Fretheim, Alice Marguerite (Halvorson) 1915 - 2015

FRETHEIM, HALVORSON, ANDERSON, KJOS, SWENSON, VAALA, YUNKER, HANNEMAN, REITH

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 2/13/2015 at 09:33:43

Alice M. Fretheim, age 99, of Decorah, died Monday, February 9, 2015 at Aase Haugen Senior Services in Decorah, where she was a resident since October of 2008.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 14, 2015 at Madison Lutheran Church in rural Ridgeway, IA, with Rev. Jeff Hansen officiating. Burial will be in the Madison Lutheran Cemetery.

Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, one hour before the service, at Madison Lutheran Church.

Alice Marguerite (Halvorson) Fretheim was born November 1, 1915 in Ridgeway, Iowa, to Henry and Mathilda (Anderson) Halvorson. She grew up on the Halvorson farm southwest of Ridgeway, the third of the four Halvorson daughters. She is remembered as the one who spent much of her time outside helping her father with his work. She attended rural grade school and graduated from Ridgeway High School where she was an excellent student who participated in music and basketball. Alice was always interested in music - taking after her father – singing and playing the piano. She was baptized and confirmed at Lincoln Lutheran Church in rural Ridgeway.

On November 6, 1933, Alice and Lloyd E. Fretheim were married at the parsonage in Ridgeway. She then moved to the Fretheim farm between Decorah and Ridgeway where she became “manager of the house” for Lloyd, her father-in-law, and a brother-in-law. She carried on faithfully providing food, washing, cleaning and hosting for her new household. Alice was an active member of Madison Lutheran Church, a sister congregation of Lincoln Lutheran.

Lloyd and Alice were the parents of three sons, Leland, Ronald and Marlin. As parents they were good providers for their children, teaching them a strong sense of responsibility while also encouraging them to pursue any interests they had. When they were old enough to be part of the 4-H program, the boys became involved with raising beef steers. There was always farm work to take part in, but they were also allowed to be a part of sports activities: town-team softball, baseball, football, wrestling and track. Somehow the work got done, and Lloyd and Alice were very often at the sports events.

In 1973 Lloyd was injured in a farm accident and then died on August 3rd. Alice moved to Ridgeway to take care of her mother until her mother moved to the Aase Haugen Home. Alice then moved to Decorah also. She was active in the Farm Bureau Women’s singing group and took part in many activities with several friends, including travel events. She also continued to play her piano.

Following some health issues in the fall of 2008, Alice became a resident of Aase Haugen Home where she took part in most activities. She loved to play the game of Rummikub. When her hearing began to fail, her life became more “closed in,” although she continued to read both the Decorah Newspaper and the Cedar Rapids Gazette. She nearly always did the daily crossword and jumble.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd; her parents, Henry and Mathilda Halvorson; and her sisters: Helen (Lloyd) Kjos, Thelma (John) Swenson and Valborg (Gregory) Vaala.

Alice is survived by her three sons: Leland (Harriet) of Long Lake, MN, Ronald (Karen) of Decorah, IA, and Marlin (Janet) of Fort Smith, AR; seven grandchildren: Lori (Scott) Yunker of Delano, MN, Kristin (Steve) Hanneman of Hopkins, MN, Michael Fretheim of Howard Lake, MN, Anne Fretheim of St. Paul, MN, Todd (Melissa) Fretheim of Fort Smith, AR, Amy (Jerry) Reith of Springdale, AR and Scott (Courtney) Fretheim of Houston, TX; and fifteen great-grandchildren: Makena and Sam Yunker, Chase, Parker and Gracie Fretheim, Siri Fretheim, Osa Hanneman, Taylor, Michael and Connor Fretheim, Anniston, Treyson and Brecken Reith, and Caleb and Calvin Fretheim.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be given to the donor’s choice.

Source: Fjelstul Funeral Home database

Madison Lutheran Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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