Elsie Beth Speer, 85, died Tuesday March 29, 2022, in Garden City,
Kansas. She was born July 21, 1936, in Lane County the daughter of James
Clark and Bessie G. (Edmundson) Johnston.
Elsie was a lifetime resident of the Dighton Community where she
attended and graduated from the local schools. Upon graduation she went
on to college where she received her Bachelor's Degree in Education from
Kansas State University. She then returned home to begin her own career
as a school teacher in a one room schoolhouse. On August 10, 1963 she
married Jarold Edwin Speer and to that union three sons were born. The
two later divorced.
Elsie Beth enjoyed playing the piano and she did so, beautifully. She
was selfless, nurturing and always put others needs before her own; a
caretaker almost to a fault. Her greatest joy was her grandchildren. She
attended countless sporting events and activities, sometimes not even
for the game itself but simply to watch one of her grandchildren perform
with the band. Elsie was a member of the United Methodist Women, Spring
Creek FCE, and As You Like It Club.
Survivors include her Children Lloyd Speer of Sylvan Grove, Doug Speer
of Garden City, and Dean Speer of Dighton, Grandchildren- Hannah,
Benjamin, Leslie, Jordan, Lani, and Carlie. She is preceded in death by
her Parents and Brother- Alvin Johnston.
Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 am Saturday May 7, 2022, at the
United Methodist Church, burial will follow in Dighton Memorial
Cemetery. Memorial Contributions are suggested to the United Methodist
Church of Dighton.
Boomhower Funeral Home P.O. Box 891 Dighton, Ks 67839