial was at 10:00 A.M., Monday (Oct. 17) also at the church. Interment will be in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Newton. Condolences may be left at www. broadwaycolonialfh.com. Arrangements are by Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, Newton, Ks.

Angela A. Base, age 65, of Goessel, Kansas passed away on Wednesday October 12, 2002, at KU Medical Center in Kansas City Kansas. She was born on June 9, 1957, in Moundridge, Kansas to Bert and Lovella Becker. Angela attended Goessel Schools where she met her high school sweetheart, Vernon Base. She graduated from Goessel High School in 1975. On May 7, 1977, Vernon and Angela were wed at Alexanderwohl Church in rural Goessel. They enjoyed trail rides on their horses, participating in the Chisholm Trail Saddle Club, traveling to pick up animals, and showing their Watusi Cattle at various state fairs. Vernon was her rock. They celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary this past spring. They had two children, Joe and Lacie. Angela was a skilled horsewoman, gifted crafter, and master gardener. Growing up, Angela was always around horses. When Angela suffered a back injury, she turned her love of big horse to miniature horses. Angela loved to do tole painting, cardmaking, and scrapbooking. Angela enjoyed turning plain items into something beautiful. Over the last couple of years, she joined a quilting group and created many beautiful items. For several years, she owned Petal Pushers in Goessel, creating floral arrangements for life’s special moments. Angela also loved to garden. She spent many hours outside developing her wonderful flower gardens. Angela’s greatest joy and love were her children and grandchildren. Being a mother and grandmother was one of the most important parts of Angela’s life, a role that gave her much pride and joy. She was a kind, caring, and giving mother and grandmother who always put the needs of her family before her own. Family was especially important, and she loved spending time with her children and grandchildren. Angela was a strong woman who faced every challenge in her life with courage, dignity, a smile, and a strong faith in the Lord. Angela was baptized around 1976 and became a member of the First Baptist Church in Newton. Throu

Roberta Senner Hofer, 74, passed away peacefully at her home, surrounded by her family, on October 5, 2022. The cause was complications from Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. Roberta was born to Robert and Rachel Epp Senner in Newton, Kansas, on April 8, 1948. She grew up in Buhler, Kansas, where she joined her siblings John and Rachel, followed by her brother Stan. Upon graduation from high school, she attended Bethel College in N. Newton, Kansas, like her parents, grandparents, and older siblings before her. In 1970, after earning a degree in Art, Roberta acted upon her dream to go to Europe. Rod Hofer, a Bethel friend who was working for the Red Cross in Yugoslavia, secured her an au pair position in Ljubljana, where she was able to explore the beautiful city with its castle on the hill. During the summer she lived on the Croatian island of Hvar before joining Rod and his parents in Germany for a month-long tour of Western Europe in his new VW beetle. To this day, Rod claims that Roberta traveled halfway around the world just for him. Roberta and Rod were married on December 27, 1971, and moved to Lawrence, Kansas. Other than brief stints in Pennsylvania and Thailand, Roberta called Lawrence home for the rest of her days. Roberta and Rod started their family with the adoption of Alexandra in 1978, followed by the birth of Timothy in 1979 and Elise in 1982. She was a volunteer English instructor at Small World, an organization that helped international women and their preschool children adapt to a new culture. In 1984, the family moved to Bangkok, Thailand for six months, where Rod served as a Water Quality Advisor to the Royal Thai Government. Roberta homeschooled and cared for their three children, ages 6 and under, navigating the bustling streets by bus, taxi, and tuk-tuk. With her children in school, Roberta matriculated at the University of Kansas and earned a Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics in 1991. She worked as a lecturer at the KU Applied English C