Evelyn M. Ehlers

Evelyn Marie Johnson Ehlers, age 93 of Roanoke and formerly of Nebraska died Wednesday, December 19, 2012 at her residence. She was born in 1919 in Otoe, Nebraska, and grew up in Weeping Water, Nebraska, where she was Cass County beauty queen in high school. Her mother’s family was from Denmark and her father, Mogens Johnson, emigrated from Denmark as a young child. Evelyn moved to San Francisco after high school graduation, working there while living with an aunt and uncle. In 1940, she met and married Ervine (Bud) Ehlers. At that time, Bud was an enlisted man in the Navy but was subsequently promoted to Lt. in 1951. They were married in Honolulu, Hawaii, where Bud was stationed. Evelyn went through the Pearl Harbor attack while her husband was on a ship at sea, away from the attack. A few months after the attack, their first child, Rodion was born. The Navy quickly evacuated all dependents, including Evelyn and Rodion, to the mainland where Rodion died of SIDS shortly after arriving in California. Years later, tragedy again struck when their daughter, Sharon, and her fiancé were drowned by a tsunami wave while walking on a California beach. As a Navy wife, Evelyn lived in many areas - California, Hawaii, Texas, Washington, Utah, Alaska and Northern Virginia. While Bud was stationed at the Pentagon, Evelyn began a successful 28 year career in banking. Her husband retired from the Navy in 1961 and died in 1983. Evelyn retired and moved to Elm Park Estates in Roanoke County in 1996. Evelyn was preceded in death by both parents, her husband, two sisters, an infant son, Rodion, and a daughter, Sharon. Surviving are a son, Gary Ehlers who resides in Rocky Mount, Virginia and nephews and nieces, Stanley (Lucille) Smith of Moneta, VA, Roger (Jannette) Smith of San Antonio, TX, Larry (Lori) Boyd of Ridgecrest, CA, Joanne (Vernon) Boardman of Weeping Water, NE, Debra (Kevin) Barclay of Basehor, KS and Randy Boyd of Omaha, NE. In addition there are numerous grand-nieces and nephews. Burial will be with her husband at Arlington National Cemetery after a memorial service at Elm Park Estates. Arrangements by Flora Funeral Service & Cremation Center, Rocky Mount.