Elizabeth Amanda (Southards) Welp

Elizabeth Welp passed away August 20, 2018 at Hillcrest Care Center. She was born January 18,
1919, sixth of eleven children, born to Louis and Anna (Grunder) Southards. She was born 3 miles north
of Kirk, Colorado. She attended Kirk School. After leaving high school, she went to Denver and worked
for Mr. and Mrs. Brown as a housekeeper.

She met Wilbert Welp at a dance in Idalia. They were later married in Greeley, Colorado at a
Lutheran parsonage. Elnora Stone and a cousin, Chester Welp, stood up for them. Four children were
born to this union, Venice, Dennis, Estalene, and Mervin. They made their home north of Wilbert’s
parents’ home until his parents moved to Wray. Then they moved into his parent’s home.
After the death of her parents her youngest brother Irvin came to live with them until he grew
into manhood and moved to Washington.

Elizabeth along with Alice Welp and Wilma Welp were confirmed in the Lutheran faith at St.
John’s Lutheran church in Vernon, Colorado shortly after Wilbert and Elizabeth were married. While
their children were growing up, Elizabeth was a Sunday School teacher at St John’s Lutheran Church. She
also belonged to the Ladies Aid and later the Miriam Guild after St. John’s Lutheran Church and Calvary
Lutheran Church in Wray, Colorado merged.

She was also president of the Parents Teachers Club (PTC) at Vernon School. While president,
she organized many fund-raising events to get appliances for the cafeteria. This included organizing
lunch counters and pop sales at Beecher Island celebration days and other lunch counters at farm sales.
After the children were grown, she belonged to Cowbelles, Extension Club, serving as president
and other offices in these clubs. She also was on the Auxiliary at the Wray Hospital. She did ceramic
work and made many beautiful pieces including a Nativity Scene which she enjoyed displaying at
Christmas. She played golf for a while. She and Wilbert enjoyed card parties and square dancing for
many years.

After Wilbert passed away in 1992, she lived on the farm for a few years them moved to Wray.
Elizabeth was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Wilbert, her parents, Louis and
Anna Southards, her parents-in-law, Theodore and Hannah Welp, son, Mervin Welp, grandsons-in-law,
DeWayne Flower, Bradley Snow and Oren Stratton, great granddaughter Kyla Flower, siblings Myrtle
(Fred) Wilnot, Samuel (Florence) Southards, Charlie (Ann) Southards, Eulah (Roy) Baugher, Beulah (Irvin)
Howlett, Eleanor (Howard) Bigelow, Louise (Gaylord) Stevens, Donald (Joanne) Southards, Irvin (Alice)
Southards, and Francis Southards who died in infancy. Also, Wilbert’s brothers, Walter (Wilma) Welp
and Albert (Alice) Welp and sister Lorene (Otto) Lueking.

She is survived by her children, Vencil (Shirley) Welp, their children, Clela (Chuck) Eggebrecht,
Dalleen Welp, Karla Stratton, LaBell (Andy) Winsor, Jilonne (Brad) Schaffer, Vencil Jr. (Pattie) Welp,
Dennis (Sharon) Welp and their children Gary (Mandy) Welp and Darren Welp, Estalene (Glenn) Wudtke
and their children Candi (Gary) Pancake and Greg (Sandy) Wudtke and Daughter-In-Law Linda Welp and
her children Gonya (Elmer) Smith, Shannon (Megan) Welp, and Eric Welp. Also 21 great-grandchildren,
several step great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Viewing/Visitation was held at the Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home in Wray, Colorado on Thursday,
August 23, 2018 from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. A Funeral service was held on Friday, August 24, 2018, 10:30
a.m. at the Calvary Lutheran Church in Wray, Colorado with Pastor Tim Davis officiating. Burial was held
at Glendale Cemetery in Vernon, Colorado. Memorials may be made to Calvary Lutheran Church, 518
Dexter Street, Wray, Colorado 80758 or Hillcrest Care Center, 360 Canyon Ridge Drive, Wray, Colorado
80758. Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.