BELPRE — Ila Mae (Belt) Mead, age 100, passed away in Great Bend, Kan., on Mar. 18, 2026. She was born on Feb. 28, 1926 at Belpre, Kan., the daughter of Clifford Charles and Daisy Josephine (Herbert) Belt.  

On Jan. 19, 1949 she married Eldon Newton Mead at Belpre, Kan. Ila had been a cook for the Macksville schools and later worked in the Laundry at Larned State Hospital, retiring after 25 years. She had been a member of the First United Methodist Church, Belpre, Kan.   

Ila loved cooking and working in her yard tending to her beautiful rose bushes.  

Survivors include her daughter, Janice Johnson, Great Bend, Kan.; a son, Kenneth (Diana) Mead, Hoisington, Kan.; a sister, Luella Cardiff, Springfield, Colo.; two grandchildren, Jennifer Voorhies and Daniel Mead; five great grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild. She was preceded in death by her husband Eldon Newton Mead; brothers, Alvin, Clyde and Lloyd Belt; a sister, Norma Kephart and a grandson, Jason Johnson.  

A visitation will be from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, Mar. 22, 2026 at Minnis Chapel, St. John, Kan. Graveside service will be at 1 p.m., Monday, Mar. 23, 2026 at the Belpre Cemetery, Belpre, Kan., with Pastor Ron Bailey presiding. Memorials may be given to the donor’s choice in care of Minnis Chapel, 526 E. 4th Ave., P.O. Box 34, St. John, KS  67576.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Minnis Chapel

P.O. Box 34

St. John, KS  67576

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, March 21, 2026