On Saturday, October 10, 2015, God received a new Angel, Erma May Swearingen. She was born March 7, 1931 to Charles & Mary (Hern) Swearingen in Norton, Kansas. She was greeted by 3 brothers and a sister. Later, Erma greeted an additional brother and sister. She attended school in Logan.

Erma was united in marriage on May 23rd, 1948 in Phillipsburg, KS to Albert Harbers. To this union 3 children were born: William, Lucy & Dora. Erma was a faithful wife, working alongside of Albert in their store in Prairie View until its closing.

She was member of the Prairie View Reformed Church & Norton Eagles Lodge. She was Alberts care giver until his death, November 28, 1988.

Erma then met Jacob Soodsma and the two were married on May 25th, 1991 in Prairie View. Together they lived on his farm until 1993 when they moved into Phillipsburg. They spent many years babysitting and working at the senior citizen center. They enjoy going to auctions & church functions.

Erma enjoyed quilting and making baby blankets in her spare time. One of Erma's greatest enjoyments was baking cookies and angel food cakes for many church functions. She also took great delight in all of the children she babysat for and later their children. Following Jacobs diagnosis with cancer, she cared for him until his death on June 6, 2010.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Albert & Bart; 3 brothers, Albert, Ralph & Carl; a sister, Bessie Ebner; a grandson, Rory Hoover; and a granddaughter, Michelle Harbers.

Survivors include her son, William Harbers & wife, Sharon of Billings, Montana; 2 daughters, Lucy Snyder & husband, Glenn and Dora Hoover & husband, Randy, all of Great Bend, KS; 2 step-daughters, Sharon Poe & Jennifer Berrera, both of Lamar, CO; 4 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren; 3 great great grandchildren; a brother, Ray Swearingen of Georgia; and a sister, Rheva Wilson of Spokane, Washington.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 14, 2015 in the Prairie View Reformed Church in Prairie View, KS with Pastor Aaron Rust officiating. Burial will follow in the Prairie View Cemetery.

Mrs. Soodsma will lie in state from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday with family receiving friends Tuesday evening from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, 1115 2nd Street, Phillipsburg, KS 67661.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Prairie View Reformed Church.