Leland "Lee" H. Baliel, 57, U.S. Marine Corp retiree and retired carpenter, died Dec. 25, in Wichita after battling cancer.

The funeral will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 30, at Peterson Funeral Home in Newton with Chaplain Peter Hartman officiating. Following the service, an inurnment with military honors will be held at Greenwood Cemetery in Newton.

He was born Oct. 5, 1947, to Arthur and Elizabeth Evelyn (Pate) Baliel in Sacremento, Calif.

He is survied by two nephews, David Baliel and wife Karen of Marion and their children, Corrine, Casey and Annie; and Mark Baliel of Wichita.

Memorials have been established with the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 971 and the American Legion Post No. 2 in care of Peterson Funeral Home in Newton.

John F. Briles, 88

John Franklin Briles Sr., 88, pastor, died Dec. 16 in Visalia, Calif.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 30 at Jones Funeral Home in Burlington. Burial will be at Crandall Cemetery west of Le Roy.

He was born Dec. 4, 1916, to Noah John and Lois (James) Briles in Le Roy. On June 18, 1950, he was married to Alyce Josephine VanScoykof Visalia who survives.

He is also survived by four children, John Franklin Briles Jr. of Emporia, Noah J. Briles and wife Fonda of Kansas City, JoAnn Briles-Klein of Wichita and Lois Elizabeth Briles and husband Michael Peters of Kansas City, Mo.; two sisters, Betty Langshaw and husband Lloyd and Virginia Mitchell; one brother-in-law, L.W. Harreld of Le Roy; one sister-in-law, Mildred Briles; and three grandchildren.

Memorials have been established with Camp Sugar Pine Memorial Fund, 48478 Mill Canyon Road, Oakhurst, CA 93644; and Visalia Police Chaplain Fund, 303 S. Johnson, Visalia, CA 93291.

Lydia Christlieb, 88

Lydia W. Christlieb, 88, formerly employed in electronics at Cessna Aircraft in Wichita, died Dec. 19 in Hillsboro.

The funeral was Dec. 22 at Zion Lutheran Church in Hillsboro with pastor Clark M. Davis officiating. Burial was at Lehigh Cemetery in rural Lehigh.

She was born March 31, 1916, to Alexander and Anna Margaret (Shriner) Wolf in Lehigh. On March 5, 1955, she was married to Archie A. Christlieb, who predeceased her in 1995.

She is survived by two daughters, Judith Harvey and husband Jesse of Garfield, Ark., and Phyllis Hill and husband Charles of Haysville; two brothers, August A. Wolf of Wichita and Reinhold Wolf of Newton; eight grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established with Hillsboro Community Medical Center and Zion Lutheran Church.

Condolences may be sent to the family via jostfuneral@hotmail. com.

Joel H. Ediger, 78

Joel H. Ediger, 78, salesman for Irv Schroeder County Motors, died Dec. 23 in Hillsboro.

The funeral was Dec. 27 at Trinity Mennonite Church with pastor Bruce Porter officiating. Interment was a private family burial at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Cemetery.

He was born July 11, 1926, to Frank C. and Martha (Harms) Ediger in Hillsboro. On Dec. 23, 1946, he was married to Lois Voth of Hillsboro who survives.

He is also survived by four sons, Gerald Ediger, Lyle Ediger and wife Rhonda and Allen R. Ediger and wife Robin, all of Hillsboro and Larry J. Ediger and wife Nancy K. of Overland Park; 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

A memorial has been established with the Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church Building Fund.

Condolences may be sent to the family via jostfuneral@hotmail. com.

Mary Jean Morgan, 75

Mary Jean (Kent) Morgan, 75, homemaker, died Dec. 22 in Richland, Wash.

A private memorial service, for family members only, was held in Richland.

She was born June 26, 1929, to Daniel Conrad and Verneva (Hedrick) Kent in Newton. While attending Kansas University, she was married to Lawrence P. Morgan of Richland who survives.

She is also survived by two daugthers, Elizabeth of Washington, D.C., and Lynn of the home; one son, Daniel of the home; and two sisters, Verlene Herron of Indianapolis and Sandra Kent of Florence.

Max J. Stroda, 81

Max J. Stroda, 81, farmer/ stockman, died Dec. 21 at Hillsboro Community Medical Center.

The Mass of Christian Burial was Dec. 24 at St. Phillips Catholic Church in Hope with Father Mark Wesely officiating. Burial was at Pilgrim Home Cemetery in Hope.

He was born March 15, 1923, to Vern and Gladys (Smith) Stroda in Marion County. On Dec. 27, 1945, he was married to Joan Strait of Hope, who survives .

He is also survived by one son, Steve Stroda and wife Barb of Hope; three daughters, Sherry Little of Emporia, Linda Peters and husband Van of Lehigh and Janet Barrett and husband Steve of Hope; two brothers, Boyd Stroda and Clarence Stroda, both of Hope; one sister, Edna Polston of Hope; 11 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Memorials have been established with St. Phillips Catholic Church and the Disability Supports of the Great Plains in care of Carlson-Becker Funeral Home of Hope.