Eliseo Silva-Pantoja, 53, of Sterling, Kansas, passed away March 21, 2026, at Hospital District #1 of Rice County, Lyons, Kansas. He was born April 1, 1972, in Agustin Melgar-Nazas, Durango, Mexico, the son of Esteban Silva and Alicia Pantoja. Eliseo has resided in Sterling and Rice County, Kansas since 2001, formerly of Mexico. He was a construction worker, mainly working with concrete for Prairie Landworks Inc. in McPherson. Eliseo loved to fix cars, mechanic, and most of all spending time with his family and grandkids. In December of 1992, Eliseo was united in marriage with Delia Avila in Mexico. Eliseo is survived by his wife, Delia Avila of Sterling, KS; son, Eliseo Silva Jr. (Kyler Bernritter) of Leavenworth, KS; three daughters, Liza Schneider (Chris) of Sterling, KS, Adriana McCorkle (Ryan) of Sterling, KS, and Cristina Johnson (Beau) of McPherson, KS; four brothers, Daniel Silva of Lyons, KS, Gilberto Silva of Lyons, KS, Rafael Silva of Mexico, and Gregorio Silva of Mexico; three sisters, Maria Ester Silva of Mexico, Noemi Silva of Mexico, and Eunice Silva of Mexico; and nine grandchildren, Noah, Maggie, Sophia, Joshua, Leah, Maddie, Kairo, Jordan, and Jethro. Eliseo was preceded in death by his father, Esteban Silva; and father-in-law, Ramon Avila. Funeral services will be at 10:00 A.M., Friday, March 27, 2026, at Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling, with Pastor Dean Johnson officiating. Burial will follow at the Sterling Community Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:00 A.M. until service time at the funeral home. Memorials may be given to Delia Avila to help with funeral expenses in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling.

Eliseo Silva-Pantoja, de 53 años y residente de Sterling, Kansas, falleció el 21 de marzo de 2026 en el Hospital del Distrito N.º 1 del Condado de Rice, en Lyons, Kansas. Nació el 1 de abril de 1972 en Agustín Melgar-Nazas, Durango, México, hijo de Esteban Silva y Alicia Pantoja. Eliseo residió en Sterling y en el Condado de Rice, Kansas, desde el año 2001; anteriormente había vivido en México. Se desempeñaba como trabajador de la construcción, dedicándose principalmente a trabajos con concreto para la empresa Prairie Landworks Inc. en McPherson. A Eliseo le encantaba reparar automóviles, la mecánica y, sobre todo, pasar tiempo con su familia y sus nietos. En diciembre de 1992, Eliseo contrajo matrimonio con Delia Ávila en México. A Eliseo le sobreviven su esposa, Delia Ávila, de Sterling, KS; su hijo, Eliseo Silva Jr. (Kyler Bernritter), de Leavenworth, KS; sus tres hijas, Liza Schneider (Chris), de Sterling, KS, Adriana McCorkle (Ryan), de Sterling, KS, y Cristina Johnson (Beau), de McPherson, KS; sus cuatro hermanos, Daniel Silva, de Lyons, KS, Gilberto Silva, de Lyons, KS, Rafael Silva, de México, y Gregorio Silva, de México; sus tres hermanas, María Ester Silva, de México, Noemí Silva, de México, y Eunice Silva, de México; y sus nueve nietos: Noah, Maggie, Sophia, Joshua, Leah, Maddie, Kairo, Jordan y Jethro. A Eliseo le precedieron en la muerte su padre, Esteban Silva, y su suegro, Ramón Ávila. Los servicios fúnebres se llevarán a cabo el viernes 27 de marzo de 2026, a las 10:00 a. m., en la Funeraria Birzer (Birzer Funeral Home) en Sterling, con el pastor Dean Johnson oficiando la ceremonia. El sepelio tendrá lugar a continuación en el Cementerio Comunitario de Sterling. El velorio se realizará en la funeraria desde las 9:00 a. m. hasta la hora del servicio. Se pueden realizar donaciones conmemorativas a nombre de Delia Ávila para ayudar a cubrir los gastos funerarios; dichas donaciones pueden entregarse a través de la Funeraria Birzer en Sterling.

William (Bill) H. Crofford

April 18, 1934 – March 8, 2026

He was born and raised in Garfield County, OK and graduated high school in Garber, OK in 1952. He then furthered his studies in Mathematics at Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa, OK.

In 1954 Employment brought him to Sterling, Kansas where he was an off-set printer at the Sterling Bulletin Newspaper until 1980. He then began working for Security Pacific Finance and finished his career with Bank of America in 1997.

