Gary E. Rariden, 53, of McPherson, passed away on Friday, December 25, 2009 suddenly at Memorial Hospital in McPherson, Kansas.

Gary was born in McPherson, Kansas on November 13, 1956, the son of Mont ElRoy and Hazel W. (Robinson) Rariden - Montgomery.

Gary attended the McPherson grade schools, McPherson Junior High School, and graduated from McPherson High School in 1975.

He was a member of First United Methodist Church in McPherson, Kansas. He had been attending the First United Methodist Church in Abilene, Kansas for the past several years.

He worked as a park maintenance employee for the City of McPherson Park Department McPherson, Kansas. He had also worked at the rabbit barn during the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson, Kansas for the past five years.

Gary was a member of the American Rabbit Breeders Association, Kansas State Rabbit Breeders Association, National Mini Rex Club, Salt City Rabbit Breeders Association, and the Wheatland Mini Rex Club; he was a 4-H leader for over 20 years at various locations in Kansas.

Gary was united in marriage to Kathryn L. Cook on March 11, 1978 at McPherson, Kansas.

Survivors include his wife, Kathy Rariden, McPherson, Kansas; his daughter, Jennifer Dobbs and husband, Michael, of Abilene, Kansas; his son, Michael Rariden of Sea Side Heights, New Jersey; three grandchildren, Christian and Emilee Delgado and Ellen Dobbs all of Abilene. Kansas.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Hazel W. and Mont Elroy Rariden; his step-father, Glen Earl Montgomery; and his mother-in-law Patsy Dominguez

Cremation has taken place. Friends are invited to call Wednesday, December 30, 2009 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. with the family present from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Glidden - Ediger Chapel, McPherson, Kansas.

The memorial service will be at Glidden-Ediger Chapel, McPherson, Kansas, at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 31, 2009.

Inurnment of cremated remains will follow at McPherson Cemetery McPherson, KS.

Memorial contributions may be given to American Spina Bifida Association, Ronald McDonald House Charities or American Cancer Society, in care of Glidden-Ediger Funeral home, 222 W. Euclid Street, McPherson, KS 67460.
 

Lucretia Maria Gates, 98, of Falls City died Saturday morning 10 July 2004 at the Falls City Care Center.

She was born 5 March 1906 at rural Peabody, Kansas to Joseph Eastman Hall and Hansigne Olsen She grew up in the Peabody area and graduated from the Peabody High School in 1923. Lucretia attended Oklahoma College for Women, Chickasha, Oklahoma for a year and returned to teach in a country school in Marion County. Later she moved to Newton, Kansas and worked for a time in the Dickey’s Jewelry Store.

Lucretia married Silas Newton Gates on 2 Sept. 1928 in her parents’ home near Peabody. Mr. Gates died 11 November 1964 in Kansas City.

The couple’s early married years were spent working for the Santa Fe Railroad and thus they made their home in several Kansas towns, Wichita, Mulvane, Derby, Newton, Dale, Chelsea, Manchester, and Ada. In the early 1950’s they moved to Kansas City, Kansas and resided there until 1996 when Lucretia moved to Eastview Apt., Falls City. In March 2002, she moved into her granddaughter’s home at 510 East 15th St., Falls City.

During the years in Kansas City, Kansas, Mrs. Gates was an Avon dealer for 21 year. She was a Life Member of the American Rabbit Breeders Assoc. and Life Member of the Kansas State Rabbit Breeders Assoc. Both Mr. Gates and Mrs. Gates were active members in the domestic rabbit clubs, belonging to the Kaw Valley Rabbit Club, the Progressive Rabbit Club, the Salt Creek Rabbit Club, Hutchinson, Kansas, and the American Chinchilla Specialty Club. Lucretia published this Specialty Club’s newsletter for many years. The Gates spent their vacations at the American Rabbit Breeders Assoc.’s annual convention.

She was 25 year plus member of the Eastern Star Lodge in Lyons, Kansas and a charter member of the Ne-Mo-Ka Craft Guild., Falls City, Ne.

Mrs. Gates is survived by a daughter. Cora Hannesina ‘Hanna” Shafter, a son-in-law, Clair, of Falls City and two granddaughters Kirsten Joyce Simpson (David), Falls City, Radonna Ann Wesley, Cleveland, Ohio, 2 nieces, 2 nephews,1 great grandniece and two great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a daughter, Geneva, a son-in-law, Frank, an infant son, 4 half brothers, half sisters, and a granddaughter.

A Memorial Service was 7 August at 519 East 15th St., Falls City; Internment at Prairie Lawn Cemetery, at Peabody, Kansas.

Submitted by Hannesina Shafer (daughter) Mrs. Clair, 800 East 21st St. Falls City, Ne 68355 phone 402-245-6122

Longtime ARBA member Mary Fast died this year at the Thorne Care Center in Hutchinson, KS at the age of 91. She was born April 6, 1915 in Cawker City, KS and married Gerald Fast in 1966. Mr. Fast was a retired ARBA Judge and KSRBA Member. He passed away in 1991.

