All Obituaries

James “Jim” Randall Kniess, age 76, of Butler passed away peacefully at the Butler Memorial Hospital on Sunday, October 18, 2020, following an illness. Born January 4, 1944 in Butler, he was the son of the late Harold and Helen Dietrich Kniess. He was Presbyterian by faith.  He faithfully served 6 years with the Army National Guard in the late 1960’s. Jim started working at Pullman Standard and then became a life insurance sales agent and worked for Western and...

Roger Dean Edgar, age 73, of Portersville, passed away Saturday afternoon, October 17, 2020, with his family by his side, after a courageous battle with cancer. Born March 20, 1947 in Monmouth, Illinois, he was the son of the late Lester and Betty Stemp Edgar. He was a member of the New Testament Baptist Church in Butler. He was a US Army Veteran, where he proudly served his country from 1968 to 1971. Roger was retired from the Salvation Army where he drove truck and picked up household...

Leroy “Roy” Howard Leise, age 89, of Portersville, peacefully passed away at Paramount Senior Living in Cranberry Twp., on Wednesday morning, September 30, 2020. Born February 3, 1931 on his family farm in Muddy Creek Township; he was the son of the late Howard “Pete” Gilmer and Mary “Tillie” Matilda Barkley Leise. He was a proud US Army Veteran who honorably served during the Korean War, earning the rank of Staff Sergeant. From a young age he was a...

John Hoskins Johnson, age 65, of New Wilmington, recently of Butler, passed away Wednesday morning, September 16, 2020, following an illness. He was born on April 8, 1955 in Rhode Island. He was a PFC E-3 who honorably served in the US Army from 1974 to 1977. He worked as a service technician for swimming pool systems. There will be Military Honors at 10:30am on Tuesday, September 22, 2020, at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Bridgeville, PA, where he will be laid to...

Paul Gary Acken, age 77 of Slippery Rock, formerly of Allegheny Twp., Westmoreland County, passed away following complications of diabetes and kidney failure, with his caring family by his side Wednesday evening, September 16, 2020. Born August 24, 1943 in New Kensington, he was the son of the late Paul and Edna Mae Large Acken. He was a US Air Force Veteran. He worked for 35 years as a lineman for the local electric company.  Paul also owned and operated A&M Gunsmiths for 35...

Michele Lee Hartman, age 47, of Prospect , passed away Tuesday evening September 15, 2020, at her residence with her family by her side, following a 4 ½ year courageous battle with cancer. Born May 28, 1973 in Butler, she is the daughter of Terry Lee and Tempa Strobel Bittner. Due to health diagnosis, she retired early as a Behavioral Therapist at the Family Behavior Resources in Butler.  She had worked there for over 15 years and loved working with children.  She...

Patricia Ann Ragan, age 79, of Prospect, passed away at her residence on Tuesday, September 15, 2020. Born October 1, 1940 in Butler, she was the daughter of the late Carl Leslie and Olive Jayne Chambers Wigton. She was Presbyterian by faith and was a member of the Eastern Star. Patty loved her family, especially helping with grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She enjoyed going to garage sales, growing flowers, and talking to people. In 2005, she retired from Sears where she...

Cinda Lou Benninger, age 74, of Chicora, passed away early Thursday morning, September 3, 2020 in Good Samaritan Hospice, Cabot. Born January 1, 1946 in Chicora, she was the daughter of the late Paul Francis and Helen Louise Rodgers Benninger. She was a 1963 graduate of Karns City High School. Cinda retired after working 44 years as a radiology supervisor at the Butler Memorial Hospital. She enjoyed spending time with Natalie and Amos, vacationing on the Gulf Coast of Florida, playing...

  Patricia Alyce Brick Switzer, age 69, of Butler, passed away Saturday, August 15, 2020, in the Good Samaritan Hospice, Cabot. Born October 17, 1950 in Chaleston, WV, she was the daughter of the late Patrick William Brick, II and the late Alyce Virginia Taylor Brick Burdette. Patricia was a big kid at heart, she loved her grandkids, furbabies, volunteering, and was involved in Girl Scouts. She had the love of writing poetry and belonged to a Poetry Club. She is survived by her...

  Dennis James LaTona, age 78, passed away Thursday, August 13, 2020 in Transitions at Autumn Grove, Harrisville, PA. Born July 7, 1942 in Buffalo, New York, he was to son of the late Vincent and Bridget Valvo LaTona. Dennis worked in construction, steel mills, security officer, and a police officer. He was Roman Catholic by faith. He enjoyed the great outdoors, where he loved hunting, fishing, target shooting, motorcycle riding, and was a gun and knife collector enthusiast. He is...