Vivian Marie Boyum, 95, of International Falls, Minn., passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family Saturday, April 6, 2013.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 11, at Zion Lutheran Church, International Falls, with Pastor Stephen E. Olson officiating.
Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.
She will be laid to rest next to her husband, Lloyd, at Ray Cemetery, Ray, Minn.
Cease Family Funeral of Home, Blackduck, assisted the family with arrangements.
Pallbearers are Steve Boyum, Brian Boyum, Scott Boyum, Gerald Boyum Jr., Paul Boyum, Jeffrey Wellington, James Wellington, Jonathon Wellington, Michael Boyum, Kevin Boyum and Henry Kostiuk Jr.
Honorary pallbearer is Lloyd R. Boyum.
Vivian was born June 17, 1917, in Esquagamah Township, Minn., to Carl and Irtie (Crabtree) Watt.
She was raised in Ray, and spent three years, 1926 to 1929, in California as a child.
She married Lloyd Norman Boyum on March 12, 1938, and became a homemaker. She lived her entire married life in Ray and moved to International Falls in later years.
In Vivian’s early years, she assisted her grandmother at the Ray Telephone Office as a switchboard operator. She also worked at Watson’s Store in Ray as a clerk and at a private residence at Lake Kabetogama in addition to working on the family farm on the Rat Root River.
She loved to crochet and sew, making multiple gifts for her grandchildren and family.She also enjoyed traveling to many western states to visit family and friends.
One of her many talents was growing and nurturing her African violets. There wasn’t a violet around that she couldn’t make bloom.
She was also an Avon representative for many years.
Vivian received a “Grand Champion” “Best In Show” ribbon award for her bread baking skills at the Northern Minnesota District Fair in 1966.
She was also an active leader for many years of the Ray Happy Workers 4-H Club.
Vivian was an avid member of the local chapter of the Women of the Moose for over 50 years and a member of the Ray Ladies Aid.
Vivian and her husband, Lloyd, purchased the “Biondich Farm” on the Rat Root River in Ray in 1956. After her husband’s death in 1959, she stayed on the farm and raised her children on her own until June of 1973, at which time she moved to International Falls.
Vivian, known to her many friends and family as “Toots,” was a caring, loving and giving woman. Always sending birthday greetings and get well wishes to all she knew.
As Vivian cared for so many during her long life in later years, she was wonderfully cared for by her loving daughter, Susan Cassidy.
She was a firm believer that, “Whatever you gave, came back to you two-fold.”
She is survived by her children, Norman (Karen) Boyum of International Falls, Minn., Gerald Boyum of Big Sandy, Texas, Lillian Thompson of Kansas City, Mo., Earl (Colleen) Boyum of International Falls, Minn., Emily Wellington of Everett, Wash., George (Bobbie) Boyum and Susan Cassidy, both of International Falls, Minn., and Patricia (Michael Sather) Boyum of Blaine, Minn.; 20 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; two brothers, Earl (Marion) Watt of Anaheim, Calif., and Roy (Barbara) Watt of Bandon, Ore.; and a sister, Donna (Harlan) Breneman of Gilroy, Calif.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd N. Boyum; parents, Carl and Irtie Watt; sons, Clyde Boyum, Glenn Boyum and Danny Boyum; granddaughter, Dawn Boyum; great-granddaughter, Mauricia Bowman; two grandsons, Lloyd R. Boyum and infant baby, Bradley Boyum; three brothers, Neil Watt, Addy Watt and Claude Watt; sister, Marion Watt; and best friend, Fritz Glava.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Ray Cemetery Association or the local chapter of the Women of the Moose, International Falls.
”CARRY ON.”
Messages of condolence may be sent to ceasefuneralhome.com.