Mary was a member of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Hutchinson, KS. She was active in the Senior Club and Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Even with severe arthritis in her hands, she managed to go to the church and fold bulletins for the weekly church services.

Mary’s hobbies were many. One of her favorite was painting faces on porcelain dolls. She enjoyed sewing and gardening. (Mary donated many of her ribbons made into pillows or vests to raffles and door prizes at local shows.) She enjoyed driving places and was known for having a heavy foot!

Mary and Gerald’s greatest love was rabbits. She was noted for her Dutch, Florida Whites, Holland Lops, and Mini Lops. It was often said that Gerald and Mary could put fur on a fence post. (This was heavily emphasized by Oren Reynolds, one of their greatest competitors of Florida Whites.)

As partners, Mary and Gerald helped many youth get started with top notch breeding stock at a reasonable price. Free instructions came always came with the sale. Mary had a true interest in the youth of Salt City Rabbit Club and the local 4-H clubs. She attended the weddings and graduations of these youth even after there were not actively raising rabbits.

Mary and Gerald were the foundation of the Salt City Rabbit Club for many years. Mary served as secretary/treasurer and made all feel welcome. Her winning smile will be missed by all that knew her. Memorials may be sent to the ARBA in memory of Mary Fast. Memorials receive will go to the youth activities of ARBA.

(This article is a reprint from the 1996 edition of Kansas History Makers)

Raising Rabbits: 29 Years

Breeds of Rabbits Raised: By the family including grandchildren are: New Zealand Whites, Satins all except Chocolate, Californians, Dutch, Netherland Dwarfs, American Fuzzy Lops, Mini Lops, Holland Lops, Rex, Florida Whites, Harlequins and Silver Martens.

Memberships: American Fuzzy Lop Club, American Dutch Club, American Rabbit Breeders Association, Salt City
Rabbit Club, Kansas State Rabbit Breeders Association. Lois has served as secretary for the Kansas State Rabbit Breeders Association.

How did you get started raising rabbits?
A neighbor gave the children a New Zealand white buck because he was moving. The next year we moved from Michigan to Kansas and brought him with us. The children joined 4-H and took the rabbit project and it
grew from there.

What were you best winnings?
It's always exciting to win. Sometimes it is just as exciting to be able to give the winner a good "run for the money".

What were your most notable accomplishments?
You are extra proud when your winning rabbits are ones you have produced and not ones you've purchased. It doesn't bother me that much to have a rabbit I've sold beat mine or to do well. That's a happy customer.

What changes have taken place in the rabbit industry since you started?
There are more fancy and less commercial rabbits in this area.

What advice would you give the new breeder?
Go slow and build your herd. It is simpler to stick to one breed. But we've always liked to try different breeds. Some we liked and some we didn't. You get to know more breeders this way.

How was your family involved in the rabbit program?
The family has always been involved in rabbits. The children are not raising rabbits except for one daughter. Now it is the grandchildren who are raising rabbits.

When you started what feed did you use?
We sold fryers for less than 50 cents per pound so we made less than $2.00 for a 4 pound rabbit. At one time we had a commercial rabbitry. But I think it is very difficult to make much money that way. If you sell breeding rabbits for $25-$35, you can make more and also need less equipment and work. But then you have to have a market for them.
 

A Special Lady
(This note was printed in the May/June 2003 edition of the Kansas State News)

It is with great sadness this report is written to note that a wonderful Fuzzy Lop breeder and rabbit friend has passed away. Lois Trump has been a great influence on many youth and adults alike. She always had kinds words to say and went out of her way to encourage new breeders. It came as quite a shock to us all. She had been diagnosed with cancer and chose to keep it a secret, not receiving any treatments. She never let it show. Two weeks before her death, she was at a rabbit show doing what she loved doing….showing the Fuzzies! We will all miss her deeply.

To her credit, both her daughter, Chris Trump Hederstedt, and her granddaughter, Beth Hederstedt Ade continue to show rabbits. Both were KSRBA Queens. Chris won in 1971 and Beth won in 1998. Beth is an ARBA Registrar.

Barbara will be deeply missed by her husband Larry of 39 years and all of her rabbit friends. Larry and Barbara lived in Harper, KS. She had one brother, Larry Maninger of Springfield, MO and two sisters, Mary Maninger also of Springfield, and Kathy Bozarth and her husband Harland of Danville, KY.

Barbara Walker joined the ARBA in 1984. She attended the Sunflower Spring Show in 1994 at Hillsboro, KS. There she purchases a blue Rex buck. She bought a Mini Lop from Stan Pulliam and her rabbit raising days were started. In 1985, Barbara and Larry attended the ARBA Convention in Houston, TX. There they purchases a French Lop from
Joan McDonald and Louane Marchel. The French Lop breed is still in the barn and one of the major breeds they raise.

