Leilani (Lani) Lou Kehler was born to Donald M. and Violet M. Archibald on April 14, 1939, in Muscatine, Iowa. She departed this life on Feb. 3, 2021 at her home in Mountain Grove after a short battle with cancer. She was preceded in death by her parents; her stepmother, Esther M. Archibald; and her sister, Sherry D. Archibald. Having a father who was an evangelist, she and her family traveled a lot. She spent her grade school days in Columbus, Ohio; Western Grove, Ark.; and Wichita, Kan.
Her high school days were split between the Ozark Bible Institute & Academy in Ozark, Ark. and Phoenix Christian High School in Phoenix, Ariz. She graduated with a three-year Bible College degree from the Ozark Bible Institute, then furthered her preparation for the mission field at the Midwest Bible College in St. Louis, which merged with Calvary Bible College in Kansas City.
She then went to language school at the Rio Grande Bible Institute in Brownsville, Texas to learn Spanish. She obtained her LPN license at Biola University in La Mirada, Calif. Now she was ready for the foreign mission field! But...the Lord had other plans! She had become a born-again Christian when she was 9 years old. From that point on, she had one objective and that was to be in the center of her Savior’s will for her life on this earth; to secure the needs of others both spiritually and emotionally; and to build up the body of Christ. She manifested the fruits of the spirit of God with ease through the surrender of her life and the renewal of her mind through the constant fellowship with her beloved “Jesus.” While living in Boston, Mass., she met Wayne Kehler.
They were married on Feb. 9, 1980. Even though they did not have children of their own, they fell in love with, and became second parents to David, Sarah and Elizabeth Miller.
This relationship still continues to this day. Lani and Wayne were residing in Riverside, Calif. at the time of Wayne’s retirement. They decided to move to Mountain Grove in 2006 to be near family. Lani attended Victory Tabernacle Church in Mountain Grove and was involved in several local ministries. She was by far their best prayer warrior!
She leaves her husband of six days shy of 40 years, Wayne Kehler, of the home in Mountain Grove; her three God children, David Miller, of Boston, Mass; Sarah Miller, of Lexington, Mass.; and Elizabeth Miller, of Mountain Grove; her siblings, Lillian (Dewayne) Goforth, of Mountain Grove; Roger Archibald and Donna Archibald, of Phoenix, Ariz.; and several nieces and nephews that will miss her beyond words! All of the above mentioned have always been in her prayers daily.
The Memorial service will be held Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021 at 10 a.m. at the Event Center on the west side of the square in Mountain Grove. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that condolences be sent to Wayne Kehler at 1965 Highway 95, Mountain Grove, Mo. 65711.
