Alma Harms

Alma Harms died on Nov. 29, 2008, at the age of 93 in Vancouver, Washington. A native of the Oklahoma panhandle and a descendent of homesteading parents, she was born in Optima, Oklahoma on June 10, 1915.

Alma married Bernhard A. Harms in 1938 and they celebrated 53 years of marriage. During the war, they lived in McPherson, Kansas, where Bernhard worked at the Wall-Rogalsky Flour Mill. After the war, they managed a cattle and wheat farm north of Hooker, Oklahoma, from 1945 to 1976. Upon retiring, they returned to McPherson and after her husband's death, she moved to the Texas panhandle, where she resided until 2008.

Alma was baptized in July 1915 and confirmed in April 1929 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Hooker. She and her husband were charter members of Grace Lutheran Church in McPherson, which celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2005.

Sewing and quilting were Alma's lifelong hobby. She designed and sewed many quilts for her family, friends and Lutheran World Relief.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Renetta and John Lindsey of Vancouver, Wash.; her daughter-in-law, Paula Harms of Fritch, Texas; her sister and brother-in-law, Ruth and Harlan Kreutziger of Dumas, Texas; and sister, Wilma Harms of London, Ark. She is also survived by two granddaughters Sabra Lindsey and Lemecia Tollefson of Vancouver, Wash.; three grandsons Lance Lindsey of Bend, Ore., Clint Harms of Amarillo, Texas, and Greg Harms of Fritch; five great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Bernhard; her son, Delvin; her parents, August and Martha Gieselmann; her brother, Otto Gieselmann; and sisters, Esther Fletcher and Hulda Ukens.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 AM, Monday, May 4, at McPherson Cemetery. Rev. Dale Dumperth will officiate the service. A reception will follow at Perkins Restaurant. There will be no visitation.

Memorial contributions may be given to the American Heart Association or American Cancer Society in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Alma Harms please visit our Sympathy Store.