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Leslie O. Hopkins 1940-2019
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Leslie O. Hopkins 1940-2019
Published: Feb 26, 2019, 3:45 AM

Leslie O. “Les” Hopkins, 79, passed away Feb. 23, 2019 at the University Of Kansas Health System - Great Bend Campus, Great Bend. He was born Jan. 5, 1940 at Scott City to GreOliver Herbert and Florence (Krebs) Hopkins. He married Minnie Miller in October, 1963, at Raton, New Mexico. In November, 1993 he married Carol (Behr) Dreiling at Las Vegas, Nevada. She survives. 

Les, a resident of Great Bend since 1993 coming from Garden City, was a veteran of the Army National Guard.  Having the passion and drive of an entrepreneur, Les was instrumental in the development of many businesses. He successfully co-owned and operated Garden City Farm Equipment expanding to Dodge City, Ulysses and Lamar, Colorado; and Great Bend Farm Equipment in 1993, until retirement in 2019. He was an avid K-State sports fan and enjoyed outdoor activities, including gardening, bird watching, traveling and laying by the pool.  

Survivors include, wife, Carol of the home; one son, Darin Hopkins and wife Gloria of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina; one daughter, Kristin Shell and husband Charles of Newton; one bonus-daughter, Jessica Corcoran and husband Aaron of Great Bend; one daughter-in-law, Julie Hopkins of Garden City; one brother, Leonard Hopkins and wife Cloris of Montrose, CO; one sister, Martha Rose of Agra; and 12 grandchildren, Brendan, Cara, Evan Hopkins; Connor, Zac Hopkins; Evan, Caleb, Addison and Kendall Shell; Cooper and Ava Jolie Ohnmacht, Remy Corcoran.  He was preceded in death by his parents; oldest son, Todd Hopkins; and brother-in-law, Ronnie Rose. 

Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019 at Bryant Funeral Home, with family receiving friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, Mar. 1, 2019, at Bryant Funeral Home with Rev. Arlyn Thielenhaus presiding. Interment will be at 4:00 p.m., at the Valley View Cemetery, Garden City. Memorials are suggested to the GBHS FFA, or the Les and Carol Hopkins Endowment Fund at BCC or Chasing Tails Rescue, in care of Bryant Funeral Home. 


Funeral arrangements provided by

Bryant Funeral Home

1425 Patton Road

Great Bend, Kansas 67530 

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Feb. 26, 2019
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