Alva was born on November 14, 1868. He married Elizabeth Vernon on July 24, 1895. They purchased farm land in Estes Brook. Located on their property was a gravel pit, which they received .50 cents for a 5 yard load. Alva was a avid fisherman and hunter. Alva was a member of the District 7 schoolboard from school term 1912-1916 as the treasurer. He received the contract for getting out the poles for the Famer's Co-operative Telephone company. Alva owned and operated one of the first steam threashing machines in the county. Alva and his wife, Elizabeth spent many Sunday afteroon's at John and Emma Beden's. (This would be his sister Mary's brother).

The following information is from an obituary article that family members had saved. The name of the newspaper and date are unknown.

Funeral services were held at the Estes Brook Methodist church on August 14th at 2 pm for Alva Grant Bemis, who passed away on August 11th at the Princeton Community Hospital. The Rev. Edward McCann and the Rev. Clyde Shattuck officiated and burial was made in Milo Cemetery.
Alva Bemis was born at Robbinsdale, Minnesota on November 14, 1863. He moved to a farm near Estes Brook in Greenbush township, where he lived nearly all his life. On July 24, 1895, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Vernon. His wife passed away 17 years ago.
Glen Pearson and Victor Nesund sang a duet "Beyond the Sunset" and the Junior chorus sang "Saved by Grace". Mrs. Glen Pearson was pianist.
He is survived by four sons, one daughter, 11 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and one brother, Eugene of Wilmar. There were 8 brothers and 2 sisters and the second oldest infant son, Gerald, who preceded him in death.
Besides the immediate family, other relatives from out of town were: Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Crook of Park Rapids, Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Bemis of St. Cloud. Mr. and Mrs. Louis Bemis, Elmer and Willis Bemis, all of Cohassett. Mrs. Ray Clark of Minneapolis, Mrs. Robert Due of St Paul, Minnesota, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Deuel of Columbia, Utah, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Tidd and Mrs. John Strait of Milaca, Minnesota. Miss Kate Vernon of Foley, Minnesota, James Stanchfield, Mrs. Joe Dery and son, Jimmy, Mrs. Carleton Thayer and Earl Henschel, all of Princeton, Minnesota.
Pallbearers were his six grandchildren: Clifford Bemis of Foley, Duane Bemis of Foreston, Alden Bemis of Estes Brook, Kenneth and James Bemis of Milo and Alan Strombeck of Minneapolis. Mr. Bemis had suffered a stoke and had been in the Princeton hospital for about 10 days.