Orval L. Regier

Orval L Regier was born on July 20, 1931 to Jacob Regier and Ida Ratzlaff in Harvey County Kansas. He passed away on December 16, 2023. Orval grew up on a farm in rural Harvey County, Kansas. He attended IXL and Willis grade schools where he and his siblings traveled by pony and cart. Orval graduated from Buhler High School in 1949. At the age of 21, he enlisted in the 1-W Service in Newtown, Connecticut where he was stationed from 1953-1955. Many memories were made. In the spring of 1955, he began custom harvesting with his brother, Richard Regier, where they shared a custom harvesting crew together with just one truck and combine. The following year he partnered with his other brother Leland Regier and lifelong friend Milford Lohrentz and their families. In 1957, Orval met Leana Neufeld and they married the following year on November 28, 1958, at Bethel Mennonite Church in Inman, KS where he was a lifetime member. Together they made their home in a trailer where they continued custom harvesting until buying a farmstead just outside of Buhler, KS in 1962. There, they continued to raise their three children Debra, Kevin, and Mark. Orval also entered into the cattle business at this time, while still custom harvesting in the summer and fall months stretching from the Oklahoma-Texas border to the Northern border of Montana. They met many great friends along the way and those relationships lasted a lifetime. Orval never missed a year of harvest, except for 1977, when his kidneys failed and he was unable to make the trip. With a kidney transplant in 1978, his belief in fresh tires and Massey-Ferguson equipment, he was able to continue his custom harvesting career until he retired in 1996. He continued being a cattleman until he reached the young age of 90. After making the decision to sell the family farm and move to Inman, KS, he spent his time farming fields from the local coffee shops with his buddies until his passing. Orval and Leana shared 65 years of a loving marriage together. Orval was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Debra Spencer and siblings Richard Regier, Linda Pauls, Leland Regier, and Shirley Ediger. He is survived by his wife Leana Regier of Inman, KS, son-in-law Steve Spencer of Buhler, KS, two sons Kevin (Cindy) of Great Bend, KS and Mark (Karol) of Salina, KS, two brothers; Clifford (Marilyn), Clayton, grandchildren Skyler, Jacob (Caitlin), Emilie (Spencer), Malina, Molly, Kenslie (Jared), Avery and three great grandchildren Riley, Bentley, and Reese. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, December 23, 2023 at Bethel Mennonite Church, Inman. The services will be livestreamed at www.bethelinman.org. Burial will follow at Buhler Municipal Cemetery. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m., Friday, December 22, at Buhler Mortuary, with family greeting friends from 6 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Water For Life (WFL) in care of Buhler Mortuary, PO Box 589, Buhler, KS 67522.

Orval L. Regier

July 20, 1931 - December 16, 2023