Elizabeth Rose Page

In loving tribute to our mother and grandmother, Elizabeth Page, age 96, who passed away on October 2, 2023 at Oakley Place in Topeka, Kansas. Liz was born on a farm outside of Wellsville, Kansas to Lee C. Nichols and Areta Mae (Learnard) Nichols and was the youngest of three daughters. She was a life-long Franklin County resident.

Elizabeth attended Ottawa schools, graduating from Ottawa High School in 1945. She attended Ottawa University and worked in the bookkeeping department of the First National Bank of Ottawa off and on for many years. Elizabeth married Harlan Dalton Page on November 9, 1947 in Ottawa and they were blessed with four daughters. Liz and Harlan celebrated sixty-one years of marriage until his death in 2008.

Elizabeth and Harlan owned a successful dairy farm in Franklin County which remains in the family and was recently recognized as a Century Farm. She helped with the farm in every way she could, from cooking hearty meals for the family as well as for the neighbors who helped during harvest seasons, keeping a watchful eye on Harlan to keep him safe, driving a pick-up from time to time, helping corral stray cattle, and encouraging her daughters to help with the farm chores. It was not an easy lifestyle but she kept the household working like clockwork. She kept an immaculate home and was always there to help others. The family were members of the First Christian Church of Ottawa and Elizabeth’s faith was constant in her life. She served on numerous committees for the church and was very involved with the Christian Women’s Fellowship group. Liz was always willing to organize a pot luck dinner, provide decorations for the sanctuary, or help with Sunday school and vacation bible school activities. Liz was also a member of Chapter AU P.E.O., Baxter Community Social Club, and community EHU groups. When her daughters were school-age, Liz was active in PTA and was a leader in the Clover Leaf 4-H Club. In their younger years, Liz and Harlan were active in square dance groups and looked forward to the New Year’s Eve card party with their community friends.

She is survived by her four daughters, Lynda (David) Alderman, Ottawa; Jan (Joe) Lorenzen, Tehachapi, CA; Barbara (Carl Ringler) Page, Bothell, WA; and Ellen (Dennis) Cooley, Topeka. Her grandchildren are Angie and Alex Alderman, Patrice Peoples, Erik Servatius, Anne Cooley, Mary Pierson, Dennis P. Cooley, and Kate Chandler-Cooley. She has thirteen great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Lela Mae Santarpia from Ottawa, sisters-in-law Betsy Page, Ottawa; Norma Waymire, Lee’s Summit, MO; and Marilyn Brokaw, Lenox, Iowa. She is preceded in death by her husband, Harlan and sister, Bessie Lee Beaman.

Family visitation will be held at First Christian Church, 1045 South Hickory Street, Ottawa, on Monday, October 9th at 1:00 pm with the funeral service to follow. There will be a private graveside service at Evergreen Mound Cemetery for the family following the service. If you would like to honor Elizabeth with a memorial contribution, please make one to the charity of your choice.