Ada Erichsen

Funeral services for Ada Erichsen of Junction City, Kansas will be 10:30 a.m., Thursday, April 10, 2008 at Zion United Church of Christ with Reverend Russ Glaser officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday, April 9, 2008 from 6 - 7:30 p.m at Penwell-Gabel Mass-Hinitt Chapel, 805 Caroline Avenue. Ada passed away Monday, April 7, at the Good Samaritan Center, She was 103. With her at the time of her death were five generations of family and a niece. Memorial contributions may be given in her name to Zion United Church of Christ, 1811 McFarland Rd, Junction City, KS 66441 and/or Good Samaritan Nursing home, 416 W. Spruce, Junction, KS 66441.

Ada Spittles Erichsen was born Jan. 14, 1905 in London, England, the daughter of Herbert and Ema Morris Spittles; one of nine children. The family came to the United States when Ada was a year old, settling in the McDowell Creek area of Geary County. Ada attended a rural school up to sixth grade and lived a good part of her childhood with James and Sara Edwards who had no children of their own and sponsored the Spittles family enabling them to come to the United States.

On May 24, 1925 she married Christian C. Erichsen. In 1955 she and Christian built their home on Clark's Creek and farmed their land. Despite her lack of formal education Ada owned and operated the Park Cafe in the 500 block of South Washington Street in Junction City for 28 years, retiring in 1964.

Ada loved gardening; canning and freezing much of her harvest. She kept a meticulous yard as she enjoyed all kinds of wildlife, flowers and greenery, sharing and trading many of her plants with others. She was also an avid sewer, quilter and did crochet work in addition to enjoying fishing.

Her husband, Christian, preceded her in death, Jan. 25, 1992. Ada continued to live on the farm until she was 98. She moved to the Good Samaritan Center in 2003 where she was an active resident up until just about two and half weeks ago when she went for a ride to see her beloved farm.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; her youngest son, Alvin; brothers, Charles, Henry, Fred, Herbert and Clarence Spittles, and sisters, Emily Brown and Gladys Gfeller.

She is survived by her son, Clarence Erichsen and wife, Bernice of Junction City; her sister, Grace Luthi of Tulsa, OK; eight grandchildren, Steve Erichsen of Kansas; Eileen Small and husband, Dale of Junction City, Rock Erichsen and wife, Liz of Junction City, Dennis Erichsen of North Dakota, Jeanette DeMars and husband, Marte' of Milford; Kathy Tresner and husband, Leon of Pratt; Chris Erichsen and wife Brenda of Ellsworth and Christy Rathbun and husband Kendall, also of Ellsworth. She is also survived by 13 great-grandchildren; nine great-great grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.

Casket bearers will be Dale Small, Rock Erichsen, Chris Erichsen, Kendall Rathbun, George Erichsen and Wayne Erichsen. Florence Whitebread will be the organist with vocalist Janette Vogelsang.