Mabel Lillas Irving Dewis McElheran
March 3, 1922 - January 6, 2014
Obituary
Mabel Lillas Irving Dewis McElheran
Mabel Lillas Irving Dewis McElheran, was born on March 3, 1922, in Moosomin, Saskatchewan, Canada to Roy Smith Dewis and Katie Isabel Irving Dewis. She had an older sister, Marjorie and a younger sister, Helen. The family lived on a farm near LaCombe Saskatchewan, eventually moving to Red Deer, Alberta where Mabel completed her education.
Led by her faith and desire to serve others, Mabel attended and graduated from Prairie Bible Institute, a post-secondary school for biblical studies located in Three Hills, Alberta. This is also where her future husband, Lawrence McElheran, studied for the ministry.
Lawrence and Mabel were married on September 10, 1947, and Mabel began her role as a minister’s wife in Chambers, Nebraska, shortly after their wedding where Lawrence had accepted a pastorate position. Her participation, as a support to her husband’s ministry through-out their marriage, included church relocations to Blue Earth, Minnesota, Waterloo, Iowa, Rush City and Park Rapids, Minnesota, and Hansville, Washington. The family also lived in Three Hills, Alberta, when Lawrence McElheran served as Dean of Men at Prairie Bible Institute. The time spent in each of these church communities gave her the opportunity to participate in various church groups. She enjoyed her time with other church members in Ladies Aide, the church group that provided the pot-luck meals for weddings, funerals, youth groups, and many other church gatherings. This group also made quilts for mission outreach programs, and provided support services to families in the congregation during times of sickness or special needs. It was through these groups that shared her same commitments that treasured life-long friendships were formed.
In 1971, the family moved to Seattle where Lawrence accepted a part-time ministry in Hansville, Washington. In addition, they together accepted a position in property management at the Gainsborough in Seattle until Lawrence’s death in 1979. Mabel continued in her role of property manager and managed the property through the transition process of the Gainsborough condominium conversion. In 1994, Mabel retired after eighteen years with the Gainsborough. She was proud of her contribution to this beautiful landmark building, and she especially cherished the friends who lived in the condominiums.
Upon her retirement in 1994 at the age of seventy-two, Mabel purchased her first home in Huntington Park, Des Moines, Washington where she lived for twelve years. During this time she renovated her home, enjoyed her gardens, spent time on her hobbies, and formed new friendships.
In August, 2006, Mabel moved to Farrington Court Assisted Living until January, 2008, when she moved to Weatherly Inn Kent, a memory-loss care home. She was blessed to be tenderly cared for and loved by wonderful caretakers. A few of the staff cared for her the entire time she was at Weatherly. The home was designed to provide a warm, cozy environment which included long wide halls for walking, and public areas decorated with antiques. Weatherly provided a range of activities which included exercise, music programs, reading, arts and crafts, entertainment, church services, and many, many hugs. The staff affectionately called her “MaMa.”
Mabel was the beloved wife of Lawrence McElheran and above all she was a devoted mother to five children, ten grandchildren and eight great children. Mabel was a wonderful cook and baker, and her pantry was always stocked with handmade jams, marmalades, preserves, pickles and relishes. She enjoyed gardening and filled her pantry with canned fruits and vegetables from each season’s harvest to feed her family and made sure there was enough to share with others as well.
She loved to sew and made baby clothes and blankets along with home decor items. Mabel had a talent for organization and assembled many scrapbooks and photograph albums to preserve family memories. She became interested in genealogy and collected and compiled family records.
Mabel had the gift of hospitality and modeled devotion to her faith and service to others.
Comfortable in knowing God was waiting for her with open arms, Mabel peacefully passed away on January 6, 2014 at the age of ninety-one.
Mabel is survived by the following family members:
5 Children:
Miriam Supsinskas (Joe)
A. June McElheran (Larry Strege)
Laurin McElheran (Nancy)
Patricia Tingley (Rodney)
Beth Svendson (Tray)
10 Grandchildren:
Brent Hinkley (Jean)
Megan Saupp (Jeff)
Callie Smith (David)
Kevan McElheran
Kyle McElheran (Amanda)
Wendy Nelson (Jeff)
Annie Tingley
Cash Tingley
Ryan Svendson (Marie)
Jane Hase (Marques)
8 Great Grandchildren:
Alexa, Keating, Cole, Kyrie, Kylie, Rachael Eve, Jaytreyon, Jacob,
Sister:
Helen Ireland (Jim)
Mabel was preceded in death by her husband Lawrence M. McElheran on October 22, 1979 and her sister Marjorie Dewis in1988.
At her request there will be no funeral services. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mabel’s memory to Scripps Research Institute for Alzheimer research at www.Scripps.edu
I researched my name and came across this online, I happened to see my name, although its Rachel, not Racheal, (no biggy) anyway, ill get to the point, I saw that my brothers name, (technically half brothers), but our mother is the bearer of all children, different dads, and what not… anywho, im 19 and I have been trying to reach out, and somehow possibly find them one day, get to call my brothers you know, try to get to know them, and re connect, Im not sure how old exactly they are now, but I believe there age somewere around 12, and 14, … and well, im curious as to if you have any information as to how I can get ahole of either one of them? My mother got them tooken from her years ago, and since I was 8, I havnt seen them since. Its been 11 years, and I really want to meet them, im trying hard to track them down, but when it comes to stuff like that, I have no idea how to really do that. Even sending this is a shot in the dark, but atleast God and I know that im trying to get a message to them, even if you could leave them my name, and email address, I have a facebook and could add them if you could somehow pass the message. Please, please get back to me as soon as you can. If you don’t have any leads, or a way to contact and leave them a message from me, there long lost sis, then I appreciate you at least opening my letter and taking the time to read it, it means, a lot to me, I want to meet my brothers, im on my own now, away from mom, but I feel like I have no family left, im the only one with my last name anymore, my mother, Wendy Kay Nelson (was McElheran, maiden name) is the only one I know that has my last name, I want to reconnect and become a family .. . I want my brothers I never got a real chance to know or experience life with like so many others have gotten the chance to do, thank you , much appreciated, Rachel Eve McElheran
Facebook Name : Evie McElheran
email – textmeok1@gmail.com
How can i remove my last comment below???.