Alma B. VanBockern
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Alma B. VanBockern, age 89, died Thursday, October 29, 2009 at Bethesda of Beresford Nursing Home. Funeral services will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, November 2, 2009 at Grand Valley Lutheran Church with burial to follow at Forest Hill Cemetery both near Canton, SD.
Visitation will be Sunday from 2-7 p.m. with family present from 4-6 p.m., at Anderson Funeral Home in Canton. Alma was born July 7, 1920 in rural Canton, SD to Ole and Gunhild (Orstad) Aasheim. She was confirmed at Lands Lutheran Church. She attended Highland Center Grade School and Canton High School, graduating in 1939. Alma married Art VanBockern on September 10, 1949 at Lands Lutheran Church.
During her life she worked at Farmers Coop, Deinema Ford, Dakota Fertilizer, and as a bookkeeper/cashier at the Canton Livestock Co. for 12-14 years before retiring in 1997. She was a former member of Lands Lutheran Church and a nearly 60 year member of Grand Valley Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, and was a member of WELCA. In addition, Alma was a member of the VFW Auxillary and enjoyed dancing. Alma will be remembered for her cooking, sack lunches, and her tremendous love for her family.
Grateful for having shared her life are her husband of 60 years, Art; son, Fred & Alicia VanBockern, Canton, SD; daughter, Glenda & Steve Heath, Grand Island, NE; 2 sisters, Lenore Monen, Sioux Falls, SD and Lillian Hanson, Harrisburg, SD; grandchildren, Patti & Mark Brands, Christi & Scott Henderson, Paul & Sherri Heath, Brent & Bethany Heath, and LenaMarie Heath; great-grandchildren, Hayley Brands, Soren Brands, Gavin Henderson, Owen Heath, Everett Heath, and Miah Heath; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Walter and Henry; sisters, Esther and Gladys; and great-grandchild, Amelia Grace.