Alice Mitchell

Alice Mitchell, age 99, died on April 1, 2017, at Milbank Care and Rehab Center.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, April 6, at 10:30 a.m. at Valley Baptist Church in Milbank, with Rev. Brian McFaden officiating. Visitation will be held at Mundwiler Funeral Home Wednesday evening from 5 – 7 p.m, with a prayer and sharing service at 6:30 p.m.

Casket bearers will be Rodney Boerger, Jeff Boerger, Ryan Boerger, Scott Boerger, Matt Boerger, Gary Joe Boerger, Brian DeBoer and Brad DeBoer. Honorary bearers will be the Nursing Staff at Milbank Care and Rehab Center. Burial will be at Milbank City Cemetery.

Alice Viola Busk Boerger Mitchell was born on August 21, 1917, to Carl and Esther (Sorenson) Busk in rural Marvin, SD. Alice was reared, saved, and baptized in the Baptist faith. All who knew her saw her solid and unwavering conviction to her strong faith.

On March 10, 1939, Alice was united in marriage with Wilbur E. Boerger. They were blessed with six children – Gaylord, Clifford, Lynn, Sherry, Mark, and Gary. The children were all raised on the Boerger homestead in Melrose Township. Alice and Wilbur farmed together in Melrose Township for 25 years, until his death in April of 1964.

Alice was a homemaker most of her life as she and Wilbur raised their children on the family farm. She was an expert at planning and serving the noon meal and lunches during harvest times for the small grains, silage making, and baling hay and straw. Alice was an avid gardener and tended the flock of chickens for grocery money. Sundays were spent supporting the Corona Baptist congregation, mission work, ladies aid, singing in the choir, and working with the youth with Mabel DeBoer and Melvin Binde.

On October 19, 1974, Alice married H. L. “Mitch” Mitchell. She and Mitch traveled and worked in various places across the U.S. They retired and made their home in Bloomington, Texas. During those years living in Texas quilt making became Alice’s main hobby. Mitch died on May 19, 1996, and in 2000 Alice returned to her “roots” in South Dakota. Upon her return, she was active in church and also worked part time at Whetstone Valley Nursing Home. Alice moved to Park Place in November of 2008 and Golden Living Center in July of 2011.

Cherishing her memory are her children: Cliff (Esther) Boerger of Maryville, TN; Lynn (Judie) Boerger of Virginia Beach, VA; Sherry (Paul) DeBoer of Corona, SD; Mark (Gloria) Boerger of Milbank; and Gary (Linda) Boerger of Broken Arrow, OK; daughter-in-law, Phyllis Boerger of Pekin, IL; two sisters – Dorothy Bracht and Marlys Parson; sister-in-law, Marion Busk; 24 grandchildren; 44 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

Alice was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; son, Gaylord; three sisters – Rose Hammero, Gladys Trapp, and Velma Busk; and three brothers – Grover Busk, Marlo Busk, and Bob Busk; step son, Donald Mitchell and step daughter, Glenda Jenson.