Alma Blanche Behm-Gross, age 83, of Coldwater, died on Monday, February 24, 2014 at St. Rita's Medical Center, Lima. She was born July 24, 1930, in Sidney, to the late Homer & Lillian (Cole) Shaffner. She was married to Frederick Carl 'Lefty' Behm, Jr., who died December 12, 1973 and Eugene 'Abie' Gross, who died June 3, 2009. She is survived by four children, Cynthia & Jack Naseman of St. Marys, Jeffery & Karen Behm of Coldwater, Susan & Mark Miller of Celina and Frederick & Catherine Behm of Coldwater, 16 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, and three sisters, Dorothy 'Dottie' Ayers of Celina, Paula Roeth of Arcanum and Cheryl & Ed Chappie of Houston. She is preceded in death by a brother, Howard 'Bud' Shaffner, a sister, Virginia Phillips, an infant brother, Donald Shaffner, and in-laws, Ed Ayers and Leon Roeth. She was a member of Coldwater United Methodist Church, the Coldwater American Legion, V.F.W. and Eagles Auxiliaries, the Democratic Women of Mercer County and she was retired from the Mercer County Courthouse. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, March 1, 2014 at Coldwater United Methodist Church, with Rev. David Gordon, officiating. Burial will be in German Protestant Cemetery, New Bremen. Friends may call from 2:00 to 8:00 PM on Friday and 9:00 to 10:00 AM on Saturday at the Hogenkamp Funeral Home in Coldwater. Memorials may be made to State of the Heart Hospice. Condolences may be left at hogenkampfh.com.
