Alice Teigen Profile Photo
Alice

Alice Teigen

d. January 11, 2011

Alice C. Teigen





Alice Christiansen Teigen, age 93, died peacefully on Tuesday, January 11, 2011, at her home at Boutwell's Landing in Oak Park Heights, Minnesota.


Born on April 27, 1917, Alice was the eldest daughter of Jordan Alexander and Bessie (Eddy) Christiansen. She and her siblingsa�"Lorraine, Evelyn, Leon and Phyllisa�"enjoyed growing up in their small town of Clinton, Wisconsin, where their father owned the first Ford dealership in the state. Alice was valedictorian of her high school graduating class of 1935. She received a B.A. degree from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1939. She taught school for several years in Cambria, Wisconsin, before her marriage to Thomas Teigen on March 4, 1945. The two met and fell in love during the war years, and Alice often pointed out the incongruous "Uncle Sam Wants You!" posters in the background of their wedding reception photos.


During their 45 years together, Alice and Tom lived in Beloit, Wisconsin; Springfield, Illinois; and Mansfield, Ohio. Daughter Cynthia was born in 1953 in Springfield, and the family moved to Ohio ten years later. Alice resumed her teaching career in Mansfield, and she went on to complete her M.A. degree as a reading specialist at the age of 55. She taught junior high English until her retirement in 1981. Throughout her life, she was an active volunteer with many organizations including the Presbyterian Home for Women in Springfield, church activities, Girl Scouts, senior citizens, Meals on Wheels and many others. Alice always cheerfully said "Yes!" when asked to help.


After Tom's death in 1989, Alice moved to Le Sueur, Minnesota, to be closer to Cindy and husband Bill and to her two granddaughters, Alison and Jessica. She delighted in observing that while most of her retired friends re-located to sunny Florida or Arizona, she chose the ice and cold of Minnesota (and she absolutely loved it!). Her years in Le Sueur were happy times with many friends and family activities.


Since 2006, Alice has been part of the Boutwell's Landing community in Oak Park Heights, Minnesota. During that time she experienced life in nearly every area of the campus: independent and assisted living, transition care, the Gables Care Center, and more recently, the Arbor Memory Care. She was a strong advocate for Presbyterian Homes, and never missed an opportunity to "sell" visitors on the wonderful advantages of life at Boutwell's. She even found romance there, and enjoyed the company of a special friend, Willard Cochrane, during these final years of her life.


Alice enjoyed sewing and needlework, flower arranging, travel (all over the world and to 49 of the states), the family cabin in northern Wisconsin, playing bridge and golf, journaling and spending time with family and friends. She was a member of North Presbyterian Church, Eastern Star, and Delta Zeta, and she had just completed her 50th year as a member of the PEO Sisterhood.


Alice is survived by her daughter Cynthia (Bill) Handwerk; granddaughters Alison Handwerk (Brendan Kinnarney), and Jessica (Tanner) Wildes; sisters Evelyn (Henry) Odell and Phyllis Rasche'; sister-in-law Addie Mae Christiansen; many nieces and nephews; and special friend Willard Cochrane.


A Gathering Time for family and friends will be held at Boutwell's Landing Town Hall on Saturday, January 15, at 10 a.m. A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. in the Boutwell's Landing chapel.


Boutwell's Landing is located at 5600 Norwich Parkway, Oak Park Heights, MN.


Memorial gifts may be made to the PEO Program for Continuing Education, c/o Becky Templeton, 141 South Morningside Dr., Le Sueur, MN 56058 or the Presbyterian Homes Foundation/Boutwell's Landing, 5600 Norwich Parkway, Oak Park Heights, MN 55082.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Alice Teigen, please visit our flower store.

Guestbook

Visits: 2

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Send Flowers

Send Flowers

Plant A Tree

Plant A Tree