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Graduation Day for Shelli & Belgian
Visitation will be held at 1:00 pm, Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at Dengel & Son Mortuary - Louisburg Chapel, 1 Aquatic Drive, Louisburg, Kansas 66053. Funeral service will follow at 2:00 pm. Burial will be held at the Louisburg Cemetery, following the service.
A full obituary will be available shortly.
Some years later, her mother remarried and baby Frank was born and adored. Sadly, the family later lost Frank’s father as well. When the war ended, the little family moved west to Washington State, where Jeanne grew up studying piano and the pipe organ, excelling at both. She graduated from high school in 1960 and married her high school sweetheart, Rich Beck, who was drafted by the New York Yankees as a pitcher. Together, they moved to Florida, where he trained, joining farm teams in Puerto Rico and other parts of the East. As a testament to her gutsy can-do nature, she squatted behind a batter's station and bravely caught her husband's blazing practice pitches, which didn't make the rest of her family terribly happy. During the offseason, she worked at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, served as executive secretary for the ITT Corporation in Richland, WA, and later worked for the URS Corporation in Texas.
In 1968, while in Ft. Lauderdale for spring training, a daughter, Katie, was born, which became her ultimate catch! From then on, she focused on nurturing that daughter. Rich’s baseball career ended, and they returned to Washington State.
The marriage later dissolved. Liz married Arden Roush in Spokane, WA, in 1975. In this union, she gained another daughter, Kathy Lopez of Thousand Oaks, California. Not long afterward, they moved to Minneola, Kansas to embark on their lives of service together at the First Christian Church.
Liz served as the church secretary, taught the high school Sunday school class, directed Christmas pageants, and used her musical talents in so many ways to serve her Lord. She also drove a school bus for children with disabilities, and eventually obtained a degree in floral design, fulfilling her lifelong passion for flowers and design. Liz also was an accomplished and exceptionally versatile painter across nearly every medium. She painted many murals in homes and, alongside painter friends, undertook loftier projects, including building murals. The grandest of all was painting the entire south face of a large, multilevel bank in Dodge City, KS, depicting a stagecoach roaring into the historic town, evoking the atmosphere of the 19th-century American Wild West. Truly spectacular, this feat was featured in newspapers throughout the region.
Katie became a competitive vocalist, and Liz was her greatest fan, never missing one performance. Kathy and her two boys visited in the summers, trying out their California skills on Grandpa’s John Deere mowers (terribly disappointing SKILL, but loads of fun). Upon Katie's graduation in 1986, Arden retired from the ministry, and they moved to the family farm in Lebanon, where they farmed alongside Arden's brother, Wayne. Two years later, Arden was called again to the ministry, serving at the Lebanon Christian Church, where he was baptized as a youth and remained until his retirement in 2000.
Liz loved the farm. She worked alongside Arden for many years in the fields and assisted with his ministry in the church. She also worked joyously with her beloved friend, Lisa, in her Smith Center flower shop. Eventually, Arden built a shop where she started a cottage industry that included flower arranging, decorative painting, and woodworking. Arden assisted her business in crafting many of the wooden pieces she had designed; in the evenings, saws and drills buzzed out in the shop, they were a great team. Liz again became immersed in church activities with Arden. She also greatly enjoyed membership in the local Music Club, always having a fun story to tell after rehearsals. She once portrayed a sassy Nancy Sinatra in “These Boots are Made for Walkin'”, complete with white go-go boots and a long wig.
Upon Arden’s retirement from the ministry and farming, they moved to Nevada, Missouri, to be near Katie and the grandchildren. They joined the First Baptist Church, and Liz sang in the church choir. She also enjoyed membership in the Community Choir; practices were fun-filled, and performances were magical. Always in team apparel, Arden & Liz enjoyed following granddaughter, Adrian, “Sugarbaby,” in her sporting events into college which kept things exciting; and Liz kept Collin’s nose in a book at the library, gave him painting lessons, took him to parks, and, yes, there was a Dairy Queen trip here and there (for both Collin AND Grandpa).
In recent years, Liz enjoyed family events and quiet days with her birds, as well as visiting with neighbors. Kathy and her oldest son, Steven, moved to Nevada, Missouri, which made life fuller, particularly after the loss of Arden.
Liz made a large footprint in many lives. One can never go into a kitchen, a closet, a drawer, or a garden where she hasn't made a significant contribution, never missing an opportunity to add beauty and cheer where she was able. A devout Christian, she spent a great deal of time in the Word, cared and shared with all, and dearly loved FUN. She is a very big loss to us all.
Liz leaves her daughter, Katie, and her husband, Bill Williams, of Nevada, MO; grandson, Collin Bond and granddaughter, Adrian Bond (Nevada, MO); stepdaughter, Kathy Lopez (Nevada, MO); grandsons, Steven Lopez (Nevada, MO) and David Lopez and wife, Courtney (Simi Valley, CA); sister, Joan Daniels (Anchorage, AK); niece, Mary Eikmeyer (Anchorage, AK); two nephews, Isaac and Jordan Case (Pasco, WA); cousin, Liz Bourland (Gig Harbor, WA); close friend, Lisa (Kline) Wilson (Pensacola, FL); and countless other friends and acquaintances. Preceding her in death were her beloved spouse, Arden; her father; her mother; her baby brother, Frank; and nieces, Sarah and Erin.
