Elva Shafer

Elva Shafer, 92, Bismarck, died August 6, 2017, at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center, Bismarck. Services will be held at 10:30 am Thursday, August 10, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, with Rev. Mark Erhmantraut officiating. Burial will be held at 1:00 pm Thursday at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Wednesday, August 9, at Parkway Funeral Service, where a prayer service will begin at 7:00 pm. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service. Elva was born September 30, 1924, to John and Floy Westbrook in the Westfield, ND, area. At a young age her parents died and she and her siblings scattered across the state. She was taken in by Art and Liz Berreth in Linton, ND. Over the years, the family’s goal was to get back together and they accomplished that and have remained close to this day. Elva married Kenneth Shafer on September 24, 1945, and to this union two children were born, Julie and J. Allen. The family farmed near Kintyre for their first years and then moved to Tuttle in 1959 to continue farming. Later, Kenneth and Elva became foster parents while on the farm to Jackie and Leon Nieters. Kenneth and Elva retired to Underwood in 1979, where they became very involved in the community doing volunteer work. Kenneth passed away on August 4, 1986. Elva later moved to Bismarck where she continued with her volunteer work. She was always involved with her family and loved spending time with them. Elva was a great seamstress, sewing many outfits for herself and her children. She also enjoyed gardening and canning for her family. Elva is survived by her children, Julie Weisenburger, J. Allen (Kathy), Jackie (Larry) Hoselton, and Leon (Lisa) Nieters; ten grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren; her siblings, R. B. Westbrook, Thelma (Pete) Menzel, Celia Schuette, Jim (Edith) Fischer, Oscar “Bud” (Marlene) Bader; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth; her sister, Velma; and her son-in-law, Stanley.