Other breeds that Barbara and Larry raised include: Mini Rex, New Zealand Whites, Satin & English Angora, Champagne D’Argent, and Harlequins. Barbara was a charter member of the Chicaskia Valley Rabbit Breeders Association. This club was chartered from 1984 through 1990. It took an early winter snow storm that year to close it
down.

Barbara and Larry are known as the rabbit folks of the town. They help the 4-H youth start their rabbit projects and locate the breeds that they want. They help at the fair and volunteer where ever they can in the county.

Barbara had many jobs but had been at the local restaurant for many years.

Larry continues to raise French Lops and Mini Lops as well as Satins at this time.

Memorials to: American Rabbit Breeders Association.

Pulliam, Stan, age 64, retired high school teacher and basketball coach, well known rabbit breeder and judge, US Marine Vietnam Veteran, died Sunday, May 4, 2008. No public visitation. Memorial service 10am Wednesday at Pleasantview Baptist Church, 1335 North Buckner, Derby. Stan was preceded in death by his father, Leonard Pulliam and brother, Dale Pulliam. Survivors include: his beloved wife of 40 years, Linda Pulliam, Mulvane; children and their spouses, Christy (Kevin Richardson) Pulliam, Derby, Kip (Ashli) Pulliam, Wichita, Robin (Aaron) Westerman, Derby, Dustin (DeVon) Pulliam, Mulvane; grandchildren, Taite and Jordan Pulliam, Brett and Luke Westerman, Gunner Pulliam and Charli (due in August); mother, Betty Jean Pulliam, Haysville; sisters, Sheryl (Reverend Paul) Miller, Wichita, Sandy (Roger) Attebury, Wichita; numerous nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established with American Gold Star Mothers, Inc., 2128 Leroy Place, NW, Washington, DC 20008. Smith Mortuary, Derby is in charge of arrangements.

(From a 2006 KSRBA News)

Stan Pulliam has raised rabbits for 41 years. He has raised New Zealand Reds and Whites, Champagnes, Florida Whites, Holland Lops, Mini Lops, Dutch, Mini Rex, and Netherland Dwarfs. In smaller numbers he has raised Californians and French Lops.

Stan is a member of the American Rabbit Breeders Association, Kansas State Rabbit Breeders Association, Sunflower Rabbit Breeders Association, Kansas Netherland Dwarf Specialty Club, American Netherland Dwarf Rabbit Breeders Association, Florida White Rabbit Breeders Association, Permian Basin Rabbit Breeders Association, and Kan-Mo Combine.

Stan is currently President of the Kansas Netherland Dwarf Specialty Club. Past offices Stan has held include: Vice President of the Kan-Mo Combine, a member of the Standards Committee for the Florida White RBA, and a member of the ARBA Judge’s Testing Committee, President of the Sunflower RBA, President of the Oklahoma RBA, Vice President of the national Champagne D’Argent Rabbit Federation, and President of Permian Basin Rabbit Breeders Association.

In 1956 Stan purchased a trio of New Zealand Reds from John Jennings of Iowa. That same year he purchased a trio of Champagne D’Argent from Oren Reynolds of Illinois. The rabbits came in fruit crates and were shipped by rail. Stan remembers sitting at the Santa Fe train depot for four hours anxiously awaiting their arrival.

Stan’s most exciting wins have been Best of Breed at the ARBA National Convention numerous times and Best of Breed at the National Specialty Shows. He has won Best in Breed with six different breeds at national shows.

Stan’s most notable accomplishments include being one of the first breeders in the United States to import the Netherland Dwarf from England in the late 1960’s. He has had dwarfs continually since 1969. His stock can be traced back to the original imports. In 1972, he received his ARBA judge’s license and has judged throughout the United States since then.

Stan noticed growth in the rabbit industry. There has been a change from mainly large breeds in the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s to smaller breeds in the 80’s and 90’s. There is also a shift from a basically all male ARBA in the past to a large number of women in both exhibiting and judging. The sizes of the shows have also risen dramatically. Shows in the 50’s and 60’s usually had from 200 to 300 rabbits. Those same shows now have from 1000 – 1500. Conventions have gone from 3 or 4 thousand to 18-20 thousand plus.

The Pulliam family hasn’t been directly involved with the rabbit programs, but they have always supported Stan and have never complained about the time that he puts in with rabbits.

When Stan started rabbits, he fed a combination of grains and good quality hay. He also fed fresh and dry comfrey. In the 60’s he changed to feed pellets, but he still supplements with grains and comfrey.

Stan has met some interesting and prominent people in his early years in the ARBA. John Fehr, Ed Stahl, Jimmy Blythe, Charley Pine, and Oren Reynolds were among these people. Stan’s friend and mentor for over 30 years is
Fiber McGeeHee. He remembers some early members of the Sunflower RBA. In the 1950’s, Charles and Lottie Willcutt, Betty Phipps were involved. In the 1960’s he remembers Clarence Benjamin, Mary Carney, and Ellsworth Tibbetts as his mentors.

Stan would advise new breeders to start small, buy the BEST stock they can afford, and cull ruthlessly.