Keith Smyth
Keith Smyth, 89, of Campbell, California, passed away on February 20, 2025.
He was born Aug. 10, 1935 to James and Violet Smyth of Tribune, Kansas.
Keith graduated from Greeley County High School in 1953. After high school, Keith worked for the Missouri Pacific Railroad like his father, James. In 1954, Keith enlisted in the Air Force and served in Texas, Mississippi, Germany, North Dakota, Illinois, France, and Thailand until 1967 as an electronics instructor and technical writer on various Air Force electronics systems.
Keith started his own company, Keith Smyth Technical Documentation Consultant in 1967, after retiring from the Air Force. He wrote technical manuals, working on many classified military contracts and for various space programs as well as many Silicon Valley tech companies.
Keith was an avid astronomer and eagerly studied the stars, planets and asteroids with his high powered telescope. His other hobbies included computer aided-design, and programming, photography, creating pop-up greeting cards, dowsing and was elected Vice-President, San Jose Chapter, American Society of Dowsers Club. Keith was voted Educator Of The Year, American Society of Dowsers, 2016.
He married Elisabeth Charlotte Matthes in Berlin, Germany on March 18, 1959. She preceded him in death on September 6, 2005. He later married Caryl Margueritel Lenhart. They loved to travel and spent several months touring the US and Europe.
Survived by his son, Franklin Smyth, three brothers, James, Gene and Nolan Smyth, one sister, Sharon Gass, one niece, Pamela Donaghy, one great niece, Heather Smith, two great nieces, Jazmine and Ann Marie Carter.
Keith was witty, hardworking, talented, and a great brother. As the oldest brother, he loved giving us advice. His last advice was: “Do not interfere in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!”
A private family memorial will be held.
Gone from our sight, never our hearts!
OBITUARIES
Wilma L. “Brooke” (Bishop) Cole
Wilma L. “Brooke” (Bishop) Cole, departed this life on June 8, 2025. Following a difficult battle with Parkinson’s Disease, she died peacefully at home. Wilma was born on January 24, 1938, to Rose Mary (McGee) Bishop and William Howard Bishop,... [More]
Mary Lou Kinlund
Mary Lou Kinlund, born on May 5, 1929, to Albert and Merry Gladys (Smades) Lucius, in Horace, was a beloved member of her community and family. She passed away peacefully in Holcomb, on June 11, 2025, at the age of 96. A dedicated and nurturing individual, Mary Lou made a significant... [More]
Celebration of Life for Shane Smith Saturday
A Celebration of Life service for Shane Smith will be held this Saturday, June 7, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the Presbyterian Church in Tribune. Shane was born on March 27, 1977 in Tribune and passed away on March 1, 2025 in Tribune. In lieu of flowers, donations... [More]
Betty Jean Niswonger
Betty Jean Niswonger, age 54, passed away on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at the Destiny Support Home in Garden City. She was born on August 9, 1970, to Keith Eugene and Barbara Ann Zehm Niswonger in Leoti. Betty Jean attended Beamgard Learning Center in Atwood from elementary... [More]
Celebration of Life for Rosalie Abney
The family of Rosalie Abney invites community members to join them in celebrating the life of Rosalie Ann Abney, (nee Nemechek). February 19,1940 – October 16, 2024. The family of Rosalie Abney will be gathering to celebrate her life, and they’d be honored if you’d... [More]
Jon Kelly Davidson
Jon Kelly Davidson, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, at the tranquil Kansas City Hospice House, at the age of 73. Jon was not a name familiar to those who knew him. They would’ve known him as Kelly.... [More]
James Dale Fisher, Jr.