Bill’s first love was horses. In his younger years he broke and trained many. He also designed, created, and welded pony carts and made harness for his Shetland teams.

He traveled as a stockman on the Rumford Rodeo circuit and was a member of the Sandhill Saddle Club and Sterling Saddle Club. During the seventies his team and wagon was a favored and prize-winning entry in the Centennial parades. Several dignitaries running for office or re-election often asked him to escort them in his wagon during the Fourth of July parades.

When he moved to Sterling he needed a pasture for his horse and that’s how he met his future wife. They married in 1958 and had two daughters.

They belonged to Good Sam’s Camping Club. They enjoyed traveling in their RV especially to the horse races in AR and the hot air balloons in NM.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Mary Ann. His parents, Daniel and Opal Crofford. Three sisters, Mary Crofford, Ernestine King, and Margie Butcher. Brothers-in-law, Marshall King and John Butcher. His brother, Dan Crofford and sister-in-law Leona. His niece Linda Butcher King.

He is survived by his daughters, Kathy Crofford of Sterling, KS and Janelle (Larry Prothro) of Salina, KS. His grandson, Graham Prothro of Salina, KS. Two step-granddaughters Audra Prothro & Megan (Taylor) Alameda of Oregon. 3 step-great-grandchildren Logan Prothro, Grace and Cosmo Alameda.

Funeral service will be at 2:00 P.M., Monday, March 16, 2026, at Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling, with Pastor Michael Gray officiating. Burial will follow at the Sterling Community Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2:00 until 4:00 P.M., Sunday, March 15, 2026, at Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling, with family present. Memorials may be given to the Sterling Village in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling.

Charlene Kay McNutt, 81, of Sterling, Kansas, passed away peacefully on February 13, 2026, at Hospital District #1 of Rice County, Lyons, surrounded by her family. She was born September 3, 1944, in Lincoln, Kansas, the daughter of Ralph and Lucille (Meitler) Panzer. Charlene has resided in Sterling since 2007, formerly of Colorado Springs, Colorado. She graduated from Lincoln High School, Lincoln, KS, with the class of 1962. Charlene was a housewife. She enjoyed crocheting, going dancing with her husband Melvin, and loved planning family and friend gatherings. On September 8, 1962, Charlene was united in marriage with Melvin McNutt in Santa Cruz, California. Charlene is survived by her husband, Melvin McNutt of Sterling, KS; three children, Debbie Walker of Sterling, KS, Rick McNutt and his wife Heather of Moundridge, KS, and Carol McNutt of Sterling, KS; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren with one on the way. She is preceded in death by her parents; and two brothers, Dennis Panzer and Clayton Panzer. Private services will be held. Memorials may be given to Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling.

Wallace “Mac” McCammon Stromberg closed the book on the final chapter of his life on New Year’s Day, 2026.

Mac was born August 11th, 1942, in West Point, New York, to Major General Woodrow Wilson Stromberg and Julia Marie (McCammon) Stromberg. After moving to his grandmother’s hometown of Wichita, KS, Mac’s entrepreneurial spirit was evident early. At just six years old, he sold donuts door-to-door to buy the latest Kid Colt comic books. He attended Wichita East High School until a “small misunderstanding” with a vice principal (because “nobody calls Mac Stromberg a liar”) led to an immediate transfer to Missouri Military Academy, where he graduated in 1960.

Mac attended Lawrence College, Wichita State, and the University of Oklahoma before enlisting in the US Army ahead of the draft for the Vietnam War. He served two tours in 1969 and 1971: first as a Second Lieutenant in the 11th Armoured Cavalry Regiment (attached to the Vietnamese Airborne), and later as Company Commander of Higher Headquarters Company, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne). After declining a third invitation to Vietnam, Mac began working alongside his stepfather at United Industries Incorporated in Wichita. On a business trip to California in 1981, Mac met the love of his life, Jill, and courted her back to Wichita, where they were married in 1983. In 1992, as president and owner, Mac relocated both the business and his family to Sterling, Kansas, where United Industries has designed, manufactured, and sold filtration systems for municipal swimming pools, water parks, hospitals, skyscrapers, and industrial cooling towers worldwide.

One of Mac’s greatest joys was serving his community. He sat on the boards of the Wichita YMCA, the vestries of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Lyons and St. James Episcopal Church in Wichita, the Sterling Carnegie Library, and Senator Jerry Moran’s Service Academy Selection Committee. Mac was a tireless champion of all things Sterling, never missing an Old-Fashioned Fourth of July, an opportunity to serve as the unofficial town greeter for new residents, or a chance to “shoot the breeze” with anyone who would lend an ear. He also never saw a classic car he didn’t admire, a big dog he didn’t love, or a book on history he didn’t want to read. Above all, he remained devoted, steadfast, and immensely proud of his family.

