Alta Walker Borkowski, 94

Alta Mae Walker Borkowski, daughter of Chauncy and Victoria (Claussen) West, was born on April 4, 1918, in Irwin. Alta attended school and graduated from Manilla High School in Manilla. Alta lived the majority of her life in the Irwin, Manilla, and Manning area.

December 15, 1940, Alta was united in marriage to Robert Walker at the United Methodist Church in Denison.

Shortly after marriage, they decided to make their home on a farm near Irwin. In September of 1979, Bob passed away. In 1985, Alta married Jack Borkowski in Elk Point, South Dakota. They resided in Manning until his death on May 10, 2001. She then returned to her home town of Irwin to be close to family and friends. Alta was a cook at the Senior Center in Irwin and worked as a teachers' aide and chaperone for senior trips at the Irwin-Kirkman-Manilla School. She loved to cook, pies being a specialty, and entertain for her friends and family. She was a great homemaker who never seemed to know a stranger for long, as she would make fast friends. She enjoyed her 5 card clubs, square dances, shopping and loved to travel. Alta was and liked to be independent but was very family oriented. Alta had spent the last several years living with her daughter Nadine and son-in-law Marlin Nielsen in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she very much enjoyed the warmth of the weather, sunshine, and being involved in many activities. In May of 2012, she became a resident at the Manilla Manor Nursing Home in Manilla when she was diagnosed with rapidly progressive dementia. Alta was a member of the Irwin United Methodist Church and the Methodist Woman's Circle in Irwin. Alta died on Wednesday, October 24, 2012, at the Manilla Manor having attained the age of ninety-four years, six months, and twenty days.

In addition to her parents and husbands, Alta was preceded in death by her brother Frank West and great-granddaughter Abby Feldman. She is survived by children: daughter Nadine and husband Marlin Nielsen of Henderson, Nevada; Westley and his wife Jo Ann Walker of Defiance; seven step-children, two grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren, four nieces, other relatives and many friends.

Rev. Leila Blackburn officiated the 10:30 a.m. funeral service on Monday, October 29, 2012, at the United Methodist Church in Irwin. Ruth Ann Barry provided the music and Kenneth Borkowski was an honorary casket bearer. Serving as casket bearers were Dick Hansen, Jacob Feldman, Randy Birks, Jack Borkowski, Mike Feldman, and Larry Axland. Interment was held at Oak Hill Cemetery in Irwin.