Obituary of Erika Hedberg

Erika Marlene "Boots" Hedberg, 82, passed away May 12, 2013 at Riverview Estates, Marquette, Kansas. She was born March 25, 1931 in Marquette and was the only girl of William and Gladys (Gomer) Jost's six children. Boots was baptized as an adult at Elim Lutheran Church March 26, 1961. She was a faithful member of Elim and held many positions of leadership in the church over the years. Boots' faith in God was very important to her and she knew this world was not her final home, but that she was only passing through to that "mansion over the hilltop". Boots graduated from Marquette High School in May 1949. She was united in marriage to Arnold V. Hedberg at the Covenant Church in Marquette on June 9, 1949. Vic cared and provided for Boots from that day forward in the best way he knew how. He was especially attentive to her in the last few years of her life and was concerned about her well-being until the very end. First and foremost, Boots was a farm wife to Vic, proud mother of five children, and known as "Grandma Boots" to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In addition, Boots worked at the Lindsborg Sale Barn, Home Mercantile, was a bus driver for USD 400, and a rural mail carrier for the McPherson Post Office. As a partner to Vic, she was head dispatcher for Hedberg & Sons Trucking Company and worked in all capacities on the family farm and cattle business. Boots loved horseback riding and was especially proud to be a part of the Smoky Valley Saddle Club Drill Team for a few years. She loved fishing off the riverbank of the Smoky Hill or at farm ponds and would often take her grandchildren along. She was also very happy sitting on her front porch with a cup of coffee in her hand, enjoying some good conversation and watching the world go by. A lot of problems were solved sitting on that front porch. Boots loved birds in general, but especially the Purple Martins. She spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to get them not only in her bird house, but to get them to stay. When Boots and Vic were raising their family, they enjoyed camping and boating and their family of seven took many trips in a small camper perched on the back of their pickup truck. She found solitude in the ripple of the water and the crackling of a campfire combined with some good old guitar picking and singing. She loved to sing, although she never considered herself good at it and was particularly proud of singing tenor in a double quartet of four men and four women directed by Uarda Thompson. In Boots' later years, she enjoyed crossword puzzles and watching the eagles at Kanopolis Lake with her best friend Ebba Nelson. Boots was intrigued by American Indians and their philosophy on life regarding living off the land and trusting in God who would provide. Boots' happiness was not measured by the "things of this world" but in the simplicity of life she found true happiness, never wanting for more than she had or complaining about things she couldn't change. Boots was preceded in death by her parents and siblings: Jim, Warren, and Roy Jost. Boots is survived by her husband Vic of Marquette, children and spouses: Ken Hedberg, Jackie (Craig) Larson, Tim (Rhonda) Hedberg, Quint (Beth) Hedberg, Matt (Diane) Hedberg, 13 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, and two brothers Dale Jost of Syracuse and Gary Jost of Pawnee Rock, many nieces, nephews, extended family and close friends. A Celebration of Life will be held Thursday, May 16, at 2:00 p.m. at Elim Lutheran Church, Marquette. Private family burial will be held at Marquette Lutheran Cemetery. Memorials may be designated to Elim Lutheran Church or Riverview Estates in care of Christians Funeral Home 103 N. Washington PO Box 386 Lindsborg, KS 67456. There will be no visitation. Online condolences at http://www.christiansfuneralhome.com/