Lena Botkin

Lena Botkin of Farmington passed away on Monday, October 29, 2007, at Camelot Nursing Center, following an extended illness, at the age of 83 years. She was born Belva Lena Santhuff on August 31, 1924, in Redford, MO, the daughter of the late Doyle Santhuff and Etta Pogue Santhuff Stevenson. She was also preceded in death by two sisters, Mabel Santhuff Stout and Melba Santhuff Williams Benboom; a niece, Peggy Coleman; a nephew, Doyle Williams; and a stepfather, Floyd Stevenson. She graduated from Centerville High School and was the owner/operator of Mel-Lena Hairstyles, a beauty salon in St. Louis, for many years before marrying Bernell Botkin and moving to Farmington. She became both mother and grandmother to his children and grandchildren. Even though she had no children of her own, she was more like a second mother than an aunt to her nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews. Her boundless love, caring and pride in all her children will always be remembered and cherished by all that survive her. Survivors include her husband, Bernell Botkin and his children, Linda Cook of Columbia, MO, Virginia Botkin of Farmington, and Janis Wade and son-in-law, Butch Wade of Farmington; 11 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; a sister, Thelma Stevenson Congleton of Sparta, MO; 2 nieces, Patricia Stout Bean of Atlanta, GA and Anita Williams Wolfe of Whitsett, NC; a nephew, Stanley Brown of Sparta, MO; and various great and great-great-nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends at Cozean Memorial Chapel from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, November 1, 2007. Visitation will resume at 7:30 a.m. on Friday. A funeral service will be held at the Cozean Chapel on Friday at 10 a.m. with Dr. William Miller officiating. Burial will follow at Hillview Memorial Gardens.