LARNED — Theresa ‘Gayle’ Winter, 77, of Larned, Kan., went peacefully to be with her Savior on March 7, 2026, in Hoisington with her loving daughter by her side, following a battle with metastatic breast cancer. She was born on Jan. 27, 1949, in Purcell, Okla. to Chester Rupert Minyen and Ruby Roberta (Alexander) and was the third child in a family of four.

Gayle graduated from Sublette High School in 1967. She spent a few years employed as a school bus driver through Sublette School District and then later attended Garden City Community College for prerequisites for nursing before switching to the Respiratory Therapy field and completed training for Registered Respiratory Therapy (RRT) from California College of Health Sciences in 1987 and began a 35 year career as an RRT, and was among the first 300 RRTs to be registered in Kansas. Gayle was employed by numerous hospitals in central and western Kansas, including the following: CKMC, Edwards County Hospital, Ellinwood District Hospital, Great Bend Regional, Greensburg, Hays Medical Center, Johnson City Hospital, Western Plains Medical Center, and most recently, Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, before retiring in 2022. She served as an Adjunct Faculty Member through California College of Health Sciences and mentored many RRT students throughout her career. Gayle was a member of the KU Care Flight medical transport team based out of Great Bend in the 1980’s. She also owned and operated Central Kansas Respiratory Services for over a decade until selling the business in 2010.

Gayle was a devoted member of the Kinsley Baptist Church. She married Ronald Winter of Sublette on April 7, 1967, and they later divorced. This marriage was blessed with stepchildren, Randy and Yvette, and children Robin, Tina, and John. In 1980 she married Valadamir Bakumenko in Kinsley and they later divorced. On Aug. 26, 1992, she married Leroy Gier in Kinsley, and they later divorced and remained lifelong friends until his passing in 2017.

Gayle is survived by her daughter, Robin Gayle Rziha and spouse Scott of Hoisington; step children Randy Winter and Yvette Shantz (Duane) of Wichita; four grandchildren, Abigayle Boxberger and spouse Bryce of Hoisington, Hannah Gayle Winter and spouse Krys of Redding, Calif., Alex Rziha and spouse Madison of Russell, Paul Rziha and girlfriend Kylee Sandy of Great Bend; one great grandchild, Ian Boxberger, and a second grandchild (baby girl Rziha to Alex and Madison) due in June; two sisters Tahana ‘Sue’ Guyton of Dodge City, and Cecelia ‘Kay’ Boyd of Wichita; and several special nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents; son, John Winter; newborn daughter, Tina Winter; and her brother, Denver Minyen.

Gayle was a lifetime member of the VFW Women’s Auxiliary Post 7349, Kinsley. She loved her family and had a huge, giving heart, always wanting to help with home projects, assisting her grandchildren with their college education, or helping family members in need of care and support. She was a talented seamstress and sewed much of her own clothing and that of her children in her early years as a mother and homemaker. She had a gift for interior design and took much joy in decorating her home. During her marriage to Leroy Gier, Gayle raised a herd of Llamas, which all became her pets and she enjoyed talking about them and bringing a few of them to Kinsley for special events. Gayle had fond memories of playing basketball in high school and enjoyed watching KU basketball. She loved fishing and preparing the fish she would catch. She leaves behind her two cats, Moses and Gracie, who she loved dearly.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 12, 2026, at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington. Family will receive friends starting at 9:30 a.m. prior to the service. Graveside services will be held later with immediate family at the Haskell County Cemetery. Cremation has taken place. Memorials are suggested to the Kinsley Baptist Church, in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, P.O. Box 146, Hoisington, KS  67544. 

Notices may be viewed and condolences sent at www.nicholsonrickefh.net.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home

P.O. Box 146

Hoisington, KS  67544

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, March 10, 2026