Gertie Leona Bakkum

RUSHFORDGertie Leona Bakkum, 96 of Rushford, died Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Home in Rushford.Gertie was born February 20, 1919 in Canton, MN to Olaf and Clara (Peterson) Lysgaard. She attended school at Newberg School through the eighth grade. Gertie married Alfred Bakkum on September 21, 1940 in Spring Grove, MN. They farmed near Preston then south of Rushford for many years until they moved to Rushford. She worked at Winona Hotel and Good Shepherd Lutheran Home for 20 years. She enjoyed her chickens, her large garden, canning, cooking, and baking Norwegian goodies. Gertie loved lots of company. After moving to Good Shepherd Lutheran Home in May 2008, she enjoyed all the activities. Gertie was a member of Highland Prairie Lutheran Church and its ladies organizations. She is survived by her son, Kenneth (Catherine) Bakkum of Rushford; daughter, Marie (Glenn) Ingalls of Rochester; 7 grandchildren, Kendall (Lisa) Bakkum, Caryn Butler, Rick Boyum (Lynette Stevens), Scott (Lora) Boyum, Sara (Jeff) Ptacek, Dean (Jodi) Bakkum, and Renae Loth-Birch (Fred Birch); 18 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; sister, Irene Vigeland; son-in-law, Roger Boyum; and many nieces and nephews. Gertie was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Alfred, in 1987; son, Arthur Bakkum; son and daughter-in-law, Gordon and Darlene Bakkum; daughter, Alice Boyum; and sisters, Bertha Bjergum, Lillian Haagenson, and Dorothy Inglett.Gertie's family would like to thank the entire staff at Good Shepherd Lutheran Home for the wonderful care given to her the last seven years. Memorials are preferred to Highland Prairie Lutheran Church or Good Shepherd Lutheran Home.Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 27, 2015 at Highland Prairie Lutheran Church with visitation two hours prior. Reverend Marie AK Anderson will officiate. Gertie will be laid to rest at Highland Prairie Lutheran Cemetery.Please share a memory of Gertie with her family at www.hofffuneral.com.