Lola Ethers

(From Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home)

Lola Frances (Lemen) Ehlers, age 93 of Stockton, MO, passed away in her home on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.

Lola was born on November 22, 1932, in Blackburn, MO to Charles and Maude Ellen (Jones) Lemen. She was the youngest of eight children born to this union. Lola grew up on a farm and worked at the Blackburn General Merchandise store as a teenager, where she met the love of her life, Olaf Ehlers. They were married on July 25, 1951, at her parents' home in Blackburn and shared 65 years together.

Lola and Olaf built their first home in Blue Springs, MO. Their desire to farm led them to move to the Stockton area where they started a dairy operation and raised their seven children. Lola also worked part-time at Cedar County Memorial Hospital. Her favorite task was taking care of the newborns and their mothers. In 1995, Ehlers Variety was established and Lola soon became a permanent fixture at the store. She looked forward to visiting with customers and was known as "Mom" and "Grandma" by so many within the community. She worked every day until the age of 92, when a fractured leg forced her into retirement.

Lola was full of love. She made sure to take care of everyone's needs. Her greatest joy was to be with family which included gatherings for many birthdays, holidays, and home-cooked meals around the table with neighbors who were there to help during harvest time. She shared her love for gardening and cooking with her children and grandchildren while working together as a family to process farm-raised meat and produce that went into her delicious meals. Lola's faith in God remained strong to her last day on earth as she knew without a doubt where she would spend eternity.

Lola was preceded in death by her loving husband, Olaf Ehlers; son, Phillip Ehlers; son-in-law, Jim Thompson; her parents; and her siblings: Charles Lemen, Viola White, Dorothy Scarborough, Carl Dean Lemen, Maurice Lemen, Roy Lemen, and Eunice Choplin.

Survivors include her children: Gloria (Robert) Keith of Seneca, MO; Rita Thompson of El Dorado Springs, MO; Connie (Jerry) Bartlett of Olathe, KS; Stanley (Jenean) Ehlers of Stockton, MO; Kathryn (Lance) Bradley of El Dorado Springs, MO; David (Danita) Ehlers of Stockton, MO; grandchildren: Karina (Sid) Cole; Stasia (Zach) Whitaker; Jen (Derrick) Reynolds; Serena (Robert) Hicks; Suzannah (Jim) Phillips; Jordan (Khrystel) Ehlers; Seth (Jamie) Ehlers; Brooke Ehlers; Grant Ehlers; great-grandchildren, Sophie Huffman; Kiersyn and Finnegan Reynolds; Gabriel Whitaker; McKenzie and Stanton Ehlers, Dalton and Piper Hicks; Carson, Sean, and Isaac Ehlers; and Maggie and Katie Phillips. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to St. Jude's.

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