Theresa Catherine “Teri” Goodwin, 90, of Berthoud, Colorado, passed away February 22, 2024, at her home. She was born October 28, 1933, in Norristown, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Silvio Felix and Katie (Altieri) Roncace. Teri has resided in Berthoud since 2018, formerly of Peoria, Arizona, Longmont, Colorado, and Granada Hills, California. She graduated from Norristown High School in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Teri worked as an escrow officer in real estate for many years. On November 14, 1964, Teri was united in marriage with Vinnie Garold “Jerry” Goodwin Jr. in Van Nuys, California. They loved to go dancing and play golf. Teri was a past member of the Fox Hill Country Club in Longmont, Colorado and Westlake Village in Peoria, Arizona. She was a devout Catholic stemming from her family and education at Holy Savior Catholic Church in Norristown Pennsylvania. Most of all, she loved spending time with her family and friends. Teri is survived by her husband, Jerry of Berthoud, CO; daughter, Vikki Proctor and husband Mark of Berthoud, CO; step-son, Doug Goodwin of Hutchinson, KS; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and extended family. Teri is preceded in death by her parents; four brothers, Armand E. Roncace, Silvio A. Roncace, Peter J. Roncace, and Joseph P. Roncace; and seven sisters, Rose Santori, Anna Roncace, Congetta Roncace, Natalie Strouse, Eleanor Aston, Rita Busch, and Mary Roncace-Busch-Abbey. Funeral mass will be at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, March 9, 2024, at St. Paul Catholic Church, Lyons, with Father Edmond Kline officiating. Burial will follow at the Sterling Community Cemetery, Sterling, Kansas. Visitation will be from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M., Friday, March 8, 2024, at Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling, with family present. Memorials may be given to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or a local food bank in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons.

Ila Marie (Proffitt) Linder, 86, of Sterling, Kansas, passed away February 17, 2024, in Lyons, Kansas. A proud product of the prairie, Ila Marie Proffitt was born on August 20, 1937 in Sterling, Kansas. The only daughter of J.M. & Lutie (Towse) Proffitt, Ila joined big brothers Wayne and Billy. Eventually baby brother, Gary, joined the scene. Endless memories were soon made by the Proffitt four, first, out in the sandhills by Alden, then south of Sterling in pastures near the Arkansas River. Ila was proud to be the daughter and sister of farmers and she herself was active in 4H and completing before and after school farm chores. Ila graduated form Sterling High School in 1955, where she participated in band, FHA, 4H & Y-Teens. After high school, Ila attended Grace School of Nursing in Hutchinson, Kansas and graduated as a proud Registered Nurse. It was her nursing school classmate, Irene, who would introduce her to a young Army man, Rex Linder. Rex and Ila were married at Sterling United Methodist Church on September 29, 1958. The army would take Rex & Ila and their four children, Cathy, Roger, Mike, and Nancy to Kansas, Germany, Georgia and Washington, moving a total of 19 times. With four kids in tow, there was no doubt where Ila would go during Rex’s two tours in Vietnam: home to Sterling. After Rex’s retirement from the U.S. Army, the family settled in Clay Center, Kansas. After the kids were done with high school, Ila began working at the Clay County Health Department until she retired as the Director In 1997. With the retirement chapter ahead of them, Ila and Rex knew where they should go: home to Sterling. Rex and Ila quickly settled in just south of town and enjoyed time gardening, spoiling their grandchildren, and spending time in their community. Never one to be fully still, Ila spent hours with her aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and of course- her brothers. Additionally, she worked a few hours a week at the Rice County Health Department in Lyons. After Rex’s passing in 2012, Ila moved into town and enjoyed traveling, lunching with friends, but most importantly, her family. She was proud to have raised a respiratory therapist, a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army, a pharmacist, and a teacher. She was incredibly proud of their grandchildren and their accomplishments in their personal and professional lives. She was especially keen on the addition of Megs, Hanna, Jaime, Eric, and Olivia. But, in all honesty, no one else could compare with Arya, Ryker, & Tommy- the great grands. Ila Proffitt Linder was meticulous. She was marvelous. She was our matriarch. She will always be missed. Ila was proceeded in death by her husband Rex, her brothers- Wayne (Ruth), Billy (Joann), and Gary (Joanna) Proffitt, her parents, J.M. & Lutie Proffitt, and her Linder brothers and sisters-in -law. She is survived by her four children, Cathy Lutz, Roger (Connie) Linder, Mike, and Nancy (Tom) Rundel, Her ten grandchildren, Maj. Jerad (Jaime) Linder, Dustin (Maeghan) Linder, Case Rundel, Emily Lutz, Will Lutz (Olivia Marks), Colton (Hanna) Rundel, Sam Linder, Elly Lutz (Eric Gordon), John Linder and Morgan Blackim. And three great grandchildren, Arya and Ryker Linder and Tommy Rundel. Other surviving family include brother-in-law, Gene Stout, sisters-in-law Donna and Paula Proffitt, and a host of Proffitt and Linder nieces and nephews. Funeral service will be at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, February 24, 2024, 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, February 23, 2024, at Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling, with family present from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. Memorials may be given to the First United Methodist Church or Sterling Main Street in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling.

