PERRY — Yvonne Marie Lang (Reif), 89, of Perry, Kan. died on Nov. 4, 2026 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Lawrence, Kan. Yvonne was born on a farm eight miles northeast of Hoisington, Kan. on Feb. 10, 1937 to parents Joseph C. and Emma Gertrude (Courange) Reif. She attended a one room country school until 7th grade and finished grade school at St. Joseph Catholic School in Beaver, Kan. She graduated from Hoisington High School in Hoisington in 1953 at age of 16 where she served as a class officer for thee years.
She married Melvin J. Lang on Nov. 7, 1955 at St. Joseph Church, Beaver Kan. She was employed at Fuller Business Services from 1953 to 1958 working until their first child, Randall, was born and then did accounting for several businesses in her home. David was born in 1962 while there.
In 1963 they moved to rural Salina where her husband managed Farmers Co-op Elevator, Hedville, Kan. where she did some part time accounting. Michael was born there in 1965.
In 1967, the family moved to Perry and Brian was born in 1972. She did accounting at Kaw Valley Grain in Perry several years and then worked as an accountant at the Kansas University Life Span Institute. After her retirement in 2001 she worked part time as the accountant at the Kansas University Beach Center on Disability projects until 2007.
She was a member of St. Theresa Catholic Church in Perry where she at various times sang in the church choir, served as a care minister, taught religion classes and prepared the church bulletin. When her sons were young she and Mel were active in Perry Lecompton High School Booster Club and the Perry Ball Association. She also traveled to 37 states, Bahamas, Mexico, Spain with Mel. When Mel retired in 2001, they had a home built north of Perry and had such good neighbors that she continued to live there after his death. She loved baking cookies for her boys and at Christmas time would share them with family and friends. Flowers were another love as was evidenced in her home and yard and she loved to watch sporting events especially when her boys played and was a fan of the Chiefs, Royals, Kansas State and KU. She always felt that her family was her greatest accomplishment.
She is survived by Randall (Sheryl) of Perry; David (Brenda) and step-granddaughter Audiey McTaggart of Lawrence; Michael (Carolyn) of Perry; Brian (Donna) and grandson Andrew of Lawrence; and three step-great grandchildren of Lawrence; and four nieces and two nephews. Preceded by husband, Melvin, in 2021; and her parents and all brothers, Alvin J. Reif, Joseph J. Reif , Donald E. Reif Sr.; and all sisters Dorothy Hommon, Virginia Reif and Frances McDonald; two infant siblings Raymond and Lucille Reif; two step-grandsons and one niece.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026 at St. Theresa Catholic Church, Perry, Kan. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026 at St. Theresa Parish Hall. A Parish Rosary will be offered at 5 p.m. before visitation. Burial will be at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Perry, Kan. Memorials suggested to St. Theresa Catholic Church or to Midland Hospice Care.
Funeral arrangements provided by Barnett Family Funeral Home
P.O. Box 602
Oskaloosa, KS 66066
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Nov. 10, 2026
