(photo)Patricia Langhorst

Patricia Langhorst, 78, formerly of Howells, died Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at Liberty Hospital in Liberty, MO. Memorial Mass will be 10:30 a.m. on Friday, July 18, at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Howells with Rev. Walter Jong-A-Kiem as celebrant.

Burial will be at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery with lunch following at the Howells American Legion Hall. Visitation will be Thursday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church with a Vigil Service at 7 p.m.

Memorials can be made to the Howells Community Fund in the name of Patricia Langhorst. Arrangements by Stokely Funeral Home.

Patricia Ann Melena was born March 23, 1947, in West Point, NE, to Frank and Eileen (Foy) Melena of Howells. She attended Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Grade school until the age of 10. The family moved to Omaha in 1957 where she attended Holy Name Catholic School, graduating in 1965.

Pat studied at the University of Nebraska — Omaha for one year. She entered the workforce at the Omaha Public Library, followed by Northwestern Bell Telephone and then as a flight attendant for United Airlines. Pat moved to Chicago for flight attendant training and was based out of O’Hare International Airport. After leaving the airline, Pat moved back to Omaha and was employed at First Westside Bank.

On December 19, 1970, Pat was united in marriage to Larry Langhorst at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Omaha. The couple made their home in Blair where they were blessed by the birth of two sons, Eric and Kurt.

In 1977, the family moved back to the Howells community after buying the Howells Journal newspaper. The business also published several shoppers including the Colfax County Cent Saver, The Farmer’s Market and The Fremonter. They sold the publishing company in 1992 and purchased the John Kovar home in Howells where they opened the Prairie Garden Bed & Breakfast in 1993.

Pat was the custodian at the Howells Post Office, Howells Bank and HCCS for a number of years and helped when needed at Bill’s Food Mart. She was a member of the Howells Women’s Club, Howells Community Club, the HCCS Board and Christian Mothers, serving as an officer in each organization. Pat and Larry were members of the Nebraska Bed & Breakfast Association, where Pat served as both a member and officer on the Association’s Board of Directors.

In 2011, they sold their home and moved to Liberty, MO, to be closer to family.

Survivors include her two sons: Eric Langhorst and his wife Jayme (Bratschi) of Liberty, Missouri; Kurt Langhorst and his wife Colleen (Tarsney) of Liberty, Missouri; four grandchildren: Addison Langhorst and Scarlet Langhorst (Eric and Jayme), Henry Langhorst and Nate Langhorst (Kurt and Colleen), all of Liberty, Missouri; and sister Margaret (John) Cioni of Springfield, MO.

She was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Eileen Melena; and husband, Larry, in 2023; as well as brother John F. (Margaret) Melena and sister Joan (Jack) Pfeifer.

~~~obituary courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Public Library, Blair, Nebraska ~~~

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