Paul Ora Rawlins, 90, passed away peacefully in his home with his loving wife, Jodie, and his fur babies at his bedside on December 26, 2023. Paul was born the youngest of thirteen children, to Ben and Leona (Martin) Rawlins, in Sterling, Kansas. Paul was a graduate of Sterling High School. In 1954, Paul married Stella Brashears. They had four children; Robin, Rhonda, Paul and Jonathan. In 2003, Paul gained his stepdaughter, Torie and fur babies, when he married Jodie Penner in Hutchinson, KS. A lifelong Kansas native, Paul worked many years for McCune Paper Company. To supplement his love of people and music, Paul worked as a bartender at numerous local establishments. Paul never met a stranger and will be forever remembered for his smile, stories and constant love for his family. Some of Paul’s fondest memories were the Rawlins family reunions held throughout the U.S., his many golfing trips and traveling Kansas with his best friends to support Hutchinson High School sports. Paul is survived by his wife, Jodie Rawlins of Hutchinson, KS; children, Robin Brown (Harold) of Kansas City, KS, Rhonda Rawlins of Boston, MA, Paul Rawlins (Micala) of Paola, KS, Jonathon of Louisburg, KS, and Torie Reynolds (Cliffe’) of Hutchinson, KS; grandchildren, Ashley and Angela; great-grandchild, Mason; and his beloved fur babies, Cassie, Rodney, and Henry. Paul has joined his parents; and twelve siblings, Edward, Gaylord, John, Bill, Winston, Harold, Lionel, Cosa Mae, Ardise, Anna, Konnie, and Dimple where you can be sure they are having an epic Rawlins Family Reunion in Heaven. Funeral service will be at 10:00 A.M., Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling, with Pastor Amy Foster 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 James “Buddy” Bryant Memorial Scholarship Fund in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling.

Mary Sue Wilkey, 77, passed away December 22, 2023, of Hutchinson, Kansas. Mary Sue was born September 18, 1946, in Girard, Kansas, the daughter of Robert and Edith Pauline Lamb. Mary Sue married Van Wilkey on January 22, 1966, in Cherokee, Kansas. Mary Sue enjoyed long walks, jigsaw puzzles, being retired, and spending time with her husband, Van, and her dog and her family. Survivors include: husband, Van Wilkey of Hutchinson; one son, Scott Wilkey and wife Tiffany of Sterling, KS; one daughter, Stephanie Kofford and husband Michael of Rock Springs, WY; four sisters-in-law, Kathy Lamb of Hepler, KS, Vicki Daise and husband Ron of Osborne, KS; Judy McDowell of Monroe, WA, and Jo McQuiston of Emporia, KS. Mary Sue has been blessed with nine grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren. Funeral service will be at 10:00 A.M., Thursday, December 28, 2023, at Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling, with Pastor Wayne Johnson officiating. Burial will follow at the Sterling Community Cemetery, Sterling. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to Missions Revival or Gentiva Hospice in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling.

Floyd Lee Mathews, 80, of Sterling, Kansas, passed away November 17, 2023, at the Sterling Village, Sterling. He was born September 14, 1943, in Sterling, the son of Bert and Nellie (Nickel) Mathews. Floyd was a lifelong Sterling resident. He graduated from Kansas Automotive Technical School with a degree in Master Diesel Overhaul. Floyd was a farmer and mechanic. He was a member of the United Presbyterian Church, Sterling, Pretty Prairie Saddle Club, The Moose Lodge, State Fair Promenaders, Salt City Shakers, and the Sterling Saddle Club. Floyd enjoyed driving his #46 dirt track racing car, trail riding, driving wagons, square dancing, watching sports, and especially loved being with his mules, donkeys, and dog. On August 24, 1971, Floyd was united in marriage with Esther Martha Bailey in Lyons, Kansas. She preceded him in death on March 17, 2005. He is also preceded in death by his parents; two sons, James Rasnic, and Kenneth Rasnic; daughter, Kelly Youngblood; and brother, Leslie Mathews. Floyd is survived by his three sons, Phillip Mathews and wife Lorri of Raymond, KS, and Jeff Neill and wife Annabelle of Manhattan, KS, Chase Mathews of Palm Springs, FL; five daughters, Louise Hauschild and husband Rick of Sterling, KS, Doris Curran and husband Chuck of Grove, OK, Laura Miles of Topeka, KS, Maryoletta Osborn of Blackwell, OK, and Cindy Mathews Hamm of Dallas, TX; sister, Leota Bushell of Sterling, KS; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Funeral service will be at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, December 2, 2023, at the United Methodist Church, Alden, with Pastor Rob Bolton officiating. Burial will follow at the Sterling Community Cemetery, Sterling. Visitation will be from 2:00 until 7:00 P.M., Friday, December 1, 2023, at Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling, with family present from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. Memorials may be given to the Reins of Hope or the Sterling American Legion Post #128 in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling.