Even though it was 40 years ago when she received the letter, Rosella Wheeler is still incredibly moved the late Queen Elizabeth II took the time to respond to her correspondence.

“My dear, I am still in shock," Wheeler, 90, of Spirit Lake, said Wednesday. "I've got tears in my eyes."

Wheeler worked for the Publishers Gousha Chek-Chart in San Jose, Calif., when she saw in the San Jose Mercury newspaper that the queen was planning a trip to California.

"I thought it would be a good gesture to put together a package of documents to aid her in making the trip," Wheeler said. "The only address available was the Buckingham Palace in England so I sent the package to BUCKINGHAM PALACE, ENGLAND in hopes it would get to her. To my great surprise I much later received this letter from the queen thanking me for the package."

Addressed to Wheeler, whose last name was then Kirkham, was a letter signed by the queen's private secretary, Robert Fellowes, thanking her for the letter and the road atlas.

The letter was typed on paper embossed with the Buckingham Palace seal. Wheeler said she has it framed in her home.

She also said this story is not about her — it's about the kindness and humility of the late queen.

"It's the humanness of this woman" to have her secretary go out of his way to send the letter, Wheeler said.

"That’s what it's all about," Wheeler said. "For me to get this, it’s precious."