Charles Alvin Wells
Dodge City - Charles Alvin Wells, 87, passed peacefully on December 21, 2024 at Reflection Living, Dodge City. He was born on June 13, 1937 at Dodge City, the son of Howard Charles and Dorothy (Bond) Wells.
Charles grew up in Kansas and Washington. He joined the US Air Force and was stationed at Roswell, New Mexico. On October 29, 1960 he married Darlene Beedy at Tribune. After their marriage they moved to Garden City where he was a custodian for the schools. They later moved to Leoti where he worked for the Wichita County Road Department and for Cargill Feeders until his retirement. In January of 2022, they moved to Dodge City. He enjoyed gardening and raising livestock, His church, Jesus, and family were the most important things in his life.
He was a member of the Leoti Abundant Life Church of Leoti.
Alvin is survived by his wife, Darlene Wells of Dodge City; three daughters, Jannifer Reynolds & Joe of Tribune, Shelia Smith and Paul of Dodge City, and Wendy Gifford and Jay of Dodge City; nine grandchildren, Chasity & Dustin Fritzmeier, Brandy & Scott Clevenger, Tyrell & Katy Reynolds, Amber & Jordan, Aaron & Maria Smith, Anna & Corey Bjerken, Kylie & Danny Finder, Jalen Gifford, and Jace Gifford; and 21 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings, Wanda Parr & Steve of Garden City, Gene Wells & Gail of Shawnee, Teresa Sowers & Randy of Scott City, and Donella Miller & Terry of Olathe.
Preceding him in death were his parents and brother, Howard Wells, Jr.
A funeral service was held at Cross Connection Church on Friday, December 27, 2024 at 10:30 AM with Dustin Fritzmeier presiding. Burial followed at Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery at Ft. Dodge with military honors by the US Air Force honor guard.
Memorials are suggested to Senior Benevolence Fund in care of Cross Connection Church, 3500 N. 14th, Dodge City, KS 67801.
OBITUARIES
Ronald L. Koehn
Ronald L. Koehn, age 78, passed away on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at the Greeley County Health Services in Tribune. He was born on November 26, 1947, in Greensburg to Alfred D. & Elma Giesel Koehn. Ron moved his family to Tribune in the late 60s, having moved... [More]
Jerry Lee Huddleston
Jerry Lee Huddleston, age 72, passed away on Friday, September 11, 2026, at the Greeley County Health Services in Tribune. He was born on February 4, 1954, in Tribune to Howard B. Huddleston and Lillian M. Luekenga Kubo. He was a Journeyman Lineman for Wheatland Electric... [More]
Andrew Duke Stewart
Andrew Duke Stewart, known to many as “Duke” in his younger years and “Andy” thereafter, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at Western Prairie Senior Living Center in Ulysses at the age of 86. Andy was... [More]
Mary Josephine Loper
Mary Jo Loper, age 75, passed away on July 28, 2026, at her home in Overland Park, KS. She was born on May 5, 1951 in Great Bend, KS. She was raised by her aunt and uncle, Floretta and Marion Otstott in Tribune. Mary Jo married Raymond Morgan in 1969 and divorced in 1979. She... [More]
Kenneth L. Beougher
Kenneth L. Beougher was born on June 11, 1934 on the family farm in Gove County. He passed away on August 24, 2026 at Wheat Haven in McDonald. Ken was raised on the family farm alongside his three brothers and two sisters. He attended several rural schools in Gove County before... [More]
Mereta Carol (Morgan) Stone
Mereta Stone, 90, passed away on July 20, 2026, at Brookdale in Dodge City. She was born on December 6, 1935, in Tribune to Merle and Margaret (Jones) Morgan. Mereta attended and graduated from Tribune schools. She started her career as a type setter for The Daily Globe then... [More]
Richard “Rick” Phillip Coupland, Jr.
Richard Phillip Coupland, Jr., lovingly known as Rick, passed away peacefully on July 2, 2026, in Flagstaff, Arizona, at the age of 80. Rick was born on August 25, 1945, in Pueblo, Colorado, to Richard Phillip Coupland and Irma Eileen Coupland (Shacklett). He is survived by... [More]
Thelma I. Carlson
Thelma Isabel Carlson of Longmont, Colorado passed away on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at the age of 97. Thelma arrived at the Ferne and Oscar Carlson home in Tribune on December 16, 1928. She joined two-year-old Selma and one-year-old Velma. In the following two years both John... [More]
More Obituaries
- Arla Peter
- Judson P. Price, Sr.
- Becky Lynn Keller
- Celebration of Life for Derek Justin Smith
- Shawn Harney
- Don E. Moore
- John Warren “Skip” Conard, Jr.
