Elsie B. Mathewson, 93, of Seneca, Kansas, died Wednesday, January 1, 2003, at the Midland Hospice Center in Topeka. She had led an active life until having a heart attack in November 2002.

She was born January 11, 1909, on a farm east of Seneca, the 13th of 14 children of Louis and Anna Luckeroth Becker. Elsie’s mother died when Elsie was 3 years old. She graduated from Sts. Peter & Paul High School in Seneca in 1926. She taught school for two years and worked for a year at George Springer’s variety store in Seneca.

On May 7, 1930, she married Paul R. Mathewson at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca.They farmed from 1930 to 1939 before moving to Seneca to operate a restaurant and nightclub known as “Paul’s Place,” located on the highway at 11th Street, until 1959. Elsie worked at Lierz Men’s Wear for 12 years and then in 1966 she and Paul took over operation of their liquor store on the highway. Her husband Paul preceded her in death on August 28, 1978. After working with the public for 33 years, Elsie retired and sold her home and business in 1983. She continued living in the house next to the liquor store until 1993, when she moved into a new home.

She was a member of the Sts. Peter & Paul Church, St. Ann’s Altar Society at the church, and the American Legion Auxillary, all in Seneca. She was also a member of the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital Guild, for which she raised funds for many years by organizing and playing in the NV Hospital Bridge and Pitch Club. She also played in several other bridge and card clubs.

Survivors are three sons, William of Manhattan, Kansas, Wayne of Howe, Texas, and Richard of Cleveland, Missouri; a daughter, Kay Fangman of Topeka; 15 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.

Besides her husband Paul, she was preceded in death by a son, Terrance, on July 8, 1992; seven brothers, Leo, Roy, Clarence, Alvin, Lawrence (“Pat”), Art and Harvey Becker; six sisters, Alma Becker, Rose Gress, Leona Haefele, Clara Rogers, Stella Koelzer, and Edith Roche.

Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 1 PM Friday, January 3, at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Thursday, January 2, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials may be given for the Nemaha Community Hospital Equipment Fund or Midland Hospice House, and sent in care of the family.