Marilyn J. Barner

Marilyn Joan Barner of Belle Plaine, Kansas, 86, passed away on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. Marilyn was born in Winfield, Kansas, on December 19, 1938 to Oliver and Iva Schmidt.

Marilyn graduated from Belle Plaine High School where she met her husband, Melvin Barner. They were married on May 17, 1957. They lived on a farm near Belle Plaine until they moved to Glen Carr Memory House in Derby in 2022.

Marilyn was employed by Cyanamid in Belle Plaine during her early years of marriage. Most of her professional career was as the executive secretary for the Valley State Bank in Belle Plaine. She retired in 1998 to care for her grandchildren.

Marilyn was a life-long member of the United Methodist Church in Belle Plaine, Kansas. She, along with a friend, started the We Care Dinners to help the people of the Belle Plaine Community.

Marilyn loved to crochet and bake. She is best known for her homemade pies. As a farm wife she cooked many meals for the harvest crew. Many of those meals were carted to the field. She loved to travel. It didn't take her but a minute to pack a bag if someone mentioned going on a trip. One of her favorite places was to travel to the mountains.

Marilyn loved to attend events for her children and grandchildren. She rarely missed a band concert, ballgame, awards banquet, or 4-H event. In these past years, Alzheimer's kept her from attending the events she always loved.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, Oliver and Iva Schmidt and her husband of 67 years, Melvin Barner. She is survived by her children, Deb and Mark Baker of Monument, CO, Judy and Bruce Happy of Belle Plaine, KS, and Pam and Craig Clark of Plano, TX. Grandchildren: Brent Clark, Megan Clark, Clayton (Sammy Jo) Happy, and Seth Happy. Sister: Claudine Owens and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation with family is 9:00 to 9:45 am Friday, November 14, 2025 followed by a 10:00 am funeral service both at the Global United Methodist Church, 124 E 10th Ave., Belle Plaine, KS 67013. Burial to follow at the Belle Plaine Cemetery.

Memorials have been established with the Alzheimer's Association, 535 W Douglas Ave #150, Wichita, KS 67213 and Good Shepherd Hospice, 7829 E Rockhill St #403, Wichita, KS 67206.