Lorriane M. Bouma

Lorraine M. Bouma (nee Minks)

Age 99, of Stillwater, MN, danced her way into heaven in her favorite red polka outfit on Saturday, September 2, 2023, after a long and full life. She was born July 4, 1924 on the family farm in the Township of Bogus Brook, near Princeton, MN. As a young girl, she learned to play the guitar, which was her prize possession, that she kept her entire life. She enjoyed playing and singing songs for many of her school programs. Her signature song was an Indian Fable called Red Wing. She graduated from Princeton High School in 1943.  She met the love of her life, Enno Bouma, at the local establishment called Ed's Place; they were married on February 6, 1943 while Enno was home on military leave, in Milaca, MN at the pastor's home. They settled in Stillwater, MN, were she worked at the St. Croix Garment Factory during WW II putting snaps on soldiers canteen covers. She was a loving and devoted stay at home mom to their 3 children. She also volunteered at the Greeley and Linden nursing homes in Stillwater and visited an elderly neighbor shut-in daily. In their retirement years, Lorraine and Enno enjoyed having breakfast every morning at Perkins. They belonged to the POLKA Club of America, and attended many dances across the upper Midwest. She loved Polish polkas played on the accordion and dancing the Polish hop. She and Enno enjoyed traveling, primarily to Grand Marias, MN, Colorado, the Dakotas, Wyoming, Montana, California, Texas, and Scotland. She was an active member of the Trinity Lutheran Church ladies circle in Stillwater for many years, and in recent years, a member of St. Andrews Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi.

Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents Adolph E. and Anna M. (Olson) Minks, brothers Durward (Harriet), Ellsworth (Ruth), Donald; sisters LaVerne (Floyd) Lundt, June Ann Minks; grandson Aaron Cole. She is survived by her 3 children, Sharon Cole of La Selva Beach, CA; Donald (Sharon) of Stonehaven, Scotland; Diane (William) Yoch of Stillwater, MN; 5 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren; nieces and nephews; half brother in law Edwin Hanenburg, half sister in law Dorothy Brink. 

Special thanks to the staff at The Pillars, Stillwater Good Samaritan, Lakeview Hospice, and St. Andrews Lutheran Church for their compassionate care.

A celebration of Lorraine's life will be on October 18th;  9:30 Graveside service at Fairview Cemetery in Stillwater, 10:30 visitation at St. Andrews Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi, 11:30 church service, lunch immediately following the service. All are encouraged to wear something red, Lorraine's favorite color.