Phyllis Calvin Wagner - LHS Class of 1950

Phyllis J. Wagner, 72 of Lansing died Thursday, September 22, 2005 at her residence. She was born in Winchester , Kansas , on June 25, 1933 , the daughter of Lloyd (Barney) Calvin, and Nellie (Martin) LaMont.
Phyllis married Robert L. Wagner March 9, 1950 in Platte City , Missouri ; he survives at the home. In addition to her husband she is survived by a son, Robert (Steve) Wagner of rural Leavenworth , a daughter, Deborah S. Diercks, of Racine , Wisconsin , her mother, Nellie LaMont of Lansing, a sister Carolyn Wagner of Easton , Kansas . She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Chad , Matthew, Brian, Jason, Katie, Benjamin, and Jonathan. Additional survivors include two great-grandchildren, Fiona Anne and Emma Jean.
She was a member of St. Francis de Sales Church and the Altar Society.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 pm Monday, September 26, 2005 at the R.L. Leintz Funeral Home, with a rosary at 7pm . Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 am Tuesday September 27, 2005 at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Lansing , with Rev. Michael Stubbs as Celebrant. Burial will follow at St. Lawrence Cemetery, Easton . Memorials are suggested to the St. Francis de Sales Church or Hospice of Leavenworth.

Steve Jennings - LHS Class of 1952

Winery founder dies
Friday, September 16, 2005
By April Middleton - Salina Journal
Steve Jennings, the founder of Smoky Hill Vineyards and Winery, was killed Friday afternoon in a tractor accident at the winery.
Capt. Brian Shea of the Saline County Sheriff’s Office, said Jennings, 71, Salina, was mowing at the winery, 212 W. Golf Link, with a small tractor. The tractor overturned on Jennings and killed him, Shea said. The accident happened at about 12:15 p.m.
Betty Nelson, who is in charge of sales and marketing at the winery, said Jennings’ family and employees at the winery “are deeply saddened by the sudden loss.”
Jennings founded the winery in 1991 with Kay Bloom. It produced its first wine in 1995. Jennings’ son Norm joined the operation about five years ago and now serves as general manager.
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Steve Jennings is a native Kansan. Born in Winfield, he lived in over twenty communities in western Kansas before starting school in Garden City. He attended high school in Leavenworth and college at the University of Kansas. He came to Salina in 1956 upon his graduation from K.U. with a degree in civil/structural engineering. He worked as a structural engineer for Bucher, Willis & Ratliff designing among other things, the Salina Bicentennial Center.
Steve met his wife Hannelore, or Hanne as she is known, in 1961, and they were married in October of 1962. They have two grown children, Norm in Salina, and Stephanie in Missouri, and five grandchildren.
In 1970, he attended Purdue University and received his Master's Degree in Environmental Engineering. Upon his return to Bucher, Willis & Ratliff, he served as head of the environmental engineering division, manager of the Salina office and as chairman of the board of directors.
After retiring from the firm in 1995, he opened the Smoky Hill Vineyards and Winery. Inspired by Hanne's love of wine (Hanne is from the Rhine & Mossell region of Germany), the winery was Steve's dream of a retirement hobby. Steve currently serves as President and more importantly, wine maker. The winery has grown from an initial production of less than two hundred gallons to 80,000 bottles. Many wines have received awards from around the world.

Betty Jeanne Holmstrom Dolsberry - LHS Class of 1951

Buzz and Betty

Betty Jeanne Dolsberry passed away on Sept. 6, 2005 in Tucson, Ariz.

Born in St. Paul, Minn., on June 3, 1934, she was the daughter of Lillie and Helmer Holmstrom. She married Charles E. "Buzz" Dolsberry (LHS Class of 1951) on Aug. 9, 1952.
Betty graduated from Leavenworth High School in 1951, raised five children, and graduated from Saint Mary College in Leavenworth where she excelled academically and participated on the varsity tennis team.
Betty volunteered with Hospice (Leavenworth), CASA (Tucson, Ariz.) and Mountain School (Tucson, Ariz.).
Betty enjoyed traveling, bridge, swimming, Bible and prayer groups.
Betty and Buzz spent this summer traveling to many beautiful places and hosted a family reunion in California.
Betty said it was the best summer of her life. She was an extraordinary woman who is loved and missed by her family and friends.
Betty is survived by her husband Buzz; Debra Dolsberry of Santa Cruz, Calif.; Linda and Chet Kozak, Lansing; Dan and Jerre Dolsberry, Lake Jackson, Texas; Karen and Jim Dixon, Dallas, Texas; Bruce and Jody Dolsberry, Gainsville, Fla.; and seven grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Casa de la Luz Hospice, 5830 North Fountains Ave., Building #2, Tucson, AZ 85704.

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