Lila Jean Elder

Longtime Sharon Springs, KS resident Lila Jean (Roeder) Elder, 88, passed away January 30, 2024 at the Greeley County Hospital in Tribune, KS.  

Jean was born on the family farm located 15 miles northwest of Goodland on April 19, 1935.   She was the only daughter to Paul and Violet (Hawks) Roeder and sister to 3 brothers.  She attended country school and then Goodland High School, where she graduated in 1952.  Upon graduation she began working at Handy’s Chevrolet which later became Herl’s Chevrolet. She married her high school sweetheart, Kenneth Duane Elder on August 9, 1959 and to this union two sons were born.  In 1965 they moved to Russell Springs but within one year they planted their roots in Sharon Springs.  Jean worked for The Western Times for a year before becoming employed by Witzel & Rhea Implement Company where she worked as a bookkeeper for 34 years until her retirement.  

Jean and Duane enjoyed playing cards and attending weekend dances with friends.  They traveled to many bowling tournaments which landed them in Las Vegas at the Nationals.  Numerous trips were made to Cripple Creek to test their luck at the casinos. Jean loved walking in the mornings and conversations over coffee with her friends.  She spent many hours crocheting afghans while watching her favorite sports teams compete on TV.  During the gardening season you could always find her tending to her flowers and vegetables, which she graciously shared with neighbors and friends.  She rarely missed a Friday night Bingo opportunity in Goodland where they would meet her sister-in-law Dorothy.  Her passions in life were God, friends and family and she always gave generously to others.  Nothing pleased her more than being able to watch her grandchildren and great grandchildren playing sports.

Jean is preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Violet Roeder, her 3 brothers, Ronald, Marlin and Dean Roeder.  

She is survived by her husband Duane and her two sons Terry and Tim (Bev) Elder all of Sharon Springs, 7 grandchildren, Torrey Elder of Sharon Springs, Caitlin Elder of Colorado Springs, and Tatum (Jonathan) Corbett of Oakley, Kyle (Lori) Elder of Tribune, Natalie (Nolan) Cox of Weskan, Taylor (Kieran) Elder of Sharon Springs, Lauren (Landon) Steele of Dodge City, 17 great grandchildren, and other beloved family members.  

Memorial services will be held on Monday, February 12, 2024 at 10:30 AM MT at the Sharon Springs Methodist Church with inurnment to follow at the Sharon Springs Cemetery. 

Memorials contributions can be made to the Wallace County EMS or the Sharon Springs Methodist Church and may be left at the services or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.