RUBY MAY DARST

  Ruby May Darst, 85, Holden, Missouri passed away Thursday, December 21, 2000, 
at Holden Manor Care Center, Holden, Missouri.
  Ruby was born on July 4, 1915, in the small town of Sprague, west of Rich Hill 
in Bates County, Missouri.  She was a life long resident of this state.  She was 
the daughter of George Burk Anderson and Margaret (Henley) Anderson.  She had 
three brothers and six sisters.  She was a graduate  of Bryant High School in 
Rich Hill. She worked for the Cotton Belt Railroad, Missouri Pacific, and R.E.A. 
in Jefferson City as well as in St. Louis.  She returned to Rich Hill in the 
40's to work as secretary to the superintendent. In 1954, she married George W. 
Darst, Jr., a former principal of the High School in Rich Hill.  They moved to 
Bowling Green.  After living there for two years, they moved to Butler.
  In 1968 they moved to Holden.  In each town, she was an active member of the 
Baptist Church and loved to help little children learn about Jesus.  At the time 
of her passing, she was a member of the First Baptist Church of Holden.  In the 
last several years, George and Ruby would call and sing ,"Happy Birthday," to 
each member of their church.
  Ruby was preceded in death by her husband; three brothers, Everett, Ernest, 
and Clyde; and four sisters, Margaret Sledd, Wilma Pilger, Marion Wood, and 
Irene Sledd. She is survived by her son and his wife, David and Patty Tarver, 
Kansas City, MO; her daughters and their husbands, Jeanne and Raymond Smith, 
Buckner, and Nancy and David Busch, Arnold, MO; three grandchildren, Daniel and 
Matthew Busch and Melissa and her husband Richard King.  She has two great 
grandchildren.
  Funeral services were held Tuesday, December 26, 2000 at the First Baptist 
Church, Holden, under the direction of Ben Cast & Son-Wood Funeral Home, Holden.  
Reverend Darryl Woods officiated.  Marlene Price, organist, accompanied Vicky 
Stout, soloist.  Music included "What a Friend," and "Victory in Jesus."
  Honorary pallbearers were Thelma Shockley, Helen McDowell, Helen Henderson, 
Martha Lattimer, Norma Hirni, Willa Corkran, Helen Reuter, Gretta Lacey, 
Genevieve Keeton, and Betty Currie.
  Interment and committal service will be held Wednesday, December 27, 2000 at 
Grand View Burial Park, Hannibal, Missouri.
  Memorial contributions suggested to the church building fund.


RUSSELL D. RABER

  Russell D. Raber, 94, Holden, Missouri, passed away Wednesday, December 20, 
2000 at Holden Manor Care Center, Holden, Missouri.
  He was born March 22, 1906 in Holden, Missouri, the son of Samuel W. and Agnes 
(VanMatre) Raber.  He lived in the Holden area all of his life.  On January 20, 
1930 he married Mattie Mae Brown in Holden.  She preceded him in death November 
19, 1982.
  Mr. Raber attended the University of Missouri, Columbia School of Agriculture 
for two years.  He was past president of Johnson County Farm Bureau, and also of 
the Holden Optimist Club.  He was also a member of the Holden First Methodist 
Church, holding the offices of past trustee, and past chairman of the 
Administrative Board, and was a member of the United Methodist Men's group.
  Surviving his passing are one son, Sam W. Raber, Holden; three daughters, 
Agnes Ann Engelbardt, Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii, Rita Mae Coleman, Olathe, Kansas, 
and Alice Borgos, Raymore; one sister, Susanna Renoe, Hampton, Iowa; fourteen 
grandchildren; eighteen great grandchildren; and one great great grandson.  He 
was preceded in death by one son, Joe Edward Raber in Vietnam, 1970; one sister, 
Drusilla Krockenberger, in 1993, and a brother, Homer Raber, in 1964.
  Funeral services were held Saturday, December 23, 2000 at Ben Cast & Son-Wood 
Funeral Home, Holden.  Reverend John D. Ketcher officiated.
  Music was by the Methodist Church Choir,"In the Garden," and "Old Rugged 
Cross," with Julie Stout, organist.
  Pallbearers were Russell N. Raber, John Adams, Mike Hanna, Mark Coleman, Dave 
Jones, Bruce Milford, Chris Haas, and Brad Borgos.
  Interment was at Medford Cemetery.


MERLE DEAN PINE

  Merle Dean Pine, 60, Kansas City, Missouri, passed away Saturday, December 23, 
2000, at Truman Medical Center East, Kansas City, Missouri.
  He was born Friday, April 12, 1940 in Holden, Missouri, the son of Merle K. 
and Charlene E. Mitchell Pine.  He was a 1958 graduate of Grandview High School.  
He had been a checker for Milgram Food Stores in the Kansas City area and had 
worked at a Sinclair Station at Hollywood Cross, south of Lee's Summit.  Mr. 
Pine was a member of the First Methodist Church, Grandview, Missouri.  He had 
lived at the Care Center for six years.
  He is survived by two nephews; two great nephews; one great niece; and one 
sister Betty Winans and husband Gary, Grandview, Missouri.
  Private burial will be held Wednesday, December 27, 2000 at Sunset Hill 
Cemetery, Warrensburg, under the direction of Williams Funeral Chapel, Holden.