Lila Boecker

Lila was born on November 17, 1920, in Turtle Lake, North Dakota the fifth of ten children born to Albert & Hedwig (Krause) Lelm. She attended country school and had to move to Wahpeton to go to high school. She worked for room and board and graduated from Wahpeton High School and then continued to work while going to North Dakota State College of Science graduating in 1939. Lila was united in marriage to Raymond Arthur Boecker on June 20, 1941 in Mantador, North Dakota. After their marriage Ray served in the Navy and was stationed in Virginia so Lila moved to Norfolk, Virginia and worked as an executive secretary for the Dept. of the Navy. After Ray was discharged the couple moved to Urbana, Ill. and Lila was employed by the Carle Hospital and Clinic. In 1954, their daughter, Bobbie was born. Shortly there after, they moved to Beecher, Illinois where Lila was employed as church secretary while Bobbie was in school. The family then moved to Champaign, Ill where Lila was Executive Secretary at the District Office for US Congressman William L. Springer. In 1972, Lila and Ray moved to Countryside, Ill., where she ended her career working in the office for Community Orthopedics in LaGrange Park. In April of 1981, Lila and Ray took early retirement and moved to Alexandria so they could be close to Bobbi and her family. Lila?s grandchildren were very special to her. She would take care of Jesse and Dawn when Bobbi and Darin would be working. Every Friday night the kids would go to Grandma & Grandpa?s Motel to be spoiled and enjoy games and treats. Lila put the same zeal in being a grandma as she did in her career. Mrs. Boecker was a very faithful person to Christ and loved the Lord. She passed on this legacy to her family. She always had a positive outlook and would always say ?Jesus Loves Me?. Lila died on Monday, September 21, 2009. She is survived by her daughter, Bobbie & Darin Batesole of Kensington; grandchildren: Jesse Darin of Chicago, Ill, Dawn Lynn of Alexandria; sister, Lois Mae Springer of Fergus Falls; many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond; parents, four sisters: Lametta, Verona, Orlean, Juliette; four brothers: Reuben, Gordon, Leander and Allen. Memorial service was held on Friday, September 25, 2009, 11:00 a.m. at the Evangelical Covenant Church with Rev. John LeVahn and Rev. Rol Boyce officiating