EnglishSpanish

Bart Alan Lillibridge

Bart Alan Lillibridge started his journey in life on February 11, 1962 born in Dodge City Kansas to Al & Wilma Lillibridge.   His life had an abrupt ending on earth on September 19, 2021 in Garden City, Kansas.

Bart lived life to the fullest and was most happiest in the mountains of Colorado in and near Trinidad.  Bart loved the sport of fishing but more importantly he loved making Fishers of Men.   If you were around Bart for more than 10 minutes you would hear his love for Jesus and wanting you to know that Jesus came to give you abundant life here on this earth.  His famous words were “The Best Is Yet To Come”!

In 1976 Bart went with a group of youth to a Crusade in Two Buttes, CO where he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior and was baptized in the Holy Spirit.   He served as Pastor for Redeemed Unto Life Healing Center in Ulysses, KS from 2002 to 2008.   Bart’s ministry from 2008 to current was standing beside his Pastor’s Bill Frashuer from Trinidad, CO and Vik Kodavatikanti in Holly, Co. 

Bart was a family man he loved teaching his boys Kendrick and Corbin when they were young how to fish, hunt and loved spending time with them.  Unless Bart was out of town or in harvest you would find him at his Mother’s house at every get together.   Bart’s bond with his sister Jan is one to be admired from everyone. 

Bart had the privilege of owning two flooring stores, Shop at Home Carpets, Ulysses KS and Kingdom Carpets and Flooring, Trinidad CO.    Bart has always had a love for truck driving.   For the last 10 years he has been an owner operator with his Truck and from 2013 to current with B&B Trucking in Syracuse, KS.

Bart married Tracy his soul mate on May 26, 2006 in Syracuse KS.  The two had a bond and love for each other and for God which created an incredible journey for them.   They loved traveling to conferences, attending Charis Bible College, making precious friends of like faith and sharing the Gospel. 

Survivors include his wife Tracy of Kendall, KS.   Kendrick Lillibridge of Elkhart, KS, Blaine Lawson of Syracuse KS, Connie Herrera of Syracuse, KS, Alexia (Cody) McBride of Sulphur, LA.    His mother Wilma Lillibridge of Syracuse, KS.   One Sister Jan (Randy) Kraft of Lakin, KS.   Two nieces Kayla (BJ) Kraft of Wichita, KS, and Shelby Kraft of Lakin, KS.   Bart is blessed with ten Grandchildren Kolbey, Ian, Brooklynn, Brody, Jaxon, Alan, Allie, Megan, Cole, Emy.  Six nieces and nephews, Kollin, Kashlin, Kolt, Kuhlsie, Ethyn and Adrian. 

Bart is preceeded in death by his Father, Al Lillibridge and Son, Corbin Lillibridge.

Funeral Services will be held on Friday, September 24, 2021 at 2:00 PM (MDT) at the Living Hope Fellowship Church, Holly, Colorado, and Graveside Services to follow in the Kendall Cemetery, Kendall, Kansas

Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 23, 2021 from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM (MDT) at the Fellers Funeral Home LLC, Syracuse, Kansas.

In-lieu-of-flowers memorial contributions may be payable to Living Hope Fellowship Church, sent in care of Fellers Funeral Home & Monuments LLC, P.O. Box 1253, 401 N. Sumner, Syracuse, KS 6 7878. 620-384-5100

OBITUARIES

thumb

Eldon “Skip” Reed

 Eldon “Skip” Dwane Reed, age 75, passed away peacefully at home in Syracuse, Kansas surrounded by his family on May 17, 2026.  Skip was born January 21,1951 to Eldon “Bub” and Phyllis (Hartshorn) Reed. Bub worked at the John Deere Dealership,... [More]

thumb

John “Skip” Conard, Jr.

John Warren "Skip" Conard, Jr, born September 1, 1943, in Syracuse, Kansas, passed away on April 4, 2026, at the age of 82, surrounded by his loving family.  He grew up in Coolidge, Kansas with his brother, Edward Dale Conard, and his sister, Barbara (Conard) Latty; his... [More]

thumb

Peggy Hatcher

 Peggy Dorine Hatcher, 88, of Syracuse, Kansas, passed away peacefully on May 7, 2026, at the Hamilton County Hospital. Peggy was born on January 23, 1938, on the family farm northwest of Holly, Colorado, to Leslie and Helen (Moyer). She was raised on the family farm near... [More]

thumb

 Sharon Ann (Taylor) Englert

Sharon Ann (Taylor) Englert, 88, of Syracuse, Kansas, passed away peacefully on May 9, 2026, surrounded by family and love. Sharon was born on September 10, 1937, to Elmer L. “Bob” Taylor and Eloise Irene (Bilbery) Taylor. She grew up in rural western Kansas near... [More]

