Lela Arnoldy

On November 26, 2025, at the age of 49, Lela Raye Arnoldy was called to her eternal home. She was born on September 6, 1976, in Beloit, Kansas, to Lana Gant and Neil Schulte.

Lela’s early years were spent at home in Tipton with her mom and dad. She lived in Downs attending elementary and junior high school there. She moved to Plainville with her mom attending Plainville High School graduating in 1995. Lela went on to earn an Associate Degree in Business from Hutchinson Community College. While attending school, she worked at Hutchinson Credit Union, where she formed her first lifelong professional friendship with her supervisor. After her graduation, she returned to Downs and went to work at Carrico Implement for four years. She then went to work at Great Plains Mfg. as a secretary, where she enjoyed her four day work week enabling her to spend more time with her family and friends. Lela was recruited by some good friends to work with them at the State Bank of Downs where she worked until Hadee was born. In addition to career positions, she kept books for her dad at Tipton Fertilizer and she assisted Kathy Begnoche, one of her second moms, at Flowers Plants and Things.

In 1998 Lela noticed Trevor at a dance in Downs. Trevor’s cousin and Lela’s dear friend, Cala introduced them. While dating they enjoyed Stock car races, dances, coyote hunting, supper outings with friends, and most enjoyed special family gatherings. On April 26, 2008, Lela married the love of her life, Trevor Arnoldy, at St. Boniface Church in Tipton, KS. Together they built their life on the family farm southwest of Tipton, raising three beautiful children.

Lela and Trevor welcomed Hadee TaNeil Eloise in 2010. In 2012 Tynlee Estele joined their family. In 2018 Ridge Kendric completed their family. Motherhood became Lela’s greatest joy, and where she found her true vocation. She devoted herself fully to her family, never missing a moment of their activities, any of their milestones, or any memory made. She supported her children wholeheartedly and loved her immediate and extended family, friends, and community with a fierce, generous heart. Lela had a special bond with her sister, Dee, and her mother, Lana. She was their person and her absence leaves a space that can never truly be filled.

Lela was an avid collector of many things, especially her snowman and ceramics. She loved decorating her home at Christmas for the last 20 years, with her treasured snowman collection hand painted by Rona Slanton. She loved spending time hand painting ceramics at Sonja Millers studio, another one of her second moms. Her home décor changed with each of her collections, which also included Cherished Teddies, Willow Tree figurines and Stanley cups. A devoted George Strait fan, she found her own “George” in Trevor. She enjoyed attending country music concerts and passed that love on to her girls. Lela stood strong in her beliefs, and always stood up for what she loved. She had a knack for numbers, and a remarkable memory for birthdays—each one an opportunity to celebrate someone she loved. Lela brought thoughtfulness and heart to everything she did. Her favorite number, 26, held special meaning and it stayed woven into her life until the end.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Trevor, and their children, Hadee, Tynlee, and Ridge of the home; her mother, Lana Gant; her sister, Dee (Jesse) Winkel; in-laws Rod and Martina Arnoldy; brothers and sisters-in-law Lisa (Dave) Anderson, Jill (Darren) Hodgkinson, Angie Tatro, Nathan Arnoldy; nieces and nephews Byntlee and Kessler Winkel, Dalton (Kristen) Hodgkinson, Ciara Hodgkinson, Breanna (Dylan) Swope, Hannah (Chayce) Krueger, Noah (Baylee) Tatro, Micah, Justus, and Jed Tatro; seven great nieces and nephews; cousins Corinne (Bryan) Hoard, Tatum (Ian) Hanson, Cooper and Declan Hoard; Grandfather George Kaspers.

She is preceded in death by her father, Neil Schulte. Her grandparents Matthew and Eleanor Schulte, Carrol Gant and Betty Kaspers.

Funeral services will be at 10 AM Monday, December 1 at the St. Aloysius Gonzaga Catholic Church in Osborne, Ks. Visitation with the family will be from 4-6 PM, followed by a rosary service at 6 PM Sunday, November 30 at the St. Aloysius Church. Graveside Services will be held on December 1 at 2:00 PM at St. Boniface Cemetery in Tipton, Ks.

Memorials may be given to Osborne Public School Athletics, and be mailed to Roberts Family Funeral Home, 910 N. Campbell Ave., Beloit, Ks. 67420.