Elsie Henrietta Hemken, 89, of Litchfield, formerly of Walshville, died Monday, June 13, 2016, at 2:00 p.m. in St. John’s Hospice in Springfield. She was born on Aug. 16, 1926, in Taylorville, a daughter of Thomas and Helen (Weaver) Lewis. Her adoptive mother was Elsie Melchert.
She was a member of Walshville Baptist Church. Elsie was a homemaker and had also worked at Roller Derby Skate Corp, TBS Manufacturing, both in Litchfield, and as a caregiver for homebound people. In her leisure time, she enjoyed gardening, tending to her flowers, baking and cooking big family meals. She married Edward Ferguson, but they divorced. In 1965, she married H. Otto Hemken and they also later divorced.
She is survived by sons, Norman Ferguson of Schram City and Terry Ferguson of Litchfield; two stepsons, Robert (Lilly) Hemken of Walshville and Terry (Cathy) Hemken of Litchfield; two daughters, Juanita (Terry) Hosick of Greenville and Judy Allen (Chad Cunningham) of Sorento; two step-daughters, Karen (Dan) Pence of Walshville and Deanna Bruntjen of Litchfield; two brothers, Raymond (Bea) Mitchell and Bud Mitchell, all of Hanover, Canada; three sisters, Shirley Zippay of Litchfield, Ramon Isom of California and Barbara Stassi of Alton; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Kenneth Ferguson; three brothers, Guy R. Woods, Alvie Woods and Bill Melchert; and grandson, Shane Ferguson.
Funeral services will be held Sat., June 18, 2016 at 11 a.m. in Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield. Rev. Oley Lawson, of Walshville, will officiate. Burial will be in Elm Lawn Cemetery in Litchfield. Visitation will be held Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. in the funeral home.
The family suggests memorials to Walshville Baptist Church.
Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield is in charge of arrangements.
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