Alice Bakken

BRISTOL- Alice Ruby Bakken, 91 of Bristol passed away on Friday, November 30, 2007 at Sun Dial Manor. A celebration of her life will be held Tuesday, December 4th at 10:30 a.m. at Bergen Lutheran Church north of Bristol with Pastor Keith Hansen officiating. Burial will follow in the Bergen Cemetery. Visitation will be at the Fiksdal Funeral Service in Webster on Monday 4-8 p.m. with a prayer service will be at 7:00 p.m. with Pastor Orlo Espeland officiating. Alice Ruby Simonson was born on June 1, 1916 to Simon and Anne (Skudal) Simonson on the Simonson homestead north of Bristol. Alice was baptized and confirmed at Bergen Lutheran Church. She attended Union Prairie School, District 18, a rural elementary school, and graduated from Bristol High School in 1936. Alice was united in marriage to Clarence Bakken on October 27, 1938; they resided on the Bakken homestead north of Bristol. To this union four daughters were born: Joan, Kay, Glenda, and Carol. Following the death of her husband in 1976, she moved to Bristol where she enjoyed good health for several years before becoming a resident of Sun Dial Manor in 1998. She was a lifetime member of Bergen Lutheran Church where she was active in Bergen Sunday School, Ladies Aide, and the cemetery association. She was also active in her community serving as a 4-H leader, Bethesda Nursing home board member, and a Sun Dial Manor employee. As a farm wife, countless hours were devoted to raising a garden, canning fruits and vegetables, raising chickens, baking and cooking for her family. Her hobbies included solving crossword puzzles, writing letters, knitting, crocheting, and making quilts. She was an avid visitor and shared her sense of humor with family, friends and neighbors. Thankful for sharing her life are four daughters: Joan Sigdestad, Sioux Falls, SD, Kay (Richard) Espeland of Bristol, SD, Glenda Bakken of Bristol, SD and Carol (Jerry) Raap of Andover, SD; six grandchildren, Robin (Jon) Anderson of Bristol, SD, Rhonda (Doug) Johnson of Bristol, SD, Kristi (Bryan) Anderson of Webster, SD, Chad (Margaret) Espeland of Jackson, MS, Lance Sigdestad of Sioux Falls, SD, Carmen (Jerry) Steen of Sioux Falls, SD; 13 great grandchildren, Brandon, Courtney, and Mallory Anderson, Danielle (Kyle) Monteith, Dustin, Brooke, and Kaylene Johnson, Madelyn and Hayden Anderson, Payton, Paxton, and Braydon Steen, and Alec Sigdestad; one brother, Oscar (Alice) Simonson of Webster, SD; one sister, Evelyn Abraham of Garretson, SD; and numerous nieces and nephews. She loved her family and played an active role in the lives of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She crocheted an afghan for each of them that has now become a family keepsake. Alice was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, 2 grandchildren, Murray Sigdestad, Lori Sigdestad, her brother, Rudy Simonson, her sister, Clara Crawford, and son-in-law, Sherrill Sigdestad.