WILLIAM BAER

William F. Baer, 59, prominent Ransom banker, died at the Hays hospital early Saturday morning, January 29, following an operation performed several days previously. He had been in failing health for some time.

Besides the widow, Mrs. Daisy Baer, he is survived by five nieces and one nephew. They are: Mrs. Lois Trigg, Enid, Okla.; Mrs. B.C. Bailey, Great Bend; Miss Betty Ann Baer, Lawrence; Mrs. Dorothy Hobson, North Hollywood, Calif.; Mrs. Willa Jones, Fellows, Calif.; and Milton Baer, Ness City; and Mrs. Anna Baer of Ness City, a sister-in-law. Mrs. Lillian Baer-Correll, and Mrs. Minnie Baer, both of New Ringgold, Pa., distant relatives were here to attend the funeral services. Funeral services were conducted from the Ransom High School auditorium Wednesday afternoon, and interment was made in the Ransom cemetery. The large number of people who paid their last respects to the deceased bespeaks of the high esteem in which he was held by all who knew him. A more complete obituary will be printed next week.

Ness Co. News, Feb. 3, 1944

Married Daisy on 24 Dec 1906 Ness Co, KS

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WILLIAM BAER

OBITUARY

William Franklin Baer was born on the farm east of Ransom July 5, 1884, and departed this life in St. Anthony's Hospital, Hays, Kansas, January 29, 1944, after an illness of 35 days, at the age of 59 years, 6 months and 24 days.

He was united in marriage to Daisy A. Scott, December 24, 1906. No children were born to this union but they reared two of his nieces, Dorothy and Willa, whom they considered and loved as their own daughters. A nephew, Milton J. Baer, whom he partially reared and loved as a son, was a great comfort to him.

During the past 40 years he has been in the banking business and has been interested in farming and Shorthorn cattle breeding, hence has been very sympathetic with the needs of the farmer. He has always been ready and willing to help those whom he thought worthy of help. He became a Christian about 36 years ago and has tried to live a Christian life to the best of his ability. During the past year he has never failed to be at the Lord's house on the Lord's day unless illness prevented his going.

He leaves to mourn his passing: his devoted wife, Daisy, and his two daughters, Dorothy Baer Hobson and her husband, James M. Hobson, and Willa Baer Jones and her husband, Charles W. Jones; two grandchildren, Stephen Charles and Karen Diane Jones, all of California; Milton J. Baer and his wife, Mildred, of Ness City; Mr. and Mrs. l.B. Trigg of Enid, Okla.; Mr. and Mrs. B.C. Bailey of Great Bend; Miss Betty Ann Baer of Lawrence; Mrs. Anna Baer of Ness City; Mrs. Mildred Clark, a devoted niece who has been an assistant to him for the past four years in his work in the First State Bank of Ransom; Mrs. Lillian Baer Correll, former wife of his father, A.D. Baer, and her sister, Mrs. Minnie Baer, wife of his uncle, Fred Baer, of New Ringgold, Pa., both to whom he was very devoted; Mr. and Mrs. R.W. Scott of Ransom; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Moyer of Arnold; Mr. and Mrs. W.F. Moyer of Hollywood, Fla., and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held in the high school auditorium, J.A. Aeby in charge. Arthur P. Davis, minister of the church of Christ, Dodge City, assisted by Ezra Wolfe, minister of the Church of the Brethren, Quinter, conducted the services. Mrs. Dorothy Aeby Patrick of Lindsborg played the processional and recessional. A double quartet composed of Miss Friessen, Nathalie Combest, Mrs. L.B. Dubbs, Helen Henthorne, H.C. Anderson, J.L. Dieffenbach, P.N. Combest and C.G. Shellenberger, sang beautifully "Abide with Me", "In the Garden" and "Jesus Lover of My Soul." Pallbearers were Ed Combest, Charlie Kraus, Martin Schreiber, Lawrence Miller, Clinton Scherzinger and Clarence Horchem.

Ness Co. News, Feb. 10, 1944