Obituary of Alvida Lenora (Rohman) Brennan

Alvida Brennan passed away peacefully at the age of 101 surrounded by family at The Commons on Marice in Eagan, Minnesota on January 3, 2023. Alvida Lenora Rohman the daughter of Johanna (nee Berg) and Peter Rohman was born June 10, 1921 on her parent’s farm 2 ½ miles east and ½ mile south of Cummings, ND. As a young child she lived on the Gayer and Mickelson farms between Cummings and Caledonia, ND, then her family moved to Bohnsack Township where she started grade school at the Bohnsack School. Eventually her family returned to the Reed farm near Cummings where she completed her schooling. As a young woman she worked on her parent’s farm, for neighbors during harvest and eventually at the Halstad Bakery.

On February 10, 1942 she was united in marriage to LeRoy Brennan at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Gardner, ND. They farmed near Caledonia, ND from 1942 until 1955 then moved to their own farm near Kelso, ND. In 1967 the family moved to Fargo, ND where she worked many years in the kitchen of Holy Spirit Grade School and thoroughly enjoyed serving lunch to the young students. In 1993 Alvida moved to Roseville, MN to be near her children and subsequently lived in Bloomington and Eagan, MN.

A housewife and homemaker for most of her life, Alvida was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother and enjoyed making a warm and loving home for her family. More than anything she loved babies and little children and was very proud and always encouraging to her 10 children, 26 grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren and 4 great great grandchildren. She enjoyed attending her childrens’ and grandchildrens’ school events, getting outdoors working with the soil planting and caring for her flowerbeds and gardens, traveling, sewing and decorating with her creative talent for color and fashion and simply spending time with her family. She was active in the various Catholic Churches she attended including being a member of Christian Mothers and teaching Catechism.

Alvida was preceded in death by her husband LeRoy, her daughter Carollee Hooper, her brother Leonard Rohman, her sister Margaret Preston and her parents.

She is survived by nine of her children Marilyn (Rollie) Gates, Ronald (Linda) Brennan, Thomas (Sue) Brennan, Kathryn Riewe, Allan (Karen) Brennan, Kevin (Gail) Brennan, Peter (Michelle) Brennan, David Brennan (Julie Fisher Cardinal), Mary Ellen Brennan (Michael Waterston), her son-in-law Clifford Hooper, 26 grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren, 4 great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral mass in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN and graveside service at Holy Cross Cemetery in Fargo, ND are being planned for June 10th, 2023. Arrangements are by the Cremation Society of MN, First Memorial Waterston Chapel, Minneapolis.