Individual Details

Marriage

Ellen First Wed to LaVern Eilers Tuesday
A late summer wedding was solemnized Tuesday evening in the First Presbyterian church, when Miss Ellen First, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. First, became the bride of LaVern Eilers, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alva Eilers. The ceremony marked the silver wedding anniversary of the bride's parents.
The altar before which the vows were spoken was lighted by branched candelabra and was flanked with baskets of gladioli and chrysanthemums. Dr. W. J. Grosshelm read the double ring service at 8 o'clock in the presence of relatives and friends.
Mrs. E. H. DeShaw presided at the organ, and played a number of nuptial selections preceding the ceremony, modulating into Lohengrin's wedding march as the bridal party approached the altar. Mrs. Vance Stead, soloist, sang "Because" and "The Lord's Prayer."
Miss Alice Clark attended the bride as maid of honor and Miss Audrey Podhaski was bridesmaid. Junior Heath, nephew of the bridegroom, and Fletcher Dunlap were best men. Miss Sharon Sievers, cousin of the bride, acted as flower girl, and Donald Fairbanks and Harry Eilers ushered.
The bride, who was given in marriage by her father, was gowned in white chiffon, styled with a sweetheart neckline and long sleeves. Th full skirt fell from a fitted bodice. Her fingertip length veil of illusion net was caught to a beaded crown, and the bridal bouquet of yellow roses was of colonial design.
The maid of honor chose a yellow dotted swiss dress, and th bridesmaid, a blue chiffon. Both carried colorful colonial bouquets. Wearing a gown of white organdy, the flower girl carried a white basket filled with rose petals.
For her daughter's wedding, Mrs. First wore a blue sheer dress complemented by white accessories. Their corsages were of carnations.
Immediately following the ceremony, a reception was held in this social rooms of the church for 150 guests. The bridal table was made attractive with a three-tiered wedding cake, trimmed with yellow and white, made by the bride's mother. Tall yellow candles in crystal holders completed the decorations.
A wedding dinner was given Monday evening in the First home for the bridal party and immediate families. The bride's colors of yellow and white were carried out in th table decorations. A tiered wedding cake with a miniature bride and bridegroom formed the centerpiece.
The bride id a graduate of the Monticello high school and has been employed by the Northwestern Bell Telephone company. A graduate of the Monticello school, the bridegroom is now employed in Monticello since his discharge from the Navy in which he served for three and a half years.
Out of town guests at the wedding were Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Aldrich, Mrs. Mary Fairbanks, Cedar Rapids; Mr. and Mrs. Glen Sievers, Mechanicsville; Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Kent and son Kenneth, and Mr. and Mrs. Donald Kent, of Grand Mound; Mrs. Harry Rodman, Winterset; Mr. and Mrs. George Sears, Onslow; Mrs. Bernard Lerch, Rock Island, Ill.; Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Hubbard and Miss Grace Hubbard, Anamosa.

Monticello (Iowa) Express, August 22, 1946
 
 
 
 
 

Death

Ellen M. Eliers
Funeral services were held for Mrs. Ellen M. Eilers, 53, Monticello, Dec. 19, at the Goettsch Funeral Home with burial in Oakwood Cemetery, Monticello. Rev. W. Willis Longer officiated at the services.
Mrs. Eilers, wife of LaVern E. Eilers, died in Mercy Hospital, Cedar Rapids, Dec. 17, after a long illness.
Ellen Mae First was born near Monticello Sept. 7, 1927, the daughter of William J. and Beaulah Fairbanks First. She received her early education in the Monticello schools, graduating form the high school in 1945.
Ellen M. First and LaVern Eilers were married Aug. 20, 1946. Since their marriage the couple have made their home in Monticello.
She was employed for eight years by the Northwestern Bell Telephone Co. and for 10 years by the Energy Manufacturing Co. She was a member of the First United Presbyterian Church and the Business & Professional Women of Monticello.
She was a Past Worthy Advisor of the Monticello Rainbow Chapter. She is survived by her husband, a son, David L. Eilers of Monticello; two grandchildren, and her mother, Mrs. Beaulah First, Monticello. She was preceded in death by her father.
Casketbearers were John Giegerich, Robert First, Richard Landis, Delbert Loop, William Eilers, Victor Mowrey.
[Monticello Express, p.34, Dec 24, 1980]