Janice was born October 17, 1945 at Ellsworth Memorial Hospital the fifth child of Merle and Lizzie (McGeary) Lyne. Her early years were spent on the family farm in Franklin Township of Lincoln County, Kansas. Early memories were frequent visits to Aunt Mable and Uncle George's farm where they lived with Grandpa Howard Lyne playing with brothers, sisters and lots of cousins. She attended Lincoln Elementary School and graduated with the Class of 1963 of Lincoln High School. She loved to read and listen to the radio. Her high school years worked for Mary Jane Day, taking care of the children, doing housework and helping to prepare meals for the harvesters. The summer after graduation she worked for Burk's Market in Lincoln. She attended Crum's School of Cosmetology, Manhattan, Kansas, graduating in 1964. She was employed at Frances' Beauty Shop, Lincoln, Kansas.
While home on Christmas break, she met her brother's friend John Ray Meili and they married September 6, 1964. They lived in Lincoln until moving to Beloit, Kansas, in October 1966. She worked at Beauty Shops until August of 1970 when she became employed by Boogaarts Supermarket. She would become the bookkeeper, non-foods manager, head cashier, and night manager in the 29 years that she worked there. From 1982 to 1989 she was bookkeeper for C & R Body Shop, Inc., her husband's business as well. For many years she also gave permanents and haircuts to shut-ins. She continued her education by taking classes through Cloud County Community College. She was employed by Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems from October 1999 to June of 2006. After retirement she kept busy with the Lincoln High School Alumni Board and was co-manager of the Mitchell County Food Pantry and volunteered for Meals on Wheels. She was a lifetime member of the Lincoln VFW Auxiliary, Post 7928.
On November 16, 1969 she was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church, Beloit, Kansas. She was a member of the Choir, Secretary/Treasurer of Women of the ELCA, Council Member and served on the Witness Board for a number of years.
On October 13, 1973, their only son, John William, was born and welcomed into the family October 16. Ray, Janice and John liked to travel and took many family trips, until Ray's health failed. Ray passed away March 14, 1999 after a lengthy illness.
In 2004 she met Delbert Dean Bryan and they married April 23, 2005. They enjoyed almost nine years together, and traveled frequently before Delbert passed away March 2, 2014. With this marriage she gained two stepdaughters, Cindy Galstad and husband James and Sandi Jo Dutt and husband Greg; three step-grandchildren, Abby Markley and husband Ben, Alexis Dutt and husband Nicholas Redmond, Patrick Oehm and wife Amber, Julia Galstad Huebel and wife Lacey; great-grandchildren, Max and Spencer Markley, Kemper and Krue Oehm and Adelaide and Ansel Huebel.
Janice was preceded in death by her parents, Merle and Lizzie (McGeary) Lyne.
She is survived by her son, John W. Meili, Hutchinson and daughter-in-law, Amy Meili, Beloit; stepdaughters, Cindy L. Galstad (James) Wichita, Kansas, and Sandra Jo Dutt (Greg) Abilene, Kansas; stepgrandson, Patrick Bryan Oehm (Amber) Wichita, Kansas; step-granddaughters, Abby Sue Markley (Ben) Laramie, Wyoming, Alexis Ann Dutt (Nick Redmond) Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Julia Galstad and Lacey Huebel, Austin, Texas; great-grandsons, Max D. and Spencer T. Markley, Laramie, Wyoming, Kemper J. and Krue J. Oehm, Wichita, Kansas, and Ansel Huebel, Austin, Texas; great-granddaughter, Adelaide Huebel; step-grandson, Sean Clark; step-granddaughter, Kirra Smith; siblings, Merlin J. Lyne (Carolyn), Lincoln, Kansas, Sara A. Mallory, Grand Junction, Colorado, Clayton A. Lyne (Darlene), Lincoln, Kansas, Blanch E. Rolph, Minneapolis, Kansas, and Patricia I Propp, Lincoln, Kansas.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 AM Monday, May 20, at the Roberts Family Funeral Home in Beloit. Burial services will be at 2 PM Monday at the Hammer Cemetery in Westfall. Visitation will be from 9:30 AM until the service begins on Monday.
Memorials may be given to the Beloit First Presbyterian Church, Post Rock Community Foundation, Lincoln High School Alumni Scholarship Fund, or the Mitchell County Food Pantry in care of the funeral home.
Roberts Family Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
Condolences may be left at www.robertsfamilyfs.com