Walter Boerboom

Walter George Boerboom was born July 1, 1924, in Ghent, to Cornelius and Marie (VanDenBerghe) Boerboom. He grew up on the family farm near Ghent and attended St. Eloi Catholic School. He graduated from Marshall High School in May 1943. He served in the Army from Dec. 1944 to Aug. 1946 including time in the Philippines and Hawaii. After his honorable discharge, he returned to Southwest Minnesota. Walter was united in marriage to Helen Peters on September 11, 1950 at St. Clotilde Catholic Church in Green Valley. They farmed and started their family near Wood Lake. In 1955 they moved to a farm southwest of Cottonwood where they raised seven children. After retiring from farming in 1986, Walter worked at the Cottonwood Coop Fertilizer Plant. The couple moved from the farm to a house in Cottonwood in 1989. Walter resided at the Minnesota Veteran’s Home in Luverne from November, 2008 – May, 2011. He enjoyed playing rolle bolle and watching sports with family and friends. Walter served on the Lucas Township Board, was a member and Past-Commander of the American Legion Post 503, served on the Lyon Co. Planning and Zoning Commission, President of the Cottonwood Lions Club, Marshall PCA Board of Directors and Cottonwood School Board. Walter and Helen were charter members of St. Mary's Catholic Church where he served as a lector and communion minister.

Walter died on Friday, May 13, 2011, at the Sanford Luverne Community Hospital. Survivors include his children James and Mary Jo (Drazkowski) Boerboom of Waseca, Neil and Rose Mary (Lafferty) Boerboom of Minneapolis, Paul and Nancy (Looker) Boerboom of Sioux Falls, SD, Gail (Boerboom) and Rev. David Jahn of Luverne, Anne (Boerboom) and John Andy Rieder of Longmont, CO, Glen Boerboom of St. Louis Park and Lorraine (Boerboom) and Robert Sack of Indianapolis, IN; 16 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; sibling Clarice (and Bill) Versaevel of Marshall; and nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife Helen (Peters) Boerboom, parents and siblings Sophia, Theresa, Harry J., Evelyn, John, Joe, Mary, Cornelius, Andrew and Francis.

Memorials preferred to the Minnesota Veteran's Home in Luverne.