Aletha Tohm

Funeral Service for Aletha Tohm, 90, of Wheaton, Minnesota will be held Thursday, December 2, 2010 at 2:00 P.M. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Wheaton with Rev. Thomas Olson officiating. Visitation will be held Wednesday, December 1, 2010 from 5:30 P.M. until 7:30 P.M. with a 7:30 P.M. Prayer Service at Ranney Funeral Home in Wheaton. Interment will be in St. John Lutheran Cemetery. Aletha Winfred (Erickson) Tohm was born in Red Path Township, Traverse County, Minnesota on November 20, 1920. She lived in Norcross until she was five years old, then moved to Wheaton. She graduated from Wheaton High School on June 2, 1939. She then attended teachers training, graduating on August 17, 1942, and taught school for seven years in rural Traverse County districts. One of the buildings she taught in is now on display at the Wheaton Museum. In 1944, Aletha became the bride of Melvin Tohm and this union was blessed with five children: one daughter deceased, and four sons, Alan, Kenneth, David and Thomas. She was involved with young people as Sunday School Superintendant at St. Pauls Lutheran Church in Taylor Township in Traverse County and a leader for the Bois De Sioux 4H. She also worked at the Traverse County Care Center for twenty four years, retiring when she was seventy seven years old. Aletha wrote the Monson-Taylor Township news in the Wheaton Gazette for over forty years and was a member of the local poetry club, and the Ladys Red Hat Club. She received the honor of being inducted into the Senior Hall of Fame by the Wheaton Area of Commerce for her community service. She was also involved in the Homemakers Club, the LWML Circle where she served as president. For many years she was the chairperson of the Christian growth committee, leading many programs held by the group. She also was on the visiting committee that visited people at nursing homes or shut-ins. Aletha was a delegate to many church rallies and the flower chairman for many years. She enjoyed volunteering at the Senior Citizens Center and teaching a bible class at Prairie View. Aletha was known to make the best caramel rolls, chocolate chip cookies, blueberry pies and potato salad by all those who loved her. She loved poetry, aertex painting, gardening, quilting, ceramics and spending time with her grandchildren. She said my grandchildren have had a big influence on me. They are full of life and full of energy, and they make me feel the same way. Aletha passed away Sunday, November 28, 2010 at Lake Region Hospital in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. Aletha is survived by her children, Alan (Vicky) Tohm, Kenneth (Phyllis) Tohm, David (Anita) Tohm, Thomas (Debra) Tohm; her grandchildren, Chad (Cari) Tohm, Angela (Jason) Karn, Kim (Efren) Maldonado, Ryan (Janessa Salvaggio) Tohm, Justin (Kaycie) Tohm, Kari (Jesse Schwen) Tohm, Cassie (Travis) Allmark, Calvin and Samantha Tohm, Brianna (Trent Conroy) Cook, Kelsey Cook, Melissa and Madison Tohm; great-grandchildren, Taylor and Tiffany Allmark, Kayla and Lilah Tohm, Anson and Liam Karn, Jaden Swenson, Jakob Tohm, and sister, Dorothy Johnson; half brother, Bernard (Beverly) Erickson, sister-in-law, Esther (Dick) Ahlsten. Aletha was preceded in death by her husband, Melvin, a daughter, Diana, mother, Winne Erickson, and a brother, Harold Erickson.