Rochelle "Shelly" D. Lester, 66, of Wichita, KS passed away suddenly, quickly, and peacefully on September 3, 2025 at St. Francis Hospital, with her wife Barb at her side throughout.

She was born October 16, 1958 in Webster City, IA to Ivan "Bud" and Marian (Priester) Lester; at which time the angels looked down, smiled, and said "Yep! This one's going to be fun!" And so it was. Shel certainly lived life on her terms.

Shelly was a proud graduate of Des Moines Hoover High School, and Iowa State University earning her Bachelors in Business. Taking over the ownership and operation of the Pet Centers franchise brought her to Wichita in the late 1980s. Despite that, she remained very close to her family, talking to or texting with at least one of them almost daily, and also visiting them several times every year. She was a fierce and loyal friend, and passionate spectator of football, basketball and tennis. Her favorite teams were the Chiefs, Iowa State and Iowa, and the Indiana Fever; and she would sequester for days on end when major tennis tournaments were being played.

Shelly and Barb began fully sharing their lives in late 1999, moving in together in early 2000. They were together for nearly 26 years, and thanks to Obergefell were legally married on the Holliwell Bridge in Madison County, IA ,October 25, 2014, in a small, family only ceremony. From the very beginning they had numerous fur babies, often through fostering or rescuing. They also became devoted members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church assuming leadership and outreach positions over the years.

Shel is survived by her wife, Barb, Wichita, sister Roxanne Koenig, Omaha, brother Jeff (Lori) Lester, Des Moines; 2 nieces, 3 nephews, seven "grands" and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. She is preceded in death by her parents Bud and Marian, brother-in-law Mark Koenig, and Barb's parents Len and Joyce.

A memorial service will be held at St. Paul's Luthern Church, 925 N. Waco, Wichita on September 20, 2025 at 2PM with fellowship and light snacks to follow. It will be livestreamed using the St. Pauls Facebook link: https://facebook.com/splcwichita. A wake and TRUE celebration of life will be held at a later time, one in Wichita and one in DesMoines, dates, times and locations TBD.

Barb wishes to express her deep gratitude to all family and friends, along with the staff of St. Francis Hospital and Baker Funeral Home for all the support and guidance through this time.