Janice Marion (Lewis) Ballenger

Janice M. (Lewis) Ballenger, 80, of Lawrence, KS and formerly of Independence, KS and  Overbrook, KS passed away Thursday, February 20, 2025 at Bridge Haven Village in Lawrence, KS.  She was born June 17, 1944 in Vancouver, WA the daughter of Chester Arthur Lewis and Theo Maye (Keith) Lewis.  After the war, they moved back to Longton, KS.  At the age of 3, Janice lost her mother.  She spent a lot of her time with her grandparents in Longton.  Her father was a farmer, so Janice grew up on the family farm.  She attended school in Deering, KS and graduated from the Humboldt High School, Humboldt, KS with the Class of 1961.

She was united in marriage to Joseph E. “Pete” Ballenger on August 3, 1961 in Longton, KS.  They shared over sixty-three years of married life together. From this union, two children were born, Charles Lynn Ballenger and Lisa Dawn Ballenger.

Janice was a stay at home mother raising her two children.  In 1972, Janice worked as a Secretary at an RV Factory in Michigan.  Moving back to Kansas in 1975, she worked for Dr. Schafer in Kansas City until her retirement in 1995.  In 1999, Pete and Janice bought a 40 acre farm on the edge of Overbrook, KS.  She was the Secretary for the Elk Township.  Janice was the head cheeseburger fryer at the Livestock Sale Barn in Overbrook until moving to Lawrence, KS with her husband, Pete in 2015 to be closer to their doctors.    

She was a member of the Overbrook Bible Church in Overbrook, KS and volunteered at Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Lawrence, KS.  She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends.

Mrs. Ballenger was preceded in death by her parents, Chester and Theo Lewis; a step mother, Hazel Lewis; three sisters, Marilyn Gilson, Maurita Miller and Linda Hudiberg; a brother, Kirk Lewis and a step sister, Erma Tattershal.

Surviving family includes her husband, Joseph E. “Pete” Ballenger of the home; a son, Charles Ballenger and wife, Carla of Lawrence, KS; a daughter, Lisa Pelley of Aurora, CO; three grandsons, Tyler Pelley and wife, Jordyn of Parker, CO, Austin Pelley of Aurora, CO and Connor Ballenger and wife, Mallory of Hillsboro, OR; and two great-grandchildren, Brody and Makynzie Pelley. 

To Celebrate Janice’s Life, services will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at the Overbrook Bible Church, 719 Western Heights Drive, Overbrook, KS 66524.  A Graveside Service and Interment will follow at 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at the Longton Cemetery, 744 Road 26, Longton, KS 67352.  The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, March 10, 2025 at the funeral home.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Overbrook Bible Church and sent in c/o the Lamb-Roberts-Price Funeral Home, P.O. Box 268, Overbrook, KS 66524.  Condolences may be sent to the family through www.lab-roberts.com.  

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