Alma R. Birchard

ALMA RUTH BIRCHARD was born on November 25, 1922, the fifth of six children, to Thomas and Dena (Boyenga) Roskens in Everly, Iowa. Alma was baptized at First Reformed Church near Everly and grew up on the family farm. She attended school in Everly and graduated from high school in 1940. She received her teacher’s certificate from Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Iowa and spent four years as a country school teacher. On February 23, 1949, Alma was united in marriage to Clarence Birchard in Fostoria, Iowa. Over the next years, they would make their home on farms near Fostoria, Everly, Spencer, and Maywood, Iowa from 1975 to 1983. Alma was a homemaker for 26 years. She was a housekeeper at New Inn and spent 20 years as a cook at the Spencer Golf and Country Club. Clarence and Alma were living on the family acreage near Everly when Alma officially retired in 2008. In 2010, Clarence passed away. Alma then returned to Spencer where she would remain until January of 2019, when she moved to Luverne, Minnesota to be closer to family.

On Monday, September 30, 2019, Alma passed away peacefully at the Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage in Luverne at the age of 96 years, 10 months, and 5 days.

Alma was a charter member of Hope Reformed Church in Spencer which was founded in 1959. Alma was a hard worker and thrifty by nature. Faith and family were her first priorities. She and Clarence regularly attended their children’s high school activities and always found time to take them fishing. Alma was known for her love of ice cream and her enjoyment of March Madness. Clarence and Alma enjoyed 20 years of wintering in Texas with family and friends. They always made a point to stop in Arkansas to visit their son, Larry and his family. In Alma’s spare time, she volunteered at Sunset Apartments in Spencer.

Alma is lovingly remembered by her three children, John (Linda) of Maple Grove, Minnesota, Vicky (Roger) Henderson of Luverne, and Larry (Roxanne) of Lowell, Arkansas; five grandchildren, Mark and Todd Henderson, Tom (Ashley) Birchand, Laura (Brennan) Torkelson, and Jason (Alyssa) Birchard; one great-grandchild, Tyler Torkelson; daughter-in-law, Kae B. Loverink of Bend, Oregon; sister-in-law, Linda Birchard of Spencer; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence; a son, Randy Birchard; and all of her siblings and their spouses.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the donor’s choice in Alma’s memory.