Dixie May Lanning, 92, of Salina, died Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at Brookdale Assisted Living in Salina. Mrs. Lanning was born January 15, 1932, in Salina to Manford Hamilton and Susanita H. (Smith) Bartley.

Dixie grew up in Salina and attended Kansas Wesleyan University. Upon graduation, she enlisted as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy and was serving in Corpus Christi, Texas where she met her future husband of 55 years, Donald. who was also from Salina. Upon returning to Salina. she taught school at Roosevelt-Lincoln Junior High School. While teaching she received her master’s degree from Emporia State University in Library Science. Dixie spent the next 30 years working as the librarian for Bethany College. During her time at Bethany, she earned her PhD (ABD) in Library Science at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Dixie held the title Professor Emerita of Library Science until her death at Bethany College.

Dixie was a prolific reader and always had a book or two in her purse. She was a collector of antiques and any historical item from Salina. Dixie had a great love for her family and her family’s roots in Salina. She was the great-great-granddaughter of Charles and Susan Haskit, early homesteaders in Saline County and one of the original six families on the town charter of Salina. Haskit (now spelled Haskett) and Smith Streets in the Hageman Addition are named for members of her family. She was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and the Rotary Club.

Dixie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Donald Ray, sister Mary Sue Harris, and daughter Diana Marie Shaft. She is survived by her son David John (Carolyn) of Salina, son-in-law Gerald Duane Shaft of Salina, five grandchildren, Sarah Elizabeth Ingalsbe (Kalen Curtis), Madison Regan and Wyatt Donald Lanning, and Travis Jeffery (Kathryn Brooks) and Trenton James (Erin Maili) Shaft, and eight great-grandchildren.

A private memorial service will be planned for a later date. Please make memorials to either the Kansas Wesleyan University Memorial Library or the Bethany College Wallerstedt Library.