Muriel Elaine Boyum, age 92, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Monday evening, August 23rd, 2021 while a resident of the Littlefork Care Center, Littlefork, MN, following a short battle with pneumonia.
Muriel was born on September 27, 1928, in Spooner, MN to Remmick Soren (Melvin Ralph) and Nannie Johanna (Johnson) Larson. She was the oldest of three children, with two younger brothers, one of whom died as an infant.
She grew up in Baudette, MN and, graduated in 1948 from Baudette High School. Following high school, Muriel attended Trinity Seminary and Bible School in Minneapolis, MN. During this time, she met Ervin Clarence Boyum. Their relationship grew, and when his military draft notice arrived, a wedding license was not far behind. Muriel married Ervin on December 30th, 1950 before he left for service in Eastern Virginia, and Muriel soon followed him there.
After his discharge, they returned to International Falls with one son in hand, and two more to come. Before Ervin’s death in 2013 they had celebrated 62 years together.
Muriel’s love for Jesus was the cornerstone of her life. She and Ervin were active members of the International Falls Evangelical Covenant Church and were involved in many areas there over the years.
Muriel had a very strong work ethic. In her early days in Baudette, she learned how to cook and serve while working in her mother’s restaurants. She also worked for the Lake of the Woods Family Services office before her marriage to Ervin.
When they returned from Virginia and settled in International Falls, she began working for Koochiching County Family Services. She officially retired in 1989, only taking time away to raise her family.
Traveling was a big part of Muriel and Ervin’s life. This included vacationing in Florida and Caribbean cruises in the ‘70s, Trips to Scandinavia in the ‘80s and ‘90s, and then deciding to winter in Arizona after their retirements.
Their Arizona home soon became a prime vacation destination for their friends and relatives looking for a break from the Minnesota winter.
Muriel had many passions, but she was best known as a wife and mother who loved and cared deeply for her family, especially her children and grandchildren. They were the joy of her life. There was always time and a treat for grandchildren stopping by after school, or unannounced. Road trips with gramma and grandpa were always exciting, and more often than not, Sunday dinner involved a roast beef dinner in the Gazebo, with pie and ice cream from the Dairy Queen.
Not one to seek the spotlight, she wanted to just “take care of things quietly” with gentle firmness, a keen sense of humor, and you always knew where she stood.
Including her parents and husband, Muriel is predeceased by her two brothers, Melvin Arthur Larson, and Albert Leon (Bud) Larson.
Muriel is survived by three sons, Jeffery, Dale (Mary) and, Kurt (Cindy), seven grandchildren, Paul Boyum, Jenna (Brock) Averill, Paige (Brian) Bethke, Jens (Destiny) Boyum, Nils Boyum, Per Boyum, and Liv Boyum, three great-grandchildren, Reece Averill, Braylee Averill and Mette Boyum, and cousins Nan Sether and Rita Paulson.
Funeral services will be Saturday, September 18th at 2 pm at the Evangelical Covenant Church, 1631 1st Ave East, International Falls, with Pastor Seth Bjornrud officiating. There will be no visitation and interment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery.
Donations may be made to the charity of your choice.
Condolences may be left on www.greenlarsen.com
Arrangements are with Green-Larsen Mortuary, Inc.
