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Decatur County Museum - Oberlin, KS, 258 South Penn Avenue, Oberlin, KS (2026)

10/28/2026

The great pumpkin?
Oberlin Herald - October 27, 1966
4-year old Shawna Wurm and her brother Kevin, 3, are wondering about this 80-pound pumpkin grown by their aunt, Mrs. Jim McKay [Phyllis].

The pumpkin is one of three produced by a single seed, which Mrs. McKay planted this year. The other two weighed 65 and 45 pounds.

Shawna and Kevin are children of Mr. and Mrs. Arlo Wurm of Sappa Township.

10/27/2026

Remembering Willard and Esther Noren
Willard David Noren was born November 11, 1927, on a farm southwest of Oberlin, the youngest child of David T. and Esther Amanda (Carlson) Noren.

Willard and his three siblings - Evelyn, Edwin, and Geneva -- were reared on the family farm. Willard attended a rural grade school and graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1946.

Esther V. (Benda) Noren was born August 24, 1930, on a farm near Achilles to Robert and Hazel (Hurst) Benda. She also had three siblings – Wesley, John, and Ida Marie.

Esther attended Achilles Grade School and graduated from Decatur Community High School in Oberlin with the Class of 1948. She taught one year at District 218 Valley View School, a one-room school.

On August 5, 1949, Willard and Esther were united in marriage at the Herndon Covenant Church southwest of Herndon, Kansas. The couple first lived on a farm southwest of Oberlin then moved to their new farm home in 1952. A son and two daughters were born to their union, and they were also blessed with seven grandchildren and two great-granddaughters.

Willard farmed for most of his life - from the time he was a small boy helping his dad, until the day he died. He was an active member of the Herndon Covenant Church and served on the church board, taught Sunday School and led Bible Studies for many years. Willard also served on the Decatur Co-op Board of Directors and the Chamber of Commerce.

He loved to sing, and he sang at church, for funerals, and many other functions over the years.

Esther was also active in the Herndon Covenant Church with the choir, Vacation Bible School, Sunday School as a teacher, and Covenant Women. She was also on the Community Advisory Board of the Good Samaritan Society. Esther loved gardening, sewing, learning, and birds.

Willard passed away at his farm home six miles west of Oberlin on Tuesday, March 16, 2004, at the age of 76. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Evelyn, who died in the Belgian Congo, Africa.

He was survived by his wife, a son and his wife, Steve and Connie Noren, two daughters and their husbands, Judy and Larry Thelander; and Alice and Ken Robson; a brother and his wife, Edwin and Ruth Noren; a sister and her husband, Geneva and Gordon Christensen; grandchildren: Amy and Kent Warden, Jeremy and Carissa Thelander, Andy Robson, Kirk Robson and fiancé, Janelle Bach; and Britta, David and Michael Noren; great-granddaughters: Tara and Kylie Warden, in addition to other relatives and friends.

Esther, 86, passed away Saturday, February 18, 2017, at Prairie West Assisted Living in Ellsworth, Kansas. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents; her brothers, Wesley and John Benda; and great-grandson, Eli Robson.

She was survived by her children and their spouses, Judy and Larry Thelander, Steven and Connie Noren, and Alice and Ken Robson; grandchildren, Amy and Kent Warden, Jeremy and Carissa Thelander, Andy and Dayna Robson, Kirk and Janelle Robson, Britta and Jimmy Spitzer, David Noren and Michael Noren; great-grandchildren, Tara and Kyle Warden; Connor, Brayden and Riley Thelander; Brielle and Aleigh Robson; and Silas, Austin and Sarah Robson; a sister, Ida Marie and David Erikson; and sister-in-law, Geneva and Gordon Christensen.

10/27/2026

Neighbors Harvest Milo Crop for Injured Willard Noren
Oberlin Herald - October 27, 1966
“You know, if I had 100 lives to live over, I’d want to live them all out here in Western Kansas, where you have people like this.”

So said Decatur County farmer Willard Noren this week as he watched 14 combines, manned by his neighbors, move through his milo fields.

The men were donating their time and their machines to complete Noren’s milo harvest. Led by neighbor Elder Carlson, they came from a wide area of Decatur and Rawlins counties. They represented Noren’s own Covenant Church and a number of other religious faiths.

Noren, 38, lost his right hand three weeks ago in a ensilage cutter accident at his farm 5.5 miles west of Oberlin. The hand was amputated by the machine when Noren reached in to clean it out after it had become plugged.

