80
October 6
Sioux Falls
Alice Sommervold was born April 18, 1940, in Sioux Falls to Lillian Sommervold. She was later adopted by Ben Harkema. She was united in marriage to Stanley Gillette on November 10, 1956, in Rock Rapids, Iowa. They moved to Whittier, Calif., for a year before returning to Sioux Falls. Alice worked at many places through the years including Seven Oaks, Vaughn’s Club, Chuck’s, Red Dragon, Sundowner, CJ’s and finally the VFW where she bartended for over 30 years. She was a lifetime member of the VFW Auxiliary. Alice was a Halloween fanatic and loved everything from the decorations to trick or treaters. Above all, she loved her family and any time spent with them was cherished.
Left to cherish her memory are her children, Stan (Lou) Gillette, Debbie McIntire, Mary Letsche all of Sioux Falls; Brett Gillette of Harrisburg and Candy (Kevin) Eide of Sioux Falls; grandchildren, Joshua (Laura Wilson) Gillette of Brunswick, Ga., Jessica Gillette Constant of Victoria, Minn., April (James Niehaus) Gillette of Baltic, Jennifer (Jake) Marthaler of Woodville, Wis., Bobbi Jo (Ned) Horsted of Sioux Falls, Tony (Caleb) McNear-Gillette of Sioux Falls, Tasha (Israel) Coelho of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Gerald (Katrina Letsche) of Great Falls, Mont., Nicole Eide of Sioux Falls and best friend and granddaughter, Aly Eide; step-grandchildren, Anthony (Kristen) Blaine of Hartford and Andrea (James) Blaine Boatwright of Omaha, Neb.; 17 great grandchildren; and four step-great-grandchildren; sister, Evelyn; brothers-in-law, Donnie Schliemann of Sioux Falls and Jack Sellers of DuBois, Pa.; sister-in-law, Mary Harkema of Sioux Falls; numerous nephews and nieces and special neighbors, Mark and Tammy Neuroth and Dan and Jean Wise.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Ben and Lillian Harkema; husband, Stan in 2012; son, Terry in 2009; grandchildren, Randy, Tara and Amanda and siblings, Johnny Harkema, Violet Sellers DuBois, Raymond (Liz) Harkema, Marlene Schliemann and David Harkema.
Funeral services were held October 12 at George Boom Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory, Sioux Falls.
Arrangements provided by George Boom Funeral Home.