Mildred Boe (1922-2006)

BOE, OWENSON, JOHNSON

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 7/29/2007 at 14:45:57

The Story City Herald, Wednesday, July 12, 2006.

Mildred Boe, age 84, died Saturday, July 1, 2006 at her home in Jewell. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 6, 2006 at Elim Lutheran Church in Randall. Burial followed at Mt. Olive Cemetery in Randall. Visitation was Wednesday evening from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Becker Funeral Home in Jewell.

Mildred Orva Owenson Boe was born at home in Randall on February 16, 1922 to Orville and Myrtle Johnson Owenson. She was the second child in a family of five girls and five boys. So being one of the eldest children in a large family meant contributing with chores and looking after younger siblings. Her assignment was to clean the milk separator daily.

She grew up in rural Randall, being baptized and confirmed at Elim Lutheran Church, and graduating from Randall High School in 1940. Mildred continued her education and graduated from the Iowa School of Beauty in Des Moines. She operated her own salon in Story City until becoming a farm wife.

Mildred and Clifford Jacobson Boe were married July 6, 1945 and started a life together on a farm west of Story City. Her life revolved around the Rosendale neighborhood, keeping busy with ladies aid, teaching Bible and Sunday school at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, motherhood, and helping with farm tasks ranging from chasing a wayward hog that was either digging in her garden or pulling laundry off the clothesline, feeding men baling hay or shelling corn, and hauling in the harvest from the fields.

She, together with Clifford raised one daughter, Cathryn.

They continued farming together until moving to Jewell in 1976. Mildred then put her knowledge of sewing to good use working in the Story City Ben Franklin Store. She would also keep busy volunteering at South Hamiltion school with the reading program, and child care in her home. When Clifford's health was failing, she cared for him day and night as a loving and devoted wife.

She thrived on working in her garden and her flower beds are a testament to her hard work. She was known to delight in watching Lawrence Welk on Saturday evenings. She served the Lord at Elim Lutheran Church keeping