- Rose Edna Fuller
SPORTS
Lady Jackrabbits defeat Tigers, Buffaloes, and Golden Eagles
Photo caption: Scarlett Shafer prepares to pass the ball. Photo by Trista Shafer. The Greeley County High School Lady Jackrabbits defeated the Cheyenne Wells Tigers, the Rawlins County (Atwood) Buffaloes, and the Trego County (WaKeeney) Golden Eagles last week, bringing their... [More]
Running Rabbits compete at Ulysses, Johnson
Photo caption: High School cross country runner Jeryn Stewart placed second at Ulysses and third at Johnson. Photo by Brecken Mangan. The Junior High and High School Girls Running Rabbits traveled to Ulysses on Tuesday, September 22, to take part in the 49th Annual Ulysses... [More]
Despite loss, Jackrabbits make progress against Dighton
Photo caption: Sophomore Truett Young wraps up the Dighton Hornets’ #8, tackling him before he could continue running to the goal line. The Tribune Jackrabbits hosted the Dighton Hornets on Friday, September 26, as part of the Jackrabbits’ homecoming festivities.... [More]
Tennis team competes in Scott City, WaKeeney
Photo caption: Junior Gracelyn Graham returned a ball while playing #2 doubles with Victoria Bailon last Monday in Scott City. Photo by Sheryl Crotinger. Our varsity tennis team traveled to Scott City on Monday, September 21. The tournament was in the style of pool play, with... [More]
Reagan Hahn prepares to serve the ball during last Friday’s game against Dighton. Photo by Sheryl Crotinger.
Photo caption: Reagan Hahn prepares to serve the ball during last Friday’s game against Dighton. Photo by Sheryl Crotinger. By Head Coach Holly Steele Greeley County Junior High Volleyball had another busy but successful week of volleyball! We traveled to Cheyenne... [More]
Jackrabbits score decisive win over Dighton Hornets
Photo caption: Jose Rascon, #13, takes down a Hornet runner during the Friday’s home game against Dighton. The Jackrabbits won the game, 56-12. The Junior High Greeley County Jackrabbits faced off against the Dighton Hornets on Friday, September 26, as part of the fall... [More]
Lady Jackrabbits defeat St. Francis, Sharon Springs, go 1-2 at Dighton Tournament
Photo caption: Freshman Ellie Schneider blocks a ball during Tuesday’s game against the Sharon Springs Wildcats. Photo by Brecken Mangan. Last Tuesday, September 15, the Lady Jackrabbits traveled to St. Francis where they squared off against the St. Francis Indians... [More]
Jackrabbits fall to Red Devils, prepare to change game plan for Dighton
Photo caption: Hayden Myers prepares to move off the line when the play begins. Photo by Guilherme Evans. The Tribune Jackrabbits traveled to Oberlin on Friday, September 18, to take on the Decatur County Red Devils in football action. Head Coach Austin Coffman said... [More]
More Sports
- Reynolds, Marquardt and Howell place second, Hopkins places third at Ellinwood meet
- Junior High Lady Jackrabbits A team wins Syracuse Tournament; B team takes second
- Junior High football faces defeat at Oberlin, looks ahead to Dighton
- Jackrabbits lose to Elkhart Wildcats 20-26 in overtime
- Fearless Four win state bowling
- Jackrabbits compete in home meet on Saturday
- Lady Jackrabbits score several wins; fall to Syracuse again
- Junior High Volleyball continues strong season, A team remains undefeated
NEWS
Fall Homecoming royalty crowned
Senior Rowdy Grubb was named the 2026 Fall Homecoming king and Senior Sara Pando was named queen. They are pictured here with Kix Berggren, crown bearer, and Jaycee Howell, flower girl. Grubb and Pando were crowned before the home football game against Dighton on Friday, September... [More]
Air Tour cancelled
Due to forecasted conditions, which include rain and cloud cover, the 2026 Kansas Air Tour has been cancelled. Planes will not be flying in and out of the airport on Thursday, October 1, as last week’s article stated. Arlie and Beth Aeschliman still plan to spend... [More]
Aging with Confidence event this Saturday
Greeley County Health Services (GCHS) will host an Aging with Confidence event designed to provide education, resources, and personalized support for individuals and families navigating dementia and the challenges that can come with aging. The event is scheduled for this... [More]
Prairie Palooza this Saturday, October 3
The final Prairie Palooza of the season is scheduled for this Saturday evening, October 3, at the CYAT Center and lot between Moser Law Office and the Greeley County Post Office. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy a hamburger meal prepared by the Greeley County High School Football... [More]
Tilt-A-Whirl arrives in Greeley County