Noren had 215 acres of milo yet in the field and ready to be harvested. Monday morning his neighbors, 36 strong and equipped with 14 combines and 23 trucks, moved into his fields, where they gave manpower and machinery and, as Noren said, demonstrated that people really are concerned about their neighbors.

The large scale harvest took most of the day, and women of the Herndon Covenant Church came to the Noren home to serve a harvest-crew dinner.

By early evening, the milo was all cut and had been taken to the Co-op elevator in Oberlin.

Men participating in the harvest were Art Berndt, Floyd Badsky, Dick Kelley, Keith Olson, Jim Kahlor, Martin May, Arlo Wurm, Ed Helmkamp, Frederick Helmkamp, Everett Gerdes, Wesley Benda, John Benda, Stuart Euhus, Eldon Anderson, Elbert May, Fred Unger, Ralph Waldo, Ernest Unger, Eldon Kahlor, Byron McCartney, Gilbert Bryan, Carl Unger, Reinhard May, Don Jorn, Gene Holmdahl, Ernest Carlson, Herbert Peterson, David Larson, Verol Bergling, Raleigh Bergling, Vollie Pollnow, Eric Holmdahl, Glenn Robison, Tony Unger, Elder Carlson, and Arthur May.

Combines harvest milo on the Willard Noren farm 5.5 miles west of Oberlin. Combines in the photo are being manned by Floyd Badksy, Dick Kelley, and Keith Olson.

10/26/2026

Brent Anderson Third in Area in PPK
Oberlin Herald - October 21, 1971
Brent Anderson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Merlin Anderson, Custer Township, finished in third place in the 11-year-old competition in the area Punt, Pass, and Kick contest Saturday in Kansas City.

First-place winner in his age group at Colby a week earlier, Brent punted the football 72 feet, passed it 85 feet, and kicked it 85 feet in competing with 13 youths at North Kansas City High School stadium. He was sponsored by Kump Motor Co., Oberlin.

The area is made up of youths from Kansas and western Missouri. First-place winners at Kansas City will advance to division competition.

As well as the local sixth grader performed, this is his last fling at Punt, Pass and Kick. “He’ll be out for junior high football next season,” said his mother. Those on school teams are not eligible for the Ford Motor Company-sponsored contest.

Accompanying Brent to Kansas City were his parents and sisters, Gayle and Darla.
--
Punt, Pass, and Kick (PP&K) was a skills competition offered by the NFL for kids aged 6 to 13, and later 6-15. It began in 1961.

Each contestant was allowed one punt, pass, and kick in this competition. Scoring was based on both distance and accuracy and was also determined from where a contestant's ball first made contact with the ground, therefore, excluding any bounces or rolls to the distance.

If a contestant threw or kicked the ball 100 feet, but it went wide of the measuring tape by 30 feet, their final score would be 70; the score is the difference of the two measures, testing the contestant's ability to throw and kick for distance and accuracy.

A participant's final score was the total of the three events (Punt, Pass, and Kick).

On May 1, 2017, the NFL announced that the Punt, Pass, and Kick competition would be terminated after 56 years. However, local organizations, communities, universities, and regional athletic groups still host independent or local versions of the event.

Interesting tidbit – Andy Reid, the Kansas City Chief’s head coach, also participated in the Punt, Pass, and Kick event in Los Angeles in 1971 when he was 13 and made it to the finals. There are fun pictures, videos, and an interview with Coach Reid. Google it!

10/26/2026

THE WAITING GAME
Oberlin Herald - October 21,1976
With moisture still calling the shots in gathering the crop, this corn picker sits temporarily idle east of Oberlin. Although the milo harvest has progressed at a good clip with some 60-bushel per acre dry-land averages reported, some area corn farmers have delayed bringing in the corn until moisture content drops off.

An increase in the local demand for corn used in feedlots has prompted a like increase in the amount of locally grown milo being shipped out to market, according to one grain dealer.

10/25/2026

Violent Windstorm Hits 4 Farmsteads Near Traer
Oberlin Herald - October 21, 1971

A violent windstorm that included a tornado struck four farmsteads in a 6-mile path southwest and north of Traer early Monday morning, destroying property and killing a 750-pound steer at the Carl Schreiber place.

