Belvia Jo Lemke, age 85, of Weslaco, Texas, formerly of Washington, Iowa, died Friday, February 8, 2013, at the Knapp Medical Center in Weslaco, Texas, following complications of surgery.

Celebration of life services will be held 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 20, 2013 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Casey, Iowa. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 20th at the church. Interment will take place at the Oakwood Cemetery in Casey, Iowa. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for the Alzheimers Association. The Jones & Eden Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent for Belvia's family through the web at www.jonesfh.com .

Belvia was born November 28, 1927, in Itasca, Texas, the daughter of James Carrol and Letha Fay (Fewell) Atkins. She attended school in Hillsboro, Texas. On February 27, 1944, Belvia was united in marriage to Ralph Lemke. Belvia's mom passed away when she was two years old. Her father remarried Vivian Walker, and together they raised their five children.

Following Ralph's time in the military, Belvia and Ralph lived for a short time in California. They moved to Ringsted, Iowa in 1950 where they resided until moving to Casey, Iowa in 1962. In 2007, Belvia moved to Washington, Iowa, and then moved to Weslaco, Texas in 2010. Belvia was a homemaker and assisted her husband in the family awning business. She was an active member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Casey, Iowa. She enjoyed doing crafts and traveling. She and her husband traveled abroad visiting several countries and wintered in Texas for over twenty years.

She is survived by son, Glen Lemke and wife Sharon of Weslaco, Texas; son, David Lemke of Casey, Iowa; daughter, Joan Johnston and husband Francis of Washington, Iowa; five grandsons; and 13 great grandchildren.

Belvia was preceded in death by her parents, her husband in 1995 and four siblings.