Elva Lee Wilken was born Oct. 29, 1929, in Seward, to Howard and Barbara (Wolff) Graham and passed away Aug. 29, 2022, in Seward at the age of 92 years, and 10 months.
Elva attended elementary school at Richie country school, she then attended ninth and 10th grades in Staplehurst and graduated from Seward High School in 1947. On March 12, 1950, she was united in marriage to Lawrence ‘Bud’ Wilken at her sister and brother-in-law’s home north of Garland. To this union, six children were born. They lived north of Garland where they farmed. Elva apprenticed under Lucille Duerr and worked as a cosmetologist for many years in Seward. After her husband’s passing in 1993, she moved into Garland in 1994. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, crosswords and watching game shows. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Garland, a Gold Star Mother of VFW 4755 in Seward and Garland Legion Auxiliary #369.
Survivors include her daughter, Priscilla (Rod) Thonen of Staplehurst; son, Larry (Connie) Wilken of Staplehurst; daughter, Deanna (Ken) Boyer of Garland; son, Dayle Wilken of Garland; son, Daryl (Barb) Wilken of Seward; 14 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; sister, Audrey Kilzer of Seward; brother, H. Dean Graham of Lincoln and a host of other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Lawrence ‘Bud’; one son, Bryan Wilken; four sisters; three sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law; and one great-grandson, Rhett Boyer.
The funeral service was Sept. 5 at Zion Lutheran Church in Garland. Condolences may be left for the family online at www.zabkafuneralhome.com.
