Allyn Olson Lockner

Allyn Olson Lockner, age 92, died Monday, January 29, 2024 atTopeka, KS. He was born February 11, 1931, the oldest son of Frank M. and Agnes T, (Olson) Lockner on their farm in Hand County, South Dakota.

Allyn spent his childhood and youth living and working on his parents' farm. He was baptized in the Luther faith at Whitewood Lutheran Church near Hetland, South Dakota, and confirmed at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Miller, South Dakota.

Other family members include Frank O. Lockner, Miller South Dakota, brother; and Terry K. Lockner, Black Hawk, South Dakota, brother.

Allyn and Barbara J. ("BJ") McCandless were married on August 15, 1969, in Brookings, South Dakota.

Allyn received his elementary education at Otto and Brown schools in Hand County, and his secondary education at Wessington High School, Wessington, South Dakota and graduated in 1950. Doing necessary farm work and traveling daily between home and high school prevented him from full participation in high school activities.

Helen Buchanan, a physical therapist, in Huron, South Dakota, had a decisive effect on Allyn's life after he started his senior year of high school. During the twenty-month hospitalization due to poliomyelitis, she insisted Allyn would be unable to do physical work and he needed to obtain a college education. Allyn resisted, and after months of intense verbal exchanges, he agreed to enter Huron College, threatened to quit many times which she opposed. He finally enjoyed learning and its significance late during his freshman year. Helen was the vital cause for his education and career. Allyn thanked her many times.

Allyn's higher education included Huron College, Bachelor of Arts, 1954; the University of South Dakota, Master of Arts, accounting and economics, 1955; and the University of Colorado, Doctor of Philosophy, economics, 1960.

Recognitions of Allyn's education achievements included National Social Science Honor Society (Pi Gamma Mu), 1953; Wall Street Journal Student Achievement Award, 1954; graduated magna cum laude, Huron College, 1954; Val B. Fisher Scholarship, University of Colorado, 1955; and Ford Foundation Graduate Scholarships and Fellowships, University of Colorado, 1956-1959.

He studied government budgeting and public policy at the University of California, Berkeley in 1971-72, followed by a two-month trip to Europe with his wife, BJ. He graduated from the Executive Development Program at the Federal Executive Institute in Charlottesville, Virginia, 1981; and the Certified Public Manager Program of Public Management Center, University of Kansas in Topeka, Kansas, 1993.

During Allyn's career he conducted and directed research for the Wyoming Legislature, 1959-1963; undertook research on valuation of taxable state and local property for Census of Governments, U. S. Bureau of Census, 1963-1965; taught macroeconomics, government finance, and principles of economics at South Dakota State University, 1965-1973; and directed the South Dakota Department of Environmental Protection, 1973-1979. He also assisted direction of the Kansas City regional office of surface coal mining regulation and reclamation program, U. S. Office of Surface Mining, 1979-1981; and directed the Kansas Water Office, 1981-1982. He evaluated social service programs and facilitated strategic planning at the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, and at other agencies in the executive branch of Kansas State Government, 1982-2001.

During Allyn's career, he designed and helped to implement a management system at the United States Office of Surface Mining, Region IV, 1979; and designed and started to implement a management system in the Kansas Water Office, 1982.

Recognitions of Allyn's career achievements included Water Conservationist of the Year, South Dakota Chapter, National Wildlife Federation, 1975; and Outstanding Achievement Award, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region VIII, 1979.

Allyn was a member of American Society for Public Administration and the League of Women Voters of Topeka and Shawnee County Kansas.

During his retirement, Allyn's voluntary work included doing research and authoring reports on annexation between Topeka City and Shawnee County for the League of Women Voters in Topeka and Shawnee County, 2004; and a guide for consolidating City of Topeka and Shawnee County for the Consolidation Commission of Topeka Kansas and Shawnee County, 2005. He also did research for and was later appointed to the Kansas Advisory Council on Intergovernmental Relations, 2009. This voluntary experience lead to Allyn's authoring a book titled Steps to Local Government Reform: A Guide to Tailoring Local Government Reforms to Fit Regional Governance Communities in Democracies (Bloomington: iUniverse, Inc., 2013).

Allyn established and funded endowments for outreach for increased membership by First Lutheran Church, Topeka. He also established and funded endowments for physical therapy in honor of Helen Buchanan, and for nursing, and international students at Washburn University, Topeka.

During Allyn's retirement, his interests returned to water in 2014. He drew on his experiences with water quality, drinking water, and water conservation while directing the South Dakota Department of Environmental Protection. He studied Kansas water issues and policies, testified before Kansas water-related legislative committees, and participated in discussions of the Kansas Regional Water Advisory Committee. He researched water security issues and policies in many democracies on planet Earth. He authored a book titled Doing Regional Water Security: A Guide to Contexts, Stages, and Steps in Democracies (Amazon, 2023).

To be informed, Allyn watched PBS, C-SPAN, and CNN and used his computer to search the internet for discussions of topics of interest. He used libraries and attended events at Washburn University.

For enjoyment, he listened to big orchestra swing and jazz, and light classical music on his collection of records and tapes. He enjoyed foreign trips with his wife, BJ, and traveling in their Class B motorhome. They visited relatives and friends in several states, and several national parks and historical sites in the United States and Canada.

Although Allyn encountered many challenges during his life, he had a productive and enjoyable life with help of his wife BJ, his primary care physician Robert W. Holmes, MD, and the Christian Holy Spirit. As retirement continued, he lived one day at a time and looked forward to the next day.

Burial is at Lockner family plot at the Wessington Cemetery located west of Wessington, SD. A memorial service will be scheduled for a later date.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Allyn's and BJ's "Endowment: Christian Believers for the Future" at First Lutheran Church, 1234 Fairlawn Road, Topeka, Kansas 66604-2098. People wanting to write messages may write and sign below.