Valerie Ann (Sohl) Lenz
Valerie Ann (Sohl) Lenz known to many as Val, was born on November 16, 1967, in Beatrice, to Kenneth and Mary Lynn (Vasey) Sohl. She passed away on April 5, 2026 at the Salina Regional Health Center in Salina, KS. She resided in McPherson, Kansas, and dedicated her life to being a homemaker. An avid reader, particularly of Steven King, Valerie also enjoyed playing online computer games, going to casinos, and was an enthusiastic fan of NASCAR, with Dale Earnhart, Jr. as her favorite driver. However, what mattered most to Valerie were her grandchildren. She was a graduate of Southern High School, class of 1986, and went on to join the job corps.
Valerie is survived by her partner of over 30 years, Merwin Horner; daughter Jenny (Jade) Knackstedt; son, Josh Lenz; grandchildren, Ollie, Lauren, Christian, Everly, Brayden, Avery, Landen, Emery, Verose, Benson, and Myah; sister, Angela (Donnie) Meyer; brothers, James (Missy) Sohl, Aaron Sohl, and Colby Sohl; stepmother, Patty Sohl; sister-in-law, Angela (Mike) Foran; many nieces and nephews and a host of extended family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and her son, Jonathan Lenz.
A funeral will be held at 2:00pm on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at the Wymore Church of Christ with Clayton Lundstedt officiating. Burial will be at the Wymore Cemetery. A family prayer service will begin at 1:45pmThe body will lie in state at the Laughlin-Hoevet Funeral Home on April 13th, from 12:00pm to 8:00pm with the family greeting relatives and friends from 6:00pm to 7:30pm and at the church one hour prior to the funeral. Val’s love of cats inspired her memorial to be dedicated to the Cat House in McPherson, KS or the Beatrice Humane Society with the funeral home in charge.
In memory of Valerie, we invite you to share your favorite memories, upload photos of her, and view her video tribute and service on her memorial page at www.ghchapel.com. Your remembrances will serve as a comfort to those who loved her, and a celebration of a life well-lived.
These services have been entrusted to the Laughlin-Hoevet Funeral Home in Wymore.
