"I Want to Go Home to be With Jesus."

These words were Minerva Wahlborg life's desire and on July 11, 2008, she was welcomed into the presence of her Lord by the angelic choir.

Clara "Minerva" (Allman) Wahlborg was born March 20, 1908, in Checotah, Oklahoma to Elgar Lee and Cora (Landis) Allman. Minerva would say I am "OK" as Oklahoma became a state four months and four days before she was born. In December 1908, her family moved to Ellis, Kansas. Minerva graduated from Ellis High School in 1926. That fall, she began teaching country schools: Locust Grove and Maple Grove.

On July 20, 1929, she married Andy B. Wahlborg. The couple farmed south of Ellis and Cedar Bluff where they raised their three daughters. In 1960, they moved to Hill City and, in 1970, they sold the farm. Andy preceded her in death on May 25, 1989.

Minerva taught schools in Ellis, Trego and Graham counties for 25 years. She piloted the Special Education Program for the Hill City schools and in 1983 was inducted into the Kansas Teachers Hall of Fame located in Dodge City, Kansas. After her retirement, she continued to help special needs kids in her home and the Kobler Center in Hill City.

At age 90, Minerva moved to Hays and lived with her daughter, Kate (Edith) Fiegleson. Until age 94, she was active with gardening and flowers, crafts, crocheting, and anything she could to keep her hands and mind busy.

In November, 2006, she moved into Cedar View Assisted Living for a few months. Events in her health early 2007 lead to a left leg amputation. At that time she moved to Hays Good Samaritan Center where she has been a resident. During the past years, Minerva has kept herself busy with "needles and thread", word puzzles, attending church and Hays Christian Women's Club activities. She was devoted to her country and faithfully voted in every general election since the age of 21.

Minerva loved company, especially children. She would throw kisses to everyone. Minerva is survived by daughters, Kate (Edith) Fiegleson of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and JuLee Adams and her husband, Melvin of Hays; grandchildren, Rynthia (David) Mitchell, Wichita, KS., Gwen (Roger) Cooper, St. John, KS, Yvonne Sustar, Overland Park, KS., Fern Springs, Black River Falls, WI, Linda (Rex) Gaylan and Andy Fullbright, Anchorage, AK., Diana Fullbright, Somers, MT., Mark Fullbright, Chandler, AZ., Tammy Cummings, Oxnard, CA., Nathan Adams, Haysville, KS., Arnita Adams Wright, Topeka, KS.; 24 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, daughter, Alice Ann and her husband, Raymond Lynd, two year old brother, Freddie, sisters, Katie King and Freda Johnson; a granddaughter, Ranelda Lynd, grandson, Kevin Lynd and son-in-law, Art Fiegleson.

Minerva has been blessed with a loving Christian family and leaves a wonderful legacy of Christian love to her family, friends, and anyone who knew her. Many have asked Minerva what was her secret to longevity (100 years)? To which she responded, "My personal relationship with Jesus. He gives me peace, joy, happiness and longevity."

Funeral services will be Monday, July 21, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. at the Liberty Fellowship Church, 120 West 9th St. in Hays, Kansas. The family will receive friends and relatives at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 20th and Pine, on Sunday, July 20, 2008 from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m. Burial will be in the Mt. Hope Cemetery in Ellis, Kansas. Minerva requested any memorials to be given to the Liberty Fellowship Church of Hays, the Gideon's International, or YWAM (Youth With A Mission) in Colorado Springs, Colorado.