Lana Kristine Plant was born on November 8, 1946 to Ernest and Christine Plant in Akron, CO along with her fraternal twin sister, Linda. Lana loved telling folks that she was younger than her twin sister by 10 minutes. In the early morning of December 22, 2020 Lana passed away in her sleep from COVID-19 and underlying conditions at Hillcrest Care Center in Wray, CO. Her transition from earth to heaven was certainly guided by the Christmas Star lighting the way.
Ernest and Christine Plant made their home in Otis, CO with the twins. The girls were baptized at the Presbyterian Church of Otis and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church of Otis. They attended school in Otis graduating from Otis High School in 1964. Lana didn’t really care for school but she still got A’s with little effort. She was active in 4-H and other school activities such as a baton majorette. Lana had a beautiful alto voice and the girls sang many duets entertaining local organizations during their school years in Otis.
Lana attended Barnes Business College in Denver and embarked on a career in accounting. She worked a short time for a business in Sterling until she married Wayne Mathies in 1966 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Otis. The couple moved from Greeley, CO to Hutchinson, KS then to Little River, KS. They were blessed with a son Aaron July 7, 1979. They purchased a farm near Little River, KS, spent several years transforming the property to a working ranch including building a new house, and ran a cow/calf operation which was Lana’s passion. She relished working with the cattle on a day to day basis which was very hard work. She loved being a mom to her only child, Aaron.
In 1986, Lana was diagnosed with leukemia and in 1987 at the Mayo Clinic’s St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN received a bone marrow transplant from her twin Linda. Lana was an amazing 33 year cancer survivor with a strong faith that God would bring her thru the many health and personal challenges she faced.
The bone marrow transplant procedure was a success but Lana unfortunately experienced a complication that took her back to St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN for several months. Her parents went to Rochester and stayed there till Lana was released from the hospital and brought her to live with them in Otis, CO. They cared for her till she could live independently. Wayne and Lana divorced in 1989. She bought a house in Yuma and enjoyed living there several years before moving to The Manor where she lived for 24 years. Lana developed many wonderful friendships at The Manor. Her favorite things to do were being with family on Holidays, writing letters to family and friends, visiting neighbors, going to stores, cooking, tending to her flower beds and enjoying the many senior dances she attended. Lana also attended First Presbyterian Church of Yuma and community events. She was proud of the fact that she had not been to an ER or hospitalized for 21 years. Lana always had regular checkups but increasing health issues required more doctor visits and hospitalizations. She suffered a stroke June 29, 2019, was hospitalized at NCMC in Greeley. Lana entered Hillcrest Care Center July 8, 2019 and remained there until the end. She was a prayer warrior for herself, her family, friends, and the staff who took care of her.
Lana Kristine Plant was preceded in death by her parents Ernest Plant and Christine Plant Chandler; grandparents James and Maude Plant and Henry and Annie Anz.
Lana is survived by her son Aaron Lane Mathies of Levelland, TX; twin sister, Linda and husband David Frank of Yuma, CO; niece Stephanie and husband Randy Eigner of Yucca Valley, CA; nephew Steve and wife Nicole Frank and great nephew Pason Frank of Wray, CO; great nephew Bryant and wife Lauren Eigner and great great niece Campbell Eigner of Yucca Valley, CA; great niece Arianna Eigner and Shawn Moore of Fort Morgan, CO; great niece Malaika Frank and Chris Bonner and great great niece Charlie Bonner of Wray, CO; and great niece Breelynn Frank and fiancée Jaden Hilferty of Greeley, CO; also many cousins and friends.
Memorial service will be held on Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 1:30 p.m. at Baucke Funeral Home and live streamed on their Facebook page. Inurnment will follow service at the Otis Cemetery. Memorials are preferred. Baucke Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
2020-12-31