LARNED — Rita M. Kurtz, 70, passed away April 3, 2025 at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center, Hutchinson.

She was born Sept. 29, 1954 in Crystal Falls, Mich., the daughter of Henry Andrew and Lucille B. Bryant Kurtz Jr. 

A longtime area resident she was a real estate broker at Carr Auction and Real Estate. She was a member of Saints Mary and Martha of Bethany Episcopal Church, Rotary Club, American Legion Walter S. Chears American Legion Post #106, Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legion, VFW Post #2271, Ducks Unlimited, NRA, Santa Fe Trail Center, Fort Larned Historical Society, all of Larned and the Kansas Guardianship Program. She was a Mary Kay consultant and founding partner, corporate officer, and board member of Hillside Envisions.

Survivors include son, Nathan Barker, Larned; longtime companion, Steve Nuckolls, Larned; sister, Marla Stella, Dodge City; two brothers, Steven Kurtz, Pawnee Rock, Roger (Kayla) Kurtz, Larned; two grandchildren, Hunter Barker and Halle Barker, both of Larned. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Friday, April 11, 2025 at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel, Larned, with Bishop Mark Cowell presiding. Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 10 at Beckwith Mortuary, Larned. Burial will be in Larned Cemetery. Memorials may be given to Santa Fe Trail Center in care of Beckwith Mortuary, P.O. Box 477, Larned, Kansas 67550. Personal condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com. 

Funeral arrangements provided by

Beckwith Mortuary

P.O. Box 477

Larned, Kansas 67550

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, April 8, 2025