Gertrude C. Boedigheimer (Siebels), age 86, of Perham, MN died Sunday, October 10, 2004 at her home in Perham, MN. Funeral services will be held Oct. 14, 2004 at 11:00 am at St. Henry's Catholic Church, Perham, with Reverend David Rieder, Reverend Jerry Nordick, Reverend Kevin Schwartz, and Reverend Leo Otto officiating. The Christian burial will follow at St. Henry's Catholic Cemetery in Perham. Visitation at Schoeneberger Funeral Home, Perham, is from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 13, 2004, with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m.

Gertude was born Nov 15, 1917 in Gorman Township, the twelfth child of Henry E. and Christina (Bahner) Siebels. She was baptized at St Henry's on her patron saint's (St. Gertrude) feast day. She was a lifetime member of St. Henry's Catholic Church and very strong in her faith which helped her through her illness. She attended school at District 158 in Gorman Township. On May 1, 1944, she married Clarence Boedigheimer at St. Henry's Church. They moved to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania where Clarence was stationed in the army. She worked at a dress factory and later, to help the war effort, worked at a defense job taking airplane motors apart to be cleaned and rebuilt. When the war ended they returned to Perham and raised a family of five. She was a wonderful homemaker and kept busy tending the house and family. She was a Den Mother when her son was a Cub Scout and took care of the altar boy's cassocks. As her family was growing she had a large garden that she kept weedfree and used the vegetables and fruits for canning. She was very artistic and creative and part of her wonderful personality was her great sense of humor. She was a wonderful seamstress who sewed clothes for her children and throughout the years made many treasured quilts. She taught herself to crochet at the age of 78 and made beautiful doilies. She was a member of Catholic Aid, Christian Mothers and had been active at the Senior Citizen Center. In the past few years Gertrude liked to do crossword and jigsaw puzzles, scrap books, computer games, playing cards, making quilts, cross-stitch, embroidery, crocheting, wood working and reading. She was always ready to help her children with their projects. In the spring and summer she took care of her vegetable and flower gardens. She made monthly decorations in front of her house for others to enjoy. She was a devoted and greatly loved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

She is survived by her five children: Joanne (David) Buntrock of Monticello, MN, Phyllis of Rice, MN, Jerome (Lina) of Perham, Marlene of New York Mills and Pam (Rick) Werner of Perham; eight grandchildren: Kevin(Nancy) Buntrock, Clear Lake, MN, Mike Buntrock, Red Oak, IA, Samantha Boedigheimer, Fargo, ND, Missy(Jeremy) Anderson, Monticello, MN, Jacob Werner, Alexandria, MN, Krista and Nicole Werner, Perham; and seven great grandchildren: Andrew, Emma, Avery, Elizabeth Buntrock, Michaela and Kamryn Buntrock and Alexandra Anderson; three sisters, Sr. M. Eulalia O.S.B., St. Scholastica Convent, Jean (Carl) Hoffmann, Wadena, Magdeline Siebels, Memorial Home, Perham, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Clarence Boedigheimer, grandson Travis Werner, her three brothers Joseph, Al and Henry J. Siebels, her five sisters, Sr. Henrica O.S.B., Sr. Edwardine O.S.B., Frances Hemmelgarn, Sr. Melchior O.S.B., and Sr. Christophine O.S.B.

Arrangements were provided by Schoeneberger Funeral Home of Perham. (218) 346-5175