Rebecca (Becky) Love Elder

Rebecca [Becky] Love Elder, surrounded by family and friends, left her earthly dwelling behind on a warming Thursday afternoon, Dec 11, 2025, to join the great cloud of witnesses that surrounded and encouraged her all her life including, among many others, her paternal grandparents Walter and Betty Love, her maternal grandparents Henry and Pauline Thiessen, her parents Robert D. and Lillian Love and her Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. She also left behind her loving husband of 48 years Philip Elder; her eight children, Bob (Catherine) Elder, Sam (Natalie) Elder, George (Katharine) Elder, Alexis (Max) Morin, Walter (Anne) Elder, Susan (Rex Rutledge) Elder, James (Tina) Elder, and James (Irina) Bendowsky; her eighteen beloved grandchildren present or prescient; her oldest brother, Randy Love; her middle brother, Bob (Nancy) Love along with nephews and nieces; and a large number of near cousins and dear relatives.

Born and raised in Wichita, Becky was among the early students at Wichita Collegiate School while also pursuing competitive swimming at Wichita Swim Club, which took her to the Olympic Trials as a young teenager where she barely missed a berth. Always undeterred by falling short of her lofty goals, she entered the University of the South where she grew deeper and wider in her love for reading great books and engaging in the Great Conversation that seemed so natural to her after growing up in a family that valued clear thinking, moral duty, and spiritual reverence. It was at Sewanee that she met Philip Elder of Chattanooga, TN, who in 1977 would become her lifelong partner and helpmate in earning a living, making a home, and raising a family. She joined the growing home birth and home school movements in the 1980’s while learning to grow food for the family table in her garden and still seemed to find time to help friends and pursue her passion for learning. Born in motion and tuned to action as well as service, she also coordinated a statewide prolife political action network during these years and in 1993, when her children grew old enough to “go to school,” she helped start Northfield School of the Liberal Arts, a classical micro school, which she oversaw until March 2025 when her health suddenly failed. In the last years of her life, she became a tireless champion of regenerative agriculture, school choice, and local libraries. As part of these efforts, she dug and worked several community gardens including the Friends Garden with Friends University and three local neighborhood schools, started two libraries, including the Sunnydale Community Library on Oliver north of Kechi, and found time to do public speaking on topics she wanted people to consider for their own and their posterity’s sakes. Amidst all of this she was an active member in the Heartland Community then Jubilee Presbyterian churches.

Becky collapsed in March 2025 immediately after speaking to the Wichita Pachyderm Club on “Libraries: Legacy of Liberty,” which address is on YouTube. After a lengthy struggle to recover, with Philip constantly by her side, she finally passed quietly with family around her in the countryside setting she loved so much. According to her wishes, her family and friends buried her with natural and religious ceremony on family land near the home where she and Philip raised their family. The family was graciously assisted in Becky’s last days by Interim Healthcare hospice and Cozine Mortuary, as well as a whole host of old and new friends.

A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 2:00pm at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 1958 N Webb Rd, Wichita, KS 67206.

Friends and acquaintances are invited to read about her life and help complete her story by sharing special memories in a blog (https://BeckyElder2025.blogspot.com) which we will collate into a memorial so future generations, including her grandchildren, can hear her story.

Phil does not need flowers or meals at this time, although Becky’s absence will make them even more precious to him come Spring when the horses grow frisky and everything comes to life again. Instead, her family encourages you to consider contributing to her final work — in any way you can — at Sunnydale Community Library (https://www.suncomlib.org/contact).

CLICK TO VIEW MEMORIAL SERVICE LIVE STREAM