Lora June Mebust, 87
Lora June Mebust passed into the Lord’s eternal presence at the Kansas City Hospice House on Oct. 7, 2021.
Born to Carl “Art” and Leone Peterson in Dillon, Montana, on Oct. 27,1933, Lora spent her childhood years in Kalispell with summers often at Flathead Lake. During high school, her yet to be husband, Winston, worked pumping gas at the local gas station. Lora loved to share how she asked her dad for a dollar to get gas so she could allow Win the opportunity to ask her on a date. They were married in Kalispell at Bethlehem Lutheran on Sept. 18, 1955.
Two children, Leanne and Kevin, were born in Seattle while Win finished medical school and Lora, a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority, finished her degree in nutrition science at the University of Washington.
Lora and Win moved to Kansas City, Kansas, in 1963 when Win accepted a residency in urology at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Children, Kreg and Kari, were born a short time later.
As Win’s career in medicine progressed toward becoming president of the American Urological Society, Lora was a member and eventual president of the KU Medical Center Women’s Auxiliary. She was the consummate hostess for Win’s staff parties and was part of numerous planning committees for yearly conventions held by the American Urologic Society. By her husband’s side, she was a tiara-graced queen, a woman of profound elegance, grace and class.
Central to Lora’s pride and joy was her family. She always carried photos of her children everywhere she went. As Lora and Win traveled the world, it wasn’t uncommon that after luggage was stowed and seatbelts were fastened, the photos would be out before the plane left the ground.
We could write further with seemingly the same breadth of eternity that our mom has now entered. In brief, she loved every moment of being a mom. During her final days as we surrounded her bedside in the hospital, a nurse, being struck by the love that radiated between Mom and her family, asked Mom for the secret to raising her family. Her response was simple, “love.” And we, as the fortunate recipients of her love, offer these words in loving remembrance on behalf of those who knew our mom and loved her too.
Lora June Mebust is survived by her sister, Marilyn, and husband, Dick Barney; four children, Leanne Luetkemeyer and her husband Kelly, Kevin Mebust and his wife Janelle, Kreg Mebust and his wife Cindy, Kari Clark and her husband John; and five grandchildren, Andy Smith-Mebust, Kaleb Mebust, Logan Clark, Aidan Luetkemeyer and Teller Clark.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Oct. 30, at Johnson County Memorial Chapel, 11200 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, KS 66210. Visitation is at 9 a.m., followed by a 10 a.m. service. Additional information can be found at https://www.johnsoncountychapel.com/listings.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Lora’s name to the Mebust Memorial at Philmont Scout Ranch and Explorer Base, https://www.philmontscoutranch.org. To make a donation, contact Philmont at 575-376-2281, ext. 1126, or mail a check to Philmont Scout Ranch, Attn: Mebust Memorial, 17 Deer Run Road, Cimarron, NM 87714.