Obituaries

CHARLOTTE – David Carter Blanton, 73, passed away in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Friday, December 30, 2022.

He was born September 5, 1949, in El Reno, Oklahoma, son to Willard Barch Blanton and Greta Elizabeth Carter Blanton.

David was a graduate of El Reno High School, class of 1967, where he was Student Council President, Senior Class President and band Drum Major. He continued his education at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, and was a member of Pi Kappa Phi. He enlisted in the United States Navy upon graduation in 1971.

Services for Harold Robert Williams of Lawndale, Calif., will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 16 at Hazel Dell Baptist Church in Minco, with burial following at the Evergreen Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Huber-Reynolds Funeral Home.

Harold passed away Dec. 20, 2022, at his home. He was born Sept. 10, 1919, in Minco.

He was a U.S. Army veteran during World War II.

Harold was employed with Jorgensen Steel in Norwalk, Calif., for 40 years until retirement at age 65.

Visitation for Lillie Mae Kappus will be held from noon to 3 p.m. Wednesday at Huber-Benson Funeral Home, with burial following at the El Reno Cemetery. There will be not be a service.

Lillie died Jan. 2, 2023, at her home in El Reno. She was born June 8, 1935, in Mountain View. She graduated from Classen High School in Oklahoma City and worked as a proof operator for numerous banks in Oklahoma City.

On May 11, 1973, Lillie married Neal Raymond Kappus and moved to El Reno.

Graveside services for Flora Rae Ables Lippoldt, 85, of Cleburne, Texas, formerly of El Reno, will be conducted at 12 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023, in the El Reno Cemetery.

Flora passed away Monday, Jan. 2, 2023, in Cleburne, Texas.

She was born June 15, 1937, in Oklahoma City to Flora Belle (Hamilton) and Cecil Crawford.

Flora worked as a veterinarian assistant for 13 years and then owned and operated Able’s BBQ Restaurant. After moving to Texas, she worked as a medical assistant until retiring.

Funeral services for Rudolf “Rudy” Joseph Pata of El Reno will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 9 at Trinity Lutheran Church. Burial will follow in the El Reno Cemetery.

Come-and-go viewing will be held at Wilson Funeral Home on Sunday, Jan. 8 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Rudy passed away Jan. 1, 2023. He was born Dec. 10, 1932, to Jaromir Joseph Pata and Golda Odessa (Lynch) Pata in Seminole. He joined the United States Navy at the age of 17.

Raymond Harry Tasso of El Reno died Dec. 26, 2022, at SSM St. Anthony Healthplex in El Reno.

He was born Dec. 4, 1947, in Clinton.

Raymond was an Army veteran serving in the Vietnam War and a recipient of the Purple Heart.

He was a stone mason and member of the Native American Church.

Raymond is survived by his son, Kyle Tasso of Boley; daughters, Sonya Derenz of El Reno and Michelle Gouge of Sioux City, Iowa; brother, Elliott Tasso Jr. of El Reno; eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Mass of Christian Burial for Margaret Lorretta Menz was held Thursday, Jan. 5 at St. Joseph Church in Union City with Rev. Lance Warren officiating.

Burial was in the St. Joseph Cemetery under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Margaret died Dec. 29, 2022, in Corn.

She was born May 21, 1932, in Union City where she lived most of her life. She was a homemaker and member of St. Joseph Church and Altar Society.

Margaret is survived by her sons, Frank Menz Jr., Gary Menz and Dale Menz; four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Arthur William Wiedemann passed away at the age of 93 at his home in El Reno.

He was born April 20, 1929, in Richland to Ernst and Dora Wiedemann. He was the ninth of 10 children and has shared numerous stories of his experiences growing up in the 1930s and 1940s with his own children and grandchildren over the years.

Arthur served two years in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. When he returned, he married his forever love and life partner of 68 years, Irene Ann Schieber. Together they began their farming and ranching career in Piedmont.

Born in El Reno, Oklahoma, on November 19, 1941, Richard D. Thompson was son of Maurice Ellsworth Thompson Sr. and Blanche L. Samuelson Thompson of Calumet, Oklahoma.

Richard was a Vietnam era Army veteran and received a Bachelor of Science degree from Central State University, Edmond.

He was a lifetime Oklahoma banker, his work in the profession encompassing 40 years as Bank presidents, including long tenures at the 1st National Bank of Konawa and the family-owned 1st National Bank of Calumet.

Funeral services for Myong “Kim” Whipple, 83, of El Reno will be held Friday, Jan. 6 at 10:00 am in the Wilson Funeral Home Chapel, with burial following in the El Reno Cemetery. 

Myong passed away Jan. 3, 2023.