Mrs. Warren Galusha, 61, suffered a broken leg as a result of the storm and has been hospitalized in Omaha.

The Galusha and Carl Schreiber farmsteads were hardest hit by the storm, which roared out of the northwest and skipped northeasterly across northwest Decatur County at about 12:30 a.m. Also hit were the Fred Humes and Don Hodson places.

Neighbors pitched in Monday to clean up the debris.

At the Galusha farmstead, two porches were torn away, a windmill was blown over on the house, and out buildings were destroyed or damaged.

When the high winds began rocking the Galusha’s frame house, Mr. and Mrs. Galusha decided to go to the basement, which has an outside entrance. Unaware that the front porch had been blown away, they stepped out the front door in the darkness and fell eight feet to the ground.

Galusha called neighbor Schreiber who brought the couple to Oberlin. Mrs. Galusha was admitted to Decatur County Hospital and was taken by ambulance to Omaha Monday. [She was released about a week later.]

The Schreibers were awakened by the storm and had just gotten out of bed when all the windows on the south side of the brick house were shattered and blown into the house.

GLASS EVERYWHERE
“There was glass everywhere, including our bed where we had been sleeping,” recalled Mrs. Schreiber. “It was just terrible, all the noise from the wind and things crashing outside.”

In addition to the loss of the steer, the Schreibers’ barn, cattle shed, windmill, and television tower were damaged.

The storm struck first at the Humes’ farmstead, southwest of Traer. The barn was blown out of shape, hay bales were strung about, and smaller items were blown away.

Traveling north, the storm ripped out REA poles and tore up lines west of Traer school. Passing over the Guy Brown and Preston Elson farms, the storm struck at the Galusha farmstead, north of Traer, then Schreibers.

HOUSE WAS QUIVERING
“A real scary experience” is the way Mrs. Don Hodson described the storm that hit their farm 3.5 miles northeast of Schreibers. “The noise outside was horrible, the house was quivering, and the wall-to-wall carpeting was rising up off the floor.”

Roofs were ripped off cattle and hog sheds, a drill was rammed into a steel granary, the barn was twisted, and trees were severely damaged. Tin from the roofs was scattered from one to two miles northeast of the Hodson farmstead.

No severe damage was reported at Emery Kelly or Marion Batterton farmsteads, which are north of the Galusha and Schreiber farmsteads.

Rainfall in the vicinity ranged from .50 to.60 of an inch.

Damage from tornados was also reported near Brewster, St. Francis, Wray, Colo., and Garden City.

[While the main tornado peak in Kansas occurs in spring (April through June), Kansas experiences a secondary "fall severe weather season" in September and October, and Kansas averages about two to three tornadoes in October. Fall tornadoes occur when warm, humid air from the south clashes with advancing cold fronts and early winter airmasses from the north (Source: National Weather Service)].

10/25/2026

Berndt-Long Vows are Solemnized
Oberlin Herald - October 25, 1956
Wedding vows were solemnized for Marilou Berndt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Berndt and Elden Long, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Long, Saturday evening, October 6 at the Faith Lutheran Church in Oberlin.

The double-ring ceremony was performed by Rev. Hubert Schauer of Stuttgart at seven o’clock before the altar centered with an altar vase of yellow chrysanthemums and six candelabras, flanked on either side by beauty baskets of bronze football mums.

Mrs. Fred Unger played the wedding marches and accompanied Ramona Berndt, cousin of the bride, as she sang “Wither Thou Goest” and “The Lord’s Prayer.”

The bride, given in marriage by her father, wore a ballerina-length gown of Chantilly lace over slipper satin. The scalloped lace jacket was designed with long sleeves that came to points over the hands and was fastened at the neck with a pin belonging to her great grandmother.

Her finger-tip veil of nylon tulle fell from a crown of lace set with pearls. Her pearl earrings were a gift of the groom. She carried a lace-covered Bible topped with a white orchid.

Lelia Ann Krizek, friend of the bride, was maid of honor. Bridesmaids were Mrs. Harold Hahn, friend of the bride, and Mrs. Wayne Marietta, sister of the groom.

They wore identical cocoa brown sheath dresses with nylon net overskirts tied with large bows in the back. Their headpieces were designed from the same material as the dresses. They wore satin short white gloves buttoned at the wrist. Their colonial bouquets were of bronze chrysanthemums.

