Obituary of Claire Jacqueline Boyum

Claire Boyum passed away peacefully at home. Her entire family, daughters Lisa, Leslie and Kimberly, sons-in-law Ron and Jeff, grandson Michael and his wife Courtney, granddaughter Kelley, and long-time friend Jinxi were present her last few days. She was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth, and several faithful friends, Sam, Tasha, Maggie, and Oliver the super cat.

Originally from Duluth, she worked in a glider factory during WWII, then met her husband Ken at the VA in Minneapolis. After having three daughters, she volunteered at Sister Kenney Rehabilitation Hospital and then went on to work as an executive secretary until she retired.

She was very creative and artistic in her activities with her kids, her garden, and hobbies such as creating several ceramic pieces which will be handed down for years to come.

She started the morning doing the crossword puzzle, taught her daughters “Du luktar som en get,” Swedish for ”You smell like a goat,” which they will never forget, decorated beautiful Christmas trees of red, green, gold and silver – any other colors had to go in the back, used the words “fen,” “scut” and “Qi” to win at scrabble, and once stayed up all night making ball gowns for her daughters’ Barbie Dolls. Her baby pool entry: A great-grandson, 7lb. 3 oz., born 6/10/2020. And, she loved oatmeal.

Will there be a get-together to tell “Mom” stories? We’ll see when we’re allowed to gather in groups larger than 10. Memorials to the Animal Humane Society, animalhumanesociety.org., from where she liberated Oliver, or Minnesota Angel Foundation, mnangel.org an organization that provides cancer patient and family support.