Photo caption: Cody Woelk of Woelk Trucking and Greeley County Amusement Association board members Monty Moritz and Erik Howell made the 1,500 mile round trip journey to Billings, Montana earlier this month to pick up the carnival’s new Tilt-A-Whirl. The ride is... [More]
STEMM Fire presented at Greeley County Schools
Photo caption: Greeley County students Collin Burnett, Yosselin Vazquez, Yareli Labra, Gracelyn Graham, and Samuel Warner visit with Sarah Ibrahim of Xcel Energy and Jake Winters of Mortenson Construction at last Wednesday’s STEMM Fire presentation. Greeley County... [More]
Household Hazardous Waste Fall Cleanup scheduled
The Northwest Kansas Small Solid Waste Landfill Authority Member counties will conduct a fall cleanup of Household Hazardous waste as follows: Pickup is scheduled for the morning of Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 8-11 a.m. at Recycling Center in Tribune. At the cleanup,... [More]
September precipitation breaks record
Photo caption: After Wednesday night’s storm, water was flowing in rarely seen places around the county. This was taken of the bridge near the Vogt farmstead, south of Tribune. Photo by Simone Vogt. With a few days remaining in September, 6.21 inches of precipitation... [More]
More News
- The hidden dangers of inoperable vehicles and debris in residential yards
- Board of Supervisors meeting notes
- Wheatland Electric Powers the Pantry with $50,000 for local food banks — plus a chance to win the ultimate Americana backyard bundle!
- Dr. Wendel Ellis, DO, awarded Heart of Healthcare Award
- Greeley County Airport to host Kansas Air Tour lunch stop on Thursday, October 1
- GCHS Fall Homecoming Court announced
- Progress continues on Towner East Wind Project
- Elliott Insurance celebrates 45th anniversary
OPINIONS
Vote NO to keep Kansas courts independent
On August 4, Kansans will decide whether to amend our Constitution and fundamentally change how justices of the Kansas Supreme Court are selected. Whatever one thinks about particular court decisions or individual justices, this vote is about something much larger: whether we... [More]
Open letter to the community: Tilt-A-Whirl plans go sideways
We’re sad and sorry to report that we will not have a Tilt-A-Whirl by the 2026 Greeley County Fair. The seller, a ride company out of Arizona, recently informed the Greeley County Amusement Association board that he would be breaking our contract and not selling the ride... [More]
From the Editor’s iPhone, at the corner of Kiowa County’s Road J and 76
No, there’s not a true intersection there, just a county road, a trail, and a corner post marking the field lines. But there are some free-range yaks - maybe just out of their pen - within a couple of miles. You never know what you’re going to see during harvest…or... [More]
From the editor's desk
Change isn’t my favorite. Though I like to think I’m open-minded and forward-looking, I can become rooted in patterns, comfortable in the way things are done. If I can navigate the mental maze of getting from point A to point Z several times, then just follow... [More]
Letter to the Community: We need lifeguards
How lucky are we to have a small-town swimming pool? Honestly–very. It’s more than just a place to cool off. It’s where summers happen. Kids learn to swim, teens hang out, families relax, and the whole community comes together in one spot. In a small... [More]
In Pursuit: Lesson #1 – From George Washington
Editor’s Note: The Kansas Press Association and Kansas Humanities have partnered to provide access to a series of essays honoring the 250th Anniversary of our nation. There is so much we can learn from the lessons of our past. In Pursuit is a new initiative from... [More]
FFA isn’t all sows, plows, and cows
Photo caption: Anna Marquardt, left, attended the ACC Conference in Lakin last week. Courtesy photo. FFA is growing tomorrow’s leaders, instilling confidence in members, and preparing members for career success and the ACC Conference did just that. ACC stands for authentic,... [More]
Letter to the Editor: Passing the Rotor Act is Plane Common Sense
Failure to pass it means another day, week, month that we put at risk the safety of all passengers who fly our skies. By U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) March 6, 2026 Crafted as a response to the deadly midair collision that occurred over the Potomac River in January... [More]
More Opinions
- Letter to the Editor
- Letter to the Editor: Trump promises handouts to farmers. Politicians promise development benefits. We pay for it all.
- Letter to the Editor
- Right to repair
- Letter to the Editor
- Letter to the Editor
- Letter to the editor: Political uncertainty shakes Kansas farmland values, and prosperity hangs in the balance
- From the Editor’s desk: Reflecting on the Symphony in the Flint Hills
©2026 Greeley County Republican. Powered by Pluto Sites.