Alvira V. Hendrickson

Alvira Vivian Marie Hendrickson was born February 23, 1918, to Peter and Pauline Schumacher Paulson in New Richland. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in New Richland. Having lost her mother at age 13, Alvira was a caregiver for her four brothers still at home. She graduated from New Richland High School. Alvira was united in marriage to Amos O. Hendrickson on April 4, 1935, in Northwood, IA. Their marriage was blessed with four children: Patricia Pauline, Richard Amos, Ruth Ann Marie, and Linda Joyce. Alvira and Amos had 63 years of marriage together before Amos passed away in 1999. Alvira had dreams and accomplished quite a few of them. She found the love of her life and was a great mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She also longed to be a nurse and spent 25 years as a certified nursing assistant at St. John's Lutheran Home and continued there as a volunteer until she became a resident. Writing was a talent of Alvira's. She had a book of short stories published and wrote many articles and Letters from the Readers in the Albert Lea Tribune. Alvira was also an avid reader, having read the Bible almost 10 times. Survivors include her children: Patricia Janzen of Rochester, Richard Hendrickson and friend, Joan Holtan of Rochester, Ruth Ann and Ross Severtson of Hayward, and Linda Lewis; and grandchildren: Michael Janzen of California, Rick and Sheila Janzen of Byron, Bud and Lynn Janzen of Rochester, Tamy Jo and Michael Goldfeder of Torrance, CA, Jeff and Janet Severtson of Plymouth, Stacia and Mark Schumaker of Glenville, Sandin and Lisa Grasdalen of White Bear Lake, Chad and Nicky Severtson of Albert Lea, Jason Severtson and fiancee, Laurie Cariveau of Woodbury, Rich Hendrickson II of Rochester, Lisa Hendrickson of Minneapolis, Jaade and Ronnie King of Owatonna, Justin Dokken of Albert Lea, and Dawn Hendrickson of Rochester. She is also survived by 25 great-grandchildren. Alvira was preceded in death by her parents; her in-laws, John and Annie Hendrickson; her husband, Amos; brothers and sisters-in-law: Arthur and Martha Paulson, Ervin Paulson, Ernest and Vivian Paulson, Leslie and Mabel Paulson, and Harvey and Helen Paulson; brother-in-law, Gordon Hendrickson; and great-granddaughter, Cara Janzen. Life is a gift, a celebration, an opportunity we have been given. The best we have is right here in this moment. The love we hold in our hearts is here and now. Look up! The sun is shining on your path. Now is the time for you to take that open road. Thanks, Mom, for being our mother - you'll be in our hearts forever.