A retired civil engineer from Hesston who helped build the Alaska pipeline has died from the West Nile virus – the third Kansan to die from the disease this year.

James Pulis, 79, died last week at the Via Christi Regional Medical Center-St. Francis Campus.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment said that two other Kansans have died this year of West Nile virus. A total of 15 Kansans have been diagnosed with the disease.