Elva Johnson Becker Shea

ELVA JOHNSON BECKER SHEA Elva Violet Iola Johnson was born on Sept. 22, 1911 to her Swedish parents Betsy Charlotte Swanson & Peter Mons Johnson on their 240-acre farm near Grove City & Manannah. Her education began at School Dist. 75 & in 1931 she graduated from the Litchfield High School. She was baptized at the Manannah Union Church. When she was 11 yrs. old, the family transferred their membership to the First Lutheran Church where she & her youngest sister were confirmed in June of 1931. On Oct. 25, 1931, she was united in marriage to Andrew Peter Becker of Watkins in the Minnehaha Lutheran Church in Mpls. They resided in Litchfield & in 1938 moved to her family farm & engaged in the business of farming. In 1943 they purchased a 160 acre farm also in Harvey Township. They were blessed with three children, Darrel Dean, Bonnie Charlene & Carol Ellen. On Nov. 15, 1951, her husband passed away suddenly in their home. Elva was a widow for six years & on Nov. 2, 1957, married Caylor Bernard Shea of Kimball in the minister's parsonage in Litchfield. They retired from farming in 1975 & spent winters in Prescott Valley, AZ. On Aug. 13, 1986, her husband passed away & in 1987 she moved to the Longfellow Square Apts where she resided for 16 yrs. Elva's career was a devoted wife & mother, but she was also employed at the Northland Canning Factory in Cokato, the Emmaus Home & the Litchfield Hospital for ten years. She enjoyed crocheting, reading, swimming, playing cards, dancing, walking, golfing, traveling, entertaining, playing scrabble, gardening, researching the family tree, flowers, & church circle, Bible studies & the computer. On June 6, 2008, she went to Heaven at 96. She was predeceased by her grandparents, Hannah & Peter Swanson; Bengta & Mons Johnson, her parents, Betsy & Pete Johnson, older sister, Pearl Kerr, nephew, Donald Kerr of Grove City, older brother Monford (Mons) Johnson, youngest sister, Ethel Makres of Mpls., son Darrel Becker & daughter, Bonnie Becker. Surviving is her daughter-inlaw Mary Becker, daughter Carol Rowell, eight grandchildren, ten great- grandchildren, nieces, nephews & cousins. Pallbearers were James Carlson, Dean Johnson, Keith Johnson, Chris Makres, Mitch Makres & Darwyn Mielke. Funeral services will be held at The First Lutheran Church in Litchfield on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at 11:30 AM with Pastor David Sorensen officiating. Visitation will be one hour before the service. Interment was in the Johnson Family plot next to her first husband, parents and her daughter, in the Ripley Cemetery. Your kind expression of sympathy is deeply appreciated and gratefully acknowledged. The Family of ELVA JOHNSON BECKER SHEA