Erma Joyce Williams

September 10, 2020

Erma Joyce Titus was born on March 3, 1931, in Rapid City, South Dakota, to parents Clifford Clinton Titus and Alice Elizabeth Verry.  She departed this life September 1, 2020 in Sharon Springs Kansas.  Erma spent her early years in Clough South Dakota where her parents ran a general store.  The Great Depression forced the closure of the store and the family lived in various locations, eventually settling in Sharon Springs, Kansas in 1940.  Erma was the youngest of five siblings.  
Erma graduated high school in May 1950 and married Lloyd E. Williams on June 13, 1950 in Raton, New Mexico. They spent their earlier years farming in Kansas and then moved to Isabel, South Dakota in the early 1950s.  In 1958, they moved back to Kansas with daughter Rita in tow, and a son, Leslie Dee, was born in 1960. They continued to farm and raise cattle throughout their married life. 
Erma and Lloyd reached the great milestone of their 70th wedding anniversary June 13, 2020. 
During the 1980s she worked as a nurses’ aid at the Prairie Manor in Sharon Springs, Kansas, enjoying friendships with residents and co-workers. 
More recently, she was honored to be featured in a book authored by Kelsie Stelting, “Raising the West”, which told about the lives of local women who worked and raised their families in lean years in Wallace County.  
She had a great knack for names and birthdays,  keeping up with her extended family, including grandchildren Kendra Robben, Kayle Robben, Brynn Peter, Brodie Poe, and Brock Williams, and great grandchildren Ryker and Finley Lewis, Lucas Robben, Taelynn, Bristyn and Banks Peter, and Dally, Tye, Ketch and Keiper Poe.   
Erma also leaves sister Alice Davis of Cheyenne, Wyoming, and nephews Don Davis, Dennis Davis, Clifford Cox and Allen Rexford. 
Graveside service was Friday, September 16, 2020 at 10 a.m. MT at the Fort Wallace Cemetery in Wallace, Kansas.  Memorials may be designated to Wallace County Community Care Center and may be left at the service or sent in care of Bateman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 278, Goodland, KS  67735.  For information and condolences visit www.batemanfuneral.com