Ivan and Kathy Edsall, Victoria, and Jerry Spiess, Hays, announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Melanie Rae Spiess, to Ryan Henry Pearson, son of Sharon Pearson, Ulysses, and Roger and Teresa Pearson, Ellsworth.

Grandparents are the late Alvin and Shirley Braun, the late John and Eleanor Spiess, Patricia Renck, California, the late Charles Renck, Kathryn Pearson, Ellsworth, and the late Kermit Pearson.

The bride-elect is a 2002 graduate of Victoria High School. She served four years active duty and a year and a half selected reserves in the U.S. Navy. She is an administrative assistant for First Presbyterian Church, Salina.

The prospective bridegroom is a 1997 graduate of Ulysses High School, a 1998 graduate of Salina Area Technical School and a 2004 graduate of Pittsburg State University with a bachelor's degree in wood technology. He works for Vortex, Salina.

A Sept. 12, 2009, wedding is planned at St. Fidelis Catholic Church, Victoria.