Frances Boe, 97, Decorah, Iowa

Published 7:58 am Sunday, November 20, 2011

Frances M. Boe, age 97, of Decorah, Iowa, died Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011, at Seasons Hospice in Rochester.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Decorah Lutheran Church with the Rev. Bryan Robertson and the Rev. Allen Vik officiating. Burial will be in Lutheran Cemetery in Decorah.

Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. today at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah and on Monday one hour before the service at the church.

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Online condolences may be made at www.fjelstul.com.

Frances Boe

Frances Marian (Rauk) Boe was born Oct. 2, 1914, in Spring Grove, the daughter of Edward and Pauline (Pedersen) Rauk. She was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Spring Grove. She attended the Melbraaten country school near her home and graduated from Spring Grove High School in 1932. Frances then attended normal training for one year in Winona. She taught parochial school near Spring Grove and also was a housekeeper in Decorah.

Frances was united in marriage to Norman Boe on June 29, 1941, at the Highland Bowl near Highland Prairie Lutheran Church. They were blessed with three children: Neil, Ramona, and ReJene. After the girls were in elementary school Frances began working in food service at the Decorah Public Schools. She continued there for more than 30 years.

Frances was an active member of Decorah Lutheran Church in WELCA, circles, Bible studies, and helping with the church bulletins and church newsletters, and as a Sunday School and Bible School teacher and Sunday School superintendent. Over the years Frances enjoyed cooking, baking, sewing, quilting, having coffee with friends, gardening, doing word searches and jigsaw puzzles, playing cards and being with family.

Frances had lived in Rochester, with her daughter’s family for the past four years. She died on Thursday at Seasons Hospice in Rochester after a very brief stay. She was 97 years of age.

Frances’ survivors include her daughters Mona (John) Skare of Bricelyn, and Jene (Keith) Bodensteiner of Rochester; one daughter-in-law, Carolyn “Carol” Boe of Decorah; six grandchildren: Luona (Mark) Lafferty, Greggory (Lola) Boe, Sarah (Brian) Grimm, Anna Skare, Peter (Krissy) Doherty, and Emily Bodensteiner; seven great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; and one sister, Lila Anderson of Spring Grove.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Norman on May 22, 1994; one son, Neil D. Boe on May 15, 1985; four brothers: Orlando, Eldred, Raymond and Lloyd Rauk; and two sisters, Pearl Skaaren and Florence Sollien.

Memorials may be given to Seasons Hospice, 1811 Greenview Place SW, Suite 110, Rochester, MN 55902 or Decorah Lutheran Church, 309 Winnebago Street, Decorah, IA 52101.