The memorial service and burial for Lillian Rachel Boettcher will be held on Wednesday. The burial will be at 1:30 p.m. in Hillcrest Cemetery, Albert Lea, followed by a memorial service at 2 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church, Albert Lea. The Rev. Dan Baker will officiate.
Lillian passed away on Sunday, April 5, 2009, at Thorne Crest Retirement Center, Albert Lea. She was 83 years old.
Lillian was born April 24, 1925, to Lewis O. and Ida (Ofstaas) Martinson in Nunda Township. She was raised on a farm a mile from where she was born. She attended Country School District 48 and graduated from eighth grade there. In 1943 she graduated from Emmons High School. On Feb. 20, 1944, she was married to Walter H. Boettcher of Armstrong. After their marriage, she moved with her husband to the farm just northeast of Armstrong, where she lived until May of 1997 when she moved to Albert Lea in her Channelview Apartment. Lillian’s husband passed away Oct. 1, 1966. She is a member of First Lutheran Church of Albert Lea. Over the years she belonged to Circle 10 and the Club 79 of the church.
To this union was born daughter Jane Louise on April 20, 1945, and in 1953 adopted son, James Dale, who was born May 22. Also she and her husband had a foster son William J. Helland in their home for a length of time.
Over her lifetime, she has always been fond of children, loved to draw, play cards with her special friends at Channelview apartments, fishing, travel, crocheting, music and dancing.
Lillian is survived by her daughter, Jane Purtee, and her husband James, and foster son, William Helland; granddaughter, Jessica (Michael) Bakken; grandsons: James Purtee, Jeremy Blake, James (Libby) Darnell, Samuel Helland; and four great-grandsons. Also surviving is one brother, Irvin Martinson.
Lillian was preceded in death by her husband in 1966; son, James, at age 39; parents, Lewis and Ida Martinson; brother, Hubert O. Martinson and his wife, Beulah; sister, Carol Springer and her husband Ralph; mother and father-in-law, William and Hattie Boettcher; and one great niece.