Merle Williams served his brother-in-law as best man. Floyd Badsky, brother-in-law of the bride, and Wayne Marietta, brother-in-law of the groom, were groomsmen. Norton Frickey, brother-in-law of the groom, and Charles Vernon ushered.

Mrs. Berndt chose a rose-brown lace sheath dress with matching accessories for her daughter’s wedding. The groom’s mother wore a beige lace dress with matching linen duster and dark brown accessories. Both mothers had corsages of yellow rose buds.

Immediately following the service, a reception was held in the Fellowship Hall. The serving table was covered with a hand crocheted tablecloth made by Mrs. Albert Lueke, cousin of the bride, which was centered with a four-tiered wedding cake topped with a heart-shaped frame holding a pillow with two doves and a pair of rings.

Mrs. Wilbur Meckenstock and Mrs. Merle Williams served the cake, and Mrs. Joe Mines and Mrs. Albert Lueke poured. They were assisted by Iris Gragg, Karen Wendelin, and Jeanne Unger. Also assisting were Mmes. Merlin Cochran, Tony Unger, L.E. Griffin, and Ernest Unger.

In charge of the guest book was Mrs. Floyd Badsky, sister of the bride. Miss Jean Muckey, Mrs. Donald Kump, and Miss Nellie Gallentine were in charge of the gifts.

For their wedding trip to the Black Hills, the bride chose a beige knit suit with orchid and avocado accessories. They are now living on a farm near Norcatur. Mrs. Long owns and operates Art-Ver-Mar shop at Oberlin. Both are graduates of Decatur Community High School.

10/25/2026

Remembering Elden and Marilou Long
Elden Jay Long was born September 14, 1934, in rural Norcatur, to Wilbur L. and Jennie L. (Wilsford) Long. Elden and his three sisters – Odetta, Emma, and Wava -- were raised on the family farm near Norcatur.

He attended school at District 63 Mt. Vernon, Norcatur Grade School, and Decatur Community High School. After graduating in 1952, Elden continued to farm and raise livestock with his father.

Marilou Theresia Berndt was born on March 16, 1932, in rural Decatur County to Arthur John and Vina Irene (Gragg) Berndt. She had one sister, Nathalie Badsky.

Marilou attended Mt. Pleasant – St. Johns Parochial School and then graduated from DCHS in 1950. Upon high school graduation, she spent a year in Denver going to night classes at Denver University.

On October 6, 1956, Elden and Marilou were married at Faith Lutheran Church in Oberlin, where they were life-long members. Elden, Marilou, and their three children - Greg, Brad, and Linda -- made their home on the family farm west of Norcatur.

Elden had a great love and devotion for his family and cherished his friendships. Elden enjoyed farming and ranching and especially loved caring for his cattle. He was a member of the Kansas Livestock and American Hereford Associations.

In addition, Elden was a member of Faith Lutheran Church and Elks Lodge and served on the Roosevelt Township and ASCS boards.

Marilou was a member of the ELCA Women’s Group, the Sunshine Group, BPW, and the Home Makers Unit (Three Prairie Unit). She was also a leader for the Boy Scouts and 4-H.

She pursued several occupations in her lifetime from owning her own store (Art Ver Mar) to upholstery and draperies and working at Interior Connection. She also co-founded the Bargain Box+. But most of all she was a farmer’s wife and loving mother.

Elden passed away Friday, April 29, 2011, at the Good Samaritan Center in Oberlin, at the age of 76.

Survivors included his wife, Marilou; his three children and their spouses, Greg and Mary Long, Brad and Shanna Long, and Linda and Brad Wade, all of Oberlin; two sisters and one brother-in-law, Odetta and Wayne Marietta of Russell, and Wava Williams of Hastings, NE; seven grandchildren: Ethan and Jenna Long, Miranda Long, Joslyn and Andrew Wade, Angie Wade Rowland (Ben) and Shannon Wade; and one great granddaughter, Avery Rowland.

Elden was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Emma Frickey; grandson, Geoffrey Long; and two brothers-in-law, Merle Williams and Norton Frickey.

Marilou passed away on April 4, 2019, at the Good Samaritan Center in Oberlin at the age of 87.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Elden Long; sister, Nathalie (Floyd) Badsky; sisters-in-law, Emma (Norton) Frickey and Wava (Merle) Williams; grandson, Geoffrey Miles Long; and nephew, Mark Williams.