Mac is preceded in death by his parents Woodrow and Jacqueline Stromberg and Marie and Russel Beattie; as well as his beloved sister and brother-in-law, Joan and Richard Ewy. He is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Jill; his 3 sons, Wallace (Kiley) of Weston, MO; Richard of Sterling, KS; and Joseph (Mackenzie) of Los Angeles, CA; and his grandchildren, Mac and Winston.

Visitation will be held Friday, January 23rd, from 5-7 pm at Birzer Funeral Home in Sterling. A funeral service will take place at the United Methodist Church in Sterling at 1 pm on Saturday, January 24th, followed by a graveside service at Sterling Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that monetary donations be made to the Sterling Free Public Library.

 

Jason Daniel Higgins, 50, of Sterling, Kansas, passed away December 22, 2025, at his home. He was born January 3, 1975, in Wichita, Kansas, the son of Phillip Dean and Kathleen Nora (Welch) Higgins. Jason has resided in Sterling since June of 2014, formerly of Wichita. He graduated from Northeast Magnet High School, Wichita, with the class of 1994. Jason received his bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1999 and his Master of Professional Accounting degree in 2002 from Wichita State University. He worked at Morrow & Company CPA’s as a staff accountant and manager from June 1998 until 2008, tax specialist at Learjet from June 2008 until 2021, and was currently employed at Adams Brown CPA since 2021. Jason was also an adjunct professor at Friends University in 2011 and 2012. He was a member of the Boy Scouts of America in Wichita and was a soccer coach for the Wichita YMCA. Jason helped decorate the Sterling First United Methodist Church for Vacation Bible School and helped with the church youth mission trips. He loved the outdoors, kayaking, and camping, where they tent camped at various national and state parks. Jason enjoyed collecting baseball cards, reading murder mysteries, and listening to audio books. He enjoyed building projects and was currently working on a mancave prior to his passing. On September 22, 2007, Jason was united in marriage with Annuli Brann in Wichita, Kansas. Jason is survived by his wife, Annuli Higgins of Sterling, KS; three children, Brayden Higgins (Shaylin Carmichael) of Sterling, KS, Alexander Brasher (Rebekah) of Sterling, KS, Zain Kateley (Surene Maxwell) of Sterling, KS; mother, Kathleen Higgins of Sterling, KS; brother, Brian Higgins of Andover, KS; sister, Jennifer Westerman (Aaron) of Solomon, KS; mother and father-in-law, Celia and Danny Blair of Wichita, KS; Father in-law, Durward Brann of Wichita, KS; two brothers-in-law, Blake Brann of Bentley, KS, and Eoin Blair of Wichita, KS; sister-in-law, Elicia Brann of Wichita, KS; three nephews; and one niece. Jason is preceded in death by his father, Phillip Higgins; grandparents, Finis Marion Higgins, Kathrine Yvonne (Conway) Higgins, Paul J. Welch Jr., and Louise (Taylor) Welch. Funeral service will be at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, January 10, 2026, at the First United Methodist Church, Sterling, with Pastor Amy Foster officiating. Burial will follow at the Sterling Community Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2:00 until 7:00 P.M., Friday, January 9, 2026, at Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling, with family present from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. Memorials may be given to First United Methodist Church (for youth group mission trips) or Friends of Animals Rice County in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling.

Delma Mae Small, 84, of Sterling, Kansas, passed away December 13, 2025, at the Sterling Village. She was born September 15, 1941, in Lyons, Kansas, the daughter of Leroy Ernest “Shorty” and Lola Louise (McGurie) Small. Delma was a lifelong Rice County resident. She graduated from Alden High School, Alden, Kansas, with the class of 1959. Delma attended Emporia State University and Fort Hays State University. In 1963, Delma received her Bachelor of Education degree from Sterling College. Delma taught high school home economics for eighteen years in Claflin and Monument, Kansas. She also worked at Sterling College Cafeteria making twenty-six pies each morning. Delma was a member of the Alden United Methodist Church, Silver Threads, Jr. Leaders 4-H, past president for eight years for the Walnut 4-H Club, and resident council president at Sterling Village for many years. She enjoyed putting puzzles together and was an avid bingo player. Delma is survived by her sister, Iola Small of Lawrence, KS. She is preceded in death by her parents; brother, Norman Eugene Small; and infant sister, Kay Louise Small. Graveside service will be held at a later date at Sterling Community Cemetery, Sterling, with Pastor Rob Bolton officiating. Memorials may be given to the Alden United Methodist Church for the Ministerial Program in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling.