Lela Reems

Lela Reems, long-time resident of Arizona, and current resident of Cottonwood, passed away Sunday, August 12, 2007 due to a stroke. She was 95. Lela was born to Frank and Etta Goben on a homestead near Marshall, North Dakota on October 16, 1911. She attended a one-room school located several miles from the Goben Homestead-riding a horse to and from school. Mrs. Reems received her high school education at the Normal School, a state teacher training college in Dickinson, North Dakota while she boarded with a family in town. After graduation, Lela enrolled in the teacher's college where she studied elementary education for a year. While living in Dickenson, Lela met her future husband, Eugene Reems, who was completing his teaching training at the Normal School. They were married June 18, 1933. The newlyweds left North Dakota in their Model A Ford and relocated to Arizona. They joined the rest of her husband's family who had settled in the Waddell area on what is know named Reems Road. Mrs. Reems lived most of her life in and around Glendale, Arizona; where during World War II, she and her family moved to a two-acre site near by. While her husband, Eugene worked away from home constructing bridges and air fields for the war effort, she raised dairy cows, chickens, pigs, and the occasional victory garden. After the war, Lela turned her practical mind to keeping the books for their welding business, Reem's Welding Shop, located on 67th Avenue, which they owned and operated for 35 years. The business closed upon the death of her husband in 1983; after which, Mrs. Reems moved to a residence on 59th Avenue-also in Glendale. Later in 2001, she moved to Cottonwood to be nearer to her extended family. During her time in Glendale, Mrs. Reems was active in the Glendale Nazarene Church, holding a number of offices. She served as the President of the Women's Foreign Missionary Society for several years. She also participated in children's programming and served on several committees relating to the church's growth and building projects. In addition, she represented the Glendale Congregation at District and National Church meetings on a number of occasions. Lela Reems is preceded in death by her husband, Eugene; her daughter, Verna Mantag; and her son-in-law, Bob Ward. She is survived by her two daughters, Jeanette Krueger of Bonita, California, and Lois Ward of Simi Valley, California; sons-in-law, Chris Montag and Gary Krueger. She is also survived by her sister, Connie Nichols; her brother, Jessie Goben, both of Cottonwood, and another brother, Robert Goben of Richardson, Texas. She had seven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and numerous members in her extended family. A Viewing and Visitation will be held at Westcott Funeral Home on Friday evening, August 17, 2007 from 5:00-7:00pm. A Memorial Service will be held at the Church of the Nazarene in Cottonwood on Saturday, August 18, 2007 at 10:30am; following which, Lela will be laid to rest at the Resthaven Park Cemetery on Northern Avenue in Glendale at 3:00pm. Memorial Contributions are to be made to: Gideons International Memorial Bible Fund, P.O. Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214-0800. An online guestbook is available at www.westcottfuneralhome.com