Alice Boom

Alice Lavonne Hartman was born March 4, 1932, near Lakefield, MN, the daughter of Carl and Mabel (Syverson) Hartman. Her family moved to Chandler, MN where Alice attended school. After graduating from Chandler High School in 1950, she attended the Mankato Business School where she learned bookkeeping.

Alice worked as a bookkeeper in Fargo, ND and later in Willmar, MN. On June 8, 1952 she was united in marriage to Myron Dean Berg at her parents’ home on the family farm. Initially the couple made their home in Tampa, FL, where Myron was stationed in the U.S. Air Force. The couple began raising a family in Tampa. In 1954 Myron was discharged from the Air Force and the family moved to Slayton, MN where they began farming. In 1961 they moved to farm at Garvin, MN and in 1963 they settled on a farm near Chokio, MN. Alice was a very capable and self-sufficient homemaker and took pride in helping run the farm. She was pleased to be able to tell her children that most of the food she put on the table was produced on their own farm. She enjoyed quilting, sewing, crocheting and was an accomplished gardener and baker. Alice and Myron enjoyed visiting and playing cards with friends and neighbors. Alice also operated a small upholstery business with her good friend Donna Larson.

In 1973 tragedy struck when Myron died of a heart attack. With the help of a kind landlord, she purchased the farm and secured her family’s future. Alice and her family continued to help operate the farm until Jeff married and began raising a family on the farm. At that time, Alice and her three younger children moved to a home north of Alberta, MN.

Alice worked as a program representative for the USDA. It was while working for the USDA that she caught the eye of Rolland Boom, a farmer from Wheaton, MN. The two were united in marriage on August 31, 1986 at their new home on Lake Latoka near Alexandria, MN. Rolland and Alice retired to a life of lake living enjoying fishing, family gatherings and the view from the deck. They enjoyed traveling south in the winter to Nevada, Texas, California and Florida before settling on Mesa, AZ as a winter home. Alice was an avid golfer. She was computer savvy and kept up with email and family. Alice attended her children’s school and sports events and continued this with her grandchildren and great grandchildren when possible.

On Thursday, March 7, 2019 Alice died at the age of eighty-seven years. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Myron Berg; two brothers, Charles and Allen Hartman; and three sisters, Eileen Murphy, Mary Mollahan and Lorraine Groves. Alice is survived by her husband, Rolland Boom of Alexandria; children, Nancy (Wayne) Jenzen of Alexandria, Jeff (Beverly) Berg of Brainerd, Jeanne (Kennie) Cauthren of Alexandria, Jim (Mary Ann) Berg of Sauk Rapids and Barbara (John) Lewis of Belview; four stepchildren, Jeff (Becky) Boom of Wheaton, Vicky Boom of Rosholt, SD, Linda Boom of Minneapolis, and Kathleen (Tom) Knettel of Los Angeles, CA; grandchildren, Neil Jenzen, Alicia Lein, Trisha Pendill, Philip Berg, Rose Jubb, Ali Zeismer, Maggie Cauthren, Corey Baier, Kristopher Berg, Nicholas Berg and Andrea Schuster; nine step-grandchildren; twelve great grandchildren; five step-great grandchildren; two sisters, Betty (Delbert “Wally”) Karl of Alexandria and June Lindsley of Marshall; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 2 PM Monday, March 11, 2019 at the First Lutheran Church in Alexandria. Reverend Greg Billberg will officiate. Visitation will be from 1 to 2 PM at the church. Interment in Slayton, MN will be later.