Lanene E. Lash

Lanene (Arnold) Lash went to her Father in heaven on January 29, 2023, at the age of 81. She was born on February 9, 1941, the second child of Irvin R. and Jessie Lea (Finical) Arnold. She was raised with her brother, Darrell, in a home full of faith and love. After graduating Shawnee Mission North in 1959, she attended Baker University and joined the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. Her freshman year she attended a dance that was co-hosted with a fraternity. She would often tell the following story: “When I walked in the door, I saw your father across the room. I said, “Uh-oh, I’m in trouble.” She and Kent, the love of her life, were married January 20, 1962. Kent’s study took them to City College in New York, where they lived for five years. They took weekends and free time to see and do all of the things that would be wonderful memories for them of their time there, including visiting landmarks and sailing on their tiny two-man sailboat. They moved back to Kansas City to be closer to family, and later to Ottawa, Kansas, where they resided for over fifty years. When they married, Kent asked Lanene what she wanted to do with her life. She told him, “All I’ve ever wanted is to be a wife and mother.” He worked hard to make that dream come true. Kent and Lanene briefly expanded their family by fostering children in need of care. After her children were in school, she worked at Kansas State Bank, and then as the accountant for Kent’s locksmith business in Ottawa. After they retired, Lanene filed paperwork at the city courthouse as a volunteer. She loved following Kent on any adventure he could dream up, and her kids teased her about being a “biker babe” as they explored Kansas and the neighboring states on their motorcycle together and often with friends.

Lanene was preceded in death by her parents, Irvin and Jessie. Lanene is survived by her husband of sixty-one years, Kent; her children, Matthew (Cara) Lash, Jenny (George) Covey, Amy (Chuck) Freeman and Mandy (Ryan) Fields; nine very loved grandchildren, Jordan, Shalamar, Mikayla, Matthew, Faxon, Ailey, Sam, Eli and Danny; her brother, Darrell (Judy) Arnold of Kingsville, Texas; and three nieces and a nephew, also of Texas.

Lanene far exceeded being “just” a wife and mother. She and Kent created a home that was full of love and laughter. When you think of Lanene, please smile; her legacy of love and grace will reach far beyond this time.

A visitation with the family will be held from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, at Dengel and Son Mortuary in Ottawa, Kansas. There is nothing Lanene needs, but if you feel the desire to do something tangible to memorialize her, please feel free to bless her most recent family at Hillside Village of De Soto, 33600 W 85th St., De Soto, Kansas 66018; or Grace Episcopal Church, 315 W Fifth St., Ottawa, Kansas 66067.