James Dale Fisher, Jr., age 78, passed away at his home in Scott City on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. He was born on September 7, 1946, in Nashville, Kansas to James Dale and Mary Ann Vierthaler Fisher. After graduating from High School, James earned a B.A. in History... [More]
Dayna Ann Bechard
Dayna Ann Bechard passed away peacefully on April 2nd, 2025, in Tribune, at Greeley County Health Services. She was born in Salina, Kansas on November 7, 1978. Graduating from Tescott High School in 1997, she went on to attend Fort Hays State University. She graduated with... [More]
More Obituaries
- Committal Service for Harold Grubb
- Walter James Waldren
- Shane Gregory Smith
- Donovan Anderson
- Patricia “Pat” McKinley
- Beth Ann (Myers) Tenan
- Vayrena Dee Hamilton
- Ronald Lehman
SPORTS
Mangan, Shafer earn All-State Golf Honors
Sophomore Braxon Mangan and Senior Lincoln Shafer were both listed as honorable mention honorees for the Kansas Golf Coaches Association 1A State teams. Mangan and Shafer both competed in the second day of play at this year’s 1A State Golf Tournament in Dodge City, finishing... [More]
Trap team competes at Kansas State tournament Saturday
Photo Caption: Members of the Greeley County Trap Team competed at the Kansas State High School Clay Target State Tournament on Saturday, June 14. From left to right are Mia Reynolds, Branson Harris, Logan Harris, Klayton Davignon, Eli Sherer, Brodey Grubb, Rowdy Grubb, Jackson... [More]
Lady Jackrabbits hit the road for summer ball
Photo Caption: The Lady Jackrabbits competed in Scott City and Greensburg last week, playing a total of eight games in three days. In the front row are junior high substitutes Scarlett Shafer and Ellie Schneider. In the back row, from left to right, are Coach Kyle Shafer, Tylee... [More]
Shafer plays in 40th Annual 8-Man All-Star Game
Lincoln Shafer played wide receiver for the west team in the 8-Man Division II All-Star Game, held Saturday, June 7, in Beloit. Shafer is a 2025 graduate of Greeley County High School and plans to play college basketball and pursue a business law degree. His parents... [More]
Brandl secures two medals at Kansas State Track Meet; Grubb, Mora, and Shafer also compete
Photo caption: Jailyn Brandl competed in the 3,200-meter run and the 1,600-meter run at the State Tournament in Wichita, bringing home a fourth-place medal in the 3,200-meter run and a sixth-place medal in the 1,600-meter run. See additional track coverage on page 6. Jailyn... [More]
Shafer places 12th at state; team finishes 7th in 1A State Championship
Photo caption: Lincoln Shafer placed 12th at the 1A State Golf Tournament in Dodge City. Photo by Melissa Zerr. The Greeley County High School golf team traveled to Dodge City for the 1A State Championship held at Mariah Hills on Tuesday, May 27, and Wednesday, May 28. Our... [More]
Greeley County Trap Team leads conference in both fall and spring
Photo Caption: Three of the teams’ four seniors Zoey Shivers, Logan Harris, and Brodey Grubb posed for a photo at trap shooting practice. Shivers finished tied for second in conference with teammate Mia Reynolds on the female side. Harris finished in sixth place in conference... [More]
Shafer to play in Division II West 8-man All Star game in Beloit
Beloit will host the 40th Annual 8 Man All Star Games, on Saturday, June 7. The Division II West All Star Game will be played at 10:00 a.m. Lincoln Shafer has been selected for the Division II All Star Game. He is a 2025 graduate of Greeley County High School and plans... [More]
More Sports
- Jackrabbits claim top spot at Regionals with a 338; Mangan, Shafer, and Higgins-Vestal finish in top 10
- Brandl, Grubb, Mora, and Shafer qualify for State Track
- Golf team takes first at Regionals, headed to state tourney in Dodge City
- Shafer signs to play basketball at Kansas Wesleyan
- Junior High Track team finishes their season at NWKL Meet
- High School Track team competes in NWKL Meet
- High School Jackrabbits compete in Dighton Invitational
- Varsity golf competes at Oakley, Johnson; JV plays in Grinnell Scramble
NEWS
Greeley County Schools breaks ground on new gym, playground
Photo Caption: Greeley County School Board Members Aaron Myers, Sheryl Crotinger, Shanon Schneider, Scott Clevenger, Shea Stewart, and Jessica Alexander, along with Superintendent John Niehues, officially broke ground on the new gymnasium and playground on Thursday, June 18,... [More]
KSN’s Good Day Kansas visits Tribune
Photo Caption: David and Joyce Huddleston and Lori White visit with KSN staff at the event. Photo by Sheryl Crotinger. KSN’s Good Day Kansas crew stopped through Tribune last Wednesday, June 18. Residents greeted them while all enjoyed BBQ sandwiches provided by... [More]
Hallie Means takes over operations at Redeeming Grounds
Photo Caption: Hallie Means took over operations of Redeeming Grounds Coffee Shop on Monday, June 23. Photo by Sheryl Crotinger. As of Monday, June 23, Hallie Means officially took over managing operations at the Redeeming Grounds Coffee Shop. Hallie,... [More]
Greeley County Fireworks Show Postponed to Close Out Fair and All School Reunion
Greeley County Community Development is announcing a change to the traditional Independence Day celebration this year. To better serve the community and cap off a major community event, the annual Greeley County Fireworks Show will be moved to Saturday, August 2, the... [More]
Hot, dry conditions speed harvest along
Photo Caption: The Hopkins family started cutting the afternoon of Sunday, June 22, along Road 78 south of Towner. The drying winds and 100-degree days led to a more than ready-to-cut moisture test. Conditions reminiscent of a blast furnace have sped the ripening of this year’s... [More]
Unapproved minutes of USD #200, Greeley County Schools
Unapproved Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the USD #200 Board of Education held June 9, 2025, 6 p.m. Board members present: Sheryl Crotinger, Shea Stewart, Shanon Schneider, Aaron Myers, Kenton Mangan, and Jessica Alexander. Scott Clevenger was absent. Superintendent... [More]
Board of Supervisors Meeting notes
by Sheryl Crotinger Regular Meeting, June 23, 2025 Present: Alan Waggoner, Monty Moritz, Steve Mangan, Scott Steele, Stan Shafer Also present: Utility Administrator Stephanie Elliott, County Clerk Jerri Young, County Treasurer Diane Gentry, Road and Bridge Supervisor Dan... [More]
Ross Marlow, PA bids Greeley County Health Services, community farewell
The nearly four years Ross Marlow, Physician Assistant at Greeley County Health Services, spent there have been “More than an opportunity,” he said. “It’s been a blessing.” Marlow, who had recently graduated when he began working in Greeley... [More]
More News
- Renowned dementia expert to speak in community
- Kansas Reading Magician Brings Vibrant Magic to Local Library’s “Color Your World” Summer Reading Program
- Greeley County Schools to host ground-breaking
- KSN’s Summer Road Trip here today
- Temperatures rise to the 80s, wheat begins to turn
- Fifty-one year old tower comes down, improving airport approach
- Cost-Share Money Available at Greeley County Conservation District
- Greeley County Health Services Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
OPINIONS
Letter to the Editor: With Trump and Musk driving U.S. policy, Kansas farmers have been played for suckers
By Ben Palen Also published in the Kansas Reflector Back in November, I wrote a column for Kansas Reflector that discussed the likely adverse effects of President Trump’s proposed tariffs on U.S. farmers. The piece noted that 398 million acres of cropland has been... [More]
Letter to the Editor: Donald Trump is not our king
Donald Trump is not our king. He was elected with less than 50 percent of the popular vote and his margin of victory was 1.5 percent. There is no mandate in those numbers. Our elected members of Congress have a sworn duty to support and defend the Constitution and the... [More]
Open letter to Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall
On March 1 at Oakley in western Kansas, Sen. Roger Marshall held a town hall meeting for area constitutents wanting to know more about activities in Washington DC that have impacts on them. The following written questions were submitted by Louise Ehmke. Unfortunately they were... [More]
Letter to the Editor - School bond issue
Sometimes I wonder what drives our government to do things in our name but don’t make sense. With regard to our School Bond election and the Kansas Attorney General’s ruling, how can it be that a law is enacted that has such serious flaws in it. SB 221... [More]
Insight: Your vote counts
In about two weeks or so, it will be Election Day. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I cannot wait for it to be over. I will not say another word about the campaigns because my mother told me, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at... [More]
Volunteers are the heart of our community
As we celebrate National 4-H Week this week, 4-H Members across the country are celebrating this wonderful youth organization with Friends, Family, and the Communities that support this youth development program. In addition to celebrating the hard-work and dedication of... [More]
A tribute to Tribune and her friendly residents
In 2023, we visited our good friends Julie and Bill Lawrence of Tribune, Kansas. We fell in love with Tribune! During one of our subsequent visits, we found and purchased a great house and will move in, in 2026. Everyone, and I mean everyone, we’ve come... [More]
Letter to the community from Superintendent Niehues
Dear families and community members, I hope this message finds you well. I want to take a moment to thank you for your continued support and engagement with our school community. Over the past few weeks, we have become aware of an issue regarding our school bond vote. As... [More]
More Opinions
©2025 Greeley County Republican. Powered by Pluto Sites.