 Boyd “Pete” Dwight Bezona

 Boyd “Pete” Dwight Bezona, age 88, of Syracuse, Kansas, passed away on May 8, 2026, at his home in Syracuse. He was born on September 8, 1937, in Lamar Colorado, to Otto Ervin Bezona and Ida Rebecca (Armour) Bezona.    Pete grew up south of Granada,... [More]

thumb

Larry Vaughn Meyer

Lakin—Larry Vaughn Meyer, 67, passed away on Monday, May 4, 2026, at Common Spirit-Penrose Hospital in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Born September 19, 1958, in Ulysses, he was the son of the late Duane W. and Loretta Mae (Stephen) Meyer. On January 24, 1978, Larry married... [More]

thumb

Eva Jane Schmidt

Eva Jane (Jantz) Schmidt, 94, of Syracuse, Kansas, passed away on Thursday, May 6, 2026, at Hamilton County Hospital in Syracuse, Kansas, and went home to be with the Lord. She was born on November 5, 1931, in Copeland, Kansas, to Jonas and Anna (Schmidt) Jantz. Jane received... [More]

Pauline Fecht

Pauline (Finkenbinder) Fecht passed away at St. Catherine’s Hospital in Garden City, Kansas on Sunday, May 3, 2026 at the age of 94. She was born in Garden City, Kansas, on July 19, 1931, to Paul Harden Finkenbinder and Amy Clyde (Kellum) Finkenbinder, who were long-time... [More]

More Obituaries

View All Obituaries

SPORTS

thumb

HI-PLAINS ALL LEAGUE

The Hi-Plains League has announced recipients of all-league basketball honors. The selection process begins when individual coaches submit names. The players are then voted on by the other HPL coaches. However, coaches may not vote on their own players.   Syracuse High School... [More]

thumb

SHS CHEER TAKES SECOND

Small but Mighty! That is the name high school Head Cheerleading Coach, Marcos Valadez put on the 2024-2025 squad last summer, “We may not have the numbers, but our team has overcome adversity and is always stepping up to the challenge.”  Proving this, the Syracuse... [More]

thumb

BULLDOGS OPEN FALL SEASON WITH FIRST PLACE FINISH IN GOLF

The Syracuse Bulldogs Ladies Varsity Golf Team took first at their season opener in Stanton County on Tuesday afternoon. They shot a team score of 207 at the Prairie Pines Golf Course in Johnson. The varsity team  is Lanee Owens, Bronwyn Lewis, Sammy Schwieterman, Maddy... [More]

thumb

LEWIS HEADS TO STATE TRACK

Qualifying members of the high school track team traveled to Hill City Thursday, May 16 to compete in the 2-A regional meet against 15 teams, Ellinwood, Ellis, Hill City, Hoxie, Lincoln, Meade, Medicine Lodge, Oakley, Plainville, Smith Center, Stanton County, Sublette, Thomas... [More]

thumb

BULLDOGS TAKE SECOND AT REGIONALS - HEADED TO STATE

The Syracuse High School boys golf team battled breezy conditions on Monday May 13 competing in the 2-A Regional meet on their own Tamarisk Golf Course.  Adjusting to windy conditions and competing at home paid off for the Bulldogs Monday, placing second, qualifying... [More]

thumb

STATE GOLF RESULTS

State golf on Monday had the Varsity Bulldogs miss playing in the finals as a team by one stroke. They finished seventh out of twelve teams.  On Day 1, Brody Keller shot a 92 missing day two by two strokes. Ian Brummett shot a 95, Mason Scott  and Johnny TeVelde shot... [More]

thumb

JH BASKETBALL WINS

Junior High Boys Basketball A, B, and C teams travelled to Elkhart on Monday, November 21. The A team won 41-34, B team won 26-21, and  C team lost to Elkhart 13-20. Head Coach Vance Keller said, “Elkhart was a tough win for both the A and B teams but both grinded... [More]

thumb

LADY BULLDOGS BORDER WARS CHAMPIONS!!

