LAWRENCE, Kan. – Janice M. (Lewis) Ballenger, 80, of Lawrence, Kan., and formerly of Independence and Overbrook, Kan., passed away Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, at Bridge Haven Village, Lawrence. She was born June 17, 1944, in Vancouver, Wash., the daughter of Chester Arthur Lewis and Theo Maye (Keith) Lewis.
After the war, they moved back to Longton, Kan. At the age of three, 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, Kan. and graduated from the Humboldt High School, Humboldt, Kan., with the class of 1961.
She was united in marriage to Joseph E. “Pete” Ballenger on Aug. 3, 1961, in Longton. They shared more than 63 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. She was the secretary for the Elk Township. Janice was the head cheeseburger fryer at the Overbrook livestock sale barn until moving to Lawrence in 2015 with her husband, Pete, to be closer to their doctors.
She was a member of the Overbrook Bible Church and volunteered at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Chester and Theo Lewis; stepmother, Hazel Lewis; three sisters, Marilyn Gilson, Maurita Miller and Linda Hudiberg; brother, Kirk Lewis; and stepsister, Erma Tattershal.
Surviving family includes her husband, Joseph E. “Pete” Ballenger, of the home; son, Charles Ballenger and wife, Carla, of Lawrence; a daughter, Lisa Pelley, Aurora, Colo.; three grandsons, Tyler Pelley and wife, Jordyn, of Parker, Colo., Austin Pelley, Aurora, Colo., and Connor Ballenger and wife, Mallory, Hillsboro, Ore.; and two great-grandchildren, Brody and Makynzie Pelley.
To celebrate Janice’s life, services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 11, at Overbrook Bible Church, 719 Western Heights Drive, Overbrook. A graveside service and interment will follow at 3 p.m., at Longton Cemetery, 744 Road 26, Longton. The family will receive friends 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, March 10, at Lamb-Roberts-Price Funeral Home, 730 Western Heights Drive, Overbrook.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Overbrook Bible Church and sent in care of Lamb-Roberts-Price Funeral Home, PO Box 268, Overbrook, Kan. 66524. Condolences may be sent to the family through www.lamb-roberts.com.
