Janet Mehling

Janet Lee Mehling, age 68, of Goodland, died on October 2nd at the Topside Manor in Goodland, Kansas.  She is at peace after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.

Janet was born on April 19, 1952 in Goodland to Lowell and Alberta (Kling) Harding.  She was raised on the Harding farm Northeast of Goodland and had many good memories of growing up on the farm.  Janet was the younger sister by two years and shared that Dianna was the best older sister she could have ever had.  Janet wrote that in high school she and her sister spent a lot of time dragging main.  Many times they would stop at the corner garage and put 50 cents worth of gas in so that their dad wouldn’t know how much gas they had used, later to find out it was really the number of miles they were putting on the car that he was watching.   Janet loved to share her stories and her life with her family.

Following graduation from Goodland High School, she attended Brown Mackie School of Business in Salina.  She returned to Goodland and married Randal Gausman.  They were later divorced.  Scott and Crystal were the blessings from this union.  In 1989, Janet married Bill Mehling and they recently celebrated 31 years of Marriage.  Janet dedicated her entire 40-year career to First National Bank in Goodland where she served as Senior Vice President & CFO.  She was a member and former President of PEO ID.  Janet had an infectious laugh and loved to do things for others to make them feel special.  She was a great support to her family and was always ready to listen and help however she could.  She loved Husker football, spending time with family, and watching movies.  Movies received as Christmas presents always had a note stating they had already been inspected, by a member of Santa’s team.  Janet left this earth too soon, but leaves a legacy of love for her children and grandchildren.

Janet is preceded in death by her parents, Lowell and Alberta Harding of Goodland.  Surviving family members are her husband, Bill of their home in Goodland; Scott Gausman and wife Nikki of Kearney, Nebraska; daughter Crystal Cutbirth of Broomfield, Colorado; four beloved grandchildren, Kaiden Cutbirth, Kailee Cutbirth, Blaize Gausman, and Neely Gausman; sister Dianna Elliot and husband Chuck of Tribune; mother-in-law Rosella Mehling of Sidney, Nebraska; sister-in-law Claire Evans and husband Dave of Southlake, Texas; sister-in-law Lynn Nelson of Parker, Colorado; brother-in-law Chuck Mehling and wife Cheryl of Spring, Texas; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.