The Lady Bulldogs were undefeated during the Border Wars, defeating Eads on Friday, 42-7 and Walsh on Saturday 62-5, bringing their record to 3-1. But the winner wasn’t announced until Tuesday evening. Syracuse Athletic Director Josh Johnson explained, “It came down... [More]

More Sports

NEWS

thumb

C Double Liquor Open House

It was a busy Saturday as alumni gathered all over town. The Sand Dunes were busy, and It was a beautiful day to check out the new, improved, and redesigned C Double Liquor store, formerly the Liquor Shack.  C Double Liquor & Laundry, LLC is owned by brothers Casey... [More]

thumb

Airborne electromagnetic survey of Ogallala aquifer conditions planned in southwest Kansas

 LAWRENCE — Beginning in late May and continuing until late July, residents of southwest Kansas may see a low-flying helicopter towing a large hexagonal frame. This aerial arrangement is part of a project to map groundwater conditions in the Ogallala aquifer in Southwest... [More]

thumb

Everybody Has A Story: Jenny (Verry) Holdredge - From Syracuse to Doctorate

“If you want to get it done, get a woman to do it!  “SHE” is Jennifer Suzanne Verry (ALWAYS  known as Jenny), born October 1, 1977 to James and Valerie Verry in the small town of Belle Fourche, located on the northern slopes of the famous Black Hills... [More]

Area Rain Brings Hope To Farmers

Rain kicks off farming season and brings farmer optimism. Many are out planting corn, spraying for weeds, or working the ground with chisels, sweeps, and disks.  The question on everyone’s mind is how is the wheat? We have endured many of the harsher elements this... [More]

thumb

Cruisin’ Into Car Show - Best Turnout In Ten Years

It was a sunny Saturday morning, chillier than most.  The wind was strong and cold but that didn’t stop 58 eager contestants from entering their cars, pickups, and motorcycles in the car show. A total of 17 cities were represented from Southwest Kansas and Eastern... [More]

thumb

Coolidge Bridge Opens

The sun was shining on Tuesday morning as the County Commissioners drove to Coolidge to celebrate the ribbon cutting of the new expanded Coolidge bridge. Less than one mile from Highway 50 stands a brand new 4.33 million dollar bridge. The project was one hundred percent financed... [More]

thumb

Plunkett Elected to Kansas Angus Association

Aaron Plunkett has been a member of Kansas Angus Association since his start in the commercial cattle business. His dad Richard ran cows.  “I remember my dad bought some cows in La Junta and they had babies. I was about 7 years old. He sold me a baby calf and... [More]

thumb

Out With The Old: City Wide Cleanup

Is your garage starting to feel more like a storage unit? Does that old recliner in the basement finally need to retire? Are the items that you have been placing in the alley next to your fence in need of removal? We hear you. Whether it’s broken appliances, rusty tools,... [More]

More News

OPINIONS

God Shows Up

There has been a lot of hurting people in our community lately.  Death of a loved one, accidents, learning of an illness. Fire blazes to the south of us. Many I know are in pain, and have encountered hard times.  Over the last week I have heard some troubling stories... [More]

More love, less hate

Happy Thursday! I am writing this Wednesday morning . When this paper goes out, I need to start on next week’s, the final edition of the year. There won’t be a newspaper for January 1, 2026.  The calendar last year left zero room for a break and I am desperately... [More]

Purpose in the Pain

It’s November! It’s a beautiful cool, fall Wednesday morning as I write this. I took a walk with my dogs, chatted with my friend, and coughed. But the cough has been way better! Tuesday was Election Day. The contest for mayor of Coolidge was one many were watching.... [More]

Fruit of the Spirit

October is here! The cool mornings are lovely! Looking forward to cooler afternoons too! Thought I would share some quick updates. My respiratory junk is not wanting to exit this human. Got another round of antibiotics and more breathing treatments. Thankfully I am improving. ... [More]

Where Can God Use You Today?

A long haired shaggy white dog, likely a Great Pyrenees, showed up at our farm last week.  After a couple of days, we saw it wasn’t going anywhere. We started to feed it. He let us get closer.  What we found was a skinny, malnourished dog with a horrible case... [More]

How Vulnerable Are You?

Thanks for your patience last week. I am still recovering but have returned to the land of the living! I get frustrated with how slow it takes to recover sometimes when really I should focus on the fact that I am recovering.  I truly feel like I am getting stronger and then... [More]

Let God

It’s the first week of September. After I get the paper onto stands, we are headed to the state fair. They changed some of the stalling procedures this year for sheep which leaves some unknowns for us. But every year we go, we learn new things. After my irritation and frustration... [More]

thumb

Breathing Space

I slipped away for a quick getaway for back to school clothes shopping, visiting family, some good food, and a trip to Barnes and Noble.  We left Thursday afternoon and returned Sunday.  It was triple digit heat when we left our sheep in good hands to be taken care... [More]

More Opinions