Gilma Bothum, 90, Austin

Published 10:13 am Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Gilma T. Bothum, 90, of Austin, died Saturday, May 4, 2013, at St. John’s Lutheran Home in Albert Lea.

Gilma Teone was born on June 12, 1922, in Worth County, Iowa, near Northwood, the daughter of Knut and Olga (Olson) Haugen. She was baptized in 1922 and confirmed in 1937 at Elk Creek Lutheran Church rural Kensett, Iowa, by the Rev. Thor Sigmond. She attended and received her education in the Brookfield Township school system in rural Northwood. After she finished school she stayed home and helped with the work on the family farm and cared for her grandma until her death.

Gilma Bothum

Gilma married Abel Sanden on Nov. 22, 1945. The couple had one son, Gary Allan Sanden. Abel died on Nov. 1, 1957. She then married Charles Chrz on Sept. 27, 1960. Charles died April 19, 1972. Gilma then married Lester Bothum on Aug. 25, 1973, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. They lived on his family farm in Oakland Township until they moved to Austin in 1989. Lester died on Dec. 29, 1992.

Gilma was interested in baking, crocheting and crafts. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends and going out for lunch.

She was a former member of the Bristal Lutheran Church and Oakland Lutheran Church and was currently a member of Trondhjem Lutheran Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, grandson, granddaughter, daughter-in-law, brother, Kenneth and sisters, Elaine, Talora and Carol.

Gilma is survived by her son, Gary Sanden of Oakland and his fiancee Elaine Ramos of Albert Lea; step-daughter, Lori (Matt) Quinn of Los Angeles, Calif.; grandson, Devin Sanden of Austin; eight step-grandchildren; seven step-great-grandchildren; sister, Phyllis Bruhn of St. Bonifacius; sisters-in-law, Betty Granholt of Albert Lea and Lila (Kendall) Johnson of Albert Lea; brother-in-law, Stanley Thurlow of Wakefield, Kan.; and nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Hayward Lutheran Church with the Rev. Katie Fick officiating. Interment will be at Hillcrest Cemetery of Oakland. Visitation will be at the church for one hour before the service. Clasen-Jordan mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials may be designated to Trondhjem Lutheran Church or Hillcrest Cemetery in Oakland.