She was survived by her three children and their spouses - Greg and Mary Long, Brad and Shanna Long, and Linda and Brad Wade, her seven grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, sister-in-law Odetta (Wayne) Marietta, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family and friends.

10/24/2026

Cross Country - 2026 and 1971
Congratulations to Trevor Witt, DCHS junior, who placed third at Regionals on Saturday and is headed back to State Cross Country!

Throw back to 1971 Cross Country-
In 1970, Jim Wasson was the first ever DCHS runner to qualify for state, and the 1971 team was the first DCHS team to qualify for state. DCHS Cross Country was just four years old in 1971.

DCHS places second in NWKL, Regionals Next
Oberlin Herald - October 21, 1971
Coach Bill Martin’s DCHS cross country team, second-place finishers in the NWKL, will be pointing for a berth in the state meet when they compete in the Hays 3A regional Saturday at 11:00.

“We’ve beaten everyone that will be at the 3A regional at least once this season, and we must have the same ‘plus’ effort we had in the league meet to qualify for state,” said Martin.

The top three teams and top 10 individuals will advance to the state meet at Wamego October 30.

“Thus far this season, the DCHS cross country squad has beaten 29 different schools while losing only to nine, three of which were 4A schools,” the coach said.

Martin’s harriers will be among 40 runners competing at the Hays golf course.

Oakley successfully defended its cross country title at the league meet in Colby Friday afternoon, scoring a low 36 points. DCHS was second with 57, Colby third with 65, followed by Goodland 99, Norton 114 and St. Francis 152.

Colby’s David Lowenthal was the individual winner with a time of 10:09.

The only senior on the squad, Chambers has finished in the top 10 individuals every league meet since sophomore year, Martin pointed out.

Junior Jim Wasson was 6th and junior Dewayne Jackson, bothered by a head cold, was 7th.

Ronnie Jensen was 19th and Gary King 22nd. All Devil runners but Jackson turned in their best clockings ever.

“Team-wise we are just starting to come around; Ronnie Jensen and Gary King did a fantastic job and are just starting to see their potential,” the coach said.

Harriers Cop State Berth
Oberlin Herald - October 28, 1971
DCHS finished in a three-way tie for third in the Hays regional Saturday morning and will advance to the 3A finals at Wamego.

The meet will start Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. on the Wamego Country Club golf course.

Phillipsburg placed first at Hays with 76 points, Colby was second with 94, and DCHS, Scott City, and Ulysses tied for third with 121 each.

The top three teams and 10 individuals qualified for State.

Phillipsburg Ron Petzold won the race in 9:57. Jim Wasson of DCHS was fifth with a time of 10:17, which tied his all-time best mark set a week earlier when the Red Devils finished second in the NWKL.

Donnie Chambers was seventh, and Dewayne Jackson, ailing with a throat infection was 12th. Also competing for DCHS were Ronnie Jensen, John Sauvage, Steve Witt and Gary King.

“Dewayne was second at the mile but was unable to hold it and dropped to 12th,” Martin said.

“We had two of our first five (Jackson and King) burn themselves out Saturday, and we’ll need to work on pace this week, so it doesn’t happen Saturday,” said Martin.

“If we could get things together - all five runners with personal records - we could finish in the top five teams at state,” he said.

10/24/2026

October 25, 1956
The old Decatur County Livestock Association exposition building and later the Oberlin Livestock Exchange, a fixture at Hall and Griffith streets since 1921, will soon be no more.

Gerald Wiley has razed the building to the point that the old sale ring can nearly be seen from the street. Wiley bought the building, for razing, last spring from J.C. Nitsch, who had purchased the half-block from the county.

Originally built by county stockmen for a livestock show during the 1920s, the building was deeded to the county in 1927.

Nitsch has sold a 200x60 lot to the Southwestern Bell Telephone company as a future site for a new telephone building.
–
The story of the Oberlin Sale Barn began more than 100 years ago in 1921 when the Decatur County Livestock Association built a livestock show pavilion where the Post Office is now. The cost of the building was $25,000 and was financed by purebred livestock raisers who wanted a central location to sell their livestock.

According to the Oberlin Herald, the Pavilion was one of the nicest facilities in the state – furnace-heated with folding theater seats arranged in almost a complete circle. The seating capacity was 300, and a lunchroom was also attached.

The building on Hall Street was dedicated October 20-22, 1921, during a three-day celebration.

Decatur County Museum - Oberlin, KS

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