Elsie June Classen

She was the fifth child of the Benson family—she was named after her daddy’s old girlfriend—Elsie June—born June 7, 1921. She only completed the eighth grade, but ask her any word and she could spell it for you. Denton used to call her his dictionary, for he would call upon her knowledge of spelling often. She worked for Mrs. Anna Classen as a housekeeper at age 17 and there met and married Roland Classen at age 18. She and her sisters grew up on a farm riding horses all day herding the cattle on an open ranch. When asked about their farm life, they all said they learned to work and do what had to be done all working together. Her mother took all the children to church while her father never went at all. She gave her life to the Lord at a very young age. Roland and June married September 5, 1939 working on a farm, and two years later purchased the farm 15 miles west of Fairview, where Shawn Classen farms still. 25 more years it will be in the family 100 years. They raised wheat, maize, corn, cotton, cattle, pigs, chicken, turkeys, horses, and June always had a garden. They had two children, Karen June born May 13, 1941 and Ronnie Dee born October 5, 1947. During her lifetime she was a housekeeper, cook, a farmer and rancher, a song leader, a truck driver, a Sunday school teacher, a missionary teacher, a janitor, a VBS director, seamstress, sang in a duet, a gardener, and she sold eggs and vegetables from her garden to buy groceries for her family. Above all a beloved mother, grandmother, and friend. She cooked many meals for pastors and evangelists and missionaries that visited our church. She could be found any day helping out some neighbors in some way. Many times us kids would have to jump in the car to go help someone. She became a widow in 1971, and she and Ronnie farmed until 1982 when Ronnie passed away. She moved to Texas in May 1983. She loved her family and her family loved her and her special Sunday dinners she fixed for all of us. She leaves us for a better place where there is no pain nor old age. Through the tragedies in her life, she held onto her joy in the Lord and His promises. I never saw her angry or mad. She never yelled or screamed. She truly was a Proverbs 31 woman. She never drank, never smoked, she never cussed. She was a quiet spirited woman but strong. She was a planner: Every Monday was wash day; Tuesday was ironing (back then everything was made of cotton and you had to iron everything, sheets, pillowcases, underwear, etc.); Wednesday we went to town; Thursday was for anything that was left over; Friday clean house; Saturday cook for Sunday and polish our shoes and make sure what we wanted to wear was ironed and looked nice; and Sunday church day. Sometimes we stayed all day, ate lunch together, then sang in the afternoon. On one visit back to Oklahoma for the summer, she borrowed a surrey for the kids to ride. It even had fringe on top. The horse would pull them up and down the driveway, entertaining the kids for hours. Christmas time was a big deal around her house with decorations and presents and all. We went back to Oklahoma every Christmas just for that reason. She was an angel with invisible wings. The angels came to get mother on January 18, 2017. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m., Sunday, January 22, 2017 at Cedar Springs Church in Fairview Oklahoma. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery. I called her mama and she called me “sis.” She is known by family members as Ninnie. Her firstborn grandson named her that. She loved the church She loved her church family. She loved her family. She loved her Lord. She loved flowers. She loved the outdoors. She loved to walk. June leaves behind a daughter, Karen Classen Rose and her husband Jerry; grandkids Denton Rose, Brenda Berg and husband Michael, Sherlene Gillis and husband Mark, Shelly Classen, Shawn Classen, Ronaye Classen, and Shana Classen; great grandkids Rissa Brown and husband Darby, Taylor Berg, Sam Atton, Tyler Classen, Drew Classen and wife Marissa, Codee Classen, Tiffany Sharp and husband Jeremy; and great great grandkids Rylee Schneck, Caleb Brown, Jude Brown, Catherine Brown, Lane Classen, Jacob Sharp, and Trinity Sharp.

Elsie June Classen

June 7, 1921 - January 18, 2017