Roberta M. Leininger

Haviland-Roberta Maxine Leininger, 86, died January 12, 2015 at Harry Hynes Hospice, Wichita. She was born at home to Ernest and Blanche (Knight) Allen in Paonia, Colorado on April 12, 1928. Her earliest memories revolve around living and working on the family fruit orchard. The family moved to Center, Colorado the year she started high school and then to Hay Springs, Nebraska during her senior year. She attended Friends University majoring in home economics and minoring in music. One year she stayed home to teach at a small country school and raise money for college. The major blizzard of 1949 interrupted school for six weeks. Finally, she rode to the school on a tractor, taking two hours to go 4 1/2 miles. After graduating from college, Roberta taught school at Melvern and then McDonald, Kansas. During her time at McDonald, she was asked to take a position teaching home economics at a girls’ boarding school in Kenya, Africa. She taught in Kenya two years, fully enjoying the experience and people, and then returned to marry James Leininger on December 30, 1958. They lived in Hay Springs, Nebraska, Wichita, Kansas, Arthur, Nebraska, and Valentine, Nebraska before moving to Haviland, Kansas. Roberta earned 2 masters degrees from Emporia State University; one in education and the other in library science. She was the librarian at Barclay College from 1972 until her retirement. She enjoyed playing the piano, painting, sewing, quilting, reading, cooking and attending her grandchildren’s events. Roberta was a gracious hostess, always having enough food for anyone who might stay for a meal. After her children left home, she hosted many international students in their home. She truly enjoyed the richness they brought to her life, even traveling to Mexico to play piano for a wedding. Roberta was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Edith Gaines and Thelma Jay, and two brothers, Horace and Herbert. She is survived by her husband, James; three brothers, Philip Allen, Ivars Henins and Albert Henins, four children, Charlotte (Sherman) Dance, Ruth Ann (Doug) Reiners, Philip (Becky) Leininger and Charles (Chelle) Leininger, eleven grandchildren, Tympani Skelton, Andreia, Kaitlyn, Zackary and Nathan Leininger, Mitchell, Matthew and Michael Leininger and Caroline, Susannah and Del Dance. Funeral service and celebration of Roberta’s life will be held 3:00 p.m. Saturday, January 17, 2015 at the Haviland Friends Church, Haviland with Pastor Donnie Hinshaw officiating. Burial will follow in Haviland Cemetery, Haviland. Memorials are suggested to Barclay College in care of Fleener Funeral Home, 514 S. Main, Greensburg, Kansas, 67054