Alice Bloomquist

Alice Eldora (Knudson) Bloomquist was born on July 19, 1925, to Jalmer and Bertha (Berndt) Knudson on her family farm in South Branch Township, rural Watonwan County. She was baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran faith at Long Lake and Butterfield Lutheran churches. She was educated at South Branch School District #14. She went to work at Priest's Produce (later known as Tony Downs Foods). She also worked for people in their homes until she met and married Reynold "Dick" Bloomquist on December 27, 1945, at the East Sveadahl Lutheran Church parsonage. She moved with him to Garibaldi, OR, while he finished his service with the U.S. Coast Guard. They returned to the St. James area and also lived in Estherville, Iowa, and during that time became the parents of their three daughters, Jacquelyn in 1948, Jeanne in 1949, and Joyce in 1952. They again returned to St. James and began the design and construction of their dream home where they lived from 1961 and until 1998. Alice and her family were long-time members of East Sveadahl Lutheran Church where she enjoyed teaching Sunday School and attending Ladies Aid. They joined Augustana Lutheran Church in 1963 where she was a member of the Rachel and Sewing Circles. She was an active volunteer with the St. Lucia festival and with the American Legion chicken fries, which she and Dick helped start. Alice enjoyed being a homemaker, wife, and mother and also worked as a cook for 10 years at the St. James Public Schools. She later worked for J.C. Penney's for 17 years, retiring in 1987. Alice was a member of the American Legion and VFW Auxiliaries. Her hobbies included quilting, sewing, cake decorating, baking, and spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Alice is survived by her daughters , Jeanne (John) Miest, of St. James, and Joyce Bloomquist of St. James, son-in-law, Randy Mensing of Colorado; grandchildren, Jeff (Kim) Mensing, Julie Mensing, Amy (Paul) Hoernemann, Jennifer (John) Feriancek, Darrick (Kari) Miest, Bobbi (Craig) Baumann, Holli (Richard) McKinnon and Brandy (Bill) Bolens; 15 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild; sisters-in-law, Eunice Wiken, Bernette Bloomquist, and Caroline Bloomquist; brother-and sister-in-law, Lowell and Janet Bloomquist; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dick in 2006 and , daughter Jacquelyn (Jackie) in 2009, her parents, Jalmer and Bertha Knudson, and mother-and father-in-law, Arnold and Bertha Bloomquist; two sisters, Bernice Olson and Edna Thompson, a brother, Clarence Knudson; brothers-and sisters-in-law, Donald Thompson, Herman Olson, Vernon Bloomquist, Norman Bloomquist, Alwyn Wiken, Jeannette and Julian Helling, Elois and Jerry Holmquist; nephews, LeDale, Brent and Marlin Helling, Bruce Holmquist, Steve and Mike Olson and niece, Eldora Uhde. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials in Alice's name to the American Cancer Society Relay For Life or Augustana Lutheran Church memorial fund. First Visitation 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Friday, November 28, 2014 Sturm Funeral Home, St. James Chapel 906 - 10th Ave. S. St. James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Second Visitation 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Saturday, November 29, 2014 Augustana Lutheran Church- St. James 603 Armstrong Blvd. N. PO Box 151 Saint James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Service Information 2:00 pm Saturday, November 29, 2014 Augustana Lutheran Church- St. James 603 Armstrong Blvd. N. PO Box 151 Saint James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Interment Information East Sveadahl Lutheran Cemetery 30187 710th ave. Saint James, Minnesota, United States 56081