Services will be held Saturday, January 31, at 11 a.m. at the Christian Church in Lebanon, Kansas, with committal to follow at Price Cemetery in Lebanon, Kansas.
Memorial contributions may be made directly to the Christian Church, 411 Walnut St., Lebanon, Kansas, 66952 or in care of Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada, MO.
Deborah was raised in Kansas City and Nevada. She graduated from Nevada High School, Class of 1966. Deborah earned a degree in nursing and worked as an LPN in home healthcare.
Deborah was an animal lover. She especially loved being with her family and enjoyed attending all of their activities.
Deborah is survived by her children, Tracey Hendren (Shawn), Nevada, MO and Mark Loomer, Bolivar, MO; five grandchildren, Zach Hendren (Torrie), Andrew Hendren (Amelia), Matthew Hendren (Desmond), Lane Loomer, Madison Gutierrez (Jesse); eight great-grandchildren and a great-granddaughter arriving in June; her brother, Dennis Renfro (Sue Ann) Warsaw, MO; and her dog, Willow. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada, MO. A private interment will follow in Moore Cemetery, Nevada. The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Monday evening at the funeral home.
As heavier snow is inbound over the next 24 hours and temps plummeting to -10 Monday morning, everyone is urged to use extra caution while thawing frozen pipes along with use of space heaters in general.
Crest Ridge 59
Archie 48
Lockwood 47
Buffalo 44
Harrisonville 53
Carl Junction 59
Warrensburg 78
California 60
McAuley Catholic 52
Golden City 48
Appleton City 60
Lakeland 31
Chilhowee 42
Montrose 37
Drexel 72
Osceola 37
Windsor 60
Sacred Heart 49
Cole Camp 62
Stover 44
Girls
Crest Ridge 16
Archie 52
Lafayette County 31
Holden 42
Appleton City 62
Lakeland 40
Chilhowee 22
Montrose/Ballard 37
Drexel 29
Osceola 63
Windsor 19
Sacred Heart 50
Versailles 52
Sherwood 43
Cole Camp 27
Stover 51
Barbara Ann Ward, age 88 of Amsterdam, Missouri died Thursday, January 22, 2026 at Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri. She was born May 5, 1937 to Virgil Victor and Cleda Irene Thornbrugh Ward in Marysville, Kansas.
Barbara is survived by two sons, Terry West and wife Kassie of Butler, Missouri and Larry West and wife Shirlie of Amoret, Missouri; seven grandchildren, Grant West, Vanessa West, Alex West (Brooke), Benson Schwark, Wren Smith, Arthur Smith and Mason Jackson (fiancé, Cailey Weber); seven great-grandchildren, Colin, Ethan, Khloe, Natalie, Nolan, Maverick and Bentley; and two sisters, Karen Brown and Sandy Curnutte. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and brother, Billy Ward.
Nevada 51
Blue Valley Southwest 49
Sheldon 57
Galena 54
Warrensburg 76
Pleasant Hill 59
Hermitage 66
Rich Hill 64
Clinton 76
Sacred Heart 44
Girls
Chilhowee 41
Drexel 46
El Dorado Springs 41
Lockwood 34
Deanna “Dee Dee” Lynn Ward (née Diana Ward) was born August 8,1948 in Kansas City, Missouri. She died early morning, Friday, December 26, 2025, and is finally in the arms of a loving Father. Much of what is known about Dee Dee’s life is anecdotal; records of her family or childhood history are hard to find.
Here is what is known: Dee Dee Ward was a survivor…a tiny human being with a very great heart. Her parents, Kenneth Ward and Lola Hawley, could not care for her. As a result, she spent her childhood and young adult life in state mental facilities, foster homes and group homes. Deinstitutionalized in 1971, she became homeless. Dee Dee depended on shelters, HUD housing and other charitable resources throughout her life. Feisty and courageous, she was well known and often well loved by members of Kansas City’s social service industry. She was a regular at City Union Mission and Grand Avenue Temple, and the state, federal and mental health facilities that supported her. We are grateful to all who cared for Dee Dee and even bent a rule or two for her when necessary. Dee Dee taught us all about overcoming fear, about resilience and about love. Her final months were spent at Butler Rehabilitation and Health Center in Butler, Missouri where the staff treated her with grace and kindness. She is preceded in death by her parents; her partner, Raymond Davis; and her son Shawn who died in 2007 during combat operations in Baghdad. She is survived by her sons, Kenny and Charlie. If you would like to make a gift in honor of Dee Dee’s life to support the Deanna L. Ward Fund for City Union Mission’s L. Minor Care Center, please give here: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/deannaward. The fund will support individuals experiencing homelessness who have behavioral, mental, emotional and developmental challenges and are sheltered at the Care Center. For more information about Dee Dee’s life, email Julie Larocco at julielarocco57@gmail.com.
