Alvena Helen Ahrens Williams

Sept. 7, 1931-Aug. 27, 2010

EMPORIA, Kansas -- Alvena Helen Ahrens Williams, died Friday (Aug. 27, 2010).

She was born Sept. 7, 1931 in Alamos, Colorado to Alfred and Helen Jussel Ahrens. The oldest child, she grew up in the McCook, Nebraska area. She went to grade school in McCook. She moved to St. Francis, Kansas where she started high school.

She met her husband, Lyle F. Williams and was married to him on Aug. 4, 1948 in Saint Francis, Kansas.

They made their home on a farm, seven miles southwest of Saint Francis for several years, later moving to a ranch southeast of Goodland, Kansas. They lived in several places through the years, ending up in Lincoln, Nebraska for about 12 years, moving from there to Emporia in June of 1972, where they have made their home since.

She was a housewife working out of the home only one year before working as a maid in the Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln, Nebraska. She ran a day care for many years, taking care of more than 300 children in her home.

She is survived be three daughters, Frances Statler and her husband, Gary of Lincoln, Gail Lewis and husband, Richard of Emporia, and Janette Williams of the home; son, Michael Williams and wife, Eileen of Lamont, Kansas; six sisters, Lois Adams of Pratt, Kansas, Erma Nikkila of Urbana, Missouri, Sandra Price of Indianola, Iowa, Susan Barnes of Bremerton, Washington, Carol Allen of Grand Island, Nebraska, Debra Camargo of Red Bluff, California; brother, Dwight Ahrens of Bremerton, Washington; eight grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services are Tuesday, 2:30 p.m., at Reading Baptist Church in Reading, Kansas with the Rev. William B. Kneisly, of Blue Stem Baptist Association, officiating. Interment is in the Reading Cemetery in Reading.

The family will receive friends at the Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home in Emporia on Monday 7--8 p.m.

A memorial has been established with the elevator fund of the Webster Conference Center in Salina, Kansas, with gifts sent to the funeral home.

Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home of Emporia is in charge of the arrangements.