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Betty L. Banks, 1929 - 2020
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Betty L. Banks
Updated: Dec 29, 2020, 6:29 PM
Published: Dec 29, 2020, 4:00 PM

Betty L. Banks, 91, died December 25, 2020, at Great Bend. She was born March 27, 1929, in Great Bend, Kansas to Kenneth and Agnus (Flory) Clawson. 

She married Wayne “Buzz” Banks at the First United Methodist Church in Great Bend on May 22, 1955. She worked more than 30 years for the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, as first an operator then a business representative, and 23 years at the American Legion.

Betty was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Great Bend, past president of the American Legion Auxiliary, past president of the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary, member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, Eagles Auxiliary, Elks Ladies, Cougar Booster Club and the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce. Betty and Wayne were founding members of the Sunflower Polka Club and taught dance lessons from their home. In addition to her love of dance, Betty was an avid bowler, winning the class C KWBA all events state championship on 1973 and enjoyed playing bingo. Betty had the distinction of being voted the second most perfect baby at the 1929 Barton County Fair.

Betty is preceded in death by her father, Kenneth Clawson; her mother, Agnus Merrington; and brother, Floyd Clawson. Betty is survived by her husband, Wayne “Buzz” Banks, of the home; a son, Jerry Banks Jasnoski of Wichita; a son, James Banks Jasnoski and wife Trisha of Wichita; a daughter, Mary Banks Jasnoski Greggerson and husband Chris of Leavenworth; and son, David Banks and wife Peggy of Wichita; seven grandchildren; sixteen great grandchildren; and two great great grandchildren.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 to 9:00 p.m., Sunday, January 3, 2021 at Bryant Funeral Home, with family to receive friends from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Funeral Service will be held at 1:30 p.m., Monday, January 4, 2021, at First United Methodist Church, with Reverend Morita Truman presiding. Masks and social distancing are required. Please enter the church at the North door. Interment will be in the Great Bend Cemetery. Memorials have been designated to the First United Methodist Church or the Banks Scholarship Fund, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Bryant Funeral Home 
1425 Patton Road 
Great Bend, KS  67530
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Dec. 30, 2020

Allen Lee Ukens 1933 - 2025
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Allen Lee Ukens
Published: Apr 10, 2025, 7:22 PM

Allen Lee Ukens, 91, passed away April 1, 2025, at Azria Health Woodhaven in Great Bend, Kan. He was born on Dec. 17, 1933, in Great Bend to Wesley and Ella C. (Petersen) Ukens. He attended a rural District 11 school near the family farm and graduated from Pawnee Rock High School. In 1963, he married Janet Carr in Great Bend, and they later divorced in 1987. 

Allen lived on the family farm near Pawnee Rock for most of his life until moving to Great Bend in 2018. He worked as a farmer and at Marlette Homes in his younger years. Later, he worked as an oil field roughneck. He retired from the Larned State Correctional Facility. He proudly served in the United States Marine Corps as a member of the Military Police, and was stationed in San Diego, Calif., and in Japan during the Korean Conflict. Because of this service, he participated in a Kansas Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. in 2014. Allen was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, American Legion Post #180, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and VFW Post 3111. Allen was a country boy and a cowboy at heart, loving classic country music, with his favorites including Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, and Alan Jackson. He always had a smile on his face, had a fun-loving sense of humor, and was pleasant to be around. 

Survivors include son, Daniel Ukens and his wife Colette of Ellinwood; daughter, Cathie McManaman and her husband Barry of Great Bend; grandchildren, Stacie Resner and her husband Matt of Ellinwood, Lexie Ukens of Ellinwood, Dena Hiss and her husband Matt of Great Bend, Brett McManaman and his wife Brittany of League City, Texas, Kelli McManaman of Kansas City, Mo.; great grandsons, William Resner, Noah Resner, Gage Ukens, Graham Hiss, Ethan Hiss, Owen Hiss; and sister, Beverly Juergensen of Great Bend. He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Kenneth Ukens.

There will be no visitation as cremation has taken place. Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m., April 17, 2025, at Trinity Lutheran Church with Reverend Jay Welshonse presiding. Military honors will be presented by the Marine Honor Guard and American Legion Riders Post 180. Memorials have been designated to American Legion Post #180, in care of Bryant Funeral Home, 1425 Patton Rd., Great Bend, KS 67530. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net.


Funeral arrangements provided by

Bryant Funeral Home

1425 Patton Road

Great Bend, KS   67530

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, April 12, 2025