Belden Fletcher Mills, long-time resident of Wichita, KS, passed on November 23, 2022. Belden grew up in Des Moines, IA, and then Madison, WI later in his childhood. Just prior to his freshman year in high school, his family moved to Kansas City, KS, where he attended Shawnee Mission HS. He attended the University of Kansas for his undergraduate studies, where he pledged Alpha Kappa Lambda, and then went on to earned his Master's Degree in Psychology from KU. While in Lawrence, he met and married a Wichita girl, Anna Wilson. A year or so after their son Jeff was born, they moved to Wichita, where Belden worked for the Institute of Logopedics while pursuing his doctoral degree. Subsequently, he changed his career trajectory when he went to work for his father-in-law, who had recently started a new industrial paint manufacturing company. Belden was employed by Wilko Paint throughout the rest of his career, fulfilling roles of President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board.
Through the sixties and seventies, Belden became very involved with Wichita Collegiate School, assisting the sports programs with films and scouting, as a Board Trustee, and for four years, as Chairman of the Board. Around that time, he also became enthusiastically and inextricably involved with Music Theatre Wichita as a Board member, Board Chairman, participating in several audition trips, and even appearing in six productions over the years. He was also a central figure in the inception of the Jester Awards Program. And although he had to overcome many physical challenges due to a serious car accident while in college, Belden developed a life-long passion for golf, participating in many (and actually winning a few) tournaments, and playing thousands of rounds with customers, colleagues, friends, and strangers who became friends through this glorious game. And, of course, he was an avid Jayhawk basketball fan.
Belden is preceded in death by his parents, Fletcher and Ida Mills. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Anna, his son Jeff, daughter-in-law, Olivia, and granddaughters, Heather and Michelle.
The family would like to thank his friend and caregiver, Diane, as well as Comfort Keepers and Home Instead, and Harry Hynes Hospice.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at University Congregational Church, 9209 E. 29th Street North, Wichita, KS 67226 on Sunday, December 18th, 2022 at 2:00pm. A reception will follow in UCC's Rhatigan Hall.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation consideration to Lifeline Animal Placement & Protection (LAPP) 310 West 45th Street North, Wichita, KS  67204 - http://lifelineanimalplacement.org, or Music Theatre Wichita -https://mtwichita.org, or Beauties & Beasts - https://